Holiday Deposit

[forestertwo]

I paid �100 deposit for my son to go on a skiing trip costing �710 with his school in February. He's since decided he doesn't want to go so I rang the PE teacher who said I wouldn't get the deposit back at this late stage (fair enough). Now I've discovered the teacher has resold his place to another pupil (within 2 days) with �100 discount!! I am so annoyed and just wondered where I stand on this. I accepted losing the deposit but not to subsidise someone else :-(

[Mattk]

unfortunately its just like booking a real holiday ie you will lose your deposit should you decide to cancel.we were in a similar situation a few years ago.

[forestertwo]

I take your point but the difference is that it's the PE teacher doing the wheeling and dealing with another pupil with my money!!

[les saisies]

I would complain to the school Head Teacher.

It is usual for there to be a reserve list for school trips of this nature in case pupils drop out. I think that the pe

[woofgang]

yup, I would take that one up with the head.

[les saisies]

I would complain to the school Head Teacher.

As they have been able to re-allocate the place on the trip I think that the honest thing to do would be to refund your deposit.

As for offering the place at a discounted rate to another pupil, that is just disgusting.

If a quiet word with the school does not have the desired effect I would go to your local CAB and ask them for their advise.

Do not let it rest until you have explored all avenues.

[Buenchico]

The school hasn't got your money. The travel company has.

Let's say that the school told the travel company that they would be taking 50 pupils on the trip. The travel company then demands �100 'up front' for each of the pupils.

If the school now says that they're only sending 49 pupils on the trip, the travel company won't return the deposit so the school can't return it to you.

If another pupil now wants to go, we're back to the position where the travel company already has 50 x �100 paid in and is now looking for 50 x �610 extra to be paid. This means that all pupils (including the latecomer) now have to pay �610.

It all makes sense to me (and I've run many school trips). You knew (or should have known) when you made the deposit that if you broke the contract you would lose the deposit. Once you've lost that deposit the money is no longer yours. It belongs to the travel company but if the school can still use it as a credit towards assisting another pupil then they shouldn't be criticised for choosing to do so.

Chris

[forestertwo]

I'm sorry but I disagree.

There were no clearly no difficulties involved at reselling at a discount so what is difficult about charging the latecomer the same price as everyone else and handing me back �100? Yes, my deposit is held by the travel company but this deal has taken place at school within 48 hours of my cancelling and I do seem to recall from previous trips that deposits are non-returnable unless the place is re-allocated. I will be taking it up with the school on Monday.

[Gef]

Sorry an observation not an answer. �710 for a weeks skiing - wow, they must be staying in a 5 star hotel and getting lifted by helicopter to the ski area every morning.

Plus, how many teachers are going for nothing?

[les saisies]

School ski trips are expensive.

We go as a family and we pay little more that we would for one child to go with the school.

I think you are right in saying that the children do, in part at least, have to subsidise the teachers gef.

Stick at it forestertwo.

[forestertwo]

Montgenerve - French Italian Border. Don't know if it's exclusive or not but they're going half term week - by coach!!

[Mattk]

my youngest is off skiing in early jan and they will only actually be there for 4 days skiiing(1 day travelling there,1 day back) !!!!!! big bleedin swizz but what can ya do ? i wouldnt want his teachers to miss out on a freebie holiday paid for by me now would i ?! ;-)

[ajmmac]

this seems straight forward to me--the travel agent has deposits for X travellers and the school cannot get any of those back--a new pupil took the place of forestertwo's son--pupil should have been charged �100 deposit like all others--�100 then refunded to forestertwo--why should forestertwo subsidise another's trip--would have been quite different if vacated place could not be filled

[les saisies]

Please let us all know how you get on.

[ben_sfc]

by the way if the new pupil paid the full amount like the other pupils, surely �100 can be taken out of what the new pupil paid and given back to you? then the travel company are not actually losing out on any money, the school could switch the payments??

[steve @ home]

Just a word about the mentions of freebie holidays for teachers.

I've never taking a skiing party from my school but several other residential school visits. Believe me, it's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do as a teacher. Permanently on call for child care, ultimate responsibility for health and safety, can't let the balls drop for a moment. Add ice and snow to that and it doesn't sound much of a holiday to me.

[coyn]

I don't see why forester should be paying �100 towards the other childs trip, why didn't the teacher sell the holiday for �710 and refund the hundred?

I'd be bloody annoyed if I were forester too.

[forestertwo]

Just an update ...

The PE teacher was charming - absolutely no problem whatsoever in my having a refund on the basis that the holiday had been resold so I now await the cheque. Not sure what deal was struck up but so long as I get my money - I'm happy!!

Thanks for all your replies.