5-year old boy has been given an invoice for a no show at a school mate's birthday party.

A five-year old boy has been billed for a no show at a friend’s birthday party resulting in threats of legal action.

It’s tough being a kid these days.

Back in our day the biggest scandal surrounding a birthday party was when only six girls were invited to Annabel Bett’s 7th’s “P” party. It was heartbreaking knowing all the gang were dressed as Punky Brewster while I sat at home rearranging my swap cards.

These days a birthday party fiasco makes headlines right around the world even before the parents involved manage to brief their lawyers.

Overnight the story of a five-year old boy who was invoiced for not showing up at a “friend’s” party ( lets’ face it there is no way these  mums are getting together for a playdate and mini muffins any time in the near future) has made every major news organisation and lit up social media.

The boy, a five-year old cutie from Cornwall in the UK came home last week from school with a an invoice in his school bag for ditching another child’s party.

Alex’s Mum Tanya had accepted the invite and Alex had told his mate he was keen to go.

Happy days.

The festivities included a snow-tube ride and a hot birthday meal with ice cream or jelly.

(Whatever happened to pin-the-tail on the donkey and fairy bread?)

But instead of joining his friends Alex decided to go off piste with his grandparents that day.

Dad, Derek said that by the time they had decided to skip the party they didn’t have a contact number or email to let the boy’s mother know.

Several days later Alex’s Mum and Dad were shocked at what they found at the bottom of his school bag. Instead of a mouldy banana and broken pieces of lego there was an invoice from the mum of the birthday boy.

Alex’s Mum, Tanya Walsh told The Plymouth Herald she was stunned at the bill for £15.95. ( A$30)

Derek and Tanya said that in the days after the party they looked for the party boy’s mum at the school (deliciously named, Trooping Nursery and Infant School) but couldn’t find her.

It was a week later when the menacing brown envelope arrived.

“I thought it was a joke to begin with. I am lost for words.” said Derek Nash

The families finally faced off about the matter with Derek going to Julie Lawrence’s home. He told the BBC that when he confronted the host’s mother,  she threatened to take the case to a small claims court.

“Because I was so angry I said she wasn’t going to get a penny out of me’.

A Facebook chain of messages between the two Mums has since been leaked to the media gaining more attention than Kim Kardashian’s Paper cover, with the party boy’s Mum, Julie Lawrence at one stage saying she hoped that the family of Alex had their “lesson learned.”

Reaction of social media has been swift with many divided over who is in the right and many thinking that the whole lot of them are in the wrong.

“These parents deserve each other. One for being rude or disorganised enough to accept and then to just not turn up. The other for being arrogant enough to think a children’s party is a big deal. “

“Don’t think the mom will have to worry about any kids going to their party next year or any other year after that either. That woman needs to get a grip!”

“Skiing? Whatever happened to jelly and ice cream? Their son was double-booked? At age five? 

So happy with my life choices right now…”

While the parent’s bicker and fight and provide detailed interviews to the media the saddest statement really about the whole matter has to be this, from The Plymouth Herald.

“Five-year-old Alex has told his parents that his classmate will no longer play with him after he didn’t show up to the party.”

Alex we feel for you. Having you and your mate’s oldies fighting it out in the international media has got to be tough when all you want to do is play superheroes and tip.

Facebook conversation between Tanya Walsh – Alex’s Mum and Julie Ferguson – the party boy’s Mum. 

Tanya: Hi Julie. This is Alex’s mum. I don’t know what has happened between you and my partner, Derek. I was very shocked to see the invoice in Alex’s school bag. I did not realise that you had to pay for each child, as you never mentioned anything about money when we spoke. The only reason Alex did not attend the party was because his nan and grandad were going away for christmas and the only day the kids could go see them was on the same day as the party. I did not know this. On the day Alex decided that he wanted to spend time with his nan and grandad. I apologise for not letting you know, but I did not have a phone number or an e-mail for you to let you know the situation(I also didn’t know your first name, or I would have looked you up). If I had known that I would have to pay if Alex did not go, then I would have paid you the money, no problem. I do not like fighting with people, and would prefer to settle this amicably.

 

Julie :Hi Tanya, I didn’t mention the money when we spoke because it was a child’s party, it doesn’t matter if you have to pay per person or for a group if people agree to going, I confirmed that with all parents on the Thursday before the party that they were going as I had to pay that day, and Derek told me Alex was looking forward to it and would see us there, to me that is confirmation. My phone number was on the invitation that was sent out to Alex. I don’t like fighting with people either, and was not best impressed when Derek turned up on my doorstep, and said you won’t get any money out of me, rather rudely, I do admit it rattled me. This is not the first time Alex has not turned up to a party that he has been invited to, either. the amicable way round this I believe would be to pay me the money and let a lesson be learnt, I hope this is agreeable ? Julie

 

Tanya :Hi Julie, who’s party is Alex supposed to have gone to? I did speak to another mum about a party but she never got back to me with details, other than that I don’t recall any other confirmed invites. The only reason Derek was angry was because of the fact that the envelope was put into Alex’s school bag, when it has nothing to do with the school. He spoke to the headteacher about and she said that it’s against school policy to do that kind of thing. Birthday invites are fine, but not personal items. Like I said before, no money was mentioned when we spoke, and I feel it would be inappropriate to pay you the money, when I don’t know what it’s actually paying for. Alex was very excited to go to the party. I didn’t know until the day about his nan and grandad, and he decided he would rather spend the day with them. Like I said before I didn’t have your number to let you know. And exactly what lesson would I be learning. 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.

 

Julie :You are paying for 1 x child’s party at the ski slope including snow tubing and tobogganing and lunch, to with you said Alex was attending on the Thursday

 

Tanya : Just so you know, small claims court cost #60 just to start a claim. Also I’m not paying for something we didn’t use.

 

Julie :It doesn’t cost that much

 

Tanya :It does. Also I don’t think the school are very happy with you involving them in this either. I don’t know why you are out for our blood and slandering us. I’ve told you the reasons why alex didn’t go. I also told you why I couldn’t call. You also don’t seem to understand that I never ran away from you. I didnt hear you calling after me. I have to get to my daughter at carbeile. So if they let alex out last then I have to rush a bit because evie, my 2 year old, walks slow. So maybe that’s why you thought I was rushing off. I had no reason to run to run away from you. So please do not state things as truth when you do not have all the facts. Maybe if you actually spoke to me rather than making your own mind up about what happened then none of this would be happening right now. If you had come up to us the first day back and explained about the money, then I could have explained about alex, then maybe we could have sorted something out. Instead you send an invoice.