To expect my driving instructor to arrive on time?

[Lalalax3]

I live in East London and am learning to drive. I have lessons on Mondays because that's my husband's day to work from home, so he looks after our 16 month old DS while I go out and drive. I started learning in November. The problem is that my instructor has never once been on time. She's either 30 mins early or 30 mins late, and often there's another student in the back of the car that I have to 'drop off' on my lesson. I was due to start my lesson at 2 today and just got a phone call at five past to say that she's about 5 miles away and 'on her way'. Who knows when she'll get here?! Husband has to go to the bank before it shuts later and he's fretting now about getting there.

AIBU? Should I ditch her? My test is booked for next month!

[lincolnshirelassy]

Get rid of her, that's appalling. In particular she shouldn't still have another student in the car when your lesson starts, that's outrageous!

DH is a driving instructor, he plans his diary so he has sufficient time inbetween lessons to drop the student home and get to the pick up of the next one on time. It's not that hard. And I'm guess you're paying well in excess of £20 per hour in London so you deserve better service!

[bornwithaplasticspoon]

My ds is having lessons and his instructor is prompt. He had to cancel one lesson due to breakdown so that couldn't be helped. Having learners in the car suggests shes cramming her timetable too tight to get more hours in - not good.

Depends how you feel with her really. With a test looming it might be hard to adjust to someone new.

[WickedWax]

She's really unprofessional and obviously incapable of managing her diary appropriately. I'd ditch her and try someone else.

[Lalalax3]

I'm sitting here seething. I feel like shit today and could've really done without this, I've dosed myself up on pills to get through until the end of the lesson, then I'm on toddler duty until 7. Uuuuurgh.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

Ditch. My driving instructor is often 5 minutes late which is okay (and obviously I still get the full hour). I would hate to have another student in the car!

[Lalalax3]

I'm giving her until half past. If she's not here by then I'm going to call her and tell her not to bother.

[GeminiRising]

You are NBU at all. My DD (age 21) has been having driving lessons and there have been occasions where we/my DM have had to drive her to a location 25 minutes away for her lesson because her instructor doesn't leave enough time in between lessons to get from one location to another.
I've told my DD this is totally unreasonable but she won't stand up to him. Unfortunately we booked a block lesson/test package so can't move elsewhere.
She's got her test next week with an hour's lesson beforehand and neither myself nor my DM can take my daughter over and he's making a song and dance about having to pick her up before the test. He doesn't seem to mind putting us all out though

[WickedWax]

Have you paid for the lessons upfront?

If not, think about telling her when she arrives that she's too late, you have arranged childcare only until 3pm/have to go to work and she's messed up your day. Then send her packing.

[ElasticPants]

My instructor used to have another person finish their lesson outside my house, then I would drop them home. I would finish my hour at his next customer and so on. It didn't bother me tbh, we all got our full hour driving, and the instuctor didn't waste petrol going between houses.

Being late would piss me off though.

[Wilding]

I learnt to drive in East London and often had to drop off / get picked up by another student, thought it was normal? I didn't mind as it was only ever for about 10 mins. Being that erratic with time is not on though, they should know to make allowances for the traffic! I would find another instructor, there are loads of there. My driving instructor was great, feel free to PM me if you want a recommendation

[BackforGood]

Well, if I had my test booked (presumably in her car?) I wouldn't change my instructor (and car) within a month of my test.
I would however have brought it up the first time it happened. YANBU to expect them to be on time, and have consideration for your other commitments.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

I'm nervous enough in the car without a random person in there! Not normal practice where I am.

[bornwithaplasticspoon]

Did you send her packing, op?

[DrGoogleWillSeeYouNow]

I'd be so fucking annoyed if my instructor showed up 30 minutes late, I'd tell her it was no longer convenient for me and she needs to be on time.

[Lalalax3]

Ok so I'm currently sat in her car waiting while she drops her accounts off at her accountants! Wtf?!? 😂

[Lalalax3]

I'm still fucking waiting!!!

[Lalalax3]

Ok. Definitely going to ditch at the end of this lesson! Jesus!

[DrGoogleWillSeeYouNow]

Drive off and leave her there

[SexLubeFishSlice]

I had a driving instructor like this!! She even had her dogs in the car!

[Lalalax3]

Send help to E6! I'm stranded!

[Lalalax3]

I'm almost hysterical with laughter now. This is just a farce!!

[SexLubeFishSlice]

Definitely say something. She is cheeky to the extreme!

[whois]

Yes ditch. And tell her why.

[Lalalax3]

DH having kittens back home

[Lalalax3]

I'm STILL waiting