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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be cross at my babies swimming instructor......

37 replies

Lottiesmama312 · 15/10/2013 16:45

Our baby does swimming lessons each week with one of thoes " baby swimming companies".

We were waiting for a letter in the post like we had received last term about if we would like to sign up to another term.
I woke this morning to find a hundered or so pounds had be debited from my account by the company.

I rang to ask why this money was taken and was told that it was for next lot of swimming sessions and that the Friday just gone was the deadline to say we no longer wanted to attend classes......

They told me I had been sent a email about it and it was mentioned in class. They told me they did everything by email and not letters - (even though I have the paper copy they sent ref rebooking from earlier in the year!)

I retrieved all my deleted and existing emails and have had nothing from them! It didn't go to junk either as they did a test email today.

the day that it was mentioned in class we were away.

So basically we had no clue that this money would be taken. They are now telling me that I attend the sessions or we pay a £30 cancellation fee! Angry

We were yet to decide if we were going to sign up again but now I definitely do not want to sign up with them due to the way we have been dealt with.

They kept saying it was all in the terms and conditions...... I have yet to hand in the paper that says I agree to these!

I am so upset about this - AIBU? Has anyone else been
" stung" by these baby swimming people?!? What should I do?

OP posts:
ceeveebee · 15/10/2013 21:33

Water babies deadline was last Friday. I received 2 emails and the teacher told us in class too. Have been going there for 18 m

ceeveebee · 15/10/2013 21:33

18 months and have always had plenty of notice, but have never had letters, always emails. Do they have an incorrect email address for you?

Original poster
Lottiesmama312 · 15/10/2013 21:50

Never thought about it like that - we go to/have been to all sorts of baby classes and no not one has ever worked on this "if you don't say no in time we will book you on to the next lot of classes anyway basis".

This is the case in my area anyway, but appreciate it may be different else where in the country, and perhaps more will/have started going this way.

Sad times....

OP posts:
Original poster
Lottiesmama312 · 15/10/2013 21:55

The company we use gives two weeks notice...which I feel is loads of time!

Last term they sent us a renewal letter via post.
This term they sent info by email but I genuinely never received this.

I got them to send a "test email" to my account today and I did get that one!

It included a HUGE attachment and some info about photos which I was waiting for! I also missed the photo session Grin

OP posts:
VirgoGrr · 15/10/2013 22:23

Tiptops is right. Even if they have claimed this payment under Continous Payment Authority, which should be in their Ts & Cs, call your bank and dispute it. CPA is right sneaky as they make out you don't have the right to reclaim as with a direct debit, however, you haven't authorised this particular transaction specifically so your bank will do a 'chargeback' to the merchant if you ask them to. It's only chip and pin transactions that can't be disputed in this way.

Original poster
Lottiesmama312 · 16/10/2013 22:25

Update -

I told a mummy friend all about my issues with my swimming classes yesterday when we met up.

Her and her DS used to swim with the same company and in the same area.

She checked her DS account just incase (it's one that she doesn't have statements for) and found that the company had taken just short of £400 from her without her knowing!!!!!!! That's payments for two terms!

So lucky I had a rant really! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Lottiesmama312 · 16/10/2013 22:28

Edit - payment for three terms! Wink

OP posts:
MrsMook · 16/10/2013 23:27

I take my baby and toddler to council run classes. The termly fees break down to about £4.50 per lesson. They were recommended to me who got put off by the cost of the private companies and preferred the council ones as they were more active. No way could I justify 2 through the private courses.

Good luck in getting your money back.

BakeOLiteGirl · 17/10/2013 00:07

I've used Puddle Ducks swim academy for my child which has been great quality and I'm happy to pay the fees. But they work by paying for the term up front. I have to pay to secure the place in the class so no pay no lessons. This is a much better system rather than opt out which clearly shows the potential to go badly wrong. So yanbu.

Original poster
Lottiesmama312 · 17/10/2013 21:33

Update - I received a full refund today! Smile thanks for all the help!

I also have blocked any further payments on the account via my bank, just in case.....

I will be very very careful in future over these types of payment systems. (If I ever encounter any!)

Will be looking into other swimming lessons instead for next term! Thanks for all the suggestions!

OP posts:
myBOYSareBONKERS · 17/10/2013 22:21

what about your friend?

picniclady · 17/10/2013 22:38

Glad you got your refund. I dislike waterbabies for this reason too.

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