debt to cubs/beavers owing. can they do this?

chrisw99

My 9 year old has been going to cubs since September 2013. Mainly because his friends at school did, so we asked and it was "yeah, bring him along next Wednesday". We did, he loved it, and he's gone ever since. My 6 year old started at Beavers this January.

It was very haphazardly organised, like the people running it couldn't be bothered. Then last summer all the leaders quit, a new lot have come in and it's been much better, organised properly, etc.

Today we get a letter :
Due to some changes to the Group Executive Committee, the membership subs for a number of members have never been requested.
Work has been ongoing recently to make sure that all members of the Group have paid/are paying the correct subs. It has been found that your child owes the following subs:

£30 for the youngest (3 months at Beavers).
£190 for the eldest (19 months at Cubs)

Outstanding debts must be paid by cheque by March 20th.

Also includes a standing order form for £10 per month going forward.
And a gift aid form as they are a charity.

To be honest, I'm a bit upset about this. At no point has anyone ever told us it cost a monthly sub, whenever an event/trip happens, we have always had to pay a few quid towards it that particular week.

I don't mind paying the monthly sub going forward, they enjoy it, gives us a bit of peace for an hour twice a week.

But the £220 owing, to be paid by next Friday. I don't get paid till the 28th and I'm already struggling this month.

What should I do about this? I assume as there is a gift aid form they are a charity. Can they go for me if I don't pay it, or can I say tough- we've never signed anything, there's no contract in place here.

It's all very friendly and run on a volunteer basis, most of the people running it are parents at the school, and I'd hate to sour our relationship with them. Can I realistically get out of paying the £220 without rocking the boat with the kids carrying on going there!?

Meatloaf1981

Well I must say when I went to cubs, I also had to pay "subs" but then we were made aware of it from the very beginning and came along each with our 50p for subs and 50p for refreshments (Don't get me started on how long ago that was!). Having said that, you haven't signed anything and they haven't asked you for subs previously. I would suggest raising a dispute over the matter by sending them back a letter disputing the arrangement and stating that your child/children will pay subs going forward if that is your wish, but that you have never been asked for payment before and certainly will not and cannot pay for any alleged subs owing upto this point. I might suggest that you are prepared to setup the standing order going forward, if you are prepared, but they will find it nigh on impossible to pursue you for the alleged debts accrued as there was no explicit agreement signed by you to do so (One assumes).

sourcrates

Hi,
I'm afraid they have always charged subs, usually £1.50 a week each child, brownies, beavers, Cubs etc etc it's standard practice.
They have no power to make you pay, but going forward it could cause trouble if you don't, but I would certainly complain and ask why subs were never collected in the first place, you can't be expected to pay up with such short notice.

rising_from_the_ashes

^^^ Agreed with this

If you were not made aware of the subs at the start (or prior) to starting then I really don't see how they can now try to say they're overdue!

Moving forwards - fine

I also feel the time given to 'pay up' is totally unreasonable

Do you know anyone else who's children go?

Maybe you could write a joint letter to the new committee

Tigsteroonie

£10/month? Subs were 10p/week back in my day

Westie983

As a brownie leader each brownies pays £18 a term subs which covers hall rent, equipment and supplies. I

Its on the scouting website that there is a fee due to attend, in regard to the past subs I would think that there is no reason to charge you any more then the current financial year.

If its the same Girl Guiding UK then the accounts for the unit have to be submitted at the end of each year and balanced by the association, so this means any subs outstanding for that year needs to be paid, so looking at your OP, I would say you are expected to pay the £30 for your son at beavers as this would be this financial year but I would only pay £30 for your other son for this year as the rest of the balance would have been for the financial year 2013/2014 and this should have been audited and closed end of the year December 31st..

Going forward you will required to pay the subs for the terms that your sons are still in scouting and looks like the units your sons attend work via a bank account and standing orders, whereas I work with cheques and cash each ter -

if i had a brownie that was behind with subs and there was an issue with funds then I would make a agreement to pay it off over the summer holiday where there is no termly or weekly subs to pay so the parent/carer is fully up to date by the winter term starting in September maybe this could be arranged....

There is a risk and a possibility if a child doesn't pay subs then they lose their place in the pack/troop as there are children on waiting lists to join, not sure if this is the case with your troops....

hope this make sense some of it may not be relevant as i am comparing girlguidngUK and Scout association but they have mutual procedures that are shared by both

hope this helps and clears up some confusion

FireWyrm

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

£10/month? Subs were 10p/week back in my day

And the tooth fairy pays £2 per tooth now too rather than 20p....

heck, I've just read that sentance back...dont try and say it when you've had a glass or two of wine.

chrisw99

FireWyrm wrote: »

And the tooth fairy pays £2 per tooth now too rather than 20p....

heck, I've just read that sentance back...dont try and say it when you've had a glass or two of wine.

£2 is a thing of the past now, they expect a fiver! And apparently it's double if you put the tooth in an envelope and sprinkle salt on it.

Thanks for the responses, will sleep on it and decide what to do. Probably just send the standing order forms back to them with a letter expressing my feelings about the debt. At the very least it will stall it till nearer payday.

andyfromotley

I agree its been badly run and they should give you more time to pay. Ask them, i'm sure they'll be very helpful.

But i do think you should pay. Your child has been going for 19 months, tenner a month- bargain. This is not like your electricity company failing to send you a bill, its stressed, hardworking, volunteers who yes on this occasion have cocked up. But do the honourable thing and pay em.

Red-Squirrel_2

Don't go in all guns blazing, just go along calmly and speak to the new leader. Explain that you've no previous experience of cubs/beavers and as you were never asked for money you just assumed it was funded some other way than parents subs and never even gave it a second's thought. They'll probably feel much more generous towards you if they realise its a genuine mistake rather than you keeping your mouth shut to deliberately get a freebie!

I agree that it would be best to pay, as your kids have had the benefit of the activities funded by other parents, but hopefully they'll be willing to negotiate a more realistic timeframe!

chrisw99

Slept on it, and I agree I should pay as it's not really fair on the other parents who have been paying etc. I think it was more the fact of finding out about it with a "must be paid by Friday March 20th", when they could have just said "must be paid at the earliest opportunity".

I'm going to email the person in charge of the finances and say thanks for informing me we have to pay subs for our kids, as I do all my banking electronically I'll set up the standing orders myself rather than fill in the long forms. I'll also transfer electronically the amount we owe instead of sending you a cheque. I will probably send this in a couple of chunks as I can't afford to pay it all before the next pay day.

They can't really complain about that hopefully.