Leaving a soccersix league

dean_e_boy · 16 Jun 2015 at 10:34

Hello,

I wondered if anyone can help, my son has a team in a soccer six league and a few days before the new season has started he has been told by a few of his players they will be unable to play, therefore he will not have enough players to compete in the league.

He contacted the league to tell them his team will not be able to play and they have told him he is liable for the fees for the rest of the new season ( around £500 ). Looking at the terms and conditions on the website, it looks like he signed up to:

I agree to pay the match fee weekly for a full season. If our team leaves the league we recognise we will still be liable for the full season match fees. I understand that should I wish to withdraw the Team from the League before the start of any new season I will provide Soccersixes with 2 weeks’ notice (Termination Notice) prior to the start of the new season or be entered into the new season.

This is what he has signed up to: http://www.soccersixes.net/site?join

Is this legitimate? He has spoken to someone at the league but they were not that helpful.

Any advice would be greatfully received.

Many Thanks

img · 16 Jun 2015 at 10:50

How old is he? Did he do the agreement?

dean_e_boy · 16 Jun 2015 at 10:57

He is over 18 and was when he signed up last season

cactusweasel · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:17

Did he sign a contract?

dean_e_boy · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:18

He signed up online

cactusweasel · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:47

can he not get more players?

dean_e_boy · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:50

I think that is what he is going to try and do, but I don't think he will be guaranteed getting the players. He just wants to be able to leave the league, which doesn't look like he will be able to.

I think the has learned not to bother organising anything, as people will always let you down

bitslice · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:53

Surely the league would have to provide proof of a loss,
although this does sound a bit like gym clubs who make their money off people not bothering to turn up.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/c...d/gym-membership/cancelling-a-gym-membership/

"The Office of Fair Trading has cracked down on these contract conditions, known as unfair contract terms."

neil_g · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:54

always get payment off people up front for this sort of thing. then at least if they back out it comes out of their pocket.

dean_e_boy · 16 Jun 2015 at 12:05

Many thanks, I will have a trawl through the citizen advice website to see if I can find anything suitable

Stretch · 16 Jun 2015 at 12:58

Tell them if they don't offer a refund, he'll turn up for evey dressed as Jimmy Savile.

Adam · 16 Jun 2015 at 13:37

I've played in leagues like this before and it's a real pain for everyone involved when someone drops out. I can see why they are asking for the full payment, they have to pay for a referee and they will have blocked out the pitches for the leagues for the entire evening so cannot reclaim the money.

It's also annoying if you are playing as you play less games over the course of a season too.

wildman · 16 Jun 2015 at 14:03

Best advice is for him to go to each of the players houses that let him down and take a greasy dump through the letterbox. The parcel up a special edition sample and send it to the league with a note stating "smell this and no what you are"........

Of course this doesn't detract fromthe fact that you still likely will have to cough over the readies, but think of the satisfaction that will be had from posting an aromatic stool through the letterbox !!!

tlrBeta · 16 Jun 2015 at 17:10

neil_g said:
always get payment off people up front for this sort of thing. then at least if they back out it comes out of their pocket.

Be realistic, this is a Wednesday league muck around not a holiday requiring deposits.

1. Tell his friends to man up and find replacements.

2. How many weeks does a 'season' last for. Its only £20 to cancel a game with 48 hours notice, surely that cant be over 20 weeks?

3. I would contact them directly and come to an agreement if required

4. Highly doubt any negative effects would come from this credit wise etc, so i wouldnt be too worried.

Kenai · 16 Jun 2015 at 17:33

tlrBeta said:
Be realistic, this is a Wednesday league muck around not a holiday requiring deposits.

Be realistic - this is still a commitment of £500, Wednesday league, holiday or whatever else.

Whenever you want to commit to something like this which needs money up front or has late cancellation fees etc. and is reliant on other people turning up you always ask those people for money first. Never leave yourself in the position of being left holding the (£500) baby because no one stumped up anything or agreed to.

If they get funny about it when asked in advance, then it's only because deep down they know they probably won't turn up and that's why they don't want to pay up front. Remove money from the situation and everyone just says 'Yeah mate, definitely' because they avoid the immediate social awkwardness of saying no and having the 'oh go on mate' conversation afterwards.

We even did it at work for a 5-a-side knockabout, because everyone would start dropping out on the day, meaning the pitch still had to be paid for but only 4 out of 10 people turned up. Once payments were up front then everyone suddenly became a lot less flaky and turned up when they said they would.