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?

Neither. I'm just beyond frustrated at how willfully people are misunderstanding my situation.

Well us contributors would understand better if you answered the very simple questions asked of you.

Like have the nursery explicitly told you that you will now make 6 payments November - April and only get 5 months of the activity December - April...

Its hilarious that you are getting on your high horse and insulting half of MN when actually your first post was not clear at all, it didnt state if the £40 was a monthly charge or covered the activity for the whole period from Dec-April, it didnt explain that the £40 covered November only and that the activity was simply not being done in November but they were refusing a refund. It didnt explain that the £40 was not going to come off the final charge for April etc.
However I do wonder if you've even asked the nursery these questions as you seem very easily annoyed and quite insulting and rude so I suppose if you went in there all guns blazing there might be a reason you were met with hostility.
If I were you I would just send a simple respectful email and just query if the £40 paid in November for the activity that didnt take place will be coming off the bill at some other point.

I’m not surprised OP is frustrated when she’s explained that she paid for it in advance for November and November has now passed and no activity took place.

Absolutely. Why on earth shouldn't the OP respond in the same tone as the comments towards them? And then be polite to patronising tossers who advise them to "self-reflect"?

They don't need to pay in advance. It's an in-house activity.

But if OP is able to access childcare funding so is getting a proportion of hours free then paying an extra £40 over the winter when they can’t go outside so much so need indoor activities etc is not something I could get this cross about, if she is paying top whack for all her hours as doesn’t fit the criteria for any childcare funded places then it’s slightly different.
My point is that even paying £40 extra it’s unlikely that she is paying 2 lots of full nursery fees so is better off.

So what did the manager actually say?

I’d email the nursery asking for clarification before I deducted money. Give them a chance to explain.

It’s probably frustration but you are coming off a bit abrasive too- this might be why you haven’t got the full picture. It’s unlikely to be the day-to-day staff here who have messed up so don’t have a go at them.

The nature of the activity is irrelevant. It could be cutting a potato up and sticking it up your nose for all it matters to the situation.

Are good quality nursery places abundant where you live? Because I certainly wouldn't be souring relations with nursery for the sake of £40.

Despite the lack of info in the OP, your follow up posts have been very clear and some people obviously just didnt enough sleep last night.

For everyone saying that it’s just been paid for in advance, unlike previous years? Don’t you think the nursery manager would have just said this to OP in the first place to clear it all up?

Manager clearly didn’t so that’s not the solution.

Thank you! Exactly my point!

And this is why they get away with it.

I pay top whack and no funding.

Exactly and it grinds my gears.

But if you find a good nursery that your children are happy at and you feel comfortable with, it's worth its weight in gold. Yes it's annoying, we know they're money making machines for someone (not the staff), but having good childcare is priceless.

What’s the reason for it not happening and how did it come to light? What did the manager say about why it hasn’t happened?

Is it outsourced or in house?

The cynic in me is wondering if nursery have decided to run their own ‘yoga’ sessions instead of getting Yoga R Us to come in, but still charging for it as a special activity.

I think you have been misleading in your posts. Initially you mention it being an activity that starts in Dec which is why everyone is telling you it is payment in advance.
Somewhere you seem to have changed the story to the activity should have started in Nov. Maybe if you were clearer with the dates it would make more sense.
I don't think a refund is necessary if they now only charge the months it does happen, so if it finishes in Feb then Jan is the last time you pay the fee.

What reason did the nursery give for not refunding you? Apologies if you’ve explained up thread & I’ve missed it.

I'm a childminder, I am paid funding and have a price list for extras. Would you be happy for me to pop an extra £40 on my invoices with no service rendered just because you've already got a low bill? Or is it just nurseries that are allowed?

Im a cm, I'll try that with my parents next month!

Thank you. Trust and integrity are critical and they've eroded both.

I was just given a load of bullshit

Which was? What was their explanation?