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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

soft play area toilet accident

130 replies

harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:19

Just a quick one. My friend took my (usually toilet trained) 2 year old daughter to one of the local soft play areas and my daughter had a toilet accident in the ball pit. The owners have now sent me a cleaning bill. AIBU to not pay it considering I wasn't there and responsibility for my dd lay with my friend, (although dont think she is liable neither, surely this is hazard of running a soft play area and should be calculated into running costs?). Plus atm I am living hand to mouth so don't have the money to pay anyway.

OP posts:
ChocolateWombat · 17/05/2014 11:24

I think it is a hazard of running a soft play place. Toddlers must have accidents all the time. It is a bit annoying for owners, but comes with the territory.
I don't think it is relevant whether you were the adult there or not. IF it was right for someone outside the soft play place to pay, I think it would be you, as the parent and not your friend.
However, I think you should write a polite note back, apologising for your daughters accident, but saying you don't believe it is your responsibility to pay. Point out that if there are considerable expenses of cleaning, their insurance should cover it, and you have contributed towards their insurance policy costs through your child's admission fee.

I would be friendly not aggressive, but very clear in this letter. Finish by wishing them well with their business.

Aeroflotgirl · 17/05/2014 11:26

Yanbu that is ridiculous, that is a hazard of the job if you run a facility for young children. Children will have an accident, throw up etc! My dd 7 had a couple of wee accidents at soft play, noway were we made to pay! No it is not your friends responsibility either, she was kind enough to do you a favour.

ikeaismylocal · 17/05/2014 11:27

Yanbu. The soft play place should pay.

How did they get your address? I would refuse to give an address in that situation.

Aeroflotgirl · 17/05/2014 11:27

I agree with chocolate!

Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:27

thanks for the quick replies which i agree with, and just to make clear I dont think my friend is liable neither.

OP posts:
hippo123 · 17/05/2014 11:28

Out of interest how much are they charging you?

Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:28

My friend gave my address. The owner asked for it and my friend felt kind of obliged to give it.

OP posts:
Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:30

£55, which probably isn't a lot to most people but right now thats an unobtainable fortune to me :D

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 17/05/2014 11:30

Gosh I must be the odd one out. If my child had an accident which required cleaning, then I'd expect to pay for it to be done (assuming I wasn't there to do it myself). Why didn't your friend clean up after your child since she was the adult responsible for her at the time?

Aeroflotgirl · 17/05/2014 11:31

Refuse to pay, tgey should have appropriate insurance

Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:32

My friend did clean up after my child and all obvious mess but it was in the ball pit so I think they had to remove all the balls and steam clean them.

OP posts:
OwlCapone · 17/05/2014 11:33

The fact is that, regardless of whether you should pay or not, you can't afford it.

Do you have to agree to terms and conditions before going in? I assume you have to register in some way given they have your address.

ikeaismylocal · 17/05/2014 11:35

They should be cleaning the balls anyway! I don't think they can legally enforce payment, I'd just ignore the letter.

hippo123 · 17/05/2014 11:35

They don't need insurance, or £55 to clean a bit of wee! I assume it was wee? That's madness. If they have a soft play place aimed at young children they are obviously going to get the odd accident. That's why they should be getting regularly cleaned (although I doubt they do). I wouldn't pay op.

Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:35

Owl as far as i know, there are no obvious t&c's, you pay at door and write down childs name and entry time, similar to other play areas i have went to.

OP posts:
Sleepyfergus · 17/05/2014 11:38

If agree that you should refuse but would respond as a pp said with a firm but polite/ friendly letter. The admission charge covers wear & tear of equipment and accidents.

Whilst it must be a pain if it happens in the ball pit (each ball removed, cleaned, ball pit itself cleaned) it's a hazard they should be covered for and should be taken into account when calculating admission fees.

Firm and polite is the way. I doubt it will go any further. You prob don't want to go back there though!

ChocolateWombat · 17/05/2014 11:39

I don't think the issue is whether you can afford to pay or not. If you were liable, you'd have to pay, regardless of your financial circumstances.
Personally, if I had been your friend, I wouldn't have given them your address, but she clearly felt pressurised.
Look at their website and see if reference is made to this in their terms and conditions. I would doubt it. If there is reference to it, I would feel morally bound to pay, although if you refuse, I doubt they will pursue it.
Don't muddle up the issues about if you can afford to pay, with if they have a right to demand the money.

ChocolateWombat · 17/05/2014 11:43

Oh and I just looked at the TandC of our local huge soft play place. No mention of charges for accidents! Only hygiene rule is that socks must be worn.
I have seen them with their antiseptic spray giving things a clean before,most think an accident or two is very common. Ball pits are aimed at babies and toddlers after all.
Think they are just trying it on really, being a bit irritated if they have had a run of accidents.
Write back, very friendly, formally and firmly telling them to claim on their insurance which your admission fees contributed to.

Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:44

I think affordability is a separate personal issue but just saying as i was expecting some people to say its only £55, just pay up. Obviously would never mention that to play area, dont want everyone knowing Im poor Grin. There are no t&c on their website as i just checked.

OP posts:
DoJo · 17/05/2014 11:46

Was it wee or poo?

Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:47

I think a friendly, polite but firm letter is the way forward. Can I say that i got a majority Ianbu on mumsnet so I must be right?

OP posts:
Original poster
harrasseddotcom · 17/05/2014 11:48

it was poo, she poo'ed her pants but some escaped unfortunately. Does it make a difference?

OP posts:
KaFayOLay · 17/05/2014 11:58

I think they abu in asking you to pay.
Surely

KaFayOLay · 17/05/2014 11:58

Oops....

It's a hazard of soft play.

Topaz25 · 17/05/2014 12:03

Decline politely at first but if they won't let it go and threaten further action, I would threaten to go to the local paper. This would be bad publicity for their business, no one would want to take their toddler to soft play if they knew a toilet accident could cost them £55! Toilet accidents happen and a business that caters to small children should have procedures in place for dealing with them.