Made a payment on account and can’t get money back!

Rosieposie311

Hi 

I wonder if anyone can help or has any advice? I take flying lessons, after a lesson one day the receptionist asked me if I wanted to put a sum of money on my account, to benefit from discounted rates. I was happy to do that and made a payment just over £1,000.

I am due to have a baby soon so need some more money, and I won’t be flying as much, and so I have asked for the balance on my account to be given back. 

The company have refused and have said it is non-returnable and non-refundable. I was not told this at the time of making the payment.

I have tried to look for similar threads, and also advice on this situation, but I cannot find any! Does anybody know where I would stand legally on this as I would really benefit from having my money returned to me. 

Thank you so much! 

DullGreyGuy

That is how it normally works... you pre-buy lessons/time in exchange for a discount and it's non-refundable. If it were refundable then everyone would get the cheaper prices and just reclaim the excess each time with no intent of having the 10 lessons or whatever the block represents. 

You can try and argue the terms weren't explained but you aren't on great position give this is the norm and you neither did you think to ask about something that has subsequently proven important to you. 

Presumably this is just a timing thing and you will be returning to it and so it's not you won't use the amount deposited just it will be over a longer period. 

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't see that you have any rights to the money back.  Otherwise, everyone would exploit the offer.  I've seen it before, more typically with driving instructors/schools, where people pay up-front for lessons at today's rates (or lower) to insure against price rises.  They haven't been entitled to their money back.