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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wee in ball pool at play place

62 replies

Tippytoes · 22/11/2008 22:03

Had ds party today in a small play place. One of the party, girl of 4, wees in the ball pool, obviously an accident. We tell the owner straight away and they promptly announce that nobody is to go in the ball pool. Anyway, they want the parent responsible to pay £100 (which is what they say it costs) to clean it. We were made to feel really bad for the rest of the party and it really spoil it for me (not the children though!). Do you think this is right, they should pay or not?

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 22/11/2008 22:04

I am surprised at teh demand for cash.

It must happen from time to time, surely they expect it?

PeaMcLean · 22/11/2008 22:06

I thought wee in the ball pool was almost compulsory at these places

Asking for £100 from paying customers is somewhat extreme. Perhaps you need to be offered insurance when you pay to go in.

KatieDD · 22/11/2008 22:07

Hmmm I can see both sides but surely it's part and parcel of owning something like that, shit happens.
I wouldn't pay it, they can't make you.

wheresthehamster · 22/11/2008 22:08

Yeah, if shit happens it's probably £200

misshardbroom · 22/11/2008 22:08

aren't they insured?

LoveBeingAMummy · 22/11/2008 22:09

A toliet related accident at a children's play centre...surely not

FFS this is stupid. Name and shame!!!!!

snigger · 22/11/2008 22:09

DSD never came out of these places without wet socks.

Mind you, we never did get to the bottom of whether or not she was behind the wet trousers after the very steep slide into the ball pool ....

I think it's surely an occupational hazard of excited toddlers?

MadamePlatypus · 22/11/2008 22:09

I can see that it might be quite fiddly to clean a ball pool, but aren't they generally used by people who might have this kind of issue? It can't be the first time this has happened.

Original poster
Tippytoes · 22/11/2008 22:10

I said to the owner that surely it was an occupational hazard, but obviously we were very sorry it had happened. She said no not really as it does say parental responsibility, but to me that doesn't include this, this to me means that they don't accept responsibility if they get hurt etc.

They have taken parents names and said they will be in touch with them about the money.

OP posts:
PeaMcLean · 22/11/2008 22:11

I was in a swimming pool once and one pool attendant was gesticulating to the other on the opposite side of the pool. She was pointing at something in the water then pulling faces and pointing at her bum. DS and I got out rather quickly!

"shit happens" reminded me of this.

I think certain places have to take this as a hazard of the job.

Original poster
Tippytoes · 22/11/2008 22:13

I can't really name and shame as I don't think any of you would know it, its only a small 'one off' play place

OP posts:
snigger · 22/11/2008 22:13

I also think it's a bit crap to take advantage of your good manners when there are undoubtedly countless parents shrugging and walking away - on the fairly sensible assumption that this is bound to happen - what next? Dye packs in the swimming pool?

Poor you, having your party spoiled.

NorbertDentressangle · 22/11/2008 22:13

My friend's DS did this a few months ago when we went to a soft play place.

The owner was really nice about it and said not to worry and that it happens at least once a week.

The staff who had to go in and empty the ball pit to clean it, OTOH, didn't look too happy about it (then again it was a real PITA job)

There was certainly no charge.

If a place charges surely they have to have huge signs up telling customers that they charge £100 for "soiling charge" (like taxis do for example)

Original poster
Tippytoes · 22/11/2008 22:15

she seemed more annoyed that the 'parent' hadn't told her, and it came from me! Does it really matter? I feel like in this case honesty was not the best policy.

OP posts:
MadamePlatypus · 22/11/2008 22:15

In my experience, swimming pools usually have notices up specifying how much you will be charged incase of accident. (Have never met anybody who has been charged).

IMO if you let young children use a facility that will be expensive to clean in the event of a child weeing, and you intend to charge parents, you should specify this in advance. I am sure that plenty of supermarkets have to clean up wee related incidents, but they don't charge you for the domestos.

Portofino · 22/11/2008 22:17

Mine actually did do a poo in the ball pit at Ikea! No money was requested but I was absolutely mortified! I got all sorts of evils when I went to collect her.

MadamePlatypus · 22/11/2008 22:17

swimming pool accidents involving floaters - obviously it is assumed that small children wee.

hester · 22/11/2008 22:18

I would make them sue. I can't see it as reasonable to do this without warning parents in advance.

Original poster
Tippytoes · 22/11/2008 22:18

Thanks for all your replies, at least I feel justified in being annoyed at this now!

OP posts:
MadamePlatypus · 22/11/2008 22:19

? Surely you told her as the person holding the party? Does she have a personal vendetta against this parent?

Original poster
Tippytoes · 22/11/2008 22:22

No, as far as I know they had never been before, it was just that parent went to car to get spare clothes and never said on the way out as owner let him out of the door - but as soon as I realised (as nephew came out with wet socks - yuck) I told the owner

OP posts:
Flynnie · 22/11/2008 22:27

Aren't these places supposed to clean everything regularly anyway?

Agree with other posts in that I can't imagine this is a one off.

StudentMadwife · 22/11/2008 22:41

I thought that dyes were used in swimming pools as standered to detect urine/feaces, if not, yukky!

As for the ball pitt incident I think they are being resonable to charge,afteral they have got to remove all the pools, disinfect them, dry them, clean the pitt, meanwhile other children cant go in and possibly they have to turn custom away whilst this is happening.
I do think £100 is way too much though, a £30 charge or something would be much more appropriate-the same sort of amount for soiling a taxi.
I think they have also got a point about parental responsibility, yes children have accidents but this can be minimised by children going to toilet b4 going in, and being frequently asked/reminded if they need to go.
four seems quite old to be having wee accidents, have she got special needs?

StudentMadwife · 22/11/2008 22:43

Nice, so she didnt even bother telling any of you? just rushed off to get spare clothes whilst other children paddling around in pee? yukky

Original poster
Tippytoes · 22/11/2008 22:44

Maybe you have a point, but then they should put up signs to say as such. No she doesn't have sn, and actually, my fault, I got her age wrong, she is 3.5, not that this makes much difference.

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