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?

No, that's not what's happened.

So when you say this months bill do you mean the bill you paid in October for November? Or the bill you paid in November for December? You're not making yourself very clear at all?

What did she lie about?

So if the activity runs say December to March and it's going to start in December would you not be billed for that activity in November, December, January and February. So an activity that is ongoing for four months, you make four payments?

I'm really not sure how I can be any clearer. I've said multiple times it's about November.

Are they charging for it again in December or is it a one off payment? Surely if it is on December's bill again then you can have an issue but if not and they do the activity in December then you just paid in advance.

To be honest I'm having a hard time figuring out what kind of activity would cost £40 per toddler and surely not all parents wish for their child to do the activity and therefore not all will pay? It sounds a strange set up.

W get the bill on the 1st of the month for that month. I paid on November 1st for November. The £40 was added for the activity in November. It's now become apparent that they haven't done this activity in November.

You’re not making any friends here OP. Trying being a little less abrasive. Nobody is clear what you are saying.

Maybe the breakdown is now:
November pays for December
December pays for January
January pays for February

And they now need the money in advance. What are you worried about...that you will pay and the activity won't happen?

Go back to the manager and ask them to confirm what months you will be billed for this activity, and what months the DC will actually be doing this activity. If they’re doing the activity Dec-March, and you’re billed Nov—Feb then you’ve got nothing to complain about. Try not to get so heated up about it or you’ll just wind people up.

So you have paid for an extra month of this activity but aren’t getting an extra month? Or will the extra payment stop early? If you have paid for an extra month you have the right to query it but it sounds like the manager has given you an answer ( just one you didn’t like) I don’t think you should hold back the other payments until it is clear how many months you are paying for and how many months activity they are getting and the reasons why it is different ( if it is)

About why they haven't done the activity but why they won't refund it.

It's not an optional charge and I'm happy to pay it but I'm not happy to pay it when it's not actually being done.

What was the lie that you feel so aggrieved about?

If the activity takes place with a monthly cost in Dec/Jan/Feb/March you will likely be charged for it in Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb because presumably it requires sourcing materials in advance, or paying an invoice in advance to a third party to deliver a service.

You're going to need to get over it because virtually everything for your kids is going to be paid in advance of them actually doing it - swimming lessons, music lessons, scouts, school trips, school dinners...

YANBU but I’m afraid I’d just pay up for a quiet life - why cause upset with the people looking after your child. It’s annoying I agree.

No. November pays for November.

Well without knowing what she said about it we haven't a clue if her reasoning makes sense. If they intended to do the activity and couldn't for some reason then it makes sense to charge in advance as the activity was presumably going to happen when they sent out the bill.

Also you're coming across very abruptly, people are trying to help and understand but your posts are very unclear so I do wonder if your conversation with the staff was a misunderstanding.

But as others have said, if you do the activity for 4 months and pay Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb but the activity runs in March then that is fine. You are paying for the activity in advance..no one is lying to you.
Perhaps previous years you have paid the month it happened but maybe this year it has changed. You seem very adamant you are right, but I am wondering if this was explained by the manager to you but you wouldn't accept this change. Especially because you need to be aware you are now starting to come across as rude in response to posters and if you spoke like that to the nursery manager like this then it is going to cause bad feelings.

So what if they start doing the activity in December? Why not wait and see if that happens first?

Ok, so what exactly was the lie about not going the activity in November or being able to have a refund?

Has she insinuated that they will be keeping the money and not using it for the kids activity at some point? If she has, thats a strange interaction from a business owner

Just tell Us what the activity is.

Is it a pre booked activity, that needs paying at time of booking, then I wouldn’t have an issue paying in advance.

No one is misunderstanding the situation your explanation throughout has been anything but clear and you're ignoring posters who ask relevant questions.

You obviously don't believe you're in any way unreasonable so I really do not understand why you bothered asking

Everyone : you're not being clear

OP: I have explained everything perfectly clearly. You are all stupid.

OP it's clear to you because you know the situation but I can assure it's not clear to anyone else.