Hi all,

I am currently on resettlement but attached to an artillery Sgts Mess and am getting threatened with Xmas duties about non payment of my mess bill of £146.

Thing is, I am not going to the Xmas ball which I know is a £180 refund which I am still waiting to get taken off my bill which will leave me £34 in credit.

They are saying I have to pay then get back the £180 but I know they are a nightmare to get money back from.

Do I have a leg to stand on?

I also have paid into their presentation fund for 2 years but do not want a presentation from them. Can I offset future bills with this or will I again have to fight to get my own money back?

Finally, is there a recognised point where I can officially leave the mess and stop paying bills as they are off on tour next march/april or am I stuck with it till my last official day of service?

People in my admin office and mess are very unhelpful.

Cheers,

Dun.

My advice is put your explanation in writing to your Mess treasurer and then it should be sent to the RSM, for a decision. Look at it this way, they are legally oblidged to give you refunds even if you have to pay upfront first. Also, If you dont want a presentation again legally they have to give your money back. Any dramas threaten legal action, they will soon pay up.

Edited to add - Make sure you get your response in writing.

Just a couple of points.....

If you are due a refund then I would hang on until the next mess bill. If it's not on there then take it up with the mess accountant. Have they seriously threatened you with Xmas duties on the basis of non payment of a mess bill? If so, then it's an illegal punishment. Tell them that and if they still stick it on you, then it's service complaint time. If they want to do you, then it's either MAA or Charge (neither of which is likely to stick).

As for offsetting your presentation, then that is a matter for you to take up as a local agreement, if they don't want to pay ball then you'll have to pay the bills but take the presentation.

Finally, AIUI, you are a member of the mess until your last day of service, you pay until then.

You say the Mess is a nightmare to get money back from.

It seems, being in debt to the tune of £146, would tell me that you are a nightmare to get money out of.

I sympathise with you, but a recurring theme in many messes is how many nobbers leave the forces with a massive Mess Bill debt - which ends up being written off and the costs are generally picked up by everyone left behind. If they have said that you will get the £180 when you pay the bill, it's simple, go down with a cheque made out for the £146, and wave it in front of the accountant. Tell him you'll sign it when he gets £180 cash out and lays it on the table.

It's likely that they want to make the books and accounts easier to balance rather than them being arsey about it. Offsetting future bills and the like cause an extra burden that most idiots (ie not proffesionally trained accountants employed by firms like Sedexo) can't won't deal with.

If they mug you off with this solution, go see the RSM and explain that you have the money and are willing to pay (look here it is!), but you want the cash back from them too. The door swings both ways.

Wise words from verticalgyro..

Having left recently, I was informed that I was expected to pay Mess fees up until the point I commenced terminal leave. Having said that, I was only paying a very basic mess bill at the time, so had no reason to challenge it. I am sure it will be written down somewhere in the Army Pay Manual or JSP??? whatever it is called nowadays. It seems harsh they are expecting you to pay up for a function that you have already declared you are not attending. The threat of Christmas duties is bollauex in my humble opinion, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Unless of course, you are doing your fair share of duties as you are still serving! Are you an attached arm by any chance? Although we are only getting your side of the story, it all seems rather pedantic.

Infiltrator, the next bill is AFTER the duties they are threatening me with.

Verticalgyro, I have been in CREDIT on my mess bill from January till september when I stopped paying as they said I was due refund and as I have been away on resettlement courses etc have not been to the mess to see a bill as I assumed I was in credit again. I always pay as its only basic costs (Although almost £50 per month) as I never go in the mess anyway as I live so far away and don't drink alcohol due to medical reasons.

Yes attached arm slipperman. I do as many or more duties than most anyway as I am usually available when not on resettlement.

Originally Posted by Dunenufftime

Infiltrator, the next bill is AFTER the duties they are threatening me with.

Verticalgyro, I have been in CREDIT on my mess bill from January till september when I stopped paying as they said I was due refund and as I have been away on resettlement courses etc have not been to the mess to see a bill as I assumed I was in credit again. I always pay as its only basic costs (Although almost £50 per month) as I never go in the mess anyway as I live so far away and don't drink alcohol due to medical reasons.

That's fair enough mate, but when you're dealing with idiots, you have to make it simple for them, so simple that they can't argue with logic and can't fuck it up to so you're out of pocket. Even if you hand over the cheque and get the cash back, if you drop it straight into your account that day you'll never even notice when that cheque goes out.

£180!!! where is the mess function, Vegas????
As explained, you are required to pay a mess bill until the day you start terminal leave.
I often get mess members asking for the presentation to be paid in cash, which they usually then stick behind the bar.
I think this requires a closed-door chat with the RSM, and unless he is a complete tool, or stuck in the victorian era which some are, you should be able to sort it out amicabally (spelling!)
Extra duties - I supposed you could get AGAId, but then if you chose to challenge it and explained that the mess owes you money etc.. wouldn't be worth the hassle for the RSM/ Accountant etc.
Good luck.