I've posted about this parent before; she has a lovely daughter and I can't understand how they can possibly be related. There have been some difficulties about payment in the past - (altered cheque not countersigned, foreign coins included in payment, fee slightly short) - but the most recent was a cheque that bounced. I phoned her to say that her cheque had been returned, and she explained that they had had some problems with fraud and had had to close their bank account and open a new one. There was no apology. That fee was eventually paid in cash (in two instalments, and ?1 short!) but I let it pass. Last week mother turned up at door and asked if she could "drop the money in later". Later came, but the money didn't. She turned up again today with a cheque that included the missed lesson (altered and not countersigned!) requesting that I pay it in as soon as possible, and at least within the next week.

This really irked me. I don't mind people not paying on the day from time to time if they pay the following week, but I don't want to be dictated to about paying-in. I pay in all my fees once a month, and don't want to queue up in the bank in between times. On a bad day it can be anything up to half an hour, and I have better things to do with my time. All my other students are prompt payers. On this occasion I meekly said that I would try, but can this parent dictate to me like this? I'm happy with the way others pay - it suits me, and it's no problem. If it weren't that there are other parents with children in the same school (and same class) I would set up a different system just for her (payment half-termly or something) but parents talk. I get the impression they may be hard up, but then again, daughter keeps coming in sporting new shoes......which speaks for itself.

Grrrr!!! What would you do?