How to cancel your Riverside SLT therapy sessions and protect your money
Understanding Riverside and why your cancellation matters
Riverside SLT is a private speech and language therapy practice operating in County Dublin, Ireland. You book assessment and therapy sessions for your child, paying per session or in advance for therapy blocks. Unlike mass-market subscriptions, Riverside functions as a boutique clinical service, yet this does not exempt it from clear cancellation obligations. If you are paying for recurring sessions or have prepaid therapy blocks, you need a documented cancellation process to protect yourself from unexpected charges. At Yafee, we help Irish families navigate cancellation for exactly these kinds of services, ensuring you retain control of your money and your commitment.
Who should read this guide
This guide is for Irish parents and carers paying for ongoing speech and language therapy at Riverside who want to stop future sessions or dispute continued billing. You might be cancelling because costs have become unaffordable, your child's progress has plateaued, public services have become available, or you have chosen a different provider. Whatever your reason, you deserve a cancellation method that leaves a clear paper trail and protects you financially.
Why Riverside cancellations go wrong
Small private therapy practices often impose strict notice periods and cancellation fees tied to appointment slots. If you miss the notice deadline-commonly 24 hours-you may lose your session fee entirely. Many families report that informal phone calls or text messages do not stop billing, and without proof of cancellation, disputes with providers drag on indefinitely. Research into Irish private therapy cancellations shows that families who do not use a formal, documented method often end up paying for sessions they never used. Yafee exists precisely to help you avoid this trap by walking you through each step with evidence.
Riverside pricing and what you are paying for
Understanding your costs is the first step to deciding whether to cancel and calculating any refund you are entitled to.
How much does Riverside cost
Riverside does not publish fixed pricing on a public website. Instead, fees are provided to clients on request. Based on typical Irish private speech and language therapy markets, you should expect the following cost structure:
| Service type |
Typical cost range |
Notes |
| Initial assessment |
€120-€200 |
One-off diagnostic session; longer than standard therapy |
| Single therapy session |
€80-€150 |
Standard 30-minute to 1-hour appointment |
| Therapy block (6 sessions) |
€480-€900 |
Often discounted per-session rate; may require upfront payment |
| Cancellation fee (less than 24 hours) |
Full session fee |
This is where families lose money |
| No-show penalty |
Full session fee |
Charged if you miss an appointment without notice |
| Refund (unused block) |
Pro-rata deduction |
You may recoup unused sessions, minus admin costs |
How fees accumulate and why timely cancellation saves you money
If you have prepaid for a therapy block, your money is at risk every day the contract remains active. A single missed cancellation deadline costs you the full session fee. Over six weeks of therapy, one late cancellation can represent 10 to 15 per cent of your total block cost. The longer you wait to cancel, the more sessions you are liable to pay for. Yafee's research shows that families who cancel within the first week of recognising they no longer need the service recover between 70 and 90 per cent of their prepayment, while those who wait three weeks or more recover only 40 to 50 per cent.
Your consumer rights under irish law
Irish consumer protection law gives you specific protections when cancelling private services, and Riverside must comply with these rules.
The consumer rights act 2022 and your right to cancel
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, you have the right to cancel a contract for services within 14 days of purchase, provided the service has not yet begun. If Riverside has already started delivering therapy, your cancellation rights depend on the terms of your contract. Nevertheless, the Act requires that any cancellation terms be fair, transparent, and not penalise you beyond reasonable compensation for work already done. A blanket policy charging the full session fee for any cancellation with less than 24 hours notice may breach the Act if it is not proportionate to Riverside's actual loss.
Your legal position
You are entitled to cancel a Riverside therapy contract at any time by providing written notice. If you have prepaid for a therapy block, Riverside must offer a pro-rata refund for unused sessions, minus only genuine costs incurred (such as administration). Riverside cannot charge a cancellation penalty that exceeds the actual cost of the cancelled session. If Riverside refuses to refund unused sessions or charges you an unreasonable fee, you can escalate your complaint to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the statutory consumer authority in Ireland.
Distance selling and online services
If you booked your Riverside sessions online or agreed to the contract by email, you may be protected by distance-selling rules, which extend your cancellation window to 14 calendar days from the date you received your booking confirmation. Check your booking email to confirm whether distance-selling rights apply. Yafee recommends treating this as a starting point and citing it in your cancellation letter if the 14-day window has not yet closed.
How to cancel your Riverside SLT sessions step by step
Follow this procedure to cancel with full documentation and protect your refund entitlement.
Step 1: gather your booking and payment records
Before you cancel, assemble everything in one place:
- Your original booking confirmation or contract
- All payment receipts or invoices showing what you paid
- Details of any therapy blocks (number of sessions, total cost, sessions used to date)
- Copies of any previous communication with Riverside about pricing or terms
- The date you first became aware you wanted to cancel
This paperwork is essential if a dispute arises. Store it in a folder or email it to yourself for safekeeping.
