Withdrawing from Preschool, Director Refusing My Payment Method

[Anonymous]

My DS was enrolled at a preschool part-time and I decided to withdraw him after having a heated conversation with the director. I sent the director an email withdrawing DS and she responded yes, that's fine, and specified that she would take only cash, MO or a cashier's check as final payment even though she has always accepted a personal check in the past.

Given their standard practice of accepting a personal check, and that nowhere in their school handbook or anywhere else does it specify the accepted forms of payment, can she now dictate the forms of payment they will accept? I missed what she said about forms of payment in her last email and showed up with a personal check, and the teacher refused my check.

I feel like I've done what I'm supposed to by offering them the personal check and if they refuse it, I am no longer on the hook for tuition...? I don't like having this hanging over my head so will get them a cashier's check once I've gotten around to the bank, but I'm wondering what my obligations are at this point.

Also, this director has been very petty and I'm wondering if I do give her a cashier's check, if there's any way she can screw me over. For instance, if she doesn't deposit the check right away, could she claim that I never paid her? Should I get a receipt from her when I give her the check?

[Anonymous]

Never do cash. I would send a regular check and be done with it. If they don't want to cash it, its on them. Send it through online bill pay so its documented you sent it.

[Anonymous]

I would just mail a personal check and see what happens. My guess is she will deposit it.

[Anonymous]

Does the handbook or contact you signed specify anything about last payments specifically? Ours required the last payment to be cash. It seemed reasonable to me, because someone might stop payment on a check if they're not going to be there anymore.

If its not specified anywhere, you might be legally right, but I'd really rather have it done with and I'd just go get some cash if I were you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never do cash. I would send a regular check and be done with it. If they don't want to cash it, its on them. Send it through online bill pay so its documented you sent it.

This. Cash is a way for them to claim that you never paid

[Anonymous]

She doesn’t want the risk that you will stop payment on the check. Sounds like your last conversation with her must have been pretty contentious if they are worried about this.

[Anonymous]

They’ve probably been burned before by a parent stopping payment on a check. Seemingly arbitrary rules are usually from a past experience. Just go get a cashier's check and be done with it.

[Anonymous]

They're probably been burned in the past by people cancelling the check. It's annoying but understandable. I'd do a MO or cashier's check so you have proof of payment.

[Anonymous]

I would absolutely get a cashier's check. based on the fact that you ended things in a bad spot, she doesn't trust you to not cancel the check - understandable. also based on that, you don't trust her to not come after you if you pay cash and say you didn't pay since there is no record - again understandable. cashier's check is proof for everybody all around, and I would do that instead of trying to get out of the last payment just because they won't take your check.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for this daycare having been burned by a parent before.

Pay with a cashiers check and ask them for a receipt.

[Anonymous]

Write a letter and enclose a check, send it via FedEx or certified mail. If she doesn't deport it the check, consider yourself off the hook.

[Anonymous]

This is OP, thanks everyone. I'll bring a filled out receipt for them to sign when I bring the cashier's check. I have to bring it in person to collect DS's belongings, nothing that we really need, but no point in leaving them there. Otherwise, I'd definitely just send it certified mail so I don't have to go there again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're probably been burned in the past by people cancelling the check. It's annoying but understandable. I'd do a MO or cashier's check so you have proof of payment.

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Now I'm interested in knowing what happened to turn this relationship so sour.

[Anonymous]

Cash but insist on an emailed receipt.