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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Urgent advice needed re. kids party

33 replies

CuppaT · 03/04/2010 13:56

Have posted this in two sections as need advice quickly.

I booked a kids party for my DD a few weeks ago and party is next Sunday with a big play centre type place. They asked for a £50 deposit but I sent in £75 to help spread the cost a bit.

I asked DDs teacher if she would hand out invites on the Wednesday before school broke up for Easter hols. She forgot on Weds and forgot on the Thurs so handed them out by placing them in the child's 'bookbag' on the Friday.

So far I have had only three responses, one of those cannot attend. I think the invites are just sitting in bookbags having not been checked my parents because of the hols.

Minimum party numbers are 12.

I started getting worried so contacted playcentre this morning to explain the situation.

The manager said she would check with the owner and call me back. She did and said if I cancel today then I will get £25 back but they will keep the £50 deposit. If I cancel after today then they will keep the whole amount!

I have asked for the owner herself to ring as was not happy with this.

It was my decision to pay the extra £25, what gives them the right to keep it!!

I filled out the form which I printed off the website. There are no T&Cs regarding the deposit and nothing about a minimum cancellation policy. All it states is a 7 day requirement for confirmation of numbers. It is now 8 days before party day.

So I am waiting for owner to ring me back - anyone know if I can demand my money back or demand another party day.

My DD was given the choice of a big party or a big pressie, she chose the party and if they keep the £50 then she loses out.

Their argument is that they have had people ring to book that time slot and will lose money but the loss of money to them would be a drop in the ocean compared to it being a lot of money to me.

Any help - please?? (sorry its a bit rushed - waiting for owner to call me back and want to be equipped to argue my rights)

OP posts:
Original poster
CuppaT · 03/04/2010 13:57

Sorry AIBU to feel I should get all money back if I cancel today?

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 03/04/2010 13:58

its not really the playcentre's fault that the invites did not get out quickly enough

would push for at least £50 back esp if nothing in terms and conditions, it would be a nice goodwill gesture, but you still have 8 days to go, is there any way of contacting any of the paretns to chase up?

Original poster
CuppaT · 03/04/2010 14:00

I only have the two mum's numbers and they don't have any others, have asked! Nightmare!

OP posts:
geraldinetheluckygoat · 03/04/2010 14:01

i can understand them keeping the deposit of £50 if you cancel after the seven days, but surely if you cancel before, you should get the whole lot, and eitherway you should get the £25 back!!

MmeBlueberry · 03/04/2010 14:02

A deposit is a deposit. They have reserved the place for you in good faith, and a Sunday party is prime time.

It's not their fault that you didn't get the invitations out.

jollyma · 03/04/2010 14:02

Do you have a list of phone numbers of classmates parents? I think I would start ringing round to get numbers. Alternatively, confirm minimum numbers and add more on when you know who can come.

Hopefully you'll get enough yes replies to cover the 75.

thumbchick · 03/04/2010 14:04

I don't see why they should keep the extra £25 - the £50 deposit, yes, but the extra £25 there is no reason for. They ABU about that.

digusted · 03/04/2010 14:09

could you ask to postphone the party and re invite after easter

Original poster
CuppaT · 03/04/2010 14:18

Thanks for replies. Point taken. I will argue the point about the £25.

I will also ask about postponing it!

Cheers

OP posts:
kickassangel · 03/04/2010 14:19

can you use the phone book or a phone line to get some numbers? if you know the road they live on & the family name, you should be able to track down a few.

BlameItOnTheBogey · 03/04/2010 14:19

But if you cancelled/ postponed how would you let people know, given that you don't have phone numbers?

Firawla · 03/04/2010 14:21

there is no justification for the extra 25!!
hopefully you wont have to cancel, is there anyway you can get in contact with the people and let them know to check for their invites, maybe ask around im sure someone has their numbers??

geraldinetheluckygoat · 03/04/2010 14:23

yes thats true, i didnt have one rsvp to ds's party a couple of weeks ago, but all but two turned up. Does the class have homework over the holidays, or any other reason for people to go in the book bag? How likely is it that the invites will be found?
I think if you cant let people know, you have to do the party otherwise they might all turn up!

