Refund - potentially awkward

[Shergill15]

Would appreciate some advice on how best to handle this situation:

DD was attending an after school activity. I recently paid for the new term, over £100. The night before they were due to return after summer, the teacher, who is also a parent of one of DD's classmates, emailed to say that due to low returning numbers the activity was not now going ahead. Fair enough, these things happen. However, this was over 2 weeks ago and despite having requested my bank details to refund the fees teacher has not done so. After a couple of gentle reminders I was promised it would be paid today, but still nothing. Is over 2 weeks reasonable to hold someone's money when you know arent providing the service you were paid for?

Also, any advice on how to word my next communication with them? I don't want things to be awkward given I see them on the school run and DD's are friends but I could really use the money now and can't see why it wasn't returned immediately on cancelling

Just tell her face to face you haven't received your money and you need it today.
2 weeks is more than enough time for her to get her shit together

Why is it awkward? I'd Just send a what's app as follows:

"Hello, just chasing up the refund for the bee keeping course that was cancelled. Thanks."

Just factual, Hi Mrs B, what a shame about the chess club not going ahead. Could you confirm when my payment of £100 will be transferred back to me, thanks.
No need for any overthinking.

As you've played it very nicely thus far, I’d be more specific now and factual:/

“Hi Mrs B, what a shame about the chess club not going ahead. I wanted to let you know that I have not received the £100 refund today as you’ve promised, please send the refund no later than this coming Friday, 30 September.” (Or put another specific date.)

then think what you would want to do if she still does not pay. Would you think about sending a letter before action?

My tactic in all things is to ask the question after the correct answer.

Hi - could you let me know what date you sent the ££ please so I can chase up my bank?’

real question is ‘have you’ - assume it’s yes and ask the next question.

I don't think it's awkward- yet. Perfectly fine to chase once again in a normal and polite way as though you fully believe it has slipped her mind. Save the "by this date" etc until it's necessary, if you mean to deal with her personally.

In any event if this was a school activity wouldn't it be a lot easier to email the secretary/head/bursar/whoever deals with these things and get your money returned that way. It is not like this teacher has it sat in her personal bank account, surely.

I can see why you think it's a bit awkward and she absolutely should have refunded by now

'Bee keeping course' 🤣🤣

OUTING!

I wish it was bee keeping that would have been amazing!

Is the activity run by the school? If so I would assume it’s the finance dept/finance person at the school who will be making the actual refunds. It’s probably stuck in their inbox behind a hundred other things that need sorting at the start of term. Not saying it’s acceptable, just that it won’t be the teacher doing it. Definitely don’t feel bad about chasing it!

I didn't think the teacher would be allowed to teach their own child as surely that's a conflict of interest

Just go into the office and chase it up with them.

What? A conflict of interested? It's not a court room.

Teachers have taught their own kids forever. If you're a teacher at the school your kid goes to and they take your subject/are in the year you teach, then you teach them if they end in your class.

*interest

I haven’t received the refund for the cancelled course, please transfer it today.

Perfect

Surely you paid the money to the school, not the teacher? Therefore email school reception/admin and ask them about the refund. It's all done on parent pay at my dc school so the refund would be done through that, including after school clubs.

Yes bee keeping would be amazing!

Sadly I have neither run nor attended one

It was either that or cliff diving

"Hi Mrs X, just checking if you send that refund today as I haven't received it? Thanks"

I don't understand why it needs to be any more complicated than that.