You may want to think twice before allowing your child to miss a birthday party, once you’ve already committed to them attending. One UK mom is apparently attempting to charge the parents of another child ?15.95 (about $24 USD) as a penalty for doing just that.
Five-year-old Alex was invited to a ski party at Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Centre by one of his classmates at Torpoint Nursery and Infant School, just before the Christmas holidays. As the date of the party drew closer, Alex’s parents realized that they had already committed their children to staying with their grandparents for the day.
Alex was given a choice between the party and a day with his grandparents and chose the latter. Since the invitation was only a verbal one, Alex’s parents did not have any contact information and were unable to call or email and formally cancel for the event.
When school reconvened on January 6, Alex came home one day with an envelope in his bag. It contained an invoice, charging his parents a ?15.95 penalty for missing the ski party.
Alex’s father, Derek Nash, initially assumed the invoice was a joke. But he reported the incident to the headteacher of the school, who was rather apologetic. Interestingly, the Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Centre posted the following on their Facebook page:
Since the?hostess of the party in question, Tanya Walsh, listed her home address on the invoice, Mr. Nash paid her a visit, informing her that he most definitely would not be paying the bill. It seems Alex’s mother, Julie Lawrence, and Ms. Walsh have been discussing the issue via Facebook, but have been unable to reach an amicable resolution.
Alex’s parents claim they have been threatened with legal action, should they refuse to pay the invoice.
