Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay this invoice from nursery?

221 replies

PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 14:27

Bit of background, my DDs old nursery was terrible with invoicing, it was constantly late, not correct, things missing or added that shouldn't have been, free hours not calculated properly etc...

There were a lot of complaints from parents at the time about their accounting and how rubbish it was.

I have recently received an invoice from them for some apparent ad hoc days that DD did and they are chasing me for payment.... However, DD left the nursery 2 years ago, she is in school now, year 1!

They chased me for payment again and have given a couple of vague dates in 2024 when apparently DD was in when she wasn't usually.

AIBU to just ignore this or tell them I'm not paying? I have no idea if she was in those days but this just tallies with how crap they were at proper accounting, 2 years later?! I don't trust them enough to just blindly pay it and I've no way of really checking now after this much time that it's accurate.

AIBU to think sorry after 2 years it's your own fault and they should let it go?

OP posts:
Theartoffieldi · Yesterday 14:28

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · Yesterday 14:31

I wouldn't pay. Tough titties after two years.

Moveoverdarlin · Yesterday 14:31

I would send an email explaining your daughter left two years ago and you’re ignoring the demand for payment as it’s obviously an error.

Original poster
PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 14:32

I replied after the first invoice asking what this was about and they replied with a chaser and details of some "adhoc days" from 2024.

To be totally honest I don't have time to do a full on investigation into whether DD could have possibly gone to nursery on a certain day 2 years ago either.

OP posts:
Theartoffieldi · Yesterday 14:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

DoubleHellos · Yesterday 14:42

If they are chasing up an invoice they previously sent...was the first invoice more timely?

Original poster
PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 14:48

DoubleHellos · Yesterday 14:42

If they are chasing up an invoice they previously sent...was the first invoice more timely?

Sorry should have clarified. No I only received the first invoice about a month ago. I replied straight away asking what it was about and then I've had a chaser with the "ad hoc days" noted, yesterday.

OP posts:
redskyAtNigh · Yesterday 14:49

PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 14:32

I replied after the first invoice asking what this was about and they replied with a chaser and details of some "adhoc days" from 2024.

To be totally honest I don't have time to do a full on investigation into whether DD could have possibly gone to nursery on a certain day 2 years ago either.

I'd want to pay if the charge was justified.

Is it really that hard to find out? You must remember DD's normal nursery pattern and whether it was usual for her to go in for ad-hoc days. And then you can just check your diary to see what you were doing on any days they've suggested. That will surely give you most of the answers?

Springtimeinsunshine · Yesterday 14:52

No i wouldn't pay. What evidence have they given? Are they 100% certain it was your DD?

Ask for proof and go from there.

Imdunfer · Yesterday 14:53

redskyAtNigh · Yesterday 14:49

I'd want to pay if the charge was justified.

Is it really that hard to find out? You must remember DD's normal nursery pattern and whether it was usual for her to go in for ad-hoc days. And then you can just check your diary to see what you were doing on any days they've suggested. That will surely give you most of the answers?

Show quote history

Check my diary from 2 years ago?

😂🤣😂

CarbootJunction · Yesterday 14:57

The nursery was there for you when you needed them. I imagine you thought you had got away with it.

Just pay your bills.

Original poster
PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 15:01

Imdunfer · Yesterday 14:53

Check my diary from 2 years ago?

😂🤣😂

Show quote history

I don't have a diary 🫣🤣

OP posts:
ItCantBeAutumnAlready · Yesterday 15:01

I would also ignore it. You and they likely have no idea whether she was there

ThatLoudCat · Yesterday 15:02

CarbootJunction · Yesterday 14:57

The nursery was there for you when you needed them. I imagine you thought you had got away with it.

Just pay your bills.

A two year late bill from somewhere that repeatedly incorrectly charged me at the time?

No, I wouldn't pay.

Original poster
PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 15:03

ThatLoudCat · Yesterday 15:02

A two year late bill from somewhere that repeatedly incorrectly charged me at the time?

No, I wouldn't pay.

Show quote history

This is what makes me more inclined to just ignore. They were terrible even then for over charging, under charging, not applying things right and so on so I have absolutely zero faith in their ability to invoice something correctly from 2 years ago.

OP posts:
BobbleBear · Yesterday 15:03

They’re a private business and it’s up to them to implement adequate systems to manage their payments properly and in a timely manner.

It’s not OP’s job to waste her own time trying to work out if she still owes them money after her child left there 2 years ago.

I’d probably ignore it and wait until they send a third request then ask for evidence that you owe this money. I wouldn’t pay a bean unless they could prove the money was still owed.

redskyAtNigh · Yesterday 15:05

Imdunfer · Yesterday 14:53

Check my diary from 2 years ago?

😂🤣😂

Show quote history

Most people have electronic diaries these days. ... And a host of other apps on their phone that will give them an inkling as to what they were doing on a given day. If OP doesn't have a smartphone and used a paper diary, then yes, it will be tricky.

Firesidechatter · Yesterday 15:06

PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 15:01

I don't have a diary 🫣🤣

Show quote history

You don’t have a phone calander, that’s unusual

on saying that I’d not pay either. If I honestly didn’t know, I’d say sorry you’ve made a mistake she wasn’t there on those days. But if you know you owe them pay

BobbleBear · Yesterday 15:06

CarbootJunction · Yesterday 14:57

The nursery was there for you when you needed them. I imagine you thought you had got away with it.

Just pay your bills.

They’re a business charging for a service. They weren’t doing OP a huge favour out of the goodness of their hearts. 😳🤣🤣

Would you pay Tesco if they sent you a bill two years later for some random grocery items they think you didn’t pay for back in May 2024?

redskyAtNigh · Yesterday 15:06

PayOrNotToPay · Yesterday 15:01

I don't have a diary 🫣🤣

Show quote history

And you don't use Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, text messaging or any other social media type application or ever take photos that might give you a clue what you were doing on that day?

(and how do you remember what you're doing if you don't have a diary?)

ThatLoudCat · Yesterday 15:09

I don't have a diary. If I need to remember something, I write it on the fridge.

The only thing I put in my phone calendar are birthdays.

Franpie · Yesterday 15:09

I wouldn’t ignore it but I would ask them to provide proof that she attended those specific days and to also prove that you haven’t already paid for them.

Just keep putting the ball back in their court.

trapdooragain · Yesterday 15:10

Have they given you actual dates? I would check my Google calendar/timeline but ask them for actual proof my child was in the setting on that date we used to have a sign in sheet they must have some proof your child was in? or they wouldn't have sent you a bill

Either way no proof no pay

GreenWheat · Yesterday 15:10

It's far too late for them to be chasing this. It sounds like their accounting is chaotic. Just tell them that to the best of your knowledge your DD wasn't in on these random days and that they are most likely mistaken. Then ignore.

baobabsmoothie · Yesterday 15:10

I'd explain that I haven't retained any records, as DD left two years ago. Given the issues with their accounting at the time, I'm not particularly confident in the accuracy of their records either. However, if they can provide clear, indisputable evidence that the amount is genuinely owed, then of course I'll pay it.