Rhode Island
I signed a written "agreement" in January 2005 to pay for advanced acting classes in installments at a local theater company. The total amount was $250.
I paid my first installment (balance $200) and attended two of the classes Then I was offered a new job. I spoke with my acting teacher regarding the situation - that the new position would be very time-consuming - that I wanted to continue acting but I was exhausted at night. I specifically asked about the payments - I asked if I could take another acting course when my life became more settled and apply the agreement to that course but start from scratch ie - pay the initial installment all over again. He said yes - that something could be worked out.
So, I left the course and had intentions of signing up for a new class over the winter. If he had told me that nothing could be done and that I was stuck - I would have tried in some way to continue attending the classes.
I was astounded to receive a letter in the mail last week from the theater company - stating that I owed them $200 immediately. I wrote a thoughtful email to the company manager - explaining that there must be a communication glitch - that I would be soon signing up for a course, etc.
I was even more shocked to get the extremely terse response - that my acting teacher was not an official employee of the theater company so couldn't speak for them, and further, that they would no longer offer acting classes this year.
I wrote back that I should not be expected to have knowledge of the internal hierarchical employment structure of the theater company - but that I took the advice of the person I thought could, in fact, give me the definitive answer.
On top of this - while I love my new job - I am not making ends meet and fall within the poverty level - so I don't even have the money to pay them.
In sum, I was told that my "agreement" could be rolled over for another course - I based all of my actions on that verbal promise by a person who taught for the company. Now I am being told that I should have had an awareness of who was and wasn't authorized to speak for the company and that I have to pay the remaining $200.
I would greatly appreciate advice.
I signed a written "agreement" in January 2005 to pay for advanced acting classes in installments at a local theater company. The total amount was $250.
I paid my first installment (balance $200) and attended two of the classes Then I was offered a new job. I spoke with my acting teacher regarding the situation - that the new position would be very time-consuming - that I wanted to continue acting but I was exhausted at night. I specifically asked about the payments - I asked if I could take another acting course when my life became more settled and apply the agreement to that course but start from scratch ie - pay the initial installment all over again. He said yes - that something could be worked out.
So, I left the course and had intentions of signing up for a new class over the winter. If he had told me that nothing could be done and that I was stuck - I would have tried in some way to continue attending the classes.
I was astounded to receive a letter in the mail last week from the theater company - stating that I owed them $200 immediately. I wrote a thoughtful email to the company manager - explaining that there must be a communication glitch - that I would be soon signing up for a course, etc.
I was even more shocked to get the extremely terse response - that my acting teacher was not an official employee of the theater company so couldn't speak for them, and further, that they would no longer offer acting classes this year.
I wrote back that I should not be expected to have knowledge of the internal hierarchical employment structure of the theater company - but that I took the advice of the person I thought could, in fact, give me the definitive answer.
On top of this - while I love my new job - I am not making ends meet and fall within the poverty level - so I don't even have the money to pay them.
In sum, I was told that my "agreement" could be rolled over for another course - I based all of my actions on that verbal promise by a person who taught for the company. Now I am being told that I should have had an awareness of who was and wasn't authorized to speak for the company and that I have to pay the remaining $200.
I would greatly appreciate advice.