Plan B Forum

A five-year-old was billed for failing to attend a friend's birthday party - resulting in threats of legal action.



Alex Nash, from Cornwall, was invited to the party just before Christmas.

An invoice for £15.95 was sent by his schoolfriend's mother Julie Lawrence, who said Alex's non-attendance left her out of pocket and his parents had her details to tell her he was not going.

Alex's father Derek said he had been told he would be taken to the small claims court for refusing to pay.

Alex's parents, from Torpoint, had accepted an invitation to the party at a dry ski slope in Plymouth, Devon, just before Christmas.

However, they realised their son was double-booked and due to spend time with his grandparents, which he did.

His parents said they had no contact information for Ms Lawrence at that time.

They found the invoice in a brown envelope in his schoolbag last week.

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.

Big RR wrote:Wouldn't the parents have been out that amount (at least, that might have just been the cancellation fee) if he attended or not? I can't see how they lost any money because he didn't attend (and if it turns out that the parents paid less because it was a cancellation fee, might the Nashes counterclaim for unjust enrichment? ).

Alex's father Derek said he had been told he would be taken to the small claims court for refusing to pay.

The Telegraph got its hands on the germane Facebook messages. “I do not like fighting with people,” mother Nash said, “and would prefer to settle this amicably.”

“This is not the first time Alex has not turned up to a part that he has been invited to,” the birthday boy’s mom parried. “The amicable way around this I believe would be to pay me the money and let a lesson be learnt. I hope this is agreeable?”

“And exactly what lesson would I be learning?” mother Nash asked. “I am not a child, so please do not speak to me like I am one. So, to answer your question, unfortunately no. This is not agreeable.”

“You are paying.”

“Just so you know, small claims court costs 60 pounds just to start a claim.”

“It doesn’t cost that much.”

“It does.”

As of Tuesday morning, it was unclear whether the drama had spurred any legal action yet — nor is it known whether the ski party was indeed something Alex regretted not attending.