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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Demanding Payment, help!

29 replies

Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 17:08

I've been off on long term sickness and was looking at courses to do when I felt better and was back at work.
I enquired about one which had no price on it. I gave my work email address and even though I've been checking periodically, this email went to spam.
I've had a call today to say I booked on a course in May and need to pay the invoice of £2k.
I can't go, don't want to go and can't pay the £2k.
They say they will chase up with debt collectors and I should of cancelled in 14 days, back when I enquired in Feb.
Surely this can't be legal?!! The terms a cs say I should of acknowledged the booking, which I didn't and can cancel within 2 weeks, which I have done? I've messaged them this and they are still saying I need to pay!! Help!
Aibu - Yes pay
Ainbu - Don't pay

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 15/04/2025 17:10

Did you ask to be booked on the course or were you asking about availability?

nomas · 15/04/2025 17:13

They can’t book you on a course without your agreement.

Tell them to stop harassing you or you will contact the police and Trading Standards.

Then report them to Trading Standards.

Jabberwok · 15/04/2025 17:17

It's a spam, don't pay them, report to action fraud. You would have been asked to pay a deposit or received info through the post if it were real. Have you googled the company? Are there any reviews?

Even if they are legit, which I highly doubt, it's strange they are threatening debt collectors for a course that hasn't happened yet...

Original poster
Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 17:31

The company has good reviews and is on LinkedIn?
I gave my work email so even though I've been checking as it went to spam I didn't see it?
After checking today after a phone call from them I have about 10 emails asking for payment but I've had a bounceback email saying I was off ill?
I thought I'd just enquired but if I did book onto it it was because it had no price details so I assumed it was free?
It does seem very odd about debt collectors and its not due to happen until mid May so plenty of time to cancel?

OP posts:
Isobel201 · 15/04/2025 17:39

It sounds to me like a scam - request to cancel, and if they still keep pestering you, report to action fraud.

JandamiHash · 15/04/2025 17:41

Did you make a booking or sign a contract?

Original poster
Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 17:45

Definitely didn't sign a contract and If I did book on there was no costings as clearly I knew I didn't have a spare £2k, even if it was free I would have had to arrange childcare etc so I wouldn't of committed to it?
I've asked to cancel multiple times and they just keep saying you had 14 days to cancel?! They haven't confirmed cancellation.

OP posts:
timetochangethering · 15/04/2025 17:52

Write the following to them in an email.

"Please can you forward the contract where I agreed to pay £2000 in return for XX course. I will await it's arrival."

TimeForABreak4 · 15/04/2025 17:56

What type of course is it?

Thelittleweasel · 15/04/2025 18:02

@Florencelatsy

Do please be aware that for a debt to be enforceable you must have been taken to court and judgement awarded against you.

These are - as others advise - just bullying tactics. I would be tempted to get my e-mail address changed together with any other details they have [mobile phone number for example].

It is said that free legal advice is worth what you pay for it so please do go and see a solicitor. You may have facilities through work

SoScarletItWas · 15/04/2025 18:11

Sounds like ‘14 days to cancel’ means 14 days after you booked
not ‘up to 14 days before the course date’.

I agree, do as @timetochangethering suggests and ask them to confirm where you booked.

It’s a bit worrying that you don’t seem sure whether you enquired or booked when you thought it was free. Sounds like it was a website and a form rather than you emailing to enquire, so you have no paper trail from your end.

Whynotaxthisyear · 15/04/2025 18:16

I'm sure they are trying it on and won't have the nerve to pursue the 'debt'. You can't normally secure a place on an expensive course without paying a deposit. I'd report them to Trading Standards, and email them saying you will do so.

