Parents hit with court action and 'no show fee' after son misses friend's birthday party

A father has received a £15.95 'no show fee' invoice after his son didn’t attend a children’s birthday party.

17:05 19 January 2015

Derek Nash and his partner were sent a £15.95 'no show fee' invoice after their son failed to attend a children’s birthday party. Initially, the father thought it was a joke but realised it was serious when the mother of the birthday boy threatened to bring the issue to a small claims court.

The family originally confirmed that their son will attend the party at the local Ski Slope and Snowboard Center in Cornwall just before the Christmas holidays only to realise that there was a conflict in schedule as they had to take their daughter to her grandparents.

Derek said: "She saw me and asked if Alex was coming to the party. At this time I agreed and said that Alex was looking forward to it.

"By this time we did not have a contact number, email or an address to let [the boy's mother] know.”

"So on the day of the party we asked Alex what he wanted to do - he chose to be with his grandparents."

Alex returned to Torpoint Nursery and Infant School on January 6 where a week later, the invoice was slipped in his bag.

Derek continued: "My partner looked out for [the friend's mother] to apologise for Alex not showing up to the party, but didn't see her.

"But on January 15 she looked in Alex's school bag and found a brown envelope. It was an invoice for £15.95 for a child's party no show fee.”

Meanwhile, the mother of the birthday boy said that the family had all the information they needed to cancel. She said: "All details were on the party invite. They had every detail needed to contact me."