To refuse to pay this nursery charge

[Jeronnemo]

2 children in nursery. Been really happy there. A few niggles but nothing major. This month's bill had a £40 per child charge for an activity that they only do in winter. It usually kicks in in December through to April but this time they've charged it early. The issue is that they've not actually done the activity yet. I spoke to the manager about it and she was very abrasive and came out with some absolute nonsense about why it was on the bill. She lied and expected me to just suck it up. I'm livid but the conversation is over as far as she's concerned and if I push it any further, I risk being asked to leave. Do I just write it off for the sake of peace and my blood pressure?

just pay in advance
i dont see why not

Do you not pay in advance? A bill now is for December isn’t it?

Surely it's charged in advance for December, like most nursery bills. I pay for all my children's clubs and activities in advance.

What is the activity ? Maybe they need to pay for it up front?

I should add, when I say refuse to pay, I've already paid. The bill was paid in advance and it's only recently come to light that the activity isn't being done. I intended to deduct it off next month's bill but have been told that that won't be acceptable.

You are not being unreasonable to be cross but if she's closed the conversation, you can't do much if you want to keep your DC's there.
Is this a monthly charge for both or a one off for the winter? Monthly - she is perhaps trying to get an extra payment by stealth...if one off, it probably doesn't make much difference.

£40 per child per month during winter. Getting extra money by stealth is exactly what they're doing and it sticks in my throat, especially when they've lied about it and expected me to believe their lies.

It's not clear from your posts whether you're paying for an activity they are going to do over the next few months or you've paid for something that they have then decided not to do at all.

I'm not sure how I can explain it any clearer than I already have.

Is the activity going to take place in December?

I'm confused when you say the activity isn't being done do you mean they've told you they aren't doing it at all full stop or that it just hasn't happened yet?

It's totally normal to pay in advance and I'm not really sure why you queried it when it's still only November?

Tbh I'd let it go as it's £40 which in the cost of nursery isn't much. nurseries around here can pick and choose who they have and have huge waiting lists.

The bill was paid in advance and it's only recently come to light that the activity isn't being done.

So previously they have done, say, yoga in winter at £40 a month; this year you paid the £40 a month but there's no yoga, and they are still charging you?

I think that you can politely query with nursery owners / more senior management.

So the activity isn't being done at all? As others have said your posts are misleading. In your initial post you say the activity happens in December, in which case it's fair for them to ask for the payment in advance.
If you have paid upfront for something that now isn't going to happen (so the December activity has been cancelled) then I would be asking for a refund for that amount.

Your post is confusing for everyone. If you’ve paid for an activity that isn’t being done and never will be then YANBU. If you’ve just paid in advance and it has t started yet then YABU. We pay all our children’s activities in advance.

What's the activity and why isn't it being done - is it for reasons outside of the nurseries control? Although even if it was, I would say they should refund you.

Yes.

I have queried it and was lied to and very assertively closed down.

So what's the problem? You've paid for an activity that will take place in December as advertised? I really have no clue why you think the nursery have done anything wrong?

So if the activity is taking place in December I don't see what the issue is. YABU. Of course you need to pay for the activity in advance.
I recall when my kids first started school their breakfast club used to allow people to pay after, and so many people didn't pay but continued to book spaces. They would send reminders out, pointing out that it wasn't a free club, staff needed to be paid and so on. Eventually they switched systems and went online so all bookings required and upfront payment as people just took the mic in not paying.

OK
You've paid in advance for an activity to be done in December but it hasn’t been done so you’re going to refuse to pay it next month. But it isn’t December yet!
If the activity takes place Dec - Feb, and you pay in advance, you should pay Nov - Jan.
What is it that the manager has lied about?

I paid my November bill in advance. The £40 charge was on it. I paid it assuming that they were starting the activity early this year. It usually only kicks in in December. It's now come to light that it hadn't happened at all in November. So I expect a refund for it but when I challenged it, I was lied to and shut down.

Yabu if the activity will still take place for the number of times you will be paying for

Maybe people haven't been paying if payment is expected after the activity so now they charge before?

I still don't fully understand why you are upset?

I know. It just sticks in the throat to be lied to so blatantly and have no recourse. It's not an honest error, it's a blatant money grab.

But it makes sense that you pay in advance. You are the one being unreasonable. I presume they need to cover the costs and as per my post above, maybe some people were doing the activity in previous years and not paying the £40 so this year they are asking for the money beforehand to ensure the costs are covered.