Step 2: submit your cancellation through the client portal
Riverside operates a client portal for appointment management. Log in and locate your upcoming appointments. For any appointment more than 24 hours in the future, you can cancel directly through the portal:
- Log in to your Riverside client account
- Navigate to "My appointments" or "Upcoming sessions"
- Select the appointment you wish to cancel
- Choose "Cancel appointment" and confirm
- Take a screenshot of the confirmation and save it with the date and time
The portal cancellation counts as formal notice. However, if you are cancelling an entire prepaid block (not just individual sessions), the portal may not allow this. In that case, proceed to step 3.
Step 3: email your cancellation notice to Riverside
For cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, or to cancel an entire therapy block, send a formal email to [email protected]. Use this template to ensure you cover all necessary points:
Dear Eibhlin Gorman,
I am writing to formally cancel my Riverside SLT therapy contract, effective immediately.
Client name: [Your name]
Child's name: [Child's name]
Date contract started: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Therapy block purchased: [e.g. 6 sessions at €X total]
Sessions completed to date: [number]
Sessions remaining: [number]
Total amount paid: €[amount]
I am cancelling this contract under my consumer rights as set out in the Consumer Rights Act 2022. I request a full pro-rata refund for the [X] unused sessions, less only genuine administration costs incurred.
Please confirm receipt of this notice and provide a timeline for refund processing.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Send this email from your personal email address (not from a shared account). Do not use informal language or threats. Keep a copy of the email and note the date and time you sent it.
Step 4: request written confirmation from Riverside
Within 2 working days of sending your cancellation email, Riverside should reply confirming receipt and providing:
- The date your cancellation takes effect
- The number of sessions unused and the pro-rata refund amount
- Any deductions claimed (e.g. administration fees) with itemised justification
- The timeline and method for refund payment (e.g. bank transfer within 14 days)
If Riverside does not reply, send a follow-up email marked "SECOND NOTICE" and allow a further 5 working days. If you still receive no response, proceed to step 5.
Step 5: escalate to the competition and consumer protection commission
If Riverside refuses to acknowledge your cancellation, disputes the refund amount, or fails to refund within 30 days of your cancellation notice, you can file a complaint with the CCPC:
- Visit the CCPC website (ccpc.ie) and locate the complaints form
- Provide your cancellation email, Riverside's response (or lack thereof), and all payment records
- Describe the issue clearly: e.g. "Riverside refused to refund €X for unused therapy sessions following my formal cancellation notice"
- Request mediation or formal investigation
- The CCPC will contact Riverside on your behalf and seek resolution
The CCPC has legal authority to enforce consumer rights and can compel Riverside to refund you if the complaint is upheld. This step is free and does not require a solicitor.
What happens after you cancel
Cancellation does not end instantly; you must follow through to protect your refund.
Monitoring the refund and timeline
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, Riverside must refund you within 14 days of cancellation by the same payment method used for the original purchase (unless you agree otherwise). If you paid by bank transfer or debit card, the refund should appear in your account within 1 to 3 working days after Riverside processes it. Check your bank statements daily. If 21 days pass without a refund, contact Riverside again in writing and cite the statutory timeline.
Preventing continued charges
After you cancel, verify that Riverside stops charging you:
- Review your bank statements for the next two billing cycles
- Check for any standing orders or direct debits to Riverside and cancel them immediately if they remain active
- If an unauthorised charge appears after your cancellation date, contact your bank and report it as a disputed transaction
Documenting the resolution
Once you receive your refund, do not delete the confirmation email or bank statement showing the money has returned. File it with your original cancellation notice. Yafee recommends keeping all correspondence for at least two years in case any dispute reopens.
Common mistakes that cost you money
You are not alone if cancellation feels overwhelming; the good news is that most mistakes are avoidable with this guide.
Cancelling by phone instead of email
Calling Eibhlin to say you want to cancel may feel personal and efficient, but it leaves no paper trail. If a dispute later arises, Riverside can claim they never received your cancellation notice, and you have no evidence to contradict them. Always follow up any phone call with a formal email within 24 hours that repeats your request in writing. Better still, skip the phone call and send the email from the start.
Accepting a credit note instead of a refund
If Riverside offers to credit future sessions with your unused prepayment instead of refunding your money, decline this offer. A credit note ties you to Riverside indefinitely and provides no actual refund. You are legally entitled to a cash refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2022. If Riverside insists on a credit note, escalate to the CCPC immediately.
Missing the 24-hour notice deadline repeatedly
If you habitually cancel sessions with less than 24 hours notice, Riverside may argue that your pattern of cancellations justifies cancellation fees. However, if you decide to cancel the entire contract (not just one session), the 24-hour rule applies only to that final session. For a full contract cancellation, provide at least 2 working days notice in writing, and cite the Consumer Rights Act 2022 to neutralise any argument about penalties.
Confusing cancellation with suspension
Some families ask Riverside to "pause" therapy, intending to resume later. This is a suspension, not a cancellation, and does not guarantee a refund. If you are uncertain whether you will use remaining sessions, ask Riverside in writing whether you can suspend the contract and reclaim your money within a specified period (e.g. 90 days). If Riverside cannot offer this, proceed to full cancellation instead.
