Can I ask for payment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did the freeloaders help win the game? That's all that matters.

It was an ID camp.

Most of all have housing.

Obviously this one didn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let it go. It’s too late.

Disagree-the worse they can do is ignore her request to pay. Likely the parents didn’t know-just send them the hotel bill and ask the two non-paying kids’ parents to pay. They already got a massive gift from the OP in the form of her chauffeuring them 7 hours each way to a camp and chaperoning them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

This seems unlikely that it happened twice. People paying things with cash is pretty rare these days.

What? Of course they had cash. You’re not going to send your kid hundreds of miles away only with Venmo without having a hotel booked. Most of the kids I know use cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did you not discuss this ahead of time? You were wrong not to, and the other kids’ parents were wrong not to offer. If you need the money, ask, if not chalk it up to a life experience. How many rooms were there? It’s a little dodgier if they weren’t all in your room or the room the other kid paid for.

15 - 17 year olds. The two kids who didn’t pay shared a room. My plan was that my kid would stay in my room, but the kid who paid offered him the other bed in his room.

If the kids were of different sex, then I can see the two additional rooms. But if they were all boys/girls, at least the other three kids could have shared one room.

OP - I see a lot of lessons learned here, I’m sure that the parents of the one kid that paid were surprised that he was charged full price for a room and that you were going to have their 16yo kid stay in a room alone -.

I’m curious, if the other kids had offered to pay for their own rooms, would you have gotten them each their own?

The decision to book three rooms was made before I had any idea the kid was paying. This was a sports ID camp, with college coaches who the kids were trying to impress. In my opinion, sleep is critical to playing well, so I wasn't going to ask my kid to sleep on the floor or share a bed. I assumed that others felt the same way, and based on that, I booked a bed for each kid, plus one for myself which meant 3 rooms total. When I texted the parents to confirm the plan, I said "We're booked at X hotel. I can add extra rooms."

The kid who paid for the room did so at check in. He just handed over a card and asked that one of the rooms be charged to him. He then asked my kid if he wanted to share. My kid said something to him about paying for half the room and he said no, his mom had told him to pay for it. He did something similar one of the times we stopped for gas, and when we stopped for fast food on the way up and the way back. When I paid for dinner for the group, he apple paid me the appropriate amount without me asking. It seemed clear that his mom had done some coaching about how to make sure he was paying for himself. I don't imagine they were surprised.

Kids don't need their own hotel rooms. YOU wanted your own hotel room and that's differnt. If you can afford these sports, and travel, stop being petty. Its really strange someone this comfortable is petty. You would have gotten two hotel rooms anyway. Let the kids pay directly for their own food. Whats with the reinbursement non-sense?

What? She would have gotten only one hotel room with two beds for her and her son.

And, another child paid for the second hotel room and all the other boys could have stayed in there. She wanted her own room and a room for her son so she choose to pay for two rooms. She should have been upfront with the plan. She wouldn't have shared with her son. She was clear in her post of that.

Just pay for your own share already, before OP has to ask. You are so cheap and trashy.

I wouldn’t have sent my kid with op. But, the issue is 1-2 a room cost. One parent fully paid for one room.

Why do you excuse the other 2 non-paying families? Did they say they were poor and asked OP for hand-out?

Op should have discussed it in advance. Her kid could have been in her room and the rest share the room the other parents paid for. The issue is 1-2 a room cost.

What does 1-2 a room mean?

I think pp is saying there were 1-2 people per room. Room 1 was OP, Room 2 was kid who paid for room + OP’s kid, Room 3 had two non-paying kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

It’s hard to say as op, like you did not communicate with the parents.

That’s why you need to communicate with the parents, duh! The underdeveloped teenage brain will do all sorts of stupid things. Contact the parents to sort it out. The teens thought this was easy money at OPs expense. No way a parent would not reimburse the hotel cost after the OP volunteered her time for the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did you not discuss this ahead of time? You were wrong not to, and the other kids’ parents were wrong not to offer. If you need the money, ask, if not chalk it up to a life experience. How many rooms were there? It’s a little dodgier if they weren’t all in your room or the room the other kid paid for.

