24/06/2026
After much thought, we have decided to share our recent experience as a warning to other small businesses.
On 29 May 2026, we delivered a teepee sleepover booking in good faith after being provided with what appeared to be proof of payment and assurances that payment had been made.
Normally, we would never deliver a booking before receiving cleared funds. However, based on the circumstances explained to us at the time of booking, and arriving to find the children already excited for their party, we chose to proceed in good faith. Lesson learned.
Unfortunately, despite numerous follow-up messages, offers to accept cash, offers of payment arrangements as low as $50 per week, and multiple extensions of time, payment has still not been received and the account remains outstanding.
As a small family business, situations like this have a significant impact. We always try to help people where we can, but unfortunately this experience has reinforced the importance of having cleared funds before delivery.
We are now commencing formal debt recovery action in an effort to recover the outstanding amount. As formal debt recovery action is now underway, we will not be publicly naming the customer involved at this stage.
Sadly, experiences like this remind us why business policies exist.
This has been an expensive lesson for us and, moving forward, unfortunately no bookings will be delivered without cleared funds being received first. If the cash payment option is selected and payment is not available upon delivery, the goods will not be left and a redelivery fee will apply.
