AIBU to think I shouldn’t have had to run the party myself after paying £275?

[Booyou123]

My son turned 10 this weekend and we booked a UV glow football party for 15 boys. It was his first proper birthday party since he was 3, so it felt like quite a big milestone.

Before booking, I repeatedly called and emailed the company to confirm exactly what would be provided. I was told there would be a neon football, glow bibs, UV equipment and that the hall would be properly marked out. We were specifically told the children should wear dark clothing for the glow-in-the-dark experience.

I was also told the coach would need 45 minutes to an hour to set up, so I paid for additional hall hire.

On the day, the coach arrived with two UV lights, two football goals and some rubber markers. There was no neon football, no glow bibs and the setup took about 10 minutes. After 15 mins the kids wanted the lights on because they couldn’t see the ball.

We had paid for 45 minutes of dodgeball and 45 minutes of football. The dodgeball never happened. I was told the company had forgotten to pack the equipment, while my husband was told it had been stolen from the coach’s van.

The coach seemed completely overwhelmed by a group of 15 ten-year-old boys. There was very little structure to the activities and it was mostly the children making up their own games. Parents had to prompt drink breaks and a few children later reported feeling sick or unwell. When one child was injured, there didn’t appear to be a first aid kit available - which is shocking for a sports coach from a sports company?!

The football itself wasn’t really organised. At times it was just 15 children chasing one ball around the hall, which inevitably led to frustration and arguments.

The thing that is confusing me is that despite all of this, the children actually had a brilliant time. They made up their own games, played bulldog, organised their own mini football matches and generally had a great laugh together. My son came home happy and said he loved his party.

So I’m left feeling quite conflicted. On one hand, the kids had fun and my son enjoyed himself. On the other hand, I spent most of the party stressed, managing issues, questioning safety, and feeling like the service delivered was nothing like what was advertised.

I’ve complained to the company and reported my concerns to Citizens Advice.

AIBU to think this goes beyond simply a disappointing party and into genuinely poor and potentially unsafe delivery of a children’s event?

I am furious and I was really worried about the safety of the children so I intervened and did a few games myself, (Ex primary teacher)

I researched this company very well. They partner with goals to do events, they have great reviews with photos, an active instagram with weekly postings about events taking place.

AIBU to think this goes beyond simply a disappointing party and into genuinely poor and potentially unsafe delivery of a children’s event?

You should absolutely get a refund, you didn't get the advertised experience due to them forgetting half the equipment. I do think you're being precious about the safety aspect though. These boys are 10. More than old enough to say 'Hang on a second, I need a drink.' First aid kit is also responsibility of the venue.

I have adhd and overthink everything pretty much.

Honestly, the kids had a great time and no parent will be judging you as their child will tell them how much fun they had and thTs the main point here.

You've done what you needed to do, contacted the company with a complaint so for now, try and do something nice for you (evem if its a relaxing bath) for the succes in providing your son and his friends a good party (despite not being what you paid for) and see what the company come back with.

Remember, everyone had a good time.
Isn't that all we want?

Looking forward to an update

please don’t name the company here - you need to wait for them to respond. This is starting to become a major over reaction and is really unfair to the company when we only have one side. I’m absolutely not saying your side on the lack of equipment and poor organisation isn’t correct but it’s getting over the top and you need to take a step back, calm down and wait for them to respond. If their response is we don’t care, F off then by all means but if their response is reasonable and proportionate then that should be adequate enough for you to move on hopefully.

I have received a response and to my absolute delight:

I have immediately started an internal investigation on what has gone wrong with your Glow Sports experience this weekend.

Until I get all the information and feedback I require to send a full response I will action a full refund as requested. This will be processed today.

I will get back to you in due course with further information.

On behalf of ___ I can only apologise we have not met your expectations of our Glow Sports Party.

It really does cushion the blow and I really want to see what the results of this investigation are.

I think I scared them by mentioning trading standards.

Well done OP, great result. You received a shocking service.

Well done, great update! You should still report them to trading standards and leave a bad review on trust pilot and google reviews. Make sure your reviews are factual.

Well done. For that kind of money you should barely have to do anything other than show up with a cake.

Or they may have provided a refund anyway even if you didn’t threaten them, you will never know. Glad you got the outcome you wanted. Please stop naming and shaming them online now!

@ToKittyornottoKitty I think there was a satisfaction in naming and shaming online, because I was so upset.

I am not going to take my reviews down, because I don’t not want anyone to suffer the experience that we did or have their child have a crap party.

I didn’t say take your reviews down. But they’ve given you what you want and you’ve still named and shamed on here. You’ve done enough now

You could perhaps add that you have been refunded quickly, though

Glad to see you have had a positive response on the refund side - hopefully that assuages your feelings a bit. On the RSD, I completely get this as I do/feel the same, but when my DC are invited to fun parties and entertained for an hour or two, I am just grateful to the parents and mindful of the hassle and stress of running a party - even when DS has come back with a minor injury, I've never thought less of the parent running the party because frankly, he's liable to injure himself tripping over his own feet or walking into doors when he's not paying attention... I hope that reassures you a bit that most if not all of the parents are likely not thinking anything about the party at all today - or if they are, it's more likely to be 'can I do a similar party for DS because he really enjoyed that one'!

I think you should edit your reviews though, to say you had a refund.

Maybe lay off the OP? You've made your point.

Well done, OP!

I was responding to her, responding to me. Discussion on a discussion forum, it’s how they work.

Responding repeatedly, after she'd made her position and feelings clear. 'badgering' in other words.

But OP has also posted their prompt and, in my opinion, excellent response. She's given a factual run down of what happened. If I were in the market for a glow football party, I'd think - well, they got it wrong on this occasion but they are taking it seriously, they sound decent overall.

By that logic you are now ‘badgering’ me because you’ve replied to me, replying to you and made your point twice.

That’s why other posters suggestions of updating the reviews is a good one, hopefully she will do that

agree. I actually changed my vote to YABU because you've let the reviews stand despite them literally doing everything they could as an apology incredibly quickly (party on Sunday and they've refunded you fully and promised to investigate by 11am on Monday is really good).

At the bare minimum you could update the reviews saying that you appreciate you've had a thorough and quick response from the company - that would allow other parents to make a balanced decision whereas at the moment you've only given half a picture.

I had the exact same experience but in another country! Glow in the dark football party for an eighth birthday. Did my research. Paid $400. Two teenagers turned up, they basically became our assistants, I had to direct them. The space was unsafe and a child ended up in hospital with concussion (yes, really). No first aid facilities or even ice. Absolute chaos. OMG I’m getting panicky just thinking about it. I got a 50% refund so you’ve done much better than me! I’ve never had a party with hosts again after that. DH and I can do a better job ourselves and do.

@Ohdearnotthisagain oh wow I am so so sorry that you had to go through that. I can only imagine the absolute horror. Did you ever go down the route of trading standards? Was that child who had concussion ok?!

The company have emailed me back saying, in light of our refund please could you remove the bad reviews.

I have edited it to say that a full refund has been swiftly made and that it was done in less than 24
hours.

Should I really have to take down factual things that happened?

No I think editing as you have is fair, they weren’t unreasonable to ask, but it’s also fair enough to say no.

Then you should also mention that they have responded and about the refund. Fair's fair.