Five-Year-Old Who Missed Friend's Party Is INVOICED For It

Five-year-old Alex Nash was invoiced £15.95 for missing his friend's birthday party by the host's mother.

Instead of attending the party at Plymouth Ski Slope, Alex visited his grandparents as his father realised he had double booked their children on the day of the party. 

Alex's parents found the bill in his school bag which could now lead to a hearing at the small claims court if they refuse to pay it. 

'I have talked to quite a few people about this,' said Mr Nash, a delivery driver. 'They're all quite incredulous that this has happened.

'I thought it was a joke to begin with. I am lost for words.'

The birthday boy's mother - Julie Lawrence, who organised the party with her husband Simon, said she had no regrets.

'All details were on the party invite,' she said in a short statement. 'They had every detail needed to contact me.'

Mr Nash had confirmed Alex would attend the 'slide and ride' party before Christmas at the Plymouth Ski Slope and Snowboard Centre.

Costing £15.95 a head, it would have included half an hour on a snow tubing run, three toboggan rides, a hot meal, ice cream, jelly and balloons.

Without a contact number or e-mail address for the friend's mother, he claimed, he had no choice but to withdraw Alex from the party and apologise when school resumed on January 6.

Mr Nash said his partner looked out for the host's mother at Torpoint Nursery and Infant School, but couldn't find her.

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

The host's mother Julie Lawrence (left with her family) said 'all details were on the party invite'

'I asked Alex's class teacher if [the child's mother] had given anything to her. She said, "Yes, a brown envelope".

'I then visited Alex's school headteacher, who couldn't apologise enough that one of the teachers had passed this on. She said she would remind all staff that this was a breach of protocol.'

Mr Nash confronted the host's mother, who neighbours said was a former police employee. She then threatened to take the case to a small claims court, he added.

The birthday boy is also no longer playing with Alex at school.

'I would have sympathised with her about the cost of Alex not showing up, but I just can't believe the way she has gone about it,' Mr Nash added.

Ms Walsh, a full-time mother, added: 'She said we had an invite but we don't remember ever getting one. I definitely have not seen one. I have searched the whole house and found nothing.

'She could have tried to contact us before issuing the bill. If she had spoken to us we would have considered paying it.

'I could totally understand her point. It is not about the money for us and we did not mean to let them down. It is the way she has gone about it.'

'Little Alex was really upset and today he was scared to go to school. He was worried that no one would want to play with him.

'He was upset when I left him at school this morning. But he is a tough cookie and will get over it.'

source: dailymail.co.uk