Football league liability for entry fees

Tuireann90

My friend has recently described the following situation to me and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the legal grounds:

Friend captains a 7-aside football team in a league set up by a private company in Dublin. Generally the team fails to pay the full fees for the season (approximately 1000e) due to players leaving the team prior to paying their full amount (some of these players were provided by the league itself). This has built-up over 3-4 seasons and currently stands at 2.1k according to the league, though he believes it is alot less than that.

The company running the league has issuing a letter to the captain demanding full payment of fees within 48hours or a collection agency will be put on the case. The captain himself has fully paid his fees for every season & the terms & conditions of participation in the league do not specify the captain is responsible for non-payment. The letter also states that non-payment of the TEAMS fees there may be issues for the captain "relating to your own ability to get credit in the future, as non-payment of bills can have a long term and significant impact on your ability to raise any funds, including mortgages, loans and insurance"

To me this seems to be incredibly shaky grounds? The team is not a company, nor was it agreed at any point that the captain was responsible for any non-payment. The company do not seem to be attempting to contact the actual non-paying players.

Any thoughts on this?

hullaballoo

Shenanigans.

Pat Mustard

Tuireann90 wrote: »

Friend captains a 7-aside football team in a league set up by a private company in Dublin. Generally the team fails to pay the full fees for the season (approximately 1000e) due to players leaving the team prior to paying their full amount (some of these players were provided by the league itself). This has built-up over 3-4 seasons and currently stands at 2.1k according to the league, though he believes it is alot less than that.

Not really a legal point but on a practical level, the company who set up the 7-a-side league should either collect the entire amount of the fees at the start of the season or else they should break it into a couple of instalments and insist on payment before teams progress.

Shoddy organisation followed by this messing from the company.

At the same time, all paperwork should be read over now, to see exactly what had been agreed.

Mr. Incognito

I'd love to get a hold of this correspondence.

I would write a reply along the lines of;

1. Not allowed affix team debt on captain
2. I suspect their terms and conditions say payment must be up front etc . They have acquiesed at best and written off at worst
3. I would threaten to counter sue for defamation and threatening vexatious litigation and debt collection.

But thats just me.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Losty Dublin

I entered a team into some similar office league some years ago. Well over 2 years after the event I got a call from the league organiser demanding we pay the remainder of an outstanding fee that they had only now realised/decided that we owed them, something like €100. In other words, I as their sole contact owed them cash or else, with a possible trip to court or seizure of our winners medals (We finished last, for what it's worth.). I countered his argument by suggesting that in lieu of his poor organisational skills that his take a trip up the Khyber Pass and pressing my phones red button

Tuireann90

I have noticed their terms and conditions includes the following paragraph:


"The league has the right to, and will pursue, any member, team or company that has registered for the
leagues and fails to pay the agreed fees, whether wholly or part thereof, including any administration, legal
and/or interest charges. All discounts, incentives, including kit, will also be sought back, or to be paid for
in full. "

The league has since stated to the captain that "As captains of the team, participants in the league, and as per league agreement, you are liable to pay this fee, and any and all administration, collection and interest costs, which will be all be compiled and added tomorrow."

Does this stack up legally? Does the fact that the team hasnt actually "registered" and accepted the T&Cs for each season matter?

nuac

Mod
Legal advice against forum rules. Subject to that leaving open for general discussion

Heres Johnny

Tell your friend not to worry! Might not get accepted into same league again as the same team but that's about it

ichabod

While a member here for about 3 years, this my first post. TBH, I had forgotten I was a member. Now, how can I frame a response to the OP with it appearing to be legal advice ?
Perhaps I can frame it like this : My own response to this situation would be to do nothing. I would not respond to any correspondence from such a company. I would not accept any calls from this company relating to the issue. All calls from this company would be recorded irrespective of the subject matter. Under no circumstances would I make any acknowledgement of the alleged debt, either verbally, by text/email or letter. All correspondence would be safely filed away. I would apply the same actions should a debt collection agency be engaged by the company. Should the matter eventually be placed in the hands of the company's solicitors, I would again apply the same actions up until a civil summons is served ( if it ever got to that stage ). If it should reach the stage of a civil summons, my direct advice is that the OP consult a solicitor. It is not necessarily what I would do but to go further with my own possible actions probably amounts to legal advice.
Also, without seeing the original contract and any agreed amendments and signatures to the contract, even a brief would be hard put to give advice.
Based on personal experience, I would advise the OP's friend not to fret about this. The legal process takes time and life is too short to worry about the likes of this BS. When a civil summons drops through the letterbox, that is time enough to take action. In the meantime, get on with enjoying life.