to try only three times?

[theweekendisnear]

We held our DS's birthday party at a soft play place. Everything went very well, everybody had lots of fun.

When I booked the place I was asked to leave a deposit of £ 50, so I gave them my debit card number. No problems at all.

After the party I went to the desk to pay for the outstanding balance. The had forgotten I had left a deposit of £ 50, so I reminded them, and they said "Oh yes, sure. Your deposit was £ 100". I told them I thought it was £ 50, but they said "No, it was £ 100". So I paid a couple more pounds and left.

I have checked my bank statement, and it appears that the deposit was only £50, not £ 100. I just phoned the soft play place to ask them to check if I owe them money, but nobody is answering. It's a bit of pain to get to talk to somebody there, sometimes they do not answer the phone because they have to deal with customers etc.

So, how many times should I try to contact them before giving up? Three? Until I get to talk to somebody?

I'll try again right now. Maybe I'll be lucky.

Send them an email?

Wow, well I wouldn't have paid them the extra cash in the first place.

I expect the deposits are always a fixed amount so not sure of the confusion here.

Go there with your bank statement and get the cash back. They won't want customers making a fuss at the counter.

Next time stick to your guns.

So if I've understood, you've effectively had £50 worth of soft play for free, because they don't have a good record keeping system? Despite you trying to say at the time that you thought you owed more money?

I'd certainly be tempted to make a minimal amount of effort and then keep quiet...the only thing is a) karma/pesky moral conscience, and b) they might contact you at a later date to try to get the money back.

Don't say anything

Unless I've misunderstood- you owe them money right?

Same thing happened to us with a swimming party we had two years ago. Paid deposit think it was only about £30. Repeatedly tried to pay the balance for the party.

No one returned my calls. Thought oh we'll I'll pay them on the day. No one interested in taking it then either.

No one followed it up. Their lack of organisation = their loss.

Yes, I think I owe them £ 50.

I have managed to talk to somebody. I explained everything, and they took my name and phone number and told me they'll contact me again. I guess now it's up to them to check their records.

I've done enough, right?

I'd probably just send them an email for my own peace of mind. Then if they don't take it forward just consider yourself lucky.

When we bought our house we put in an offer over the phone, and when the letter came back from the seller's agents confirming the offer, the amount stated was £3,000 lower than we'd offered. I phoned them immediately pointing out their error. Then thought nothing of it until we got a draft contract through, again stating £3,000 less than our offer. I marked it up on the draft contract and pointed out the error to our solicitor.

When the final contract came over for signing and the amount was still unamended, we thought "Fuck it!" and just signed. Making a mental note never to use the seller's agent to sell our house in the future...

Definitely done enough.

The soft play I've booked for this years party have taken the whole lot of money upfront and the party isn't till September!

They are definitely on the ball!

Yes, your conscience is clear I'd say, theweekend.

Send them a cheque for £50 in the post and forget about it?