Probably an unusual question on this forum!

[Redletter]

Hello all. Apologies but I really wasn't sure where to post this one.
i hope you will be able to answer my question or point me to a relevant source of information.
Our daughter goes to Brownies and we paid £60 for her to go to Brownie camp in July this year. We were asked to pay the deposit (£15) last year then the remainder in January.
However, much to the disappointment of all the girls, the leader (brown owl) cancelled the trip a week before they were due to go she said on the grounds of (her) Ill health (this is despite 3 weeks later making a remarkable recovery And embarking upon a trip to Africa!).
we enquired about a refund and Brown Owl told us she had approached the 'region' and they had refused to give anyone a refund as it was their 'policy' not to give refunds! We were never at any time informed that this money was non refundable and I find it totally unacceptable as it was the Brownie leader who cancelled not us. It is almost tantamount to a scam. There is another upcoming trip in November for which we now feel she could do the same thing all over again.
Is there any legislation to deal with this type of problem?
Thank you in advance.

[PAWS]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Well I can understand you being mad as hell! Are you speaking to any of the other parents? Have all been refused refunds? If you paid by cheque whose name was it in?
I presume Brownies come under the umbrella of Girl guiding? If so go onto this site https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/syste...ontact_us.aspx it has contact details and on the ‘about us’ page a list of the trustees. Time Brown Owl got a rattle!

[paulajayne]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Who was the payment made to and how was it made?

[judgemental24]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Me being cynical:

How did she pay for the trip to Africa?

As previously stated, give the Girl Guide registered head office a call and let them investigate. If she was ill i am sure a stand in would have been arranged to attend camp rather than disappointing the children from head office

[Redletter]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Hi all. Thank you for the replies.
we haven't managed to speak to any of the other parents but the email we received from Brown Owl re the (non) refund was addressed to many undisclosed recipients so I assume it has gone to all.
we paid cash which was given to Brown Owl who claims in her email that the money went to the 'region', who have said that it is not their policy to give refunds.
Yes I agree it does seem odd that they couldn't organise a stand in.
i will contact the head office directly and see what I can find out.
thank you for the link PAWS.

[nemesis45]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Hi all. Thank you for the replies.
we haven't managed to speak to any of the other parents but the email we received from Brown Owl re the (non) refund was addressed to many undisclosed recipients so I assume it has gone to all.
we paid cash which was given to Brown Owl who claims in her email that the money went to the 'region', who have said that it is not their policy to give refunds.
Yes I agree it does seem odd that they couldn't organise a stand in.
i will contact the head office directly and see what I can find out.
thank you for the link PAWS.

Put your letter to the "region" at the level of a Formal Complaint to the most senior person you can find. the compliant
must then be fully investigated and responded to within 56 days.
Sounds highly suspicious to me.
nem

[Redletter]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Will do. Thanks.

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Can you tell me...is this type of transaction covered by the Goods and Services part of SOGA?

[paulajayne]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Was a receipt given?

[Kati]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

You might find this useful too - http://guidingmanual.guk.org.uk/poli...anagement.aspx

Local guiding accounts

A unit is responsible for its own financial affairs, although it may delegate some fundraising to a Friends of Guiding group. The Unit Leader may delegate the record-keeping to another responsible adult but she remains responsible for ensuring that the accounts are properly maintained.

The Unit Leader:
is entrusted with the safe keeping of the unit's funds
is responsible for seeing that a proper account of the funds is kept
if delegating the accounts to a Unit Treasurer, must review them herself on a quarterly basis
must ensure that anyone managing unit accounts, who is not a member of the unit leadership team, is registered on Go! as a Unit Treasurer
must ensure that the accounts are independently reviewed each year
must ensure that a simple annual report statement is written to accompany the annual accounts.

The Unit Leader need not do all management of funds herself. In the Senior Section, for example, the Look Wider team or equivalent may manage the unit's funds and make decisions regarding their use. However, the Leader is ultimately responsible for the accounts.

The local Commissioner must ensure that unit accounts are prepared and formally examined in accordance with the Charities Acts (and, in England and Wales, filed) when annual income exceeds £25,000. Where annual income and expenditure is below £25,000 (£5,000 for Scotland) it is a Girlguiding requirement to have the accounts independently reviewed each year.

The publication Helpful information about finance details the minimum standard of record keeping for units. This publication is updated as required to reflect changes in:
accounting recommendations made by the Charity Commission
legal obligations
the length of time for which accounts should be kept.

I can't see (personally) how they can refuse a refund for the cancelled trip ... it sounds pretty dodgy to me :sad:

[nemesis45]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

You might find this useful too - http://guidingmanual.guk.org.uk/poli...anagement.aspx


I can't see (personally) how they can refuse a refund for the cancelled trip ... it sounds pretty dodgy to me :sad:

Unfortunately this is sounding very suspect, 4 years ago I took over as the chair of a school PTA ( no one wanted to do the job) a very small village school, we suddenly had cheques bounced a committee member had diverted payments of around £2k proceeds from events and functions and not paid the monies into the bank.

nem

[Redletter]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Was a receipt given?

Unfortunately not but we have entered into email correspondence enquiring about the refund and this has been acknowledged.

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Unfortunately this is sounding very suspect, 4 years ago I took over as the chair of a school PTA ( no one wanted to do the job) a very small village school, we suddenly had cheques bounced a committee member had diverted payments of around £2k proceeds from events and functions and not paid the monies into the bank.

nem

I know what you mean but we have emailed Brown Owl and asked her for the 'region' contact details and she has sent us her number. I have checked and it is the correct number for the North East head office so I will contact them tomorrow.

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You might find this useful too - http://guidingmanual.guk.org.uk/poli...anagement.aspx


I can't see (personally) how they can refuse a refund for the cancelled trip ... it sounds pretty dodgy to me :sad:

Thank you I know it isn't in line with their Brownie promise or their Brownie laws!

[nemesis45]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

Unfortunately not but we have entered into email correspondence enquiring about the refund and this has been acknowledged.

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I know what you mean but we have emailed Brown Owl and asked her for the 'region' contact details and she has sent us her number. I have checked and it is the correct number for the North East head office so I will contact them tomorrow.

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Thank you I know it isn't in line with their Brownie promise or their Brownie laws!

A breach of trust looks like, cash paid no receipt issued is most disturbing.

nem

[wales01man]

Re: Probably an unusual question on this forum!

If fairly large sums of money paid by you and other parents are involved would it be wise to contact the Police this may well be theft?