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Birthday party court summons - is it a contingent liability ?

19th Jan 2015
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No doubt most of you have seen this news item - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-30876360 , with the birthday court summons and chuckled .

I was no exception but it made me start to think about what sort of parent does this in the sure knowledge that it will destroy their child's standing in the playground , or perhaps leave them standing out on a limb in the playground

If the parties were  businesses would this have to be declared in their respective accounts ?

Perhaps the sum is not material inthe financial sense but these days it's "reputation , reputation , reputation"  

What would you do ? I know what I would !

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Replies (15)

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By mrme89
19th Jan 2015 17:21

If you are organising a party, I think you have to expect one or two no shows. To invoice them is just petty.

The invite also had no contact information. If no shows are going io cause you so much grievance, you should be giving out your contact details to ensure people can give you notice if they can't make it.

Saying that, I'm not sure which parent is worse ... the one invoicing for a no show or the one crying to the national press. 

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By Davy Boy
19th Jan 2015 19:47

Immature parents

It was the 5 year old that failed to attend, and minors cannot be sued as they are incapable of entering into contractual agreements. Plus of course, the court would consider an action for such a small amount to be vexatious and would throw it out. Quite frankly the parents are behaving like 5 year old's, which makes you wonder if they are really fit to raise a child. 

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By User deleted
20th Jan 2015 09:52

And back to the subject

It was rude of the guest's parents not to advise that the little boy wasn't attending (I know they said there were no contact details on the invite but do people really not include them?) but sadly so many people have no manners these days so I'm not surprised.

But sending an invoice?! Seriously?! That is so petty. Yes you have a moan at home about it because someone else could have gone instead (always assuming the boy has that many friends with a mother like that) but she was paying it if he'd turned up so she's not lost out. 

What bothers me is the fact that this was for a 5 year old's party - a 5 year old for crying out loud. When I was 5 we had a small party at home; sausages on sticks, crisps, birthday cake, pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey. And then you'd run around. If he's getting this at 5 then what will he be expecting at 10???? 

It's all about one-upmanship - I throw a more extravagant party for my child. Only now no-one will be going to parties in that class because they'll be afraid of being sued. And the other kids won't know who to speak to as there will be the whole taking sides issue. 

What a screwed up world we live in.

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
20th Jan 2015 10:19

Behaving like children

I would not be surprised if both sets of parents had their front doors taken down in 6am alarm call from the local constabulary on the grounds of child neglect and / or cruelty to their kids - social services would have a field day

It would be useful to know if these parents had form vis a vis their relationship

The really amazing thing is that no firm of solicitors have joined the fray for some free publicity by offering free representation

 

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
20th Jan 2015 11:29

Recording and monitoring

Perhaps they should have specified and monitoring it was for "training and quality purposes ..."

 

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By Roland195
20th Jan 2015 11:48

Which set is worse?

In truth, I can't help but think that the parents of the boy who didn't attend have have behaved worse.

Firstly, by not contacting the other parents at any time prior to the party to advise of the cancellation (it is 2015, so I am confident they could have contacted the other parents somehow) which aside from being rude was also unfair to some other kid who could have gone in their place.

Then, they presumably orchestrate this circus and see fit to allow a picture of their kid to be published. If they wanted him to grow  up tough, Sue is traditional.

While I am not disputing the party parents are being petty, I am more sympathetic to their position. Even more to their kid who will never go to a party again.

 

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By User deleted
20th Jan 2015 14:27

Animals in circuses

And you thought that animals weren't encouraged in circuses anymore!!

Yes, I should have mentioned that running to the papers was as equally pathetic as sending an invoice. But again, it seems to be the new normal. Kids gets told off at school - run to the papers. Find something in your food that shouldn't be there - run to the papers. Shop / restaurant doesn't provide spectacular service - run to the papers. But they probably got paid more for the obligatory sad photo if the child posed too.

I bet the kids are now being driven to school and dropped off without the parents getting out of their cars - too embarrassed to show their faces. Poor kids - laughing stock of the whole school by now...

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By Alan Davies
20th Jan 2015 15:16

Learning to take into the business world - reputational damage takes a long time to recover from.  Pettyness is not an attractive trait.

I envisage that in the future these 2 children will become best of friends as no one else in their school will want anything to do with either of them so they'll be forced to play together.

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
20th Jan 2015 15:40

Best friends ?

Indeed most likely but the parents equally likely not to cross each other's path again out of enmity.

It would be interesting to see if it is thrown of court , as it coudl have ramifications as a precedent perhaps. I am nt a lawyer so don't know if such a claim has ever been submitted.

Just imagine if we had an app for suing people - couple of clicks and hey presto , your ex-mates are now defendants in a small claims court , they probably miss the sumons and are tried in absentia . What a nightmare

So , as per my original question , how do we account for it - imagine it was a very expensive posh business dinner at £250 a head and a dozen no-shows get a summons - can you count £3k as expected revenue ?

 

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By Dan Izzard
20th Jan 2015 15:53

Off topic comments

have been removed from the thread. I don't believe this has affected readability, but apologies if it has. 

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By sosleepy
21st Jan 2015 14:16

Invoice number 1432

According to the photo, the invoice number was 1432. Does this mean they regularly issue invoices for this kind of thing or have they done it through their business?

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
21st Jan 2015 14:30

Invoice

Well spotted. They could be trying to put the court fee through the business which could in turn invite the attention of HMRC

A phyrric victory at best , if a victory at all

Part and parcel of modern life is that whatever you say or write , you can expect it to be transmitted to every man and his dog . Perhaps people will think twice before saying or writing things that upon a little reflection could be insensitive or hurtful to others - good old fashioned decency

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By A mum and an accountant
22nd Jan 2015 08:18

I'm guilty...
I'm guilty of missing a birthday party by a day. The worst thing is I had an invite and a text message to say when it was but in my head, I had the next day down as the party day and didn't even think to check until I turned up at the hall wondering where everyone was.

I apologised profusely on text and sent the birthday present with my daughter the next day.

In the future, though I will triple check the invite, especially now invoices are going around for no shows.

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By ver1tate
10th Feb 2015 00:11

Birthday party.

Is the next move to issue an invoice for £300 for the X Box which was not received as a present?

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
10th Feb 2015 14:05

Not received presents

Is the present a rite of passage or these days is it more about being seen to have a room full of friends ?

If the present is not deemed to be part of the invite then there is no comeback surely , and conversely if it is

At my shindigs it isn't an XBox you require (whatever they are) , it is a bottle of single malt not younger than 15 years

Perhaps we need a legal precedent from our leanred colleagues...

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