Stopped Cheque Options

[Alison]

The scenario:
Child is taught in a large lunchtime group at school, and has been learning (or at least attending the lessons (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) ) since September. Payment is due every six weeks at the beginning of that block of lessons. Mother duly paid for this block. Child comes to first lesson. Second lesson, sends a message with a friend saying she's not coming today. Third lesson comes and says please could she have some "time out". I explain that she can't do that and either has to learn properly or stop (with theoption of starting again next year with the next lot). She says she'd like to stop. Fine by me - she never practises anyway and obviously has concentration problems.
This morning I find the cheque which I had already paid in returned to me by the bank - mother has stopped it. (Thought crosses my mind - don't you have to pay to stop a cheque? It was only for £10 - I wouldn't have thought it was worth it.)

Has anyone else been in this situation? I don't normally have any contact with the mother because it's all done through school. Part of me says just to let it go because I'm happy not to be teaching the child anyway (not in that big group, anyway), but it does seem a bit cheeky... doesn't it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[petrat]

I would have written a polite letter to the parent explaining that the fee was due and saying how sorry you were that she had stopped the cheque. Ask for payent by return. If this fails then get heavy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)