Deposit help

tiredredhead

Please can someone help me?

In March we paid over the phone for a deposit for my son to go on an expedition to Africa next year via school.

My son has been told he cant return to school next year and my husband has been made redundant so therefore my son obviously cannot go as this trip is around £3.5k.

They are telling me that the deposit of £395 is non refundable, do I have any rights at all? The trip is not until Aug 2014 I told them in April this year which is more than enough notice I believe and this is unfair.

Thanks

Obviously_the_best

I you agreed to paying a non-refundable deposit then that's just tough I'm afraid.

That is kind of the whole point of a deposit. You lose it if you cancel.

Bob_the_Saver

A deposit is to ensure that you keep your end of the bargain at risk of losing it unless stated otherwise.

mcfisco

What did the paperwork - that you signed - say about the deposit?

Doshwaster

I'd just be grateful that the deposit is so small relative to the overall cost. If you husband is out of work and your son needs another school then I would have thought that the loss of £395 was the least of your worries.

Caz3121

I believe the purpose of these trips was that the student was encouraged to fund raise to raise the money to go. My niece is signed up and she is doing cake sales, boot sales, car washing, sponsorship etc to raise the money.
My stepson signed up for it a few years ago but didn't like the idea of having to raise money (expected someone to pay out like a holiday and that was not going to happen) so deposit was lost

In your case the fact that you cannot afford the balance is irrelevant. Have the school said he is not allowed to go?
If so I would go along saying he was really wanting to go and if they decided he was not allowed then the deposit should be returned (unless they have good reason not to allow him)

If not I would say there are 2 choices
get fundraising (I guess with it being so far away, he will have plenty time)
Write the deposit off

peachyprice

As they are saying he cannot go back to the school next year, (I'm guessing because he's not expected to achieve high enough grades for 6th form? forgive me if I'm wrong) and couldn't go on the trip even if your OH hadn't been made redundant it seems very harsh of them to keep the deposit.

Is there anyone else he can transfer the place onto?

tiredredhead

Thanks for all of your replies.

They have now agreed to refund the deposit as its not his fault that school have said he can't go back.

Bob_the_Saver

tiredredhead wrote: »

Thanks for all of your replies.

They have now agreed to refund the deposit as its not his fault that school have said he can't go back.

A good result is always nice to hear.