AIBU to ask for a refund for baby classes we can't attend?

[HotChocolatemarshmallows]

Toddler is 1 year old and all of a sudden has dropped down to 1 nap a day at lunchtime.
We did a term of toddler classes locally and I renewed for the new term just as he dropped his 1st nap. The classes are just at the wrong time for him to enjoy them so before the term began I messaged the lady that ran them to say that sadly we can't make the classes and could she cancel my place and send me my money back.

She told me in no uncertain terms that there's no way she would be refunding me as that's not her policy (nothing on the website about refunds etc)

She said she has a waiting list so I asked if she could just give our place to someone else as I could do with that money back so we could find a different class at a better time for us but she's still adamant that she's not giving me a refund.

Am I being unreasonable to ask for a refund when the classes haven't even taken place yet?

Can you find someone to buy them off you?

Yanbu as it doesn't mention the costs being non refundable.

I could understand if you were partway through but they've not even began.

I don't know anyone who could go in my place, not sure she would even allow that either to be honest!

I think YABU to cancel because of nap time, this could easily change again, I’ve never understood this rigid attitude to nap times.
She should refund especially as she has a waiting list.

I'm torn. If she has a no refunds policy then she should have made that clear.

But on the other hand, she still (presumably) has overheads and if she allows people to drop out as and when they fancy it, she could easily find herself with classes that are no longer financially viable. Even if she has a few people on a waiting list there is no guarantee that any of those people would accept your place.

@JKScot4 My baby doesn't enjoy doing anything when he's tired. Hence me cancelling.

Ask if she can credit them to a future booking?

TBH I think it's "normal" that all DC activities you pay up front for a term with no refunds otherwise their businesses wouldn't survive.

I think it’s pretty much accepted that in these situations once you’ve booked your money is gone however if she’s going to fill your space anyway from the waiting list and therefore get paid twice effectively for one space that is a bit cheeky

I’d put a message on Facebook asking if anyone wants to buy them off you.
If you can’t I’d make sure she didn’t fill your space so you can still go if nap times change - my 16 month old is down to one nap but times can change depending on how they’ve slept during the night / what time they got up

@JKScot4 baby’s hardly going to get the most from the class if they are overtired or asleep

Mmm I think it's both unreasonable and not unreasonable. She might need a certain commitment of numbers to book the venue, for instance, and a refund might give her problems if she can't then fill the place. But if she is able to fill the space and not be out of pocket, then she could refund the money as a gesture of goodwill. So it depends, really.

Hmm yeah I get that she needs to protect her business but it's the fact she keeps saying she has a waiting list, I just think she's going to pocket twice the fees for 1 place.

She can't run her business around nap times. Push his nap time backwards or forwards or accept you've wasted the money.

I agree with posting them on fb especially big mum groups, someone will have them even at a slightly reduced price

Tell her you'll come after all, then she can't fill the space you've paid for. Then just don't go but if she asks, say you'll be there next week every time

My little ones baby group changed days and times not ideal times for her over lunch/nap time normally but it's one day out the week I just leave the house a hour early with her in the oram and try get her to nap before if she doesn't she still enjoys the class when she's there she's running about daft etc you wouldn't think she was tired but she will sleep after!! For us it's only 45 minutes out the day! Also ours does state no refund but plenty times I have decided not to go with appointments or weather and never ever asked for money back! I would just take your child and see how the first week goes as you might actually be surprised once they are there! X

Maybe 'OK, seeing as we have the space regardless and I've paid then we will just make an effort to come anyway. See you on X.'

Then if she's done a fast one and filled the spot instantly with someone else, she'll have to backtrack somehow.

Actually more I think about this, the more I think she is BU if she does indeed have a waiting list of people who can fill the slot. If she's not BU then at the very least she's being a bit silly from a business perspective, as word of mouth and local reviews and referrals are paramount when you run baby/toddler classes.

If she refunded you and is able to fill the spot right away, then financially she's not taken any hit and she has pleased a customer who might end up coming back in the future and who will be in contact with other parents and might recommend her class (or have another child in due course and attend)

By not refunding you, you most likely won't do a class with her again. Sure she's earned a little bit of money if she fills the slot again, for no effort on her part really, but at the potential expense of more money longer-term and her reputation.

So I think she's being silly not to refund if she can fill that spot and hasn't suffered any negative financial consequences.

If she's lying about the waiting list (who knows why?) and needs your money to make the class viable and the class will just run with an empty space in it, then I can understand her not refunding it. But it sounds like she will just keep your money while getting someone else in, and you've paid for a space you can no longer access.

Maybe 'OK, seeing as we have the space regardless and I've paid then we will just make an effort to come anyway. See you on X.'

Then if she's done a fast one and filled the spot instantly with someone else, she'll have to backtrack somehow.

^yes, do this

That's the thing @DesLynamsMoustache she's been so rude to me via text that I absolutely wouldn't attend another class with her again but before this happened I would have quite happily rejoined her older classes in a few months when LO is a bit older.
I understand she needs to protect her business etc but doesn't seem good business sense to alienate customers when she can quite easily fill my place.

It's absolutely her prerogative to do this, but it's also grasping and bad business sense. Word of mouth and customer goodwill is priceless in her line of business. She's being inflexible and short sighted not to at least meet you half way and offer some kind of refund.