Aibu waterbabies automatic rebooking

[Sunland]

My son was booked for waterbabies lessons which we have been going too since pools reopened. We are coming towards the end of term now and found an email from the waterbabies in my inbox from last week ( I havent checked my mail in a little while) that said they would automatically rebook lessons for us unless they hear otherwise by a given date. The date given had already passed and was only 5 days from the email sent. They then debited 180 £ from my card. In order to get the money back you pay a fine of £50. Luckily my card didn't go through because I got a new one recently but aibu in thinking this is terribly unethical way of running a business.

I've been in water babies for a few years, they tell you this repeatedly and need to know for booking the pools what numbers they have. It's not their fault you didn't read the email.

Ignorance is not a defence. They're a business, it's your responsibility to read the t&cs. You would be the first to complain if you hadn't been booked in the class and lost your place. 5 days is more than reasonable. You're told when you book and get reminders. Follow their SM page, it would be another way not to miss important info

** They sent you an email. Not their fault “you’re too busy” to read your emails

YAB (highly) U**

^This. Your excuse of being a busy mum is laughable.

I take my daughter to water babies. They send me a text and an email. If I don't click the rebooking email and "read" it they usually send a reminder too. Might be a different area though, I'm in kent

There’s a reason insurance companies are being forced to make it easier for people to opt out of auto renew. It’s because it’s considered unethical and not in the consumer’s best interest.

We’ve used two different swim schools and neither has had an auto enrol policy. Instead one gives the options to rebook ahead of the classes going on general sale and the other sends a reminder that the block of lessons is almost used up and you need to rebook if you want to continue.

Sure it may be standard and legal, but any decent business wouldn't so this, you can choose not to take people's money with 5 days notice

Rhythm Time rolls over each month but only if you choose to pay that way (slightly cheaper I think) and we've had numerous reminders on Facebook, via email and in class to cancel and how to do so if we don't want to carry on in September. It might be legal but seems pretty unscrupulous to not give more time to cancel and not to remind you in more ways.