Yes, in the grand scheme of things, $45 isn’t a big amount. But OP you do need to think about this if only to go through the thought process of what you will do in the future, Trust me, one client’s $45 and another’s $150, and the next’s $XX adds up. I am a court reporter. I work as a free lance reporter. I deal with attorneys every day. For years, as is the court reporters’ custom, I would send out transcripts and then invoice the client. Now, most clients pay in a timely manner. My own clients usually pay well. But I also have to send copies to opposing counsel. I don’t know them. Those are the folks who often felt fine stiffing me for hundreds (and in cases thousands) of dollars. One that owes me over $800 is even a small town judge. (Which reminds me, I should file a case on that guy.) But anyway, about five years ago I switched over to a pay-first system. It is all online. When the transcript is completed, I upload it, and also upload the invoice. The service sends them an email letting them know the transcript is immediately downloadable upon payment. I grandfathered in all my good clients, but all new clients and all opposing counsel have to go through this system. And if they don’t pay, I don’t feel as bad because they don’t get he transcripts. All this is just to say that you should have a system in place and I highly recommend you get payment up front. I felt a little bad doing it this way at first, and on occasion attorneys will get testy with me, but you know what? It’s my money. I’ve lost way too much money doing it the “trusting” way.
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Don’t proactively tell the trainer anything. That’s not cool.
Write off the 45 as a hard lesson learned. If you like, send the offender a paypal request for payment just as a record that this situation exists between you two. And it should end there. She’s shown her colors, unfortunately.
