NQ- Have you sent them a copy of the receipt showing you’ve paid? I’d also ring citizens advice they should be able to help hopefully

NQ - All debt under £10k are dealt with at the small claims court. The nursery MUST follow procedures to apply to the court. This includes sending you invoices that clearly show how much you owe, when it's from and explain why the money is owed etc. They must send you a reminder. They must also allow you to pay in installments and generally be 'helpful'. Once they've done the above they can apply to the small claims court and the court will decide if there is a case to answer. If they decide there is, you'd be served with notice of the claim. You could either accept or contest. If they haven't done these things then they aren't making a claim. Quite often, people use court threats to scare people into submission. If you have the receipt and you know you paid then forward the receipt and tell them to do one! Try not to worry. That's what they want.

Nursery Manager. Is the receipt signed and dated with the amount you paid? Does it show the dates it relates to and is the signature clear? Hard to understand why they would issue a receipt in advance.

NQ If the receipt was issued in advance, how did they know u were going to pay cash?? Did u draw the cash out of cash machine and can use the statement to back u up??

NQ but I can’t see how theyd win in court when you literally have a receipt, its unheard of to give receipts in advance. The key is in the name ‘receipt’ ie received. I think it would cost them more to go to court and lose than just accept theyve been paid. 🙄

NQ Did you make the payment? Do you remember doing so? How did you pay? If you paid cash then can you show you withdrew it?

NQ - did they issue an invoice? Is that dated before the date on the receipt? If so, I really don’t see they have a case.

Nursery manager, William Eubanks. in the past we sadly have had to issue money claims in court for unpaid fees. When we have done so we have solid evidence of the period to which the claim relates and there is no evidence of payment. If they do issue a claim you will have the opportunity to present your receipt as evidence of payment. If you are confident this receipt relates to the period they are claiming for i would be surprised if they took it this far. In the event of them having sent this receipt by mistake having prepared it in anticipation of your payment i would try and link cash withdrawals from your bank around that time as additional evidence of payment. I would also put in a request to view the cctv footage. Have they considered the possibility that a staff member has kept your cash?

NQ - advise them in qriting that you believe you have paid all oustanding amounts and ask them to provide an account statement showing all invouces issued and payments so that a reconciliation can take place.

NQ How did you pay? If bank transfer or childcare voucher, you will have a statement to back it up. If cash, you should still be able to support the withdrawal using bank statement. Have you provided these things to them?