Are you still paying for children's after school activities; dance, swimming

[RainOnMee]

Was just going through my finances, as I have taken a pay drop from work, and realised I am still paying DD dance class, which is paid by standing order each month. The classes were cancelled in March and I haven't heard from them since but money is still going out. Was going to cancel the standing order but would like some opinions on what everyone else has done

No they froze the direct debit as soon as lessons were cancelled

That's good that they froze them.

I think it's quite rude of them to not even be in contact with us since. I'm thinking of cancelling it myself.

No they are not charging. Pretty sure all the staff are furloughed so wouldn't pay if they were.

I pay pre pay swimming lessons per term and had used one lesson when the schools closed (ROI). These can be used whenever classes resume.

Yes, my DD gymnastics club have done a lot of online work over lockdown and in any event It’s not a huge amount, I can afford to and I want them still to be around when lockdown ends.

No I stopped paying for DSS activities when we first went into lockdown. For swimming they froze all accounts so stopped taking money. His rugby subs were paid annually so they were already gone for the year but he got most of the season in before lockdown. For karate I essentially unenrolled him but I figured it's going to be a while before this stuff starts up again so will just reenroll him down the line.

Swimming was frozen and dance stopped sending invoices, so we haven't been paying for either of those.

Swimming lessons were frozen.

Dance and piano lessons continuing on Zoom so still paying. I'm happy to keep them up even though the experience is not the same.

Swimming froze direct debits (council leisure center)

Ballet - asking for reduced contribution. (private company run in local community halls)

No way! I also cancelled my gym direct debit!

No. Everything stopped when they closed. We pay dancing termly, I think they owe us about 2 weeks as they closed just before the Easter holidays which is fine, same with drama which is a monthly invoice, we paid March and no more. Other activities like singing lessons and maths tutors are paid weekly in cash so we haven't paid since lessons stopped.

Guides we paid a yearly subscription in September but that's continuing with the leaders sending out activities and Zoom meetings weekly so I won't be demanding a refund.

Music lessons are continuing over Skype. For scouts the subs have gone down but they still do a weekly zoom session.

I'd ask them for written evidence of whether they applied to the government for financial support. If they have then state you want a refund or you'll be making a few discrete telephone calls to the HMRC

Ah that's a really good point about them being furloughed. The first month I paid as I hadn't received a pay cut then and didn't want them the lose money.
I can't believe they haven't been in touch but still taking the payment.

Depends on the dance school - my dance parents would not have paid for online classes, and apart from an email sent out in march I haven't been hassling my customers as I felt that dance would be fairly low on their list of priorities initially, but have been posting various things on our FB page. I will be sending an email newsletter out in the next week or so to everyone. Surely it was up to you to cancel the standing order if you were not requested to carry on paying? Will the teacher refund or credit the payment for when they re open?

@dancinfeet I am not on Facebook so would have hoped they would have been in touch with parents another way for those not on social media.

To be honest dance was last on my list of priorities and that was why I hadn't cancelled until now. Hopefully they will refund or credit the payments already made.

Mostly yes but a few not.

Swimming direct debit frozen by them.

Fencing not heard anything from them but it's run as an after school and paid termly so not been asked for summer term payment.

Guides not been asked for summer term payment, not heard anything from them.

Football an annual payment has already been paid but obviously not paying for any tournaments this summer as they all been cancelled.

6 x music lessons all still taking place via Skype/zoom still paying

Karate sending 2 x videos and 1 live zoom per week still paying

Cadets pay once per year so that's already paid. They have been sending worksheets/info stuff to do each week.

Swimming- they froze payments (although you could continue to pay I you wanted...)
Scouts- they stopped payments if parents needed to. But most continue paying. The complex issue there is that the Group still has quite a lot of outgoings, and has lost income from the dance school... So if parents don't continue to pay, the Group may not reopen.

OP if it's standing order they aren't 'taking' it, you/your bank is sending it. It's your responsibility to stop it as there's nothing they can do about you voluntarily sending them money via standing order!

Absolutely not.

Music lessons still going via Zoom so that’s ok.

Cancelled everything else, starting immediately with the martial art and rugby as that kind of thing won’t be allowed for a long time.

If it’s standing order they can’t cancel the payment, you need to cancel it.

My DC do cadets & they've told us to cancel the ddm but we've kept it going cos they are still doing 3 hour online sessions twice a week. Swimming was paid per term so not sure what will happen with any sessions we didn't have & whether they'll be credited. Can't see swimming getting back any time soon.

Dance, we haven't continued to pay for, teacher is waiting to see if she can do some socially distanced classes from next week but I think realistically they won't be back 'til Sep. Other classes are being held over zoom so I'm happy to keep playing.

Gymnastics said we had option to not pay anything, or pay nominal fee to keep her place open for when it reopens. We’re paying about £5 a month for the place. (Compared to paying more than £100 a month as she does several hours a week).

I didn't realise I had to cancel the standing order. If they had been in touch to even just ask for half of the fees then I wouldn't have minded or to give us the option to cancel or keep paying, but just to hear nothing.