Accused of being a thief

[lemondropcake]

I recently got back into horse riding after a few years break. Enjoying my lessons so far.
On my first lesson I got in my car and drove off without paying by mistake. They called me to say I hadn't paid. I then drove the half an hour back to pay them as I was embarrassed and didn't want them thinking that I just didn't pay.
This week I had another lesson. I went to my car after the lesson to get my money. I gave it to one of the instructors on the yard but it wasn't the lady who taught me as she seemed to have disappeared. The lady who took my money also booked me in for this weeks lesson.
I have just had a text saying my instructor didn't receive any payment and they have asked the othet instructors and are now refusing to book me another lesson.
I feel hurt and embarrassed. They think I'm some sort of thief. I paid thirty quid for a half hour lesson and someone is denying they took the money.
I was enjoying my lessons and now I don't know what to do!

[honeysucklejasmine]

Can you describe the person you gave the money to?

Sounds like they need to be more proactive at collecting payment before you get on the horse.

[JammyGem]

Are you absolutely sure the lady was an instructor? Can't they see who booked your next lesson to see who it was you gave the money to?

[Chloe84]

I would go back and speak to your instructor. Tell them what happened and mention the woman who took your money booked you in for another lesson. Ask if there is CCTV. They won't expect a 'thief' to come back and calmly address them.

[NancyDonahue]

Definitely give a good description if you can. Go down there and point the person out yourself if you have to. If it gets sorted, and you get a grovelling apology, insist on a receipt for every payment in future.

[PokerRoomRules]

What JammyGem said

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Sounds like a small admin error. Phone them back and explain.

[lemondropcake]

The lady was definitely an instructor although she wasn't mine that week. She took the money and said she would book me in for next week. She is denying having received the payment.
She told me verbally that she would book me in for next week but didn't actually write anything down. She is an instructor as I saw her teaching the lesson before me. I feel so hurt and embarrassed.
I am really honest and reliable and I feel like they are all bitching about me.

[Changedtocovermyass]

My riding school once banked a cheque for my riding lesson as stabling fees. £600 instead of £6. It went through at that too. Mistakes fo happen. (Also this was a million years ago hence the cheap lesson )

[happypoobum]

Honestly, they sound awful and I wouldn't go back.

I would state that you paid this woman and you aren't paying again, and as they obviously don't run a very professional or honest establishment, you won't be going back.

[x2boys]

you could always name and shame them on social media i assume they wont want bad publicity?

[Hidingtonothing]

Long shot but do they have cctv which might show you paying the money? I would go down there and ask for a face to face conversation with the person you paid present.

[Floralnomad]

I wouldn't go back , I'd find somewhere more professional. At any riding schools I've ever visited you pay before the lesson in an office , book in for next time etc , very odd that they give the service before they get the cash .

[GreenTulips]

So some woman has stolen your money and your embarresed??

Seriously go and see your instructor and insist they question the other one and if they refuse call the police

[lemondropcake]

It has put me off going back. One of my biggest pet peeves is unprofessional and informal admin. I was wondering a bit why the lady didn't go and fill the diary in when I wanted to book but I just assumed she would when I left. She has either dishonestly kept the money or forgot all about it. The instructor I had was nowhere to be seen, so I couldn't give her the money.

I think what makes it worse for me is because I forgot to pay the first lesson and they had to call me on the way home. Again, nobody was around so it was a wild goose chase trying to give someone the money. I also underpaid them because th3 website prices were not up to date. I even added the underpayment to the money I gave the woman. I'm so angry!

[MuncheysMummy]

Then go back to the yard and speak to someone in charge and explain that you paid the lady who taught the lesson before yours as your instructor was nowhere to be found. If they don't give receipts for cash payment as a rule then how do you know it's not a scam to take double payments when they feel like it?! Lou t this out to them,the onus is in them to get to the bottom of this and to rethink their procedure.

[Butteredparsnip1ps]

I think a quick post to social media is worth a try.

Not naming and shaming obviously. More a has the lady with the jodhpurs remembered what happened to the money I paid her? type post.

Then you need to find a new riding school

[lemondropcake]

If it comes to me going up and confronting them I'm not sure I could go back for another lesson anyway. Two lessons and it's been a massive hassle already. I couldn't have paid before the lesson as there was nobody around. There was a young girl who was a helper who gave me my horse to take down to the school myself and I wanted to give it to an instructor as they are in charge. But of course it doesn't matter if they are going to deny payment anyway.

[harderandharder2breathe]

Twenty years or more ago I had riding lessons and even then you paid in the office before your lesson, and it wasn't the best organised place in the world or anything and all pen and paper back then too

It's their rubbish admin to not get payment before you get on a horse

Be clear that you paid this woman, you have previously driven back to pay when you made a mistake which shows you can accept when you've made a mistake and you put it right straight away and you're honest.

Then find a new riding school. This one sounds very unprofessional

[harderandharder2breathe]

Don't worry about everyone saying you should pay first, we're criticising the school management not you

[SleepFreeZone]

I think I'd be so incensed I'd have to go there in person and sort it out.

[Gemini69]

you NEED to get back up there and point out the lady who took the money ... good grief girlie... you can't have people taking your hard earned money and calling you a liar and a thief ??

they sound SHADY as hell as it happens

[kaitlinktm]

... and they ought to be informed that one of their employees is either grossly incompetent or a liar and a thief.

[BeBeatrix]

Can you describe the instructor (who took the money) to them? And can you remember if anyone else was in the yard at the time? Or could they tell who it was by looking at the booking?

[GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]

Put your big girl pants on, go back and ask (calmly) to speak to the lady you gave your money too, and ask your instructor to also be present when you ask her (again calmly) if she can remember you giving her the money at (time) on (date) when you were wearing (describe anything distinct you were wearing) - and see how she reacts? As said above, they won't be expecting you to go back and deal with it sensibly.

[scaryclown]

I would write a letter with description of staff member, say you have reported her to the police for theft by deception, and ask for the owner/manager of the school for their assistance in an investigation.

I once booked a room at a pub and give a deposit to a guy who pocketed it. The police were very keen to interview under caution...

I also think calm confrontation with the person who conducted the theft would be lots of fun..