To think kids activities provider is unreasonable?!

[Newsagentsfan]

My two children started at a kids extracurricular activity in September. It cost just over £163 per month. It was lot, but they loved the trial, so I sucked in hard and paid. I want to be very fair to the organisation, so I will say there is an option to pay annually (cheapest), monthly direct debit and then month by month (most expensive). I went for monthly direct debit.

There were extras along the way - kit, shoes, contributions to activities in mid second term etc that I didn't realise. Over the year it probably totalled another £200-300. These extras are necessary.

In April, our finances drastically changed as DH's job ended suddenly. We were late with two payments. We struggled through, though we were living in the overdraft constantly, couldn't pay the mortgage, it's the same now. Summer came, and we couldn't really afford ice lollies. Pretty bad.

Summer comes, at the end of term, I email to let them know we are sorry but we cannot return next year (Sept). They respond they are sorry but the contract says we need to cancel before the beginning of the summer term to cancel for winter term (September). I look through the contract, sure enough it is there, buried quite deep into the terms and conditions (maybe 30 paragraphs down).

I email to say please release us, we are literally having trouble feeding the children and have no idea where we will even find money to buy school clothes come September. Please, bear in mind, there are no activities over summer, and the children won't be returning so they are not accruing any costs for the children and they won't be, I can't afford the basics and certainly not the extras which are really not extras. As I type I have £30.52 left in my account for the rest of the month, it's dire.

They respond, they can let us off half, but not all, to be paid over August and September, again, when my children aren't even there. What am I paying for?

I honestly think this is despicable. I cannot believe they have had any outlay for my children for next term, a full two months before anything begins in September. I honestly don't have money to feed the children. They know my children. I understand this is a commercial business, but come on, my circumstances can't change 5 months before September without being tied in from April to December?

I'm sickened, and so upset. I will need to borrow the money. I'd prefer to save that lever for a rainy day, god knows what might come up.

AIBU? There is a contract, but it is onerous. I can't really believe they have known my children for a year and think they are well-positioned to negotiate on what I have told them is food and clothing money.

I've told them I will pay the half, but realistically, I cannot. Like I say, I have £30 to the end of July.

What is the nature of the activity?

If you don't mind people knowing your circumstances I would make this visible on social media. Or possibly try to get something like radio 4 moneybox /you and yours to approach them on your behalf.

Less combatively, you could try and find someone who wants to take up your places for a term and wouldn't mind paying?

Speak to citizens advice. Ask them to arbitrate. If it’s anything like kids clubs here they will have a massive waiting list

Realistically, if you're really struggling you will have to pay your priority debts first. Cancel the Direct Debit to them.

How do you pay it? DD? Card? Cancel it?

Musical theatre.

So, in February, there is a contribution to the hall. That is 7 months from now. They haven't asked for the money yet and they do not ask until January.

I should add, I recommended this activity to another family this year and they signed up, so I have supported this company in more ways than one.

DD

I worry they will take me to court and then I can't pay all the court fees, and then a CCJ. I am so cash strapped.

And also I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of having half the money for nothing. I'd give notice now and send the children next term, if you have to borrow something anyway then another couple of hundred doesnt make much difference. I'd also be super late paying everything.

Stagecoach? Perform?

Is it a drama class? With a celebrity name to it?

It's tough but they take on staff based on numbers. You had a contact but didn't read it properly. Obviously your circumstances have changed but when your DH lost his job you should have handed on notice immediately not waited so long.

I would say in legal terms this is an unfair contract. I wouldn’t pay. I think this is really unpleasant.

The thing is, it doesn't even make sense to send them next term. The term ends in December, They spend all of Sept to Feb rehearsing for a show in February, So realistically, if they know my children are leaving, they won't give them roles etc.

That's if I could pay, anyway.

It now feels so scammy.

I totally agree that now. I had hoped things would get better and so cancelled at the end of term. I didn't wait until just before September.

It is a contract, but I just think it is unreasonable. Honestly. Lets of people will have things change from April to September, In my case, I cancelled two months before the beginning of the winter term.

It feels unfair to me.

To be fair to them they said I can pay half. But that is probably a months worth of food shopping. I am thinking in those terms now.

Remember, it's not that my children have attended and I'm saying 'sorry, i haven't got the money', this two months before my children would ever even see them again.

They have about 70 children. It's four people to a class of around 30, one in the morning, one in afternoon. They also have that monthly option where you can cancel anytime, so there is definitely flexibility in their overheads.

And, of course, I referred families to them.

I'm thinking back to the performance, it's probably more like 100 children.

Just write a formal letter of cancellation, stating you’re giving 2 months notice and then don’t pay!!!

Honestly, I can't pay unless I borrow. Seems crazy.

I agree with you, OP.

I wouldn’t pay it.

But I know that’s easy for me to say, whereas you have the worry of them pursuing it.

Although they might pursue it, I doubt they will.

You could always just say “sorry, I really don’t have the money” and just leave them to it.

Best case scenario, they drop it.

Worst case scenario, the try to pursue through the courts, in which case pay half at that point (borrowing, if necessary) before you get a CCJ.

I think they should awful. Sorry.

Speak to a debt charity, or use chat gpt, to write a letter and draw up a budget, showing your income and expenditure offering them £1 per month, as that’s all you can afford.

Slightly off topic, but just thinking, is there any demand locally for the kit/shoes so you could sell those on for some instant cash?

seem an unfair notice period seeing as monthyl can just cancel whnever they like

id get s solucitor to look at it

Such a great idea!

Then say that to them, failing that take it to social media or review online.

if you literally don’t have the funds in your account then they would look like arseholes to enforce this, and it would make their customers think badly of them. No one expects people who lose their job/might end up on benefits to squander money on paying for something like this.

it really is such a low priority thing to pay for if you are considering it a debt, your household bills come first.