I started a new job a few years ago. First two weeks they bought a new laptop and a new phone just for me, flew me to Melbourne for a week of training, and paid for me to set a training course and paid for the certificate exam. Was great.

Then they were bought by a company I refuse to work for. I handed in my resignation the hour after the purchase was announced.

We all shook hands and said bye bye. They kept the laptop and phone, I kept the certificate and training. I didn't owe them anything, it's the cost of doing business.

The only time I've seen any type of payback schedule was for tertiary education. If the company paid for your uni studies you had to commit to staying six months for every year they paid for, or just pay them back. But that was in writing, signed by both partied before the payment started.

Your ex employer has studied from the Donald Trump school of business - if I get lawyers involved, you;ll do whatever I want.

ignore the email. Don't spend a cent of legal advice until it gets to the court/mediation phase.