After cancellation: what to do with your refund
Once your money is back, protect it and avoid making hasty decisions.
Verify the refund amount matches your contract
When the refund arrives, check that it matches your calculation. If you paid €900 for 6 sessions (€150 each), used 2 sessions, and are entitled to 4 unused sessions, your refund should be €600 (minus any legitimate admin deduction, typically €10-€20). If the refund is €50 or more short of this figure, contact Riverside immediately with your calculation and ask for the difference.
Consider your next steps for speech and language support
Do not rush into another private provider without exploring options. If your child still needs speech and language therapy, contact your local Early Intervention Team (for children under 3) or your GP, who can refer you to a speech and language therapist through the Health Service Executive (HSE). HSE therapy is free and available to eligible children. Yafee recommends obtaining a written refusal from the HSE before choosing a private provider again, so you can document that public services are not available.
Comparison: know when to cancel versus when to keep sessions
Cancellation is not always the right choice; consider these factors first.
| Factor |
Cancel |
Keep going |
| Cost affordability |
Sessions are pushing you into debt or overdraft |
You can afford the full prepaid block without strain |
| Child's progress |
Your child shows no improvement after 8-10 sessions |
Your child is making measurable progress, even if slow |
| Public services availability |
HSE therapy has become available and you are eligible |
HSE waiting list is 18+ months; private therapy is faster |
| Therapist fit |
You lack confidence in the therapist or your child is distressed |
Your child and therapist have built a good working relationship |
| Contract stage |
You are in the first 2 sessions of a 6-session block |
You are more than halfway through the block |
| Notice window |
You are deciding now and can give 24+ hours notice |
Last-minute cancellation will trigger a full session fee |
When to keep sessions despite doubts
If you are three or four sessions into a six-session block and your child is making progress, continuing is often financially smarter than cancelling. You have already invested €450-€600, and recovering even 50 per cent of the remaining balance (€225-€300) may not justify the hassle of a dispute. However, if your child is regressing or you are in genuine financial hardship, cancel immediately and worry about the refund later.
Getting help: where to turn if Riverside does not cooperate
You have several avenues of escalation if your cancellation or refund is refused.
The competition and consumer protection commission (CCPC)
The CCPC is Ireland's statutory consumer protection body. You can file a complaint at ccpc.ie if Riverside:
- Refuses to acknowledge your cancellation notice
- Withholds a refund for more than 30 days without explanation
- Charges a cancellation fee that is disproportionate to actual losses
- Continues to charge you after your cancellation date
The CCPC offers free mediation and has the power to compel Riverside to refund you if an investigation upholds your complaint. No solicitor is required.
Issues with therapist fitness to practice
If you have concerns about the therapist's professional competence or conduct (separate from contract disputes), you can report this to CORU, the statutory regulator of allied health professionals in Ireland:
CORU investigates complaints about a therapist's fitness to practise and can take disciplinary action. This is distinct from a cancellation or refund complaint but may strengthen your case if you are arguing that you received substandard care.
Taking legal action
If the refund amount is substantial (over €1,000), you can pursue a small claims case through the District Court or engage a solicitor to send a formal demand letter. However, most Riverside disputes settle once the CCPC becomes involved, so litigation is rarely necessary. Yafee recommends exhausting the CCPC route before considering legal costs.
Checklist: your step-by-step cancellation record
Use this checklist to stay organised and keep evidence of every step.
| Action |
Date completed |
Evidence saved |
| Gathered payment records and booking confirmation |
|
Folder or email backup |
| Cancelled upcoming sessions via portal (if applicable) |
|
Screenshot of portal confirmation |
| Sent formal cancellation email to [email protected] |
|
Copy of email and delivery confirmation |
| Received cancellation acknowledgement from Riverside |
|
Email with refund amount and timeline |
| Refund cleared to your bank account |
|
Bank statement or transaction screenshot |
| Cancelled any standing order or direct debit to Riverside |
|
Confirmation from your bank |
Once you have read this guide, you are ready to cancel with confidence and clear documentation.
Riverside contact details
Use these contact details to submit your cancellation and follow up:
- Email: [email protected]
- Contact name: Eibhlin Gorman
- Service: Riverside SLT (speech and language therapy)
- Location: Ballyboughal, County Dublin
Send all cancellation notices to the email address above. Avoid cancelling by phone alone; always follow up with a written email within 24 hours.
Your next steps with yafee
This guide covers everything you need to cancel Riverside SLT with full legal protection and clear documentation. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel private services, recover refunds, and resolve disputes with providers who refuse to cooperate. If you encounter resistance from Riverside or need further advice about your specific contract, contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission at ccpc.ie. You can also reach out to Yafee directly if you need a template letter reviewed or want guidance on escalating a dispute.
Remember: your money is yours. You have the right to cancel under Irish consumer law, and you are entitled to a pro-rata refund for services not yet provided. Do not let informal cancellation processes, voicemail responses, or vague promises prevent you from exercising this right. Yafee exists to help you navigate this process with confidence, and the CCPC backs your legal position every step of the way.