15 - 17 year olds. The two kids who didn’t pay shared a room. My plan was that my kid would stay in my room, but the kid who paid offered him the other bed in his room.

If the kids were of different sex, then I can see the two additional rooms. But if they were all boys/girls, at least the other three kids could have shared one room.

OP - I see a lot of lessons learned here, I’m sure that the parents of the one kid that paid were surprised that he was charged full price for a room and that you were going to have their 16yo kid stay in a room alone -.

I’m curious, if the other kids had offered to pay for their own rooms, would you have gotten them each their own?

The decision to book three rooms was made before I had any idea the kid was paying. This was a sports ID camp, with college coaches who the kids were trying to impress. In my opinion, sleep is critical to playing well, so I wasn't going to ask my kid to sleep on the floor or share a bed. I assumed that others felt the same way, and based on that, I booked a bed for each kid, plus one for myself which meant 3 rooms total. When I texted the parents to confirm the plan, I said "We're booked at X hotel. I can add extra rooms."

The kid who paid for the room did so at check in. He just handed over a card and asked that one of the rooms be charged to him. He then asked my kid if he wanted to share. My kid said something to him about paying for half the room and he said no, his mom had told him to pay for it. He did something similar one of the times we stopped for gas, and when we stopped for fast food on the way up and the way back. When I paid for dinner for the group, he apple paid me the appropriate amount without me asking. It seemed clear that his mom had done some coaching about how to make sure he was paying for himself. I don't imagine they were surprised.

Kids don't need their own hotel rooms. YOU wanted your own hotel room and that's differnt. If you can afford these sports, and travel, stop being petty. Its really strange someone this comfortable is petty. You would have gotten two hotel rooms anyway. Let the kids pay directly for their own food. Whats with the reinbursement non-sense?

What? She would have gotten only one hotel room with two beds for her and her son.

And, another child paid for the second hotel room and all the other boys could have stayed in there. She wanted her own room and a room for her son so she choose to pay for two rooms. She should have been upfront with the plan. She wouldn't have shared with her son. She was clear in her post of that.

Just pay for your own share already, before OP has to ask. You are so cheap and trashy.

I wouldn’t have sent my kid with op. But, the issue is 1-2 a room cost. One parent fully paid for one room.

Why do you excuse the other 2 non-paying families? Did they say they were poor and asked OP for hand-out?

Op should have discussed it in advance. Her kid could have been in her room and the rest share the room the other parents paid for. The issue is 1-2 a room cost.

What does 1-2 a room mean?

I think pp is saying there were 1-2 people per room. Room 1 was OP, Room 2 was kid who paid for room + OP’s kid, Room 3 had two non-paying kids.

Op should have paid half the room her kid was in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

It’s hard to say as op, like you did not communicate with the parents.

That’s why you need to communicate with the parents, duh! The underdeveloped teenage brain will do all sorts of stupid things. Contact the parents to sort it out. The teens thought this was easy money at OPs expense. No way a parent would not reimburse the hotel cost after the OP volunteered her time for the trip.

Teens don’t think of this stuff. Op should have worked it out directly and the four kids or three kids share a room. Op is pretty comfortable to pay for two rooms and have her own. We would have piled into one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

It’s hard to say as op, like you did not communicate with the parents.

That’s why you need to communicate with the parents, duh! The underdeveloped teenage brain will do all sorts of stupid things. Contact the parents to sort it out. The teens thought this was easy money at OPs expense. No way a parent would not reimburse the hotel cost after the OP volunteered her time for the trip.

OP can do that now. She was busy driving several kids 14 hours. No shame in asking for the payment she’s owed after the fact. As others have said, the worst the parents can say is no (and they shouldn’t.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

It’s hard to say as op, like you did not communicate with the parents.