Original poster
CuppaT · 03/04/2010 14:26

Will probably keep the party booked and keep everything crossed that the minimum show up.

Pretty sure I won't be doing this again!!

OP posts:
ElleBing · 03/04/2010 14:28

It's your fault (or rather DDs fault) so why should they lose out? The £50 is to cover any money they could have made on a booking that they could have taken if it weren't for you booking then cancelling. They're a business not a charity so it's unfair of you to expect them to do you any favours. You're lucky; a lot of places make you pay full whack at short notice regardless.

Maleeka · 03/04/2010 14:38

Well i think for sure you should get your 25 quid back, but i'm afraid i'm very guilty of not checking my kids bookbags during the hols and do the frantic "omg school is back tomorrow, do your homework quick!"

My daughter remembered a party this morning, 15 mins before it was due to start! I was still in my pj's so my OH had to dash her to the cinema and made it in 20 mins! I had just totally forgotten and didnt RSVP which is something i get annoyed about if people dont RSVP me

So if you cant contact the parents to postpone, you'll just have to turn up and hope that a decent amount of kids turn up.

zazen · 03/04/2010 14:41

Get on the phone to the parents - you may still save the day!

Silver1 · 03/04/2010 14:51

Get the phone book out- ring up say is that Xys mummy and ask if they have seen the invite.

macdoodle · 03/04/2010 14:52

Dont be daft, the majority will either RSVP much closer or just come!!
What on earth will happen if you cancel and half a dozen kids turn up, I assume these are youngish, I would be really pissed off if that happened to me!

Dont get in a tizz just go ahead and you will probably get a decent turnout!

ChippingIn · 03/04/2010 15:00

macdoodle - how can you possibly be pissed off if you haven't had the decency to reply to an invitation?

CuppaT - I think it's fair enough for them to keep the £50 - after all it's a payment to hold the space, which is then deducted from your payment for the space. The £25 extra is yours and should be refunded at anytime without question.

In the meantime, I'd try to track down any of the kids I could, people know people who know people - it shouldn't be toooo hard.

I hope you go ahead and a good number turn up!

Silver1 · 03/04/2010 15:04

What I would do in your shoes is ask for the £25 and get them to keep the £50 as a deposit. This will mitigate any losses.
Sorry should have said that in my first post.

YABU to want the whole deposit back though. They have to make money and a lost booking is a lost booking to them.

BAFE · 03/04/2010 15:41

YABU - apart from the deposit issue, you have invited people to a party and now wish to cancel it without telling them.

I'm shocked that you think this is OK!!!

Imagine how the kid is gonna feel all dressed up, pressie in hand, excited about the party to end up with nothing.

Fluffyone · 03/04/2010 16:34

You paid a £50 deposit, as long as their terms and conditions state this, they should keep it. (Deposits can be non-refundable, it depends what their booking terms say). You paid them an extra £25, they should refund that and have already said they will.
Did the invitations say RSVP? If they did then nobody should arrive unannounced because they've read the invite and so know that they have to reply. I'm assuming you will have to confirm numbers at some point before the party date? And possibly pay?
I'm afraid I'd be fairly p'd off if any parent turned up with a child to a party that was obviously going to have to be booked and paid for, without doing as requested and RSVP. Surely that wouldn't be OK?

deaddei · 03/04/2010 16:49

Moral of story- next year invite 3 friends who you KNOW and have a nice simple party in the garden!!!

SleepingLion · 03/04/2010 17:02

Or next year send out invitations much much earlier so that you can confirm everything well before the date. In DS's school, it is normal for invites to go out about six weeks before the party date - e.g. I already know he has one on May 8th.

This year I think you will just have to cross your fingers and go ahead with the party hoping a number turn up...