5 year old boy receeives bill for missed birthday party

[PrincessFiona]

http://5newsonline.com/2015/01/19/fi...irthday-party/

Alex Nash, 5, was invited to a friend’s birthday party at a ski and snowboarding facility, according to the Plymouth Herald.
Alex’s parents responded to the invitation and indicated Alex would attend the party.
Alex’s parents later realized they already had other plans for that day and he did not attend the party. The boy’s father said he did not have contact information for the birthday boy’s mother to let her know Alex had changed his mind and would no longer be attending the party.
Several days later, Alex came home from school with an invoice from the birthday boy’s mother for a $24 “child’s party no show fee.”
Alex’s parents initially thought the bill was a joke. However, the birthday boy’s mother apparently threatened to take them to small claims court.
Alex’s parents are trying to resolve the situation via Facebook. The birthday boy’s parents have not commented publicly.

[PrincessFiona]

It's annoying when you plan/pay for a party and there are no -shows. It's rude even when money has been paid. It's not something I think I'd go to small claims court over though. I wonder what will happen to the kids' friendship. :/

[alotofyarn]

I sympathize for the birthday boy's parents that it sucks to pay for things and then have the kids not show up. I feel like that's just pretty much life though. I could maybe understand casually mentioning that they paid for it and the kid didn't bother to show or at least call and say they couldn't make it (though I likely wouldn't even do that), but sending an invoice is just ridiculous. I certainly wouldn't waste my time and money in small claims court.

[Ladybug]

It's crazyville. Can you imagine the jokes about ever going to that kids party again? He's screwed.

[Ladybug]

I can imagine some really funny party invitations with small print disclaimers and ridiculous charges for not showing up and incurred attorney fees.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

That poor kid!

[hanginginthere]

While not showing up was rude sending a child an invoice home was ludicrous!

[SoonerTexan]

Sending an invoice home is ludicrous, but making it worldwide news is just asinine

[Thirteen]

I can imagine some really funny party invitations with small print disclaimers and ridiculous charges for not showing up and incurred attorney fees.

😄


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[GrayMatterWife]

This happened in England. I don't know about the law there, but here, the parents would be laughed out of court. Accepting an invitation to attend a party does not form a contract. You can't establish a breach that would allow for a judgment. From an American law point of view, this sound really stupid.

But, from a non-law point of view, this is just petty. To parents of birthday kid: Suck it up. People didn't show. You "lost" money paying for someone that didn't show. That was a risk you assumed. And to parents of child who didn't show up: it's called common courtesy. Call or email as soon as you know you can't make it.

Sheesh.

[MrsK]

This pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter: http://www.peopleiwanttopunchintheth...he+Throat)&m=1