That’s why you need to communicate with the parents, duh! The underdeveloped teenage brain will do all sorts of stupid things. Contact the parents to sort it out. The teens thought this was easy money at OPs expense. No way a parent would not reimburse the hotel cost after the OP volunteered her time for the trip.

OP can do that now. She was busy driving several kids 14 hours. No shame in asking for the payment she’s owed after the fact. As others have said, the worst the parents can say is no (and they shouldn’t.)

What is she asking for? She choose three rooms. One family paid for a room. She did not want to share and paid for a second room. So, she can only at best ask for 1-2 the room her son was in. Sounds like the kids paid for food. You discuss this in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

It’s hard to say as op, like you did not communicate with the parents.

That’s why you need to communicate with the parents, duh! The underdeveloped teenage brain will do all sorts of stupid things. Contact the parents to sort it out. The teens thought this was easy money at OPs expense. No way a parent would not reimburse the hotel cost after the OP volunteered her time for the trip.

OP can do that now. She was busy driving several kids 14 hours. No shame in asking for the payment she’s owed after the fact. As others have said, the worst the parents can say is no (and they shouldn’t.)

What is she asking for? She choose three rooms. One family paid for a room. She did not want to share and paid for a second room. So, she can only at best ask for 1-2 the room her son was in. Sounds like the kids paid for food. You discuss this in advance.

That not how normal people see things. Two kids got a hotel room they didn’t pay for. If you’re going on an overnight trip and the parents don’t specifically say the teens should be crammed as much as possible, then the sleeping arrangements are up to the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who think OP shouldn't even ask, can you expand on your reasoning? Is it just because she didn't ask beforehand? I don't see how that leads to a conclusion it's rude to ask now. Or is it just DCUM assuming all OPs are always in the wrong?

One child paid for a hotel room. Kids paid for their own food. What more is owed?

No one paid her for the third hotel room.

Even if she didn't take the kids, she still would have gotten two rooms, one for her, and one for her child.

No she said she got beds for everyone, which required 3 rooms for 5 people. She already said her son would have slept in the room with her if he hadn't been invited by the other boy who refused payment.

Completely unnecessary. They are teen boys. Two rooms would have been plenty. Two boys could share or get a rollaway or an air mattress.

She made an assumption about the third room, yes, but the parents and boys who slept there also made assumptions. No way OP is more wrong than they are. And I make my kids sleep on the floor in hotel rooms with me sometimes, but there's no way I'd expect or think anyone would expect 3 boys to stay with a mom they don't even know....

Op child stay with her. Other kids share the paid for room.

Sure, that would have been fine, but those boys took the third room instead of saying we were expecting to stay three in a room.

Even if they’d stayed 3 to a room, wouldn’t they still need to pay 1/3 of the room each?

I was happy to have my kid stay with me. When the other kid invited him, I let him choose, but if we had been alone or had an even number of guests he would have stayed with me.

I would not have been OK with him on the floor. My kid has pretty heavy scholarship support for both school and sport, and the ID camp was a gift from a family member, but we still spend a large portion of our budget on sports because they matter to my kid. To pay hundreds of dollars for an ID camp, and gas, and leave from work, and training, and then have him not play his best when it counts because he didn’t sleep well seems penny wise and pound foolish.

— OP

I agree with you if they stayed 3 to a room they should have each paid 1/3, but then the outstanding financial issue would be between them and and the boy who did pay for that whole room. I was saying given that they didn't stay with him and instead took the other room, there's not any possible excuse for them not paying.

It would be super entitled for anyone to expect your kid to sleep on the floor. If anyone should have, it would be one of the 2 non-paying kids.

It’s common kids share beds on school trips. Op choose not to communicate and complain. One family paid, so the issue is the cost of the unnecessary third room.

But the boys chose to take the third room, therefore they owe for it. Worse, they chose that when watching the other kid pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

This seems unlikely that it happened twice. People paying things with cash is pretty rare these days.

What? Of course they had cash. You’re not going to send your kid hundreds of miles away only with Venmo without having a hotel booked. Most of the kids I know use cash.

