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Original poster

Please send me your advice - unable to pay private school fees

214 replies

amy676 · 24/08/2022 20:42

Hi everyone!

I hope someone can help with advice. My two children were attending private school up until before the summer term when I took them out as I can no longer afford to pay due to personal circumstances. The children don't attend the school anymore but I have been getting letters demanding payment of up to £10K but I did explain my situation to the school and my intention to take them out in March 2022 but they said I should have given them written notice and not just verbally and now keep asking for payment.

What would happen as I don't have means to pay what would the school do and what action could they take against me as I'm worried. Please do kindly advise.

Thanks, Amy

OP posts:
Original poster
amy676 · 24/08/2022 23:20

That's true and its something I have done and I have also sent evidence of bank statements and everything Im awaiting a response to this from the bursar

OP posts:
PiffleWiffleWoozle · 24/08/2022 23:23

If you did give notice it sounds as though the school have been sneaky at least. I might try commenting on social media

ThunderLizard · 24/08/2022 23:23

amy676 · 24/08/2022 23:14

Thank you for your message and kind advice. I am awaiting to see whether the finance manager will reply to my email and I hope she considers my points as the principal certainly is not even responding. I could also mention about waiving it due to the fact that she was the one who stated that the verbal notice was taken as 'official notice'. I just pray they can consider my situation.

Don't start from a position of "I owe you this but I need your mercy". Start from "I don't owe you this for these reasons".

Get them having to engage lawyers to rebut your contractual arguments.

Once their legal fees start mounting up (which won't take long on an hourly rate) they will have to reassess the benefit of continuing to pay lawyers for a victory that will never come as even if they win you have no money to pay them.

Johnnysgirl · 24/08/2022 23:26

amy676 · 24/08/2022 23:20

That's true and its something I have done and I have also sent evidence of bank statements and everything Im awaiting a response to this from the bursar

Evidence of bank statements?

Original poster
amy676 · 24/08/2022 23:31

Yes they asked to see bank statements and everything to see expenditures and outgoing and what I have left so they know that theres no way I can pay but they are not saying anything

OP posts:
Greyarea12 · 24/08/2022 23:32

amy676 · 24/08/2022 21:00

Hi there, the original contract does say a full terms notice which is up until Christmas even though my kids won't be there but as I was unwell I had verbally told the principal but now he is saying I should have written it but even now they have taken my email on June 22nd telling them I will no longer be sending my children to school as notice but still require the term fees.

Going by their terms and conditions your 3 month notice should of been handed in 3 months prior to their final day at the school. Because you did not do this in writing which is in their terms & condtions they are now using your email as your written notice meaning that they now must charge you for the next 3 months, regardless of whether your children are there or not, because that is their terms & conditions and that is what is in your contract.

I totally get this must be really worrying for you and I think all you can do is speak to them but do so in writing.

wellhelloitsme · 24/08/2022 23:36

amy676 · 24/08/2022 23:31

Yes they asked to see bank statements and everything to see expenditures and outgoing and what I have left so they know that theres no way I can pay but they are not saying anything

IANAL but I can't see how them asking this is legally sound?

Corcory · 24/08/2022 23:38

I think the finance manager's acceptance of your verbal notice as official notice is crucial. The fact that you have this in writing is brilliant, and I would use this as your main suit. Just keep reemphasising it if they come back to you.

CalicoAnnie · 24/08/2022 23:40

What communication happened between you and the school that allowed the DC to go back to school after Easter?

Johnnysgirl · 24/08/2022 23:47

CalicoAnnie · 24/08/2022 23:40

What communication happened between you and the school that allowed the DC to go back to school after Easter?

Well yes, this is what it all hinges on. Op agreed they'd leave after spring term. They didn't. Clearly some other arrangement was made when they returned for summer term!

Connie2468 · 24/08/2022 23:55

So is this correct:

  • You gave notice in November 21 that the children would be leaving at the end of the Spring term in March 22
  • In March 22 you verbally told the school that the children would now leave in June 22
  • The children returned to school in April 22, you paid your fees for the Summer term April-June 22.
  • In June 22 you emailed the school to confirm the children were not returning in August 22.
  • The school are using the fact that the notice you gave in March was verbal, not written, to argue that you owe them for the Autumn term fees from August-Dec 22.
To be honest it doesn't look to me like you owe the fees. You gave contractual notice in November, and then there was a verbal agreement to extend the notice til June.
WomanStanleyWoman2 · 24/08/2022 23:56

amy676 · 24/08/2022 20:42

Hi everyone!

I hope someone can help with advice. My two children were attending private school up until before the summer term when I took them out as I can no longer afford to pay due to personal circumstances. The children don't attend the school anymore but I have been getting letters demanding payment of up to £10K but I did explain my situation to the school and my intention to take them out in March 2022 but they said I should have given them written notice and not just verbally and now keep asking for payment.

What would happen as I don't have means to pay what would the school do and what action could they take against me as I'm worried. Please do kindly advise.

Thanks, Amy

Crazy idea, but pay for the service you’ve used?

