Childs Nursery say I owe money - but I don't??

Eurekaonide

Hi I wonder if anyone can help please?

My childs (Old) nursery are stating I still owe them money.

I left owing them some money and arranged (verbally!) to pay it back over the next four months - which I did and I have electronic payments from my bank account to prove this. It is now 10 months since we left that nursery and now they are calling to say I owe some weird amount of nearly £400 !!.

I know I don't owe them it, however I have concerns that because I was paying in cash to one of the office girls for months before we left that some of this has not been paid in. I never got receipts for the cash payments and was actually paying £4 more each month because it was easier.

Any ideas what i should do?

I have advised of the payemnt amounts and dates and stated that i do not owe them anything and refuse to send any money over - but can they take this any further? and what can i do if I suspect this girl (who still works there and is also doing the chasing!) of pocketing some of it? She did tell me she had debts and money worries of her own!.

Help please

clang_uk

Didn't want to read and run. You should find out if there has been a change in staff especially admin. Someone would have seen this hole in the books and may have just contacted you. I would be tempted to air your suspicions directly to the head and explain that you are not satisfied. Ask why they haven't chased you up sooner. If they start getting bullish with it, I would suggest mentioning that you know the local reporter!? Pre-schools et al. hate negative publicity!

Legally I don't know how far they can take it, I imagine they hold the same rights as other companies and charities - but wouldn't like to say for sure.

My advice would be go back and speak to someone in charge.

Keep us all posted!

beanielou

Ask for a written breakdown of the amount owing & also amounts paid.
Did you give the m correct notice?

skint-student-nurse

I had this happen twice in the last 18 months with DD's nursery. I requested a full up-to-date statement and went through it very carefully. I noticed that instead of them taking the funding off for the over 3's,they were adding it on to the account and they were not entering the payments made correctly either,if they were adding them on at all! It could be that the girl you paid cash to has done something like take the cash but thats difficult to prove and as you know,its her word against yours. I eventually wrote to the head office about my situation and how their branch was effectively harassing me for payments and they eventually dropped the issue due so many admin staff changes and they couldnt prove either way if i did owe the money or not. Good luck sorting it out, i know its a horrible postition to be in.

Nickyj

I feel for you! I really hope you get this sorted. Does sound a bit suspicious with the girl you gave the money to. I would go straight to the person in charge too. Also, why have they left it so long to get in touch with you? Doesn't sound like they have a very good accounting system there! Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Eurekaonide

Thank everyone for your advice. I send an email back to the owner as this is a little private type of nursery stating that all monies owed had been paid and that no further funds would be sent. She sent back an appalling email ! one to which I would not have expected to recieve from an ex teacher !!! any how I ahve not bothered to respond and all has gone quite. Is really making me mad though as I went right out of my way and put her debt in front of really really important ones because she had been nice and now I wish I had not bothered!!. Goes to show in the world of debt you may as well just treat them all the same as noone seems to appreciate your efforts.

Grant_UK_2

Hi Eurekaonide

Make sure you keep that email on file for future reference.

Next step, ask them to provide a full breakdown of payments and charges so you can compare what they are saying with what you can support from your records.

Once you can establish exactly where the issue is, you can pinpoint where the problem is and work from there.

Hope that helps - Grant

Mowgli87

What did the email say?!