To be annoyed about this request for back fee?

[Cyclingwidow15]

My son attends a Beavers club, it’s run by volunteers.
Last month one of the leaders pulled me to one side and said that I had been given a letter in September advising of an increase in fees and that as I hadn’t increased my direct debit I owed back fees. This is the first I had heard anything of this. We have definitely never had a letter. She treated me as though I was lying by saying a letter was definitely given out.
Anyhow that evening I changed the direct debit to the new amount. We were meant to pay the back fees cash and I thought my husband had paid them it. Turns out he forgot!
Today we have had an email saying that we still owe the back fees but they are now saying a higher amount than they previously asked for. They are also saying we haven’t changed our direct debit still. I’ve screenshot my bank statement to show them that the new amount came out starting last month.
It’s only a small amount of money and I have all intention of paying the back fees next week when he goes.
Thing is they have cancelled the club numerous times before for minor reasons and never offer us our money back for those sessions.
I’m slightly right now after waking up to this email.

You owe the back fees, maybe your DS lost the letter or left it behind. After being politely revived you still didn't pay them. By all means show them the screenshot to prove you have now changed your DD. As for the cancellations I'd imagine they don't get their money back for the hall hire etc and sometimes unavoidable circumstances arise. Apologise for the non payment as pay it, or if you feel the club isn't up to scratch find your son a different one. YABU

I don't agree with the way they have dealt with the situation. However, you've had over a month to pay these fees, so I can see why they're starting to get a little frustrated.

Thing is they have cancelled the club numerous times before for minor reasons and never offer us our money back for those sessions.

Minor reasons, such as?

It could easily be that they have had to cancel sessions as they don't have enough leaders to be in ratio, or other family matters have had to take precedence. Your subs don't just pay for the activities on the night, they pay for rent, census, badges and so on.

Nope, you’re in the wrong. You are annoyed at yourself and turning it outward.
YABU

The fees mostly for insurance, activities and craft materials for the cubs. They're unlikely to be rolling in the money from parents.

Cash or cheque at the start of the terms is much less hassle for the leaders and you do get a bit eye rolly when you try to be more flexible and then parents forget things they'd complain to you about.

Thing is they have cancelled the club numerous times before for minor reasons and never offer us our money back for those sessions.

They are VOLUNTEERS. They are not being paid to be there and entertain your little cherub.

The fixed costs for running a voluntary group like Beavers or Guides remain the same, even if the leaders occasionally have to cancel a meeting.
Hall rent, insurance, census, badges and equipment all have to be paid for no matter what.

Kids often "loose" letters home- there is always a couple of parents who say they didn't get a particular letter- even when you hand out individual letters with their names on, followed by an email and copy of the letter on the group's Facebook page.
Chasing money is a pain in the neck for leaders, time consuming and embarrassing, so when asked just pay up.

Or of course, if you could organise it better, volunteer to be treasurer.

,Thing is they have cancelled the club numerous times before for minor reasons and never offer us our money back for those sessions

They are VOLUNTEERS. They are not being paid to be there and entertain your little cherub
Absolutely this!! I can't believe you are bring do ridiculous and short sighted, well maybe I can, I've seen other party posts on MN so I should no better!
Your kid is insured, the hall or premises still has to be paid.dome activities one week may cost more than the subs they've received for thst session. Surely you understsnd that.

Pay what you owe.
Sounds like they made mistake with last month but that is easily rectified.

The simple fact is that the Scout Association, your District and your County will have all charged your group for your Sons membership. Groups cannot allow themselves to get into debt and have to chase things up. Sometimes this has to take a slightly firm line if people forget or (in some cases) push it.

This is why we have to collect subs for any meetings the child misses. We should refund subs for any meetings we have to cancel mind you. This is not something we would do unless it was a last resort. It is normally because not enough adults are able to be there (and I can assure you that we make Beavers a priority over everything except personal injury, family emergencies and work that we cannot get out of).

Did you offer to help?

We should refund subs for any meetings we have to cancel mind you

I don’t agree. Our beavers/cubs/scouts pay £30 per term. There’s no fixed number of weeks that are guaranteed for that . Some terms there’ll be 10 meetings, other terms there could be 14. There may also be the occasional free weekend activity or extra evening activity.

It would be a nightmare to refund subs for one meeting because we had to cancel it. How much would we even give back?

That said, in the 7 years I’ve been involved in Scouts, I can only think of two times a meeting was cancelled. One was due to snow when neither leaders or children could get to the scout hut, and the other was when all the leaders went to a funeral.