Original poster
Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 18:33

It was all done online. I've read the ts and cs and it says you can cancel up to 14 days before the course, but you are supposed to make payment to the invoice within 7 days so I'm assuming they think you'd of paid when you cancel and withold the information?
It definitely says you can cancel before the course and says you won't get a refund after this time.
The course was for a neurodiversity in the workplace course I think accredited with ILM/CIM?
Unfortunately I can't change my work email as I've had it 14 years and need it! I've looked on the invoice and they have my address which I'm sure I wouldn't of given online when enquiring about a course?
I think I'll report to action fraud and contact my eap through work. Thank you for the recommendation. Very scary though 😭

OP posts:
Original poster
Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 18:38

This is the course.
If I go to book now it clearly shows cost and asks for payment which I would definitely not of agreed to

Demanding Payment, help!
OP posts:
Naunet · 15/04/2025 18:42

Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 18:38

This is the course.
If I go to book now it clearly shows cost and asks for payment which I would definitely not of agreed to

Could it be that you clicked on a scam link rather than the real company? It all sounds very dodgy.

LindaDarrah · 15/04/2025 18:46

Easy money... What did they do to action your request? As in how much admin and financed were involved? I bet it was 0. I wouldn't pay

MidnightPatrol · 15/04/2025 18:55

Do you have any sort of confirmation email from?

I’d ask for the paperwork you have signed, call their bluff.

Velmy · 15/04/2025 20:04

It's tough to say whether or not you've entered into a contract with them as from the information you've given, you yourself can't remember if you've 'signed up' for a course, or just enquired about one.

Presumably you filled out a form on their website - Check their site again now - it should be quite clear whether you've agreed to join a course or simply asked for an info pack.

What does the first email they sent to you say, and when did they send it?

It is perfectly legitimate to sign up for a course - or enter into any number of contracts online - without physically signing anything, giving secondary confirmation or receiving paperwork.

The fact that their emails got caught in your spam filter is unfortunately not their fault. Also depending on how your company emails are set up, something sent to spam may not have generated an Out of Office response.

The '14 days to cancel' almost certainly refers to 14 days from the booking being made, not 14 days from the start of the course.

Don't worry about debt collectors - that's a long way off and likely just bully tactics for now. However if you have indeed signed up for a course which you now don't intend to take, you've essentially left them with a place they may be unable to fill in time, which a court may see as a financial loss if it were to go that far.

PassingStranger · 15/04/2025 20:06

Just trying to scare you ignore them.

UnicornNarwhale · 15/04/2025 20:46

Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 18:38

This is the course.
If I go to book now it clearly shows cost and asks for payment which I would definitely not of agreed to

How long was the course? A level 7 is usually equivalent to a masters degree so £2k seems quite cheap! I think given that, and you can’t remember actually booking on, then it must be a scam

Original poster
Florencelatsy · 15/04/2025 20:50

The course was for three days. The booking is completely different now as when I was looking there was no costing, now the costings are very clear.

OP posts:
shuffleofftobuffalo · 16/04/2025 06:05

before going further ask them:

for a copy of the contract you signed that committed you to £2k
how that contract was entered into eg was it when you signed up etc
what would have alerted you to the fact you signed a contract for £2k (esp. as you say the booking info has now changed)
Where at the time of booking told you there was 14 days to cancel

if they go to court they need to be able to prove the debt so get them to do that now. Chances are it’s not as cut and dried as they are making out as they have now changed their website to make costs clearer.

mumonthehill · 16/04/2025 06:23

An ILM level 7 runs for much longer than 3 days as it is a very in depth course. There is no way they could do it in 3 days. I would check what agreement they hold for you.

HellsBalls · 16/04/2025 06:38

If your emails were going to spam, the confirmation email may have already been deleted.
However your IT department should be able to retrieve it. That’s your best bet. Alternatively ask the course provider to resend the confirmation email (they certainly will have that).
I’ve never bought anything online without at least 2 very clear ‘this is the price’ and ‘commit to purchase’ warnings needing to be passed, and then in every online purchase (even a pizza!) there is a confirmation email.
Also, to buy anything, you need to create an account. Logon to their site and see what you have in your previous purchases.

Could also be a scam, do check the source of the emails. That’s less likely though.

Copperoliverbear · 16/04/2025 06:56

Contact the company by phone with the telephone number of the new listing explain everything, the other one seems like a scam and block their emails.

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