The mum and dad of a five-year-old boy have been billed for failing to attend a friend of their son’s birthday party.
The parents of Alex Nash from Cornwall had accepted the invitation to the party at the Ski Slope and Snowboard Centre in Plymouth before Christmas.
But when it came to the day, they realised their son was double-booked and was due to spend time with his grandparents, which he did.
Have you organised a children’s party and been annoyed at those not attending?
The Nash family later found an invoice in their son’s schoolbag.
The school friend’s mother sent the bill to the Alex’s parents for £15.95 – claiming that his non-attendance to the party left her out of pocket.
Mr Nash said: “It was a proper invoice with full official details and even her bank details on it.
“I can understand that she’s upset about losing money. The money isn’t the issue, it’s the way she went about trying to get the money from me.
Mr Nash said he has been told he was being taken to the small claims court because he was refusing to pay.
Celebrating children’s birthdays is a big deal for parents, with many pulling out all the stops to make sure their child has a day to remember.
Research from online retailer Littlewoods carried out last year, found a third of mothers and fathers splash out on their children’s birthday bash to guarantee it is ‘better than their friends’.
On average, a parent will fork out an estimated £214.54 per party.
Planning tips for parents arranging birthday parties:
1. Set a budget you can afford
2. Send out invites at least 3-4 weeks before the event
3. Have a plan B in case you need to change venue destination
4. Presents – when opening make a note of who gave what for Thank You cards
5. Keep costs down – don’t overspend on extra treats if they are not needed
