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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Swimming lessons

34 replies

Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 20:34

My 4.5 year old started swimming lessons beginning of September, he really enjoyed it at first then after a while he started to dislike it because he didn’t like wearing the goggles and he didn’t enjoy learning to swim after a few months I had to keep nagging and persuading him to go. He started to hate his lessons and even cried a lot of times but I still persevered as I wanted him to learn.
In the end I decided it was not for him and I could no longer force him, I paid for the Autumn term till Xmas 23. He only went to 2 lessons and didn’t go for the rest of the term as I couldn’t get him to go.
So I get a invoice from his swimming company saying I need to pay for the next term, and I obviously haven’t paid because I didn’t intend on continuing and I said I want to cancel it because my son hasn’t been enjoying it (they know this too) because they’ve helped me get him in the pool.
They then told me I needed to give them a 4 week notice to cancel so I need to forward them £52 or DS can continue coming in for 4 more weeks! Although he can’t because he’s frightened and doesn’t want to swim!
I didn’t know about the 4 week notice as it’s not even a direct debit you just send money to their account.
I can’t be sending someone money for no reason in a cost of living crisis!
I’ve already wasted so much money with the previous term where he didn’t go in.
AMIBU??

OP posts:
ShoePalaver · 04/01/2024 20:37

You probably need to check if you received any contract or terms and conditions to see if a notice period is required. £12.50 a lesson seems very steep though!

MerCatsSpawScience · 04/01/2024 20:37

Sorry OP, whilst its frustrating paying for something you aren't using, I think you are being unreasonable.
Most classes have a notice period, and it's always worth checking these things to cancel. I don't really know any classes or organisations that don't have a notice period so would be surprised if you didn't agree to one when you signed up.

I say this as someone who also has a child who hates swimming lessons, so I do sympathise.

Scrantonicity2 · 04/01/2024 20:39

If you need to give a 4 week notice then that's what you need to do. They won't know if you wanted to cancel or just couldn't come for a bit.
Did you sign a contract or Ts and Cs?

Scrantonicity2 · 04/01/2024 20:41

Do you know anyone who wants to take the place for a few weeks who could share the cost?

Original poster
Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 20:44

I never knew this though otherwise I would have.
No I never signed anything, when DS started I just got email of a few details, invoice and terms times that’s all.
They could’ve made it more clear at the start

OP posts:
Original poster
Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 20:44

I don’t think this something they will allow ?

OP posts:
TheWalkingDeadly · 04/01/2024 20:46

You needed to check. And could have let them know if he only went to 2 youce had plenty of time.
They will not have been able to get another child booked in.
Take him yourself a few times or wear goggles in bath or shower.
However he is stilo pretty young

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 04/01/2024 20:48

YABU, were you not even going to tell them he was no longer attending?! It was on you to check, i suppose it depends whether they sent you their T&C's which says the 4 week notice period or not (whether you read it or not doesn't matter)

TheWalkingDeadly · 04/01/2024 20:48

When does the £52 take you till?
It may have been you needed to let them know before the term start or week before

AbsoFrickingLuteley · 04/01/2024 20:51

You should have given them notice but if it's not in their terms and conditions then they can't make you pay. A lesson for you to learn for the future though.

AbsoFrickingLuteley · 04/01/2024 20:52

Would he go if he didn't have to wear goggles? Do they insist on goggles? My daughter hates goggles and that's fine, very few wear them at her lessons.

Original poster
Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 20:52

@TheWalkingDeadly Till the Feb half term and if only I knew before I would’ve done

OP posts:
Original poster
Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 20:53

@AbsoFrickingLuteley nope still won’t go he wouldn’t get out the car when we get there and they make him wear the goggles they keep trying to persuade him then he starts to cry 😕

OP posts:
Original poster
Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 20:55

@AbsoFrickingLuteley I checked their website after and it does say it there but I would’ve never thought to check! It’s my first child first time signing up to swimming lessons so I didn’t know how it all worked. Definitely a lesson to learn

OP posts:
Workaholic99 · 04/01/2024 20:57

My swimming was the same. 4 weeks notice.

If you knew after only 2 lessons DC was unlikely to continue then that's on you I'm afraid. Just pay up and put it down to experience but you do owe the money for not saying anything earlier than when you received the next invoice.

It will have said in the T&Cs. If it doesn't then that's your only get out clause for not paying.

Original poster
Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 20:57

@Youcancallmeirrelevant Yes I definitely should’ve told them last term but I didn’t know there was a notice period, because it wasn’t a automatic direct debit payment I didn’t think things like this would really apply.
If they had sent me the T&C when I signed up I would’ve read it and known.

OP posts:
AbsoFrickingLuteley · 04/01/2024 20:59

Take him fun swimming with no goggles and then sign him up to new swimming lessons once he's comfortable again in a place that won't make him wear them. You could argue the point with them that he hates it because they are forcing him to wear goggles but you'll probably just have to suck it up and pay.

CatamaranViper · 04/01/2024 20:59

Is it on their website anywhere? Check carefully all the emails you've received to see where it states 4 weeks notice.

At mine there is such a backlog of students, if you miss 1 payment you lose your place so cancelling is pretty straight forward. We still need to give notice on the off chance there isn't a student waiting for the place.

A cancellation period is very normal.

xyz111 · 04/01/2024 21:01

Des he have to wear goggles? My son didn't when he was that age as he hated them. Sounds like the goggles have become a big thing for him to not want to go swimming anymore.

Giving notice on a class is pretty standard so they have time to get someone else off the waiting list.

Original poster
Flowerpowerr1 · 04/01/2024 21:04

@CatamaranViper I did check their website after and it does say it in small print but I would’ve never thought to check and I haven’t had it emailed to me.
exactly this is what I thought I thought it would be straight forward just to cancel because they’re so busy!

Can’t believe they want me to send them money for not attending they can easily replace him and get another child in 😕

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 04/01/2024 21:05

My experience is you pay monthly with a months notice to cancel.... the exception being if they finish the course.

TheCave · 04/01/2024 21:08

Did you agree to the lessons by email or did you sign up through the website? If by email did they ever mention their terms and conditions, the 4 week notice period or the fact that lessons (and payment) would continue until you cancelled? Or point you to any info on the website which would have clarified these things?

CatamaranViper · 04/01/2024 21:10

Sorry but this is entirely on you. They have their terms stated on their website, you chose to agree to those when you started the lessons. Just because you didn't think to check in advance doesn't mean you don't have to pay.
Sorry I do feel for you! I'd be gutted too. But you don't really have a leg to stand on

PrimalOwl10 · 04/01/2024 21:11

I'm a swimming teacher 4 weeks notice is standard practice. You need to terminate your contract in writing. When you signed up for lessons you made a contract which held that space for your son.

minipie · 04/01/2024 21:16

I’m surprised by this

IME kids’ activities work two ways - a rolling basis where there is a monthly direct debit and you need to give notice to finish. OR a termly basis where you pay for a term up front and then they send out an email a month or two before the next term asking you to renew and pay for the next term.

These lessons sound like the latter as you paid for a term up front? But they are saying it’s a month’s notice so kind of mixing the two systems?

Think you need to go through the old emails and see what it says?