A huge shock

[Fools Motto]

My old pony was PTS in June 2011. This was done by the local hunt, all planned. It went well, and pony was taken away. I gave £20 tip as had been told by the farmer that it is a free service to those who hunt. (we have done, but we are not subscribers).
Imagin my shock when, today a letter arrives, asking to pay a bill of £180 for 'the disposal of 1 dun pony mare'.
Seems a bit delayed, or is this usual?

 

[AmyMay]

I've never heard of it being free, I'm afraid.

£180 is a good and fair price, and although I agree the bill was late, I imagine they were waiting for you to pay up and didn't want to be seen as callous in chasing you immediately for payment.

 

[be positive]

As Amymay said its about right for the area youre in, the hunt may pick up for some farmers as a favour but us horse owners will have to pay the full price.

 

[forestfantasy]

As Amymay says ^

Thats a good price IME but a very late bill!

 

[Miss L Toe]

Its a reasonable cost, same as the knackerman round here, they may have expected you to pay cash at the time, and then realised you had not paid, all a bit stressful at the time so maybe they hoped you would get in touch.

 

[marmalade76]

Generally free or reduced price disposal is only available to farmers. Our local hunt charge £100 plus VAT to farmers and about the same as you've been charged to subscribers.

As for the time it's taken the bill to come, sometimes it takes months for us to send a bill, must be a country business/farming thing!

 

[Maesfen]

Sounds like your farmer was completely wrong to have told you that, I'm sorry. Agree with all the others also the fact that you have hunted in the past won't automatically give you 'mate's rates' now so you'd have to pay the going rate I'm afraid. It's not cheap to dispose of horses even at the kennels, there are parts they can't use and that has to be disposed of correctly (which also means expensively as they have to use outside contractors too)

 

[Fools Motto]

the fact that it is a late bill was more of a shock tbh.
Well, hay ho, we live and learn.