Help please - RE: Port Pirates not refunding deposit for reg

[Olympic (Vista) Bhoy]

Hi all

Seeking some help. Unfortunately, due to a divorce my sons are no longer living anywhere near Port Adelaide. I paid $500 deposit in October to secure their places on the U8's and U10's next season. I asked the club for a refund given the change in circumstances and this is the reply I got:

"We are sorry to hear that your sons are unable to play for Pirates next year. I sympathise with your plight and I did raise your query at our meeting last night.


Unfortunately we are unable to refund the deposit that you have paid. We have had to register both the club and individual teams with FFSA for next year, as well as ordering the uniforms so that they are ready for the beginning of the season. The deposit is required to cover these expenses, and as such is non-refundable, as indicated in our registration documents.



I hope that your sons are able to find a club closer to your new home and wish them all the best for next season."

Can anyone get me in touch with someone from the FFSA etc? This seems highly unfair. They have had my money for 2 1/2 months and I did the right thing by registering them on time. The other factor is, out of the 2 U/7 squads from last season (18 kids) only 2 have signed on. What would have happened if there was and still could be, no team for next season, was my 7 year old supposed to sit out the entire season (as I am sure other clubs are filling their lists quicky)?

Cheers in advance

[swannsong]

Can't be good publicity for the Club to have it discussed on these forums .... most clubs stipulate "no refund" ....not sure how legal that is....might want to check with consumer law....ie...the registration fee/charge is to cover a service for a specific amount of time.....if you are unable to utilize that service, in theory there should be a refund offered !

[Olympic (Vista) Bhoy]

Can't be good publicity for the Club to have it discussed on these forums .... most clubs stipulate "no refund" ....not sure how legal that is....might want to check with consumer law....ie...the registration fee/charge is to cover a service for a specific amount of time.....if you are unable to utilize that service, in theory there should be a refund offered !

Agreed Swanny. If it was a case me just changing my mind etc I can understand. These circumstances could not have reasonably been forseen.

[AL K HOLIC]

Can't do a lot.

I know a boy who joined a promoted C team paid his fees in full, now they find out there is no promotion and the family is considering walking they will lose their cash.

Sad situation which can be resolved by the club but this is not something new, but also not something the Pirates need on a forum.

[swannsong]

Can't do a lot.

I know a boy who joined a promoted C team paid his fees in full, now they find out there is no promotion and the family is considering walking they will lose their cash.

Sad situation which can be resolved by the club but this is not something new, but also not something the Pirates need on a forum.

If you check with the Consumer Law....so long as no shirts with names have been made up I can't see why Clubs wouldn't do the right thing.
Don't go along with the "can't do a lot" line of thinking. It's actually wrong (may be illegal) for shops to display a "No Refund" sign....if they can't offer you a replacement product you are quite within your rights to demand a refund....Check with the FFSA about insurance costs and affiliation costs....in theory these should either be refunded or transferred. We had several Senior players from South Adelaide Panthers move to our Amateur Seniors and Panthers refunded their fees !

[AL K HOLIC]

Can't do a lot.

I know a boy who joined a promoted C team paid his fees in full, now they find out there is no promotion and the family is considering walking they will lose their cash.

Sad situation which can be resolved by the club but this is not something new, but also not something the Pirates need on a forum.

If you check with the Consumer Law....so long as no shirts with names have been made up I can't see why Clubs wouldn't do the right thing.
Don't go along with the "can't do a lot" line of thinking. It's actually wrong (may be illegal) for shops to display a "No Refund" sign....if they can't offer you a replacement product you are quite within your rights to demand a refund....Check with the FFSA about insurance costs and affiliation costs....in theory these should either be refunded or transferred. We had several Senior players from South Adelaide Panthers move to our Amateur Seniors and Panthers refunded their fees !

The club can simply return the fees minus any costs, but I'm sure that will eat up 75%.

Any club which withdraws a team from any competition will be fined $200.00 prior to the generation of fixtures. Is this legal? if so why can't no refunds.

[Bomber]

Ask West Adelaide how they would treat such a situation. I'll leave it at that.

[Faith No More]

Other clubs withold funds too , pretty sad when they scalp enough off kids anyway IMO.

[90mins]

Here's a thought, Mum & Dad could put their issues to the side and take one each on game day, Dad can even have a day visit one night in the week for training, all parties happy.

