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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have asked this question re toddler class fees?

49 replies

StardustDogs · 09/11/2012 11:30

In the summer we went to a fun day , the only thing that ds liked was a lady with instruments that did a music class.

She said you could pay week by week so we started going . It was the summer holidays after a couple of weeks she did summer specials and we went to a few.

Then in September we started going and there were then signs up saying you pay in advance so we did except I asked not to pay on his birthday as we planned to go out with family . She was fine about this but it rained so we attended anyway and paid on the day .

So today as we are away in a few weeks I asked if I could pay for one less week and she bit my head off , she properly turned and said "well no because I have to come don't I " ? I had asked by saying my husband is on holiday so we are away . She said " bring your husband too" I replied I can't as we are away said nevermind and paid in cash in full. The atmosphere was really uncomfortable , so I said oh he really enjoyed it today , okaay see you next week, and shuffled off!

I understand people must let her down but in a year there are 39 weeks of her classes , surely she should give some grace? Another group used to let you make up a class as more than one a week.

I will continue to attend as ds really responds to music but I just felt a bit shitty in the way she said it. I was only asking a question! I never use her bloody biscuits or juice so perhaps that could be a fiver saved for her per year ?

Anyway go ahead and give it to me. Ds loves her as well that's even more annoying now!

OP posts:
INeedThatForkOff · 09/11/2012 11:35

YABU. We attend a similar class and to guarantee our place, we pay for the term up front. She can't offer a place to someone else if you're arsing about non-commital about attendance.

This term I knew we'd miss quite a few sessions so we haven't been at all.

MrsCantSayAnything · 09/11/2012 11:36

YABU. She's been more than accommodating and you can't expect to chop and change now that she has a pay in advance arrangement in place.

INeedThatForkOff · 09/11/2012 11:36

Oh, and not using her biscuits or juice is your choice Hmm.

WorraLiberty · 09/11/2012 11:37

She still has to pay for the venue though

Still she sounds very rude so I'm not surprised you're annoyed.

fluffywhitekittens · 09/11/2012 11:39

You're both being a bit u. If she's said it's ok before I can see why you wouldn't have expected such a hostile answer but most places have the same policy.

redskyatnight · 09/11/2012 11:39

YABU. Unless it's a drop in class, I don't know of a single group that you don't have to pay a month/half term/term up front.

PickledFanjoCat · 09/11/2012 11:40

You pay for these classes by the term, this is the second time you've asked not to pay for a week and I expect she just had enough...

It's not usual for anything I've been to on that basis for anyone to even ask once so I'd just ignore it.

WileyRoadRunner · 09/11/2012 11:41

agree with worra

joanbyers · 09/11/2012 11:43

lol @ discount for not eating her biscuits

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 09/11/2012 11:44

YABU a bit.

All these kind of things that I have been to, you pay upfront for a block of classes.

Original poster
StardustDogs · 09/11/2012 11:45

Yes you know what it's not the fiver I'm bothered about its that she dropped the nicey nicey music class person thing sooo much I'm surprised I didn't step back. If she had said it normally I wouldn't have been bothered really. I have emailed her about my ds's special needs and she had always seemed so friendly before. Guess not eh?!

I know it's my choice not to give him the juice or biscuits. Perhaps I should go back to the one that allows one make up class per term.

OP posts:
ChippingInLovesAutumn · 09/11/2012 11:47

Did everyone miss this bit ...She said you could pay week by week

I would be reminding her of that.

I agree it's hard to run a class like that and that most are pay in advance for the term whether you can make it or not etc and if that's what you sign up for fine - but to advertise as one thing then do another isn't on.

Original poster
StardustDogs · 09/11/2012 11:48

I agree in the usual paying up front thing but to start it was week by week then she popped up some laminated demanding the money upfront without a word. Haha sneaky.

OP posts:
Original poster
StardustDogs · 09/11/2012 11:48
  • laminates
OP posts:
ChippingInLovesAutumn · 09/11/2012 11:49

I can see why you have been upset by her attitude and not by the situation itself - it's horrible when someone you think is nice has a go at you for no apparent reason :( It's also disappointing to discover someone isn't how they are portraying themselves. I woudn't want to go anymore, irrespective of the money side of things.

PickledFanjoCat · 09/11/2012 11:50

Maybe she was just having a shit old day.

If your ds enjoys it and she is normally ok I'd just go.

I won't sign up to anything by term now as ds misses loads. It's annoying.

Original poster
StardustDogs · 09/11/2012 11:53

I know but I've given her £30 for the half term now, can you imagine asking for a refund! Also ds loves it and I take him as he is 2 and getting assessed for Autism soon, he laughs so much sometimes at it and responds well so I don't want to stop . I always feel on edge there as he does funny squeaks and stuff and legs it all over given half a chance. It just upset me a bit. I wouldn't dare mention the week by week thing now.

OP posts:
EnglishGirlApproximately · 09/11/2012 11:53

You are both being a bit unreasonable I think. If she started saying that you could pay week by week then changed it I think she should expect questions, but it is normal to pay for a full term.

mrskeithrichards · 09/11/2012 11:54

I hate these ridiculous pay by term set ups there nonsense classes have. I don't want to pay some airy fairy numptie £60 up front for the pleasure of watching her prance about with a tambourine for half an hour once a week.

Some weeks I might be busy, other weeks ds might be napping. In short I'm not committing me or my baby to being somewhere every week. Life's too short.

I've found a lovely Sally army group wi I instruments and music and nicer people for £1 a week and I get a cuppa and a digestive. Happy days!

MammaTJ · 09/11/2012 11:54

MY DD goes to dance classes that have to be paid for in advance. That's fine. The teacher also says to notify her when paying if they won't be there for any weeks and they don't have to be paid for. Not notifying means you have to pay. Much fairer imo!

mrskeithrichards · 09/11/2012 12:00

And why is this normal for baby 'classes'? I don't pay in advance for zumba or anything else I go to. I don't pay in advance for ds's boxing or karate either.

PickledFanjoCat · 09/11/2012 12:01

I bet babies are damned unreliable.

And if there is a finite number per class they could end up out of pocket.

CelticPromise · 09/11/2012 12:07

All the classes I took DS to were drop in. You could pay in advance for say six classes but you could carry them over if you couldn't go one week. If you didn't attend two or three in a row they rang up to check we still wanted the place.

Except swimming. Swimming had to be paid in advance.

mrskeithrichards · 09/11/2012 12:07

But the pay by term thing totally excludes those on low incomes who may not be able to afford it all at once.

Groovee · 09/11/2012 12:14

The teacher will still have overheads to cover such as the rent of the hall. You often find they don't make much to support themselves from the classes.

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