AIBU to not pay for lesson

[Tunsey]

My DS goes to music lessons each week. He really enjoys it and he likes his tutor. The tutor runs a private business and asks for notice if we’re unable to attend (fair enough). So, when we’ve had school trips or holidays we’ve always given him at leat two weeks notice that DS won’t be attending.

However on two separate occasions we missed the lesson because of a traffic accident and bad traffic. So I called to let him know, apologising but obviously letting the tutor know that circumstances are out of our control. On both occasions he’s been rather rude saying we don’t value his time. On the second occasion he said that we’d need to pay for the lesson we’ve missed.

I don’t think that right because a) he’s never stated this before; b) my DS has been having lessons for over 18 months; and c) we can’t control traffic.

Am I being unreasonable- should I pay for the missed lesson?

[TeamSpirit]

Ofcourse you should pay

[Mammyloveswine]

Of course you should pay! It's not the tutors fault there was bad traffic!

[cloudtree]

Yes you should pay for the missed lesson

[PatriciaHolm]

Yes of course.

[Tink88]

Yes pay the lesson. You can’t control the traffic but neither can the tutor. You could have left earlier etc. They didn’t charge you for the first missed lesson but the second fair enough.

[Mumshappy]

Unfortunately you should still pay for the lesson

[NoShelfElf]

It's perfectly reasonable for the tutor to expect payment for lesson time you have reserved but he is unable to offer to someone else short notice. He has bills to pay too!!

[MadameJosephine]

Of course you should pay for the lesson! The teacher has a living to make, you can’t expect not to pay him

[feral]

Of course you pay! Traffic is not his fault.

[OneStepMoreFun]

So you think the tutor should lose his income because of bad traffic? He was there for your lesson. He had probably spent time preparing it as tutor's fees aren't exclusively for contact hours but for prep and admin too. Pay him.

[JacquesHammer]

Of course you should pay.

He let you off the first time, you must pay for the time he set aside for your son for the second.

[cardifcannonball]

Yes you should. He can't rearrange anything at that short notice. It sang be helped, and he shouldn't get cross, but he should definitely be paid.

[MilkyCuppa]

YABVU. If you book something and then can’t attend at the last minute you lose out. Whether you’re ill, or have an accident, or are stuck in traffic - if you miss whatever you’ve booked then it’s tough. Of course if you cancel far enough in advance according to the t&c’s then you might not have to pay. What are the t&c’s of your contract with the teacher?

[BatsAreCool]

I can't believe you have to actually ask.

Of course you pay when you don't turn up. It doesn't matter whether it's traffic or washing your hair. The simple matter is that it's your responsibility to get there and if you don't make it you pay for the missed lesson.

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

If you haven't been able to get there because you're caught in traffic caused by an accident then no don't pay. Neither of you could predict that.

[ChocSprinkles18]

Yep you definitely have to pay.

[sweeneytoddsrazor]

Yes you should be paying for the lesson.

I run a Brownie unit and I ask that the girls pay for each session whether they attend or not. This is because I still need to pay for the hire of the hall, insurance, anything I need to purchase for activities. In the case of the tutor he is losing wages by you not being there.

[MissLadyM]

Obviously you should pay! I'm sure if you were the tutor you'd be exactly the same

[QuantumPixies]

You should pay. Surprised you needed to ask.

[firstevernamechange]

I'm a language tutor and last minute cancellations can really mess with finances especially if you pay him lesson by lesson.
I would be very unimpressed if a student or parent cancelled last minute because of traffic rather than asking for a later slot, make up time on a different way.
After a few bad experiences, I have a policy on last minute cancellations (24 hr notice, one "joker" free cancellation) and I communicate this upfront. I suggest you leave earlier or have the lesson on a less busy day if you don't want to risk payibg for your own flakiness.

[newmumwithquestions]

YABVVVU
Of course you pay.
You’re very lucky that the tutor rearranges your holiday ones.

[sweeneytoddsrazor]

You should be factoring in traffic delays when getting to lessons on time. Not only for the tutor but for your DS as well. If he is going to get the most out of these lessons then he needs to be attending regularly.

[Tohaveandtohold]

Ofcourse you’ll still need to pay. That’s the standard practice here.!

[BatsAreCool]

I think it helps to view it like this.

If you bought a concert ticket and you got caught up in traffic and missed it would you expect to get your money back. The answer is no. Just because you pay after the lesson doesn't mean you don't have to pay.

If you decide not to pay then don't be surprised if he decides not to tutor your DC anymore.