School officials in Utsunomiya, Japan, have filed legal action against parents who refuse to pay for their children's school meals.

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Officials at the city's schools say many parents who have the financial ability to pay for the meals are still refusing, sending the total fee for unpaid meals in the city to more than $80,000, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Tuesday.

"Some mothers who have delayed their payment carry brand-name handbags. They say they'll pay, but the promise is never kept," said one school principal.

The city's board of education filed papers with the Utsunomiya Summary Court in September to begin collection procedures for 40 parents and guardians who have refused to pay. On Nov. 1, the board filed for provisional execution against seven parents who refused court-ordered demands for payments.

The city of Nemuro sued three guardians in July who refused to pay for school meals and two of them agreed to pay the feeds in installments. However, the remaining guardian forfeited the case by failing to appear in court and has yet to pay the outstanding fees.