All, not most, thats the whole reason of the deposit, I think you would be hard to find someone who returns the deposit when the club is not at fault, depending on the reasons.

[Faith No More]

Maybe that's how major sponsors' kids & committee members kids get in free at some clubs. Or am I just being cynical ?
just give the family a fair percentage of their money back.

[90mins]

Maybe that's how major sponsors' kids & committee members kids get in free at some clubs. Or am I just being cynical ?
just give the family a fair percentage of their money back.

I agree the club should give it back minus costs, but they should not be attacked for not, no club hides this information and I'm sure we all feel they could help out but maybe they used 90% already.

[Faith No More]

Hi all

Seeking some help. Unfortunately, due to a divorce my sons are no longer living anywhere near Port Adelaide. I paid $500 deposit in October to secure their places on the U8's and U10's next season. I asked the club for a refund given the change in circumstances and this is the reply I got:

"We are sorry to hear that your sons are unable to play for Pirates next year. I sympathise with your plight and I did raise your query at our meeting last night.


Unfortunately we are unable to refund the deposit that you have paid. We have had to register both the club and individual teams with FFSA for next year, as well as ordering the uniforms so that they are ready for the beginning of the season. The deposit is required to cover these expenses, and as such is non-refundable, as indicated in our registration documents.

U8 & a U10....have a little bit of Xmas spirit. they are probably doing it tough with the divorce anyway.


I hope that your sons are able to find a club closer to your new home and wish them all the best for next season."

Can anyone get me in touch with someone from the FFSA etc? This seems highly unfair. They have had my money for 2 1/2 months and I did the right thing by registering them on time. The other factor is, out of the 2 U/7 squads from last season (18 kids) only 2 have signed on. What would have happened if there was and still could be, no team for next season, was my 7 year old supposed to sit out the entire season (as I am sure other clubs are filling their lists quicky)?

Cheers in advance

[Stitch This]

Maybe that's how major sponsors' kids & committee members kids get in free at some clubs. Or am I just being cynical ?

No, just bitter.

[swannsong]

Those fees cover insurance, equipment, coaching costs, referee's fees etc.....how can they be 75%-90% "used up" (allocated maybe) if a season hasn't started.
As for parents putting their issues aside, it might also be a situation where the children are living too far away from a club to be practical !
Surely a club would be able to fill those extra spots in the time available with the few months available ??

[Black Hawk]

Tough luck. The $500 will only be a drop in the ocean in terms of the cost of divorce.

From the club perspective;
The costs of advertising in the local paper to get kids to make up the numbers for the two gone would be more than $500. What value all the administration time donated by volunteers at the club?

[Faith No More]

Tough luck. The $500 will only be a drop in the ocean in terms of the cost of divorce.

From the club perspective;
The costs of advertising in the local paper to get kids to make up the numbers for the two gone would be more than $500. What value all the administration time donated by volunteers at the club?

why do you need to adverise in the paper, wouldn't it be better at schools & on FFSA website.

[Faith No More]

Maybe that's how major sponsors' kids & committee members kids get in free at some clubs. Or am I just being cynical ?

No, just bitter.

Bitter no, realistic YES

[Faith No More]

Those fees cover insurance, equipment, coaching costs, referee's fees etc.....how can they be 75%-90% "used up" (allocated maybe) if a season hasn't started.
As for parents putting their issues aside, it might also be a situation where the children are living too far away from a club to be practical !
Surely a club would be able to fill those extra spots in the time available with the few months available ??

+1

[swannsong]

Tough luck. The $500 will only be a drop in the ocean in terms of the cost of divorce.

From the club perspective;
The costs of advertising in the local paper to get kids to make up the numbers for the two gone would be more than $500. What value all the administration time donated by volunteers at the club?

Tough luck....So much compassion....that drop in the ocean would be added to all the other costs you referred to !
Didn't expect that kind of response from you Black Hawk
It costs nothing to advertise on here, by word of mouth or very little to re-contact applicants that clubs turn away.
Unless you pay the volutnteers for their time you have already placed a value on their time.
To me this is a genuine reason, should be treated logically and compassionately.

Think the Ombudsman would be interested in these types of dealings !

[Stitch This]

Think the Ombudsman would be interested in these types of dealings !

He'd be kept quite busy then. How many Junior clubs are there?

Very surprised Faith no More hasn't told us what the policy is at his club by now?

