Nursery kids could miss out on trip after vending machine firm demand £5000

Jun 7 2009 Jane Barrie

FED-UP children could lose out on their summer trip...after a vending firm demanded nearly £5000 from their nursery.

The kids' parents were told they would only be charged for drinks they bought from the tea and coffee machine.

But Kafevend Group landed them with a £4795 bill and insisted the nursery was locked in to a six-year rental agreement.

Furious mum Shona Provan, whose son Kyle, three, attends the Glasgow centre, said: "We hand in a small amount each week for outings and events.

"We don't have the money to pay for this. Our funds have been completely wiped out.

"It breaks my heart to think the trip could be off." Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre, in the north of the city, signed a contract two-and-a-half years ago after receiving a fax advertising the drinks machine.

Shona, 35, said: "The fax clearly stated that there was no separate lease or rental and you paid only for drinks.

"We thought we couldn't lose and it was a great idea." The machine was installed, they set the price at 25p a drink and put it to good use - but the parents soon started to receive huge bills.

Shona said: "The first invoice was for £338, then we got bills for anything up to £824.

"We couldn't understand why it cost so much, especially as we were only supposed to pay for what we used.

"The money in the machine in no way covered the amounts the firm charged us." They contacted Sussex-based Kafevend, who agreed to take the machine back, but Shona, of Milton, Glasgow, said: "They wanted a settlement of £3937, which we could not afford." I got on to Kafevend and they promised to sort the mess out.

They said: "We are sorry these issues have not yet been resolved but our MD has a meeting with the Hamiltonhill Centre on June 15.

"We're confident a resolution will be found and the children's activities will not be affected." Delighted Shona said: "The trip is back on and the kids are ecstatic. Thanks for your help." I'm just glad they woke up and smelled the coffee..

Up in arms: Hamiltonhill kids fear for their summer outing after huge bill from vending firm