To think nursery is being very unreasonable

[redhatwhitebeard]

I have been sending my daughter to private nursery for the past two years. Have already spent around £42k. I was told today that they have been under charging me and four other full time parents for the past few months (they didn't add a fee increase apparently) and now expect us to pay over £1k back to them. The nursery is a huge chain, and I don't have a spare £1k floating around. The other parents that owe the money are all full time too (so we are the only ones it has an impact on! Has anyone got any advice? For the sake of £4K to a huge chain, I would expect them to just take the hit as it their mistake?

Check your deleted items or ask for a print out that proves you were on the sent list

I can't remember getting the email but apparently I did. I can't find it in my inbox

Okay, it all hinges on this. If they did notify you of the fee increase, then I don't think you have a leg to stand on, despite their error, very unfairly! Ask for proof. You can't find a copy of the original email and do not remember receiving it, so would like to see the original. Have you spoken to the other families- what did they say?

If they can't produce proof that they informed you of the fee increase, you reply and refer to your contract, explaining that your contract states that you need X weeks' notice of any fee increase and that therefore your fee increase will begin on X date.

Unfortunately I do think you probably owe the money because they did email you but I would have been the same as you and not questioned the invoices.

I'd try and work out a payment plan with them, I can't see why they wouldn't try and accommodate that with it being their mistake

Whilst you might not have time to go through invoices with a fine tooth comb op, and as a single working parent I can absolutely empathise, I think if you saw an email saying there'll be a price increase, and then the next invoice was exactly the same as before, I think you'd be hard pushed to say you didn't notice.

Would you expect a refund had they OVER charged you? If so then pay the bill

Appreciate all the helpful comments that include a bit of compassion. I think asking for some form of payment plan might be the best solution, considering this is their error and not mine! For the others, thanks for being Mumsnet Extra... it wouldn't the same without you ❤️

Well you did post in AIBU and not Nurseries... asking if you are unreasonable means that you have to accept that some will say yes!

@KateyCuckoo 😂😂 sorry first post on Mumsnet! I will learn for next time!