I've been on OP's side this whole thread, use cash all the time and as recently as yesterday, and even I wouldn't send my kid with enough cash for 2 hotel nights plus meals. I'd have asked how much the hotel was before they left and asked the mom when/how to pay, but I wouldn't be giving them hundreds in cash to possibly lose.

$100 for an aquarium trip may be on the edge of reasonable if I was expecting them to hand over the entry fees immediately upon arrival, but I'd never give them enough cash for hotels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

It’s hard to say as op, like you did not communicate with the parents.

That’s why you need to communicate with the parents, duh! The underdeveloped teenage brain will do all sorts of stupid things. Contact the parents to sort it out. The teens thought this was easy money at OPs expense. No way a parent would not reimburse the hotel cost after the OP volunteered her time for the trip.

OP can do that now. She was busy driving several kids 14 hours. No shame in asking for the payment she’s owed after the fact. As others have said, the worst the parents can say is no (and they shouldn’t.)

What is she asking for? She choose three rooms. One family paid for a room. She did not want to share and paid for a second room. So, she can only at best ask for 1-2 the room her son was in. Sounds like the kids paid for food. You discuss this in advance.

She NEVER said she didn't want to share a room. She said she assumed everyone needed their own bed, which then necessitated three rooms by definition when there are 2 beds in a room. If the parents assumed kids would be sharing beds, how is OP assuming one per bed at more fault than they are? Either way, you still have two families who paid nothing to anyone, which isn't okay any way you look at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

This seems unlikely that it happened twice. People paying things with cash is pretty rare these days.

What? Of course they had cash. You’re not going to send your kid hundreds of miles away only with Venmo without having a hotel booked. Most of the kids I know use cash.

The hotel was booked. I had texted the parents the link to the room so they could see the cost and told them I'd make the reservation. I looked back, and as I thought I wrote that I was getting "more rooms", so if someone was going to state that they wanted their kid to share a bed or sleep on the floor instead of paying, that would have been the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a decent chance the two non-payers were told by their parents to pay their share but cagey HS boys can be shrewd and are hoping to hang on to that $100 (and their parents assume their tab has been paid). And have you asked your son? Did those boys happen to Venmo him directly and your son is hoping to make a little profit by not telling you? After you check with your son and confirm he didn't get paid, reach out to the parents. And I'm sorry if I didn't follow, but are they still at camp? If so, maybe the parents are assuming you will follow up or they will make the offer once camp is over and everyone's home.

This. The boys kept the money their parents gave for the hotel. Nobody sends their 16 yo without money or arranging for accommodations.

A few years ago I’ve taken my kids friends, 10 and 12 year old, to an aquarium trip, fully intending to pay for everything. Their parents were trying to teach them about money and gave them $100 for tickets, food and public transportation. The kids didn’t say anything, but on the way out we stopped at the gift shop and they jumped on buying big plushies, but didn’t have enough for both of them. So they started to negotiate with me to lend them extra money, which I flat out refused. Then they have the bright idea to call their mom so she convinces me to lend them the money. Over the phone the mom made them give me their share from the cash they had, oh the disappointment on their faces lol.

The other boys in the original post did the same, kept the hotel money to themselves. I’d touch base with the parents because I’m sure it’s not their intention to take advantage of the OP. Help the teenagers learn responsibility, and don’t take this personally.

This seems unlikely that it happened twice. People paying things with cash is pretty rare these days.

What? Of course they had cash. You’re not going to send your kid hundreds of miles away only with Venmo without having a hotel booked. Most of the kids I know use cash.

The hotel was booked. I had texted the parents the link to the room so they could see the cost and told them I'd make the reservation. I looked back, and as I thought I wrote that I was getting "more rooms", so if someone was going to state that they wanted their kid to share a bed or sleep on the floor instead of paying, that would have been the time.

I’m guessing the parents gave them money to pay you for the hotel since they were aware of the cost. The conversation went through the kids and they were more hands off and trusted their kids to handle the details.

Just ask for the money, it’s ridiculous for you to not get paid.