[tashaaaness]

So, I spent half a term at an independent school in the UK (I'm not British) and hated it there, thus I came back to my own country for halfterm and never went back to the school. My parents then withdrew me formally.

The school is now saying that my parents did not give the school "one term's notice" and is asking them to pay for NEXT term's fees, even though I'm not there for the rest of the term and definitely won't be there next term!!!!!!!! It's really unfair because I couldn't exactly have given them one term's notice and tell them that I wanted to leave on my first day there right? And who could've predicted that I'd HATE it there?!

I find this so absurd, but it's made us really scared.

Has anyone got any experience in this matter? It would be really great if you could let me know what you did because I don't want the school to sue my parents.. Thanks xx

* and i'm not saying that the school is wrong, i'm just saying that my parents don't want to (and can't) pay for the next term's fees if i'm not going to be there. and i want to know if you guys think the school might actually take action on this -- though tbh we're definitely not the only people who've refused to pay this before.

[Boho Patch]

Yes it would have been unreasonable of them to expect you to know all that.

They probably ask this because it gives them time to take on another student in your place, which if they do, they will be paid again.

Have a look at their terms and conditions and see if you can appeal it.

I know someone who tried to get out of a five year lease on a business because of the credit crunch. I know its not the same thing, but because of their terms and conditions they expect them to pay a fortune now right to the end of the lease, and its still within its first year.

You might want to ask them if they have anyone who can take your place?

[Taiko]

Your parents will have signed a contract, and I think on this the school is well within its rights to ask for the money.

[tashaaaness]

Originally Posted by Taiko

Your parents will have signed a contract, and I think on this the school is well within its rights to ask for the money.

Well within it's rights, yes, but is this really fair? I'm not there, not using their facilities or their teachers anymore, and they've filled my boarding place with a day girl. My parents did not sign that contract thinking that they would withdraw me in the first term, and it is unfair to say that my parents should have given a term's notice, because that would mean that they would have had to withdraw me before I even started my time there!

[pipsi]

I think it's fair enough. The school has to be run like a business. It's not their fault you didn't like being away from home!

[tashaaaness]

Originally Posted by Boho Patch

Yes it would have been unreasonable of them to expect you to know all that.

They probably ask this because it gives them time to take on another student in your place, which if they do, they will be paid again.

Have a look at their terms and conditions and see if you can appeal it.

I know someone who tried to get out of a five year lease on a business because of the credit crunch. I know its not the same thing, but because of their terms and conditions they expect them to pay a fortune now right to the end of the lease, and its still within its first year.

You might want to ask them if they have anyone who can take your place?

We've had a look at their terms and conditions - but they obviously (being fee dependant) do not make allowances for parents despite this being the FIRST term. They've already filled my boarding place (ie. my room) with a day girl and this frustrates me to no end. Yes they are within their rights to ASK for it, but really all I want to know is whether they will bother asking a lawyer and drawing my parents into court despite us being a good 13 hours away..

[Taiko]

Yes they will. it's completely fair, and the only people being unfair are yourself and your parents.

[hothedgehog]

There's no point calling in a lawyer, you signed a contract agreeing to this so there's nothing you can do.

Also, the day girl who's filled your room won't be paying as much as you did boarding so the school will be losing money.

[Bubbles*de*Milo]

Originally Posted by tashaaaness

So, I spent half a term at an independent school in the UK (I'm not British) and hated it there, thus I came back to my own country for halfterm and never went back to the school. My parents then withdrew me formally.

The school is now saying that my parents did not give the school "one term's notice" and is asking them to pay for NEXT term's fees, even though I'm not there for the rest of the term and definitely won't be there next term!!!!!!!! It's really unfair because I couldn't exactly have given them one term's notice and tell them that I wanted to leave on my first day there right? And who could've predicted that I'd HATE it there?!

I find this so absurd, but it's made us really scared.

Has anyone got any experience in this matter? It would be really great if you could let me know what you did because I don't want the school to sue my parents.. Thanks xx

* and i'm not saying that the school is wrong, i'm just saying that my parents don't want to (and can't) pay for the next term's fees if i'm not going to be there. and i want to know if you guys think the school might actually take action on this -- though tbh we're definitely not the only people who've refused to pay this before.

They obviously can if they were planning initially to pay for it.

[tashaaaness]

Originally Posted by Taiko

Yes they will. it's completely fair, and the only people being unfair are yourself and your parents.

So, theoretically if you were in my situation, you'd readily pay £8,288 despite not being at the school?

[Baz1990]

ignore all contact from the school, morally they should not ask you for the money as you will not be attending

[Taiko]

Originally Posted by tashaaaness

So, theoretically if you were in my situation, you'd readily pay £8,288 despite not being at the school?

I'd pay if I'd signed a contract that stated I'd be charged, yes.

Pay up, and learn from your mistakes.

[hypocriticaljap]

You will be taken to court.
You will lose. It is a clear breach of contract.
You will then have court costs awarded against you.
And quite rightly. You signed a binding contract.

[*River]

Your parents signed a contract, which means that they agreed to its terms. The fact that the school have filled the place is irrelevant.

[*River]

Your parents signed a contract, which means that they agreed to its terms. The fact that the school's now filled the place is irrelevant.

[jelly1000]

Originally Posted by tashaaaness

So, I spent half a term at an independent school in the UK (I'm not British) and hated it there, thus I came back to my own country for halfterm and never went back to the school. My parents then withdrew me formally.

The school is now saying that my parents did not give the school "one term's notice" and is asking them to pay for NEXT term's fees, even though I'm not there for the rest of the term and definitely won't be there next term!!!!!!!! It's really unfair because I couldn't exactly have given them one term's notice and tell them that I wanted to leave on my first day there right? And who could've predicted that I'd HATE it there?!

I find this so absurd, but it's made us really scared.

Has anyone got any experience in this matter? It would be really great if you could let me know what you did because I don't want the school to sue my parents.. Thanks xx

* and i'm not saying that the school is wrong, i'm just saying that my parents don't want to (and can't) pay for the next term's fees if i'm not going to be there. and i want to know if you guys think the school might actually take action on this -- though tbh we're definitely not the only people who've refused to pay this before.

It's standard independant school policy for a school to ask for a terms notice. My parents had to when I left the private school I was at. And schools will take a parent to court for failing to pay up. I'd say best get your parents to pay ASAP before the school starts charging interest on the fees. For my last term at the school, my parents were supposed to pay half each. My dad paid his half on time but my Mum didn't pay her half straight away. (They were due on the first day of term.) The school sent repeated numbers of letters to my house saying they were charging interest on the unpaid fees for each day they were overdue and that they would have to take legal action if my parents didn't pay the remaining ammount. Thankfully my Mum realised she couldn't avoid paying and paid.

[JmsG]

Thats what you get when you pay for you're education.

Conned.

[Daya]

Get the contract out and read the small print. If it states in the contract that you need to give a terms notice before leaving (which is reasonably btw) then you'll have to cough up.

Couldn't you go back and get your money's worth? It's not for very long.

[theronkinator]

You're in another country there's not too much they can do about it really, just ignore them.

[Boho Patch]

Although it wasnt your fault that you didnt know you would hate it there, it is also not the school`s fault that you did hate it there. and they protected their interests because even if you leave,. they still have costs and overheads.

The reason a terms notice has to be given it would seem is because they thought in good faith that you would still be there, its not like you got expelled and still had to pay is it?!

With you leaving so abruptly, it left them in the lurch, but this is why they have their terms and conditions as a fallback in situations like this.

You could have always tried to stay and at least have used the service you were paying for as someone else suggested, but you seemed not to be able to to.