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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed that school trip is cancelled and likely no refund

170 replies

CancelledLondonTrip · 25/05/2017 17:10

First off my thoughts are with the victims and their families in Manchester. It was a terrible unpredictable attack on innocent children.

In light of this attack, our school is cancelling their year 6 trip to London.

I would rather the trip goes ahead, as the actual risk to our children in London from an terrorist attack is tiny. Especially with the heightened security.

The school have also said as everything has already been paid for it is unlikely we will get a refund on the £150 (three day trip) cost, as it has already been spent on train tickets, hostels, museum tickets and a show. All non refundable.

Aibu to expect the school to either run the trip OR refund 100% of the trip money OR even give the parents who still want to go the tickets and let us use the teachers tickets and we could take our children down ourselves ?

For the school to cancel the trip and for all the parents to lose all the money doesn't seem to be a fair solution.

OP posts:

SandyDenny · 14/06/2017 18:41

Not an easy choice for the school to make but I think they should accept that as they reacted without actually considing what the real risk was rather than what they perceived the risk to be they need to bear the loss.

It is beyond unreasonable to expect the parents to pay, you've said that some people hadn't finished paying, they won't pay another penny and are effectively better off for paying slowly or installments.

I'd be very unhappy about the situation and would take it further, is the school an academy? Have you spoken to the local authority or academy management.

Sad face in the paper might be the way to go, I'd be surprised if many people think you should lose your money

notknownatthisaddress · 14/06/2017 19:10

Stupid and annoying.

I would be fuming.

They probably have more chance of being hit by a zeppelin than being in a terrorist attack.

Original poster

CancelledLondonTrip · 14/06/2017 20:30

Yes, stupid and annoying.

I am sad my child misses out on a trip to our capital city. The same thing I did at that age.

It is not about the money. The money was spent either way. I am just sad that the teachers are too scared of London.

That they are passing on fear of the unavoidable, rare, devastating terrorists attacks. Which we all worry about but we have to live our lives regardless.

OP posts:

29Palms · 14/06/2017 20:48

But they have taken your money, and you have received nothing for it.

PrincessToadinTheHole · 14/06/2017 20:52

Would there be some sort of compromise? Stay away from the worst of the busy touristy areas?

worridmum · 15/06/2017 00:41

legally they will have to refund you, just like a travel oparetor does aka they decided its not profitable to run a trip (few numbers etc) so they cancel the trip they cannot then keep your money irrespective of your own insurance

user1497480444 · 15/06/2017 00:52

As a teacher in London, yes there is frequently advice to cancel school trips. official advice, and yes we do cancel trips. There are also other conditions which sometimes come into play, such as not using major transport hubs, or the main entrances to public buildings, etc.

No, I don't think they have to refund you, as cancelling due to terrorism isn't insurable for, I don't think.

worridmum · 15/06/2017 01:18

it does not matter if it is not insurable just because you dont have / doesnt not pay out insurasnce does not discharge your liabitly just like you can sue uninsured drivers if they cause an accident.

If the school does not pay up your only recource is to take it to the small claims court where you will win....

quizqueen · 15/06/2017 01:23

Schools should really have insurance in the even of cancelled trips. I would want a refund from the school and be reluctant to pay for any future trips with no guarantees.

29Palms · 15/06/2017 01:25

yes there is frequently advice to cancel school trips. official advice, and yes we do cancel trips

But there wasn't on this occasion, and the trip wasn't even imminent.

There was no need to cancel nearly two months ahead - unless of course it was so they could obtain refunds.

Original poster

CancelledLondonTrip · 15/06/2017 07:26

As I mentioned earlier I do have other children at the school. They won't be getting a penny for future school trips ahead of the day it runs and they will not be going on the year 6 trip at all. First child missed it, therefore the others will too.

I know legally we are in the right but no one is going to sue the school. Some parents want them to run the trip and some want the trip to be cancelled. The school can't please everybody. Some children had to be disappointed, it happens to be my child.

OP posts:

PrincessToadinTheHole · 15/06/2017 07:48

I don't see why why can't run the trip for parents who don't want it cancelled that would please everyone.

Butterymuffin · 15/06/2017 07:54

The school will have to have had insurance (some people suggesting they just didn't get any ) but terrorism isn't covered by insurance.

ShatnersWig · 15/06/2017 08:04

Sorry if I've missed it, OP, I did RTFT but what has been the official written response of the school to your written request asking to be refunded?

sparkleandsunshine · 15/06/2017 08:12

I would write them an email and say again

You have paid for this trip. They have chosen not to provide this trip. Their decision, not yours. It is a lot of money for you and do not think it's reasonable that they take it and do not provide you with what they promised.
Now as the school has let your child down you need the money back so you can sort something else.
They cannot just take your money and give you nothing.
And it is appalling that other parents hadn't paid for their trips in full so now the parents who had made sure they paid in good time are being penalised for it.

I would get really cross though cos this is seriously unfair.

DisappearingFish · 15/06/2017 13:11

Could you and other parents take the kids on the trip using the school's bookings?

Original poster

CancelledLondonTrip · 15/06/2017 13:42

Just had a phone call from the school (very small village school) and they are refunding at cost to themselves.

They have done the right thing and I hope the school can recoup the money from the bookings. They are expecting 40% refund so far but are working to get more.

I would of prefered the trip to go ahead but this is the next best thing. So I didn't save up all year for nothing.

Kudos to the school for doing the right thing.

The money will pay for school lunches and for balance on high school uniform and I will take all the kids out at the weekend somewhere nice.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 15/06/2017 18:58

Glad they are refunding you.

Butterymuffin
The insurance in this case likely wouldn't pay up because there is no official mandate that says that all school trips to London must be cancelled.

29Palms · 15/06/2017 19:10

Good. They didn't have a leg to stand on.

Advance train fares are non-refundable, but that was probably not much as that's the point of booking advance, it's very cheap.

As for the rest, they should get most of it back as they cancelled so early. Disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

emmyrose2000 · 18/06/2017 13:33

Took them long enough to realise they needed to do the right thing.

Whether cancelling was the right thing to do or not, is debatable either way. But once they had made the decision to cancel, they had a moral, and probably legal, duty to refund the monies back to the parents.

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