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?

We're losing hundreds of pounds on canceled children's activities - music, ballet, sports etc.

I'm not asking for - or expecting - refunds. The world is different now - I feel I need to suck up stuff like this to help businesses survive.

If we want those things to exist 'after' then imo, we support them now.

We've just had a message from the loval leisure centre as it is closing for the foreseeable. They've said in the message that they will be suspending membership fees so we dont need to worry about paying. I pay £93 a month (both kids have swimming lesson memberships and club membership). I was going to continue paying because otherwise, how do the staff get paid? And what happened when they can open up again and the staff have all gone? Or they cant offer the same classes as before because if budget cuts?
I would rather continue to pay to ensure my kids places.

My kids after school care have also had to close because the building they use is rented from the council and the council are closing all their sites. I'm going to continue paying their fee because if people dont then they will go under.

I get that Bluooochristmas** but I don't think I should have to pay £10k+ to support companies that made billions only a year ago.
We're covered by atol so no risk of losing out if they go bust. It's more just not wanting the uncertainty of will we go or not for months to come.

I probably would rebook next Easter but they want it this year!

I help with a scout group and have closed following Scout HQ instructions. Parents have asked for sub refunds. I don't think they realise we are a charity and still have costs like hut insurance, repairs and maintenance of the hut, badges etc and we have just paid the capitation fees which were in excess of £2k which I am sure we won't get any refund on.

I am sure if we have to close for a length of time we may have to look at refunds but we have only closed for 2 weeks so far.

It is acceptable under the circumstances.

Business will collapse if we all take that attitude, and I say that as a parent of 2 who do 7 paid for activities combined.

If you, and everyone else, pull your money out it might be cancelled forever.

Leave them with the money as credit and they will probably give you some perks when they re-arrange.

(My organisation has had to cancel activities 'for the time being' and this reflects the reality for us).

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.

MN never ceases to amaze me. How people forget that everybody is not just exactly the same as them.

" you must be able to afford"

Erm how do YOU know?

You aren't any worse off than you would have been." You what? How do you know? !!

Some people are being pushed to the wire by this CV and if you've a chunk of money tied up in something you're not getting, it's a massive loss.

Ok for some just to have credit for some vague time in the future for others it's touch and go.

It really depends on what the impact of the next few months is going to be on your finances - yes, you’d already paid it but it’s fair to say none of us saw this coming. If you’re in stable employment on a steady wage then I’d let it roll over. If things are suddenly looking a bit precarious ask for it back.

@maggiecate

Exactly. 2 sides to every story. These are difficult times.

If you need that money now OP ask for it.

Surely the 10k is for the holiday, which they are still providing to you just at a later date. Not ideal but under the circumstances people are trying to do their best. Unless the holiday is sold direct they likely have allocation issues on moving you to next Easter.

I have a UK holiday in June which they are refusing to move at all and sadly we will lose what we have paid so far. :(

I’m also continuing to pay for dance classes for the girls because I want them still to be there in a few months time.

I would be okay with transferring the funds to another time. You're not losing it completely. These are exceptional circumstances now and we should all be trying a little harder to be more tolerant and accepting. Everyone is scared, confused and worried atm. Everyone has their own story, their own fears in these uncertain times. Nothing seems 'normal' anymore. I have spent the day as a GP receptionist being verbally abused by patients. I understand their concerns and everyone is trying their best to accommodate their needs, big or small working, like a lot of people, under enormous pressure and in different circumstances now. Wherever possible we have to all try and understand that we are all suffering in varying degrees.

Thanks everyone . I can see both sides and will not be asking for a refund at this time .

Think of it as they are postponing rather than cancelling. Sometimes once activities stop it can be really hard to get them back up and running. So having lessons already booked just helps to get back into the swing of things.

Do you want the activity to still be there in a few months when this is all over? If everyone demands refunds for everything that is going to be cancelled, then a lot of businesses will fold. A little flexibility and generosity of spirit is needed (from those who can genuinely afford it, fair play if you are absolutely skint).

Couchpotato totally agree.

Whilst it's fine to do this and wait.

I'm worried about people taking advantage of it all, and possibly never intending to provide the service.

I find it amazing that everyone is happy for Joe blogs / the individual service user to bear the cost when if you follow this payment chain to the other end there will be someone profiting from them and far better off.
Op I think you should insist on a full refund. You might need to spend that money on alternative arrangements. Or you may not want a club at a later date.

Our pools aren’t having the costs of the teachers because they’re all on 0 hr contracts so if they don’t work they don’t get paid. So I’ll definitely not be paying while they’re not doing the lessons I’m paying for. I’d rather take the money and hand it direct to the teachers for the money they’re losing out on

Stop being so bloody tight. You haven't lost the money, you've lost the experience and you'll still probably get that back later in the year.

If we all ask for refunds we're going to sink our own fucking country. Stop being so bloody selfish.

This is called deferred value and it's a common business practice in many industries. In times like this it will help prevent places like that football club going bust.

You will be given those lessons back as a "credit" in the future. If you've already paid them it's not like the money is stopping you paying for anything else right now.

The best way for us through coronavirus as a society is to be flexible and kind to each other. Including businesses.

Are they open for refunds.
In this situation I'd let the money roll over for the next set.

I think this is generous of them given our current situation. With my kids I'm just assuming I'll lose the money, and if any of them roll forward, I'd consider that a win.