Johnnysgirl · 24/08/2022 23:58

Connie2468 · 24/08/2022 23:55

So is this correct:

  • You gave notice in November 21 that the children would be leaving at the end of the Spring term in March 22
  • In March 22 you verbally told the school that the children would now leave in June 22
  • The children returned to school in April 22, you paid your fees for the Summer term April-June 22.
  • In June 22 you emailed the school to confirm the children were not returning in August 22.
  • The school are using the fact that the notice you gave in March was verbal, not written, to argue that you owe them for the Autumn term fees from August-Dec 22.
To be honest it doesn't look to me like you owe the fees. You gave contractual notice in November, and then there was a verbal agreement to extend the notice til June.

Except op hasn't confirmed what communication took place. The school appear to have been under the impression that the notice had been rescinded when the children returned after spring break.

Stravaig · 25/08/2022 00:02

The person you gave verbal notice to should have made clear that written notice was required, instead of leaving you with the impression that you'd just given notice! I would write directly to the principal, underlining that, as well as your illness.

(Fellow long-Covid person here, so I understand the difficulty of accomplishing even the most basic tasks, whether physical or cognitive).

sashh · 25/08/2022 00:37

First stop panicking.

The absolute worst thing that can happen is they take you to court and get a CCJ - now this would impact your credit record but would mean you made an agreement with the court to pay an amount monthly.

If you don't pay then they can theoretically send in the bailiffs, BUT bailiffs cannot collect if there is a 'vulnerable person' ie children or an adult with a disability / long term illness.

OK that is the worst.

Check your home insurance for legal cover and talk to them.

If you don't have legal cover, then send a letter, recorded delivery, to the school, say you are ill with long covid and you are requesting a 'reasonable adjustment' which is for them to accept the verbal notice you did give them.

Then take it from there.

If they take you to court put in a counter claim for the harassment and mental anguish - I doubt you would get anything but it is worth a try.

If they do take you to court you have a copy of the letter you sent and the confirmation it was received

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 25/08/2022 00:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Johnnysgirl · 25/08/2022 00:50

If they take you to court put in a counter claim for the harassment and mental anguish - I doubt you would get anything but it is worth a try.
This really isn't a defence against someone chasing a legitimate debt.

Friars23 · 25/08/2022 00:51

I am sorry I can give no legal advice but hopefully the replies on here have helped . I just want to say how sorry I am you have had to give up work currently due to long covid. As well as having to deal with the horrid debilitating physical symptoms, I know it is incredibly emotionally hard losing your health and financial security. I don’t have long covid but I have had ME now for a long time which has some overlapping symptoms with the main form of long covid. I remember the horror of losing my health and I only had to worry about me not children too. I really hope you can get something sorted out with the school and not have this additional stress.

expat101 · 25/08/2022 00:53

Definitely need to know more about the children returning to school after the date you said they would be finishing up. You must have spoken to someone to have it extended and to know a place remained open for them?

At DD's school, it had to be a full term's notice in writing. So I presume once your children returned to school after the first notice period lapsed, the school would have expected a new full terms notice of them not returning.

Boulshired · 25/08/2022 01:55

Hopefully the school will be accommodating, the problem seems to lie in that on the first day they returned to school after Easter there should of been confirmation on the notice period that it was being rolled over for another term. By continuing this negated the previous notice period. Ideally this should of been flagged by whoever gave permission for the children to continue after the notice period.

Solidarityisbetterthanchsrity · 25/08/2022 02:08

Oh my god please don't pay this. There needs to be a certain level of reason here. Please contact a consumer rights type person , they're in newspapers, who might help you fight your case. I'm horrified by this. People are so cruel

Johnnysgirl · 25/08/2022 02:13

Solidarityisbetterthanchsrity · 25/08/2022 02:08

Oh my god please don't pay this. There needs to be a certain level of reason here. Please contact a consumer rights type person , they're in newspapers, who might help you fight your case. I'm horrified by this. People are so cruel

I doubt they're chasing a debt to be cruel.

Stopsnowing · 25/08/2022 02:36

Get legal advice and ask the solicitor about liquidated damages. Also find out if the place has been filled. If it has then the school has suffered no loss which may be relevant. You need contract advice.

DiiddelyDi · 25/08/2022 03:10

Whilst writing to the school i would suggest/hint that you know a local reporter who has expressed interest in publishing your story ........ headline "Money Grabbing Private School demanding unreasaonable payments from sick parent"................ it worked wonders for me when county hall refused to fund ongoing education beyond the age of 18 for my son with learning difficulties. they backtracked and changed their decision within 24 hours. And i sent the email to the head of every department that seemed remotely connected. it certainly got their attention.

Aubree17 · 25/08/2022 05:03

amy676 · 24/08/2022 23:07

Do you think they might even consider giving me 5 years if they really want me to pay up (even though there's no way I can afford to at the moment)

You do not need to pay.
You gave the required notice which they acknowledged in writing.
You need to keep a diary of events so you can defend yourself if they try and legally pursue you.
You are not due this money.