Kids activity cancelled but won't issue refund

[belay]

Paid out £50 for a sport activity run by a large University sport centre. Only had one lesson so far. Just received an e-mail to say the cost will be transferred to the next block of lessons when they re-open. AIBU in asking for a refund because it could be several months?

I think it's fair enough personally but ask for a partial refund if you like, the worst they can say is no

You are not losing your money. Yes it could be several months but it's unavoidable and not their fault.

But you’re not losing the money.
You’re still getting your wage are you not?

You have already spent that money anyway, it's a sunk cost that you must be able to afford. You arent worse off than you would have been.
You will be able to use it as credit towards future lessons.

What they are doing is perfectly reasonable , if everyone wanted their money back they’d probably go bust .

As the course had started they are entitled to do as they have said.

But you are equally entitled to ask for a partial refund. See what they say.

I think the only way for us all to get through this is with generosity. I am getting paid so I will pay my cleaner and take the hit of nursery if my child isn't attending and the club my older boy attends. I have budgeted for them and, whilst it would be nice to save money, it's a bit selfish if it means someone can't eat or will lose their home as they haven't been paid. For those not getting paid during coronavirus or have a drop due to ssp it is completely different.

we've had something similar from our football club. As it is near the end of the season, they are not doing refunds as they need the money to meet their costs - hire of grounds, equipment, referees etc
PLUS the matches may well resume at a later date, so they'd have to charge another fee if that happened.
OP - they haven't stolen your money, they've simply carried it forward.

I think this is fair enough, you are not losing out, just having to wait.

I think this is fair enough. I’ve got some activities that have done that. I’m more annoyed by activities I’ve got coming out as a monthly fee that are pretending all is normal with no pause. It is insane that clubs like gymnastics are trying to continue on as normal.

I think the MN attitude towards who should and shouldn't take the hit for coronavirus is bizarre. Small businesses and some types of sole traders - like beauticians - are having to take a hit as people aren't booking appointments or are cancelling, and they can't just keep the money as they'll lose clients in the long run. Thousands of people were laid off today.

Just because someone could afford a treat a few weeks ago doesn't mean they can afford it at some unspecified time in the future.

But if you have booked with them and can't go will it make such a massive difference to say they can have the money to keep their business going so that if you can afford it in the future it will be there.

I think it’s different for those whose jobs are more secure than those who are at risk of losing theirs. We will continue to pay for our ds clubs as I am not in any danger of losing my job and we’d like for the clubs to be there when this is all over. However, if I was worried that this might cost me my job, I’d be going after every refund I could and squirrelling that money away.

I'm stretched as much as the next person but I had budgeted carefully for those things and had I been able to go I would have paid for them. The difference is I don't get the service but am only in the same position of if I had. I don't see that as bizarre. I see that as being in the same financial position as I would be and supporting someone.

I think it’s fair how they’re dealing with it. I signed up my Dc for a soccer program at her preschool. 2 days later the preschool have stopped external providers coming in. Have not heard anything about refunds or carried forwards etc. It’s $140 which is ok if I still have a job. I started work yesterday, at home today with no actual work to do, who knows what the future holds, but I’m not going to ask for a refund as they may need it more than me.

The issue is that the government has advised not banned so no one can claim on their insurance.

But why? When your child can just pick up lessons where they left off?

I think what they have done is a fair compromise.

If you and others ask for a refund the organisation May well go under. If you let them keep the money against a future point they may survive. Can you afford to do that? If not, then fine, but think about it

Come on have some empathy. You can afford it, you paid for it. Companies will go down the toilet if they have to refund everything. Your child has something to look forward be happy for that.

I think you should accept the transfer. But....
I am confused by the way the tide has turned so quickly on this.

I plan to ask for a full refund on my trip to disneyworld. They are offering to rebook up to end December but I don't want the uncertainty hanging over us. The T&Cs say I can expect a refund. Plus it was over £10k so a lot of cash.

Do people think that is wrong & I should just let it go to help save jobs? If not, what's the difference?

I think a trip is different because it’s leaving the country, needing time off work and school etc.

A local sports club, with weekly lessons as part of your normal routine once it resumes, is just much more easily transferred!

I'd be concerned that the agent would go bust between now and your delayed trip, in which case you might not get back the 10K, so tbh I would want the refund, @ThinkAboutItTomorrow. Not sure if insurance would be transferred.

The sports club being at the university probably will survive, but another factor is if there's a waiting list would your child get in when they resume if not secured by your current fees.

I work in the travel industry and sadly if everyone took that attitude Think then we would go bust overnight. We are doing our absolute best to rebook people and find something that works for them. I’ve had to take a pay cut and it’s so scary how close we seem to losing everything we have worked for. :(

I'm viewing money spent on children's activites as a sunk cost. Any rebate or transfer is a bonus. Fortunately DH is salaried and working at home, and the business an essential support to essential services.

I'm a leader with youth groups that have been closed at a national level. Their funds are tight anyway, and we don't yet know what our situation is with rent to the community building. They will still have some costs and other than parties, (presumably cancelled and not booking) the income is from voluntary community groups and small scale business. Presumably they will still have some costs to cover even if the building is not in regular use, so they can't spontaneously cancel all charges to their users.

It's early days to know where I stand on my direct debits, and there's no sign on how many weeks/ months this situation will last. It's not long since I paid for a bulk of football lessons until the end of the year 🙈