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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is totally cheeky?

46 replies

BooChunky · 04/04/2015 15:23

My DC were invited to a birthday party today, and along we went.

At the door we were told that our children were paid for, but if we wanted to stay with them we had to pay £15 each.

They are 4 and 1, so there's no way I would leave them... So although shocked, we paid the £30.

Once in the children ran around and some small animals were shown to them. Then they had a box of food each, nothing for adults, not even a drink.

Wtf is this? Has anyone else had to pay to stand in a child's birthday party??

(And thanks for the heads up too??)

OP posts:
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 04/04/2015 15:24

Where did it take place?

hiddenhome · 04/04/2015 15:25

No, never had to pay. You just buy your own squash if you're staying with them.

Sounds like extortion to me.

Original poster
BooChunky · 04/04/2015 15:26

A place kind of like a farm....

OP posts:
gamerchick · 04/04/2015 15:27

Cheeky fuckers. How many parents stayed?

WorraLiberty · 04/04/2015 15:29

The parents should have made it clear on the invitation

But yes, I've known certain venues to charge. This is to stop the whole family dropping their child to the party and then enjoying a day at the venue for free.

Icimoi · 04/04/2015 15:29

That's ridiculous. What were you supposed to be getting for your £15 a head? I'd expect at least a cup of tea!

Original poster
BooChunky · 04/04/2015 15:30

Most parents stayed because of the ages. (And a lot talked about it!!)

We even paid for someone else because they didn't have their card or enough cash.

OP posts:
Original poster
BooChunky · 04/04/2015 15:31

Thanks just the thing, if the £15 had seemed to be for something it wouldn't have been so bad... But not even a drink? Or a chair??

We seemed to pay 15 to stand in a room and watch our children.

OP posts:
Original poster
BooChunky · 04/04/2015 15:31

'Thats'

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 04/04/2015 15:33

I'd write/post on their FB page/tweet that they'd just ripped off their customer base/target audience, that you would make sure all your other friends heard about the experience and did they really think that was the best way to do business?

PurpleSwift · 04/04/2015 15:35

They should have made it very clear beforehand. Did you both have to stay?

SaucyJack · 04/04/2015 15:37

I dunno on this one. If £15 is the standard adult entry price then I don't think it's that cheeky tbh. You'd only ever be going for the sake of the kids whether there was a party on or not.

You should have been warned first tho.

sosix · 04/04/2015 15:42

I would of left with my dcs, fecking extortion.Easter Angry

Flossiechops · 04/04/2015 15:46

But the adults are only going because their dc are invited to a party - not on a day trip. Was it booked as a party by the host? I really wouldn't have been at all happy to have paid & I've been to plenty of farm parties and have never heard of such a thing. Shock

Original poster
BooChunky · 04/04/2015 15:51

I've had parties for every birthday my DC's have had so far and two have been at farms and I've never made anyone pay a penny.

I didn't like to bring it up with the host but then, I am a coward! Wink

OP posts:
x2boys · 04/04/2015 15:51

We have an open farm near us ds has been to parties there I have never heard of this the food us usually provided by the party host even on school trips its take your own packed lunch were the parents of the party child aware of this it seems very unfair ? I agree with pp go on social media and name and shame them

passthewineplz · 04/04/2015 15:58

UANBU! £30 to stand for an hour is ridiculous!

I'd def name and shame the farm on their FB page, and I'd also write a letter of complaint.

I'd also text the host thanking them for a lovely party, and mention you were shocked at the cost of staying...

KoalaDownUnder · 04/04/2015 15:58

I think the party hosts should have paid for one adult entry per child guest (or children, if they're from the same family).

It's bloody rude to invite children who are too young to stay unaccompanied, and expect parents to cough up their own entry fee!!

(Also think the parents should have been offered at least a drink!)

JacquesHammer · 04/04/2015 16:07

I had DD's birthday at a farm last year - each child we paid for, and one parent per child was allowed entry by the farm for free. Any additional parents/siblings had to be paid at the going rate.

I think that's a far more sensible deal.

You should certainly have been made aware before hand.

TheBrokenDrum · 04/04/2015 16:26

Same as Jamie's here - at our local farm I paid for the children attending the party and one adult per family was allowed in fro free, any sdttional adults/siblings not invited had to pay.

15 quid is extortionate!

ClumsyNinja · 04/04/2015 16:35

Surely the party hosts were aware of the additional charges?

I think they should have forwarned the parents at the very least or offered to cover the costs. Imagine if every parent had dropped their children off and said 'No, I'm not paying so you'll have to supervise my children until I return to collect them.'

Agree with others about posting a message on their FB page but also, I'd be having words with the parents hosting the party.

Ratfinkandbobo · 04/04/2015 16:40

Ring and complain and ask for a refund. Tell them you are going to go nuclear on them on Fb, and here! Expose them, shame them!!! That is fucking extortion!!!

ohtheholidays · 04/04/2015 17:42

Party's that are held at a Farm all usually include admission for one adult per child.You don't get any food or drinks for the adults unless the hosts have paid for it but that's because you've got in for free.

I think you've all been had and I would complain and demand the money back!

IUseAnyName · 04/04/2015 17:53

£15?... Was it a super farm?! It costs nearly that to enter chester zoo and thats a whole day thing :/ £5 tops for an adult entry in to a farm :/

pod78 · 04/04/2015 18:04

I'd be gobsmacked!

I don't know much about kids parties nowadays, but maybe its like some hen parties/ weddings I've read about (with astonishment!) on AIBU recently; where the bride gets the wedding free if she can get enough guests to pay to stay at the venue.

In this case, maybe the actual party was free for the birthday child/ parents if enough invitees' parents paid to stay to supervise their children - as they were bound to with the ages involved???

I didn't think people would actually get involved with this kind of thing with no shame, but it seems like they do!

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