To not want to pay this bill

[AlexanderHamilton]

Ds has music lessons. He used to have them at school but he had problems getting out of class so now we travel to the teacher's house.

In September Ds told me he was going to be working towards his Grade 1 exam. I bought the requested book & thought no more. I did make sure that his teacher knew that he would miss some lessons as he had the leading role in a local am dram show. We gave him the dates he would miss.

The show was November. In the run up he was rehearsing a lot so he didn't touch his instrument for two weeks. Pretty much expected but I knew once it was over he could then concentrate on that as I'd assumed his exam would be in the spring term sometime.

On the Friday of the show I was at the theatre & got a missed call from the teacher. It was to tell me that ds's exam was the following day. (He'd missed his lesson that week due to dress rehearsal). Of course there was no way he could do it as he had a matinee & evening performance. I didn't even know he'd been entered. If I'd been asked I'd have said no,he couldn't do any exams in the autumn term due to his Theatre commitment (he even got leeway from school for homework etc).

I've now been asked to pay the exam fee of over £40. Surely I should have been informed of the cost & asked if it was OK before the teacher put the entry in,not afterwards?

On an aside (I used to enter lamda students). Are they any better organised these days as their admin was apppaling a few years ago. I hear this new database thing is causing consternation.

Also agree YANBU. And also agree with PP about Trinity being more organised in my experience than ABRSM with dates. The venue dates are generally available on line.

I've had three DC with several instruments, teachers and exams and have never not paid upfront (and signed a form) for an exam.

Out of curiosity, why are you paying for a music teacher if your married to one ?

Ever tried teaching your own child? Besides dh teaches a different instrument.

AlexanderHamilton - No, LAMDA are an absolute nightmare. I don't have a particular problem with the online entry system, it's their timetable information (not far enough in advance) and their results (6 weeks if you're lucky!) ABRSM get their results turned around in a week so, for a school setting which teaches both instruments and LAMDA, my Drama dept ends up looking sluggish and inept whereas the Music dept is always on the ball and up to date. Drives me mad.

He did not check with me that I was ok with that

he did though. You knew he was working towards the grading, you even bought the book, so why act surprised that he was entered for the next grading?

Do you have significant financial issues? If not, then no I wouldn't stiff the teacher for a forty quid bill for the exam board.

Because that is not AT ALL what teachers are supposed to do.

I paid ABRSM direct but they would not refund to me when my son was in an accident and could not attend - they refunded the teahcer who never paid me back.

in my mind starting to work towards an exam in September doesn't mean he will take it n November. Dd, Ds in another instrument & myself all took at least two terms. The entry date must have been not long after. And knowing Ds was going to miss vital lessons around that time?

Also I'd previously bought the Initial book but he was never entered for that exam.

Starting to work towards an exam surely doesn't mean enter the child without telling the parent the cost or a rough idea of dates surely?