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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Refusing to pay class fee

52 replies

slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 13:02

My DD attends a playgroup where they ask for £5 a week (paid termly) and a £30 'membership fee' which entitled the child to a bag, a t-shirt (should be worn at classes) and money off various other baby events and classes.

We were given our 't-shirt' last week. Its size 3-4 which is the only size they will print them in apparently, the class age is advertised as 18mo - 4yo, and DD is 21mo, tall but the t-shirt drowns her. There is no way she can play safely on slides or swings, trampolines etc

AIBU in paying for the classes, but withholding the membership fee until they supply a t-shirt which fits DD?

OP posts:
HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 29/04/2012 13:41

I've always thought groups like TT to be a bit of a waste of money tbh. Our local sports centre offers a similar group each week, which is around £2.50 per session, with no membership fee and no oversized t-shirt!

Original poster
slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 13:47

Well now.

DD needs hydrotherapy (as determined by her paediatrician) but nhs doesn't have places

DD also needs regular 1-2-1 physiotherapy, but nhs last saw her in October

don't judge on why I do these classes, they are for DD to try and gain skills

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 29/04/2012 13:47

Is wearing the t-shirt obligatory? If so, how do all the other smaller kids manage?

Original poster
slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 13:48

Oh and the sport parks within this area host tumble tots, so I guess we can't win there

OP posts:
Original poster
slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 13:49

floggingmolly see note at Sun 29-Apr-12 13:33:22

OP posts:
HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 29/04/2012 13:50

slowlyburningcalories, I wasn't judging, simply passing comment that I think TT is overpriced and not that good and that there are cheaper alternatives available. That's my opinion and it certainly wasn't said in a judgey or unkind tone.

don't accuse posters of judging when they are doing nothing of the sort

ilovedjasondonovan · 29/04/2012 13:52

My DD was wearing age 4-5 tops at 12 months old, so would have been perfect for her (she was a fat little baby, who now at nearly 4 isn't any more, just moving into age 5-6 tops.

Original poster
slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 13:53

te
Ling me I could do better for cheaper anyway wasn't really that helpful given I've paid the terms fees!

Anyway, thanks to those who posted, I will see what owner says

OP posts:
HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 29/04/2012 14:16

Well yes you have paid this term's fees but I was just saying that similar things are available for cheaper, for other terms if you wanted to spend less. I think you are being very touchy tbh.

Anyway best of luck in getting the t shirt situation sorted.

r3dh3d · 29/04/2012 14:57

DD1 did TT at a similar age. For similar reasons.

I think a couple of kids wore the t-shirts (possibly knotted at the back or the side? I agree that they are a bit of a liability on the equipment) but generally they were ignored at that age.

TT is a franchise. I think the bulk of the session fee goes to the local rep, whereas the annual fee goes to Head Office. Yes, they "sell" the annual fee to you by providing a t-shirt but that's just because it's hard to explain central costs eg insurance, training franchise holders, etc. to parents so you have to provide something tangible. You're not paying £30 for a t-shirt.

Original poster
slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 15:16

Ty, yes, I know the t shirt isn't £30 :)

Thanks all. Feel a bit more like I have at least an ankle, if not a leg to stand on

OP posts:
LIZS · 29/04/2012 18:00

If you want to make stand, offer to pay £25 now and £5 on receipt of a tshirt that fits, returning the one which is too large. tbh there will be other similar battles to fight as your dd goes through preschool/school ("essential" kit which never gets worn, costumes for plays, book day etc needed at short notice and so on) and it may be worth just accepting that these are some of the frustrations of life before your blood pressure suffers !

MerylStrop · 29/04/2012 18:04

YABU to withhold any fees, the fee includes the t-shirt but it's hardly a dealbreaker.

They are being unreasonable not to provide stuff in appropriate sizes. They shoudl bung you one of the ones of the class belows or summat.

BUT these franchisey things (with their stupid rules and crap merchandising) are just people trying to make a living, and not paying will screw them over

lurkerspeaks · 29/04/2012 18:06

I cannot believe you are getting so upset the t-shirt doesn't fit.

The £30 membership fee was to cover far more than the t-shirt. Is your daughter really upset not looking the same or are you?

I've got form for unreasonable complaints but on this one I quite firmly think YABVU.

Go and buy her a cheap t that fits from the supermarket in the same colour (is it still that really lurid yellow? ). If you are feeling particularly crafty you could do a photocopy transfer of the logo onto your new t. Personally I wouldn't' bother. She will grow into the other one. Much better that way round than it being too big.

eeden · 29/04/2012 18:07

I would just alter the tshirt so it fits her.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 29/04/2012 18:10

Or you could just not worry about it, send her in something else, let her enjoy the classes and not think about the t shirt anymore. At 21 months I doubt she gives a toss what the other kids are wearing.

Groovee · 29/04/2012 18:14

Were they supposed to wear the t-shirt? Our franchise never enforced it when we took children to it. Check out your local leisure centre, many do gymtots which is just the same and usually about 1/3rd of the price and no t-shirt saga.

Original poster
slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 19:36

I'm really not that upset - as in I am not sittinf here writing to my MP and bitching to my DH (who apparently has no opinion on the matter) - I'm annoyed that they haven't provided what they said they would

when we did water babies I avoided the merchandising, got our own swim nappies and we used them elsewhere too, but I had choice and that is what they have taken away from me.

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HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 29/04/2012 19:38

so does your DD have to wear the t-shirt then? I thought the t-shirts were optional at TT? Surely it will fit her at some point; you've already said she is tall so maybe in 6 months or so it might fit her.

RandomMess · 29/04/2012 19:41

Use a small hair bobble to gather up the T-shirt at the back and tuck it under and she can wear it now.

saltedcaramel · 29/04/2012 19:54

I'm pretty sure that there are 3 sizes of the yellow tumble tots t-shirts available - 92cm (18months) 104cm (2-3yrs) and 116cm (3-5yrs). Those options were on the renewal form anyway so I'm sure if you rang them they would send a smaller size.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 29/04/2012 20:05

or you could try and buy one in a smaller size on Ebay?

curiositykitten · 29/04/2012 20:10

Are all the 18 mo - 3 year olds giant then if they fit into the size 3 - 4 tshirts? Or is it just that they don't have any smaller t-shirts available right now?

boodles · 29/04/2012 20:19

It is a t-shirt. A piece of cotton shaped in to a shirt. Not a life altering, magic shirt, a t-shirt.

Original poster
slowlyburningcalories · 29/04/2012 20:32

the other kids are wearing the t-shirt or the smaller ones are wearing the class belows t-shirt (6mo - 18mo) which is smaller, different colour/logo which we can't have as we didn't join that class!

"and the class age is 18mo - 4yrs - why don't the organisers offer a t-shirt on smaller sizes?"

No idea. Ask them. It's a very good question.

OP posts: