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

KirstyO

Hope you get it sorted, as others have said there's no contractual agreement to pay and you've never been made aware of the subs until recently. Sounds like you have a plan in place but as an ex Brownie-guider it was my responsibility to make sure that families paid subs. We had a complex subs setup (complex for us, not the girls!) but the long and short of it was if a girl wasn't up to date on subs by the time she was collected to go home we would mention to the parents that if two weeks worth wasn't paid by the start of the next meeting then unfortunately their daughter couldn't return to the group until this was rectified. Sometimes it is easy to underestimate how much it costs to run a uniformed group. Each year there is a fee per head for both leaders and members to provide adequate insurance and centralised services to allow the group to continue, and rents for large spaces aren't cheap.


As others have suggested, maybe offering to pay over some school holidays to spread the cost is a good idea

kathrynha

chrisw99 wrote: »

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.

As a Guide leader I would be quite happy with that offer, and think it's more than reasonable of you.

I'm a bit torn on this situation. Part of me is thinking that the old leaders messed up, and that isn't your fault (or the new leaders fault) and I would be tempted to draw a line under it and start again. However we don't know the financial situation of the unit, and they might have debts that need clearing.

The other part of me is thinking it's not fair that your kids have been subsidised by other parents for months, although it's not your fault.

I do however think the "pay up now" letter is wrong. I think a "please contact us by this date to discuss it" letter would of been better.

DigForVictory

Talk to them! Please - as soon as you can calmly.

They will have had costs - 19 months at cubs means capitation fees will have had to be paid & that's your insurance policy that if any Scout has an accident Scouting they were covered.

There are charities that help fund things for children & Scouts are usually very well connected to ensure no child goes without Scouts for lack on reliable/adequate income.

But in the name of all you hold dear, talk to them. They won't expect £200 in a lump, they are not utterly daft, but give them a chance to hear your side & help you sort the funds.

Here's hoping this can be got over & you & your children have years more happy Scouting!

andyfromotley

chrisw99 wrote: »

slept on it, and i agree i should pay as it's not really fair on the other parents who have been paying etc.

They can't really complain about that hopefully.

Nice one. :T :T

On_my_way

I agree with the others - you just need to calmly make arrangements to pay.

You can't have thought it was free - surely?!

Once you have paid it the subs going forward are probably the cheapest childcare you will ever have and the Brownies/Scout organisation (in my opinion) has excellent values and ethics. At work some of us old -Brownies still very much live by our promise 20 years or more before!

Marktheshark

Have they ever sent any "membership" documents" to be signed ?
If not, the membership fees are chargeable from the day of membership.

chrisw99

On_my_way wrote: »

I agree with the others - you just need to calmly make arrangements to pay.

You can't have thought it was free - surely?!

No, we're asked almost every week to bring £2 for this, £3 for that, £16.50 for a trip. And we take our turns to volunteer once every few weeks like all the other parents. And every other week they run plant sales, jumble sales, to provide funds.


So I assumed all that lot covered it.


The only thing we've ever had to fill in was when the new lot took over last Autumn we had to fill in the Scouts young person information form.

[Deleted User]

For our daughter it is £15 a term at Brownies, great value.


Can't remember what it cost for my cub/scout days only that it was one of the best times of my life.


Hope you get it all sorted

poppasmurf_bewdley

Even back in the 1950's we had 'subs' for the cubs. Thinking back, it was 3d (a fraction over 1p) per week at the 217th in Manchester. Can't remember how much I paid for my daughter at Brownies in the 1980's. But pay I did.