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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU Fees (not childcare)

12 replies

JustFrustrated · 28/03/2020 15:18

My children do a hobby. They've been attending for 2 years.

I pay the instructor his fees

and once a year I pay license and insurance for each of them.

The license and insurance go directly to the governing body and none go to the instructor.

There are a few things that bug me about the whole set up - you can only by equipment from their supplier (so say they need footwear, if they're to enter competitions/get the next level up they can only wear footwear from their supplier you cant just buy generic from Amazon etc). Thats the only clear one i can think of, the other only pops up every so often.

I also pay separately for the examinations each time - it's about £45 a child each time.

The instructor has said that for the duration of lock down he will reduce his fees to a weekly per person fee as opposed to the usual per class fee (which we pay for on a monthly charge)

So to my point.

The license and insurance is due for renewal and the instructor has been messaging me about it.

This isn't a massive sum of money, but nor is it a small amount.
Reasonably speaking, by the time lockdown is lifted and they can return to class we're realistically looking at 3 months aren't we? Which is a quarter of the years worth of license - which we wouldn't get added to the next years duration - it would be dead money.

I don't want to pay it, I'm very happy to pay the instructor his full fees for as long as DH and I are being paid. For however long the classes aren't on for. Ultimately, this isn't a case of if we don't pay the license and insurance, the class closes or the instructor loses out. Everyones license and fees are due at different times of the year, so the governing body don't lose out either, it's only like if we chose to pull them from the hobby.

So AIBU to not pay the governing body - when we aren't accessing any form of the hobby, the insurance is invalid even if they practice at home and get injured.

Please remember; I am paying full fees to the instructor for the duration.

I have also namechanged for this.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 28/03/2020 15:47

No, I don't think you do pay while they're not doing the hobby. You let it lapse and then pay again if/when they restart the activity.

Flummingbird · 28/03/2020 15:54

Definitely not, and sorry but I wouldn't be paying the instructor any new fees from now until restarting either. Isn't that what the self employed grant etc is for? I'm not paying for DD's dance or swimming lessons while she's not doing them, I don't have the spare money now anyway!

Kelsoooo · 28/03/2020 18:19

To be fair to the instructor he's only been full time with it for about four months, he had it as a side business for years prior.

Also, he's still offering remote classes. I'm just frustrated by it all.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 28/03/2020 18:23

Name change fail?

Yanbu to let registration/insurance lapse. Ask him why you shouldn’t?

AdoreTheBeach · 30/03/2020 13:02

If the license and insurance is paid once a year, and is for the full year whenever you start the hobby (ie, no pro rata) it won’t make a difference if you pay now or later. If you can pay licence and insurance pro rata, then I’d wait so you’re paying for the licence and insurance for the period your children are actually taking part in the hobby.

However, if you don’t pay now, then surely your children don’t take part in the hobby - on line or otherwise.

Hingeandbracket · 30/03/2020 13:03

Good old MN - the Hobby is always a secret.

Shoppingwithmother · 30/03/2020 13:16

I guess a martial art of some kind!

Cheerbear23 · 30/03/2020 13:39

We had this with gymnastics. It meant the child wasn’t insured, if you didn’t pay the premium, but if they aren’t training, practicing or competing in any way I can’t see why you should pay it.

cologne4711 · 30/03/2020 13:55

England Athletics have said that their affiliation fees that would normally become due in March/April will be extended to August next year, so perhaps the same will apply to the OP's situation. So you'll get time added on.

JustFrustrated · 30/03/2020 14:45

Yeah it's a martial arts

Yes namechange fail haha.

I don't think they'll add the time on - they're not that way minded. The longer the kids do it, and the more the instructor tells me - it seems really pyramid schemey.

OP posts:
TulipsTwoLips · 30/03/2020 14:49

Have you said that you'll pay once they require insurance again?

Sometimeswinning · 30/03/2020 16:28

Sounds like Matt fiddles? If it is you can freeze your childrens membership?

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