[swannsong]

CLUB FEES INCLUDE

TWO TRAINING SESSIONS PER WEEK - Training session is held at Almond Tree Flat twice a week for 1 ½ hours per session
CLUB MEMBERSHIP- This entitles 2 adults free entry into all Senior Pirates home games
PLAYER INSURANCE - This insurance is through FFSA & it does pay some things. FFSA advise players to also have their own private health insurance if possible.
END OF YEAR PRESENTATION - A family fun day at the club which also includes a trophy presentation for the players

So why would a Club keep the total sum of money paid if a child was not able to begin to use any of these services/products due to unforseen circumstances.
Fair enough having a policy but a decision of "no refund" in this instance, seems to go against the spirit of the word "Club" or Community or Family Values at that Club.
Would the Club refund fees if the vacated positions were filled ??

[Filikis Eterias]

Ask West Adelaide how they would treat such a situation. I'll leave it at that.

Come on Bomber I'll bite. What did we do this time that your not happy about?

[robinfriday10]

Seems like port have got $500 worth of bad pubicity...

[Stitch This]

Seems like port have got $500 worth of bad pubicity...

Because the whole world is reading this forum.

[Faith No More]

Think the Ombudsman would be interested in these types of dealings !

He'd be kept quite busy then. How many Junior clubs are there?

Very surprised Faith no More hasn't told us what the policy is at his club by now?

thought this was about the pirates cross stitch.
Most clubs I'm sure would be reasonable & at least give the parents back some of the money.
is Pirates your club ? You've been very defensive .

[God is an Englishman]

If you look at the legal stand and consider it as a consumer issue and the product you have bought. That product is not faulty and is still capable of doing exactly what it said. You have changed your mind as to whether to use the product.

However, most decent stores will go further than this in their policies as a matter of good faith and good customer service.

In this situation I don't think you're entitled to any money but yo'd think given the circumstances the club would do the right thing. If you think they aren't going to have a team at that level then keep an eye out because then the product you have paid for is no longer available and you would be legally entitled to a refund.

Hope the club does the right thing by you and good luck with it, because you're going to need that money for lawyers.

[swannsong]

If you look at the legal stand and consider it as a consumer issue and the product you have bought. That product is not faulty and is still capable of doing exactly what it said. You have changed your mind as to whether to use the product.

However, most decent stores will go further than this in their policies as a matter of good faith and good customer service.

In this situation I don't think you're entitled to any money but yo'd think given the circumstances the club would do the right thing. If you think they aren't going to have a team at that level then keep an eye out because then the product you have paid for is no longer available and you would be legally entitled to a refund.

Hope the club does the right thing by you and good luck with it, because you're going to need that money for lawyers.

Not sure if it would be correct to say "changed their mind" about using the product, sounds more like they are now unable to use the product due to location....It's not really a portable product so I doubt Port Pirates can offer them the same service in a different location. Must admit though.

[Stitch This]

Think the Ombudsman would be interested in these types of dealings !

He'd be kept quite busy then. How many Junior clubs are there?

Very surprised Faith no More hasn't told us what the policy is at his club by now?

thought this was about the pirates cross stitch.
Most clubs I'm sure would be reasonable & at least give the parents back some of the money.
is Pirates your club ? You've been very defensive .

How are you are sure most clubs would be reasonable - have you surveyed all 30 plus already? What was the response from your club's committee - will you be publishing it on Football News? I would have thought that up your way things like this were a weekly event?

I would hope that Pirates refund part of the fees, but ultimately the decision up to them.

No association with Pirates whatsoever - just not a big fan of public lynchings on the internet.

[swannsong]

Public lynching, you making me laugh Stitch.
Never discussed a politician, sportsman, religion, journalist, club, country on a public forum ?

[Faith No More]

thought this was about the pirates cross stitch.
Most clubs I'm sure would be reasonable & at least give the parents back some of the money.
is Pirates your club ? You've been very defensive .[/quote]
How are you are sure most clubs would be reasonable - have you surveyed all 30 plus already? What was the response from your club's committee - will you be publishing it on Football News? I would have thought that up your way things like this were a weekly event?

I would hope that Pirates refund part of the fees, but ultimately the decision up to them.

Up my way ?
what's that supposed to mean ?
EDITED - removed foul language. Forum Moderator
swannsong is right.

No association with Pirates whatsoever - just not a big fan of public lynchings on the internet.[/quote]
Lynching ?
he is asking for some money back not leading a campaign thru the streets you analbandit !