Parents not paying for tutoring, getting beyond a joke now

I pay a few teachers for lessons for my DD and I have them set up in online banking on my phone so always just pay them during the lesson when I'm either sat watching or in the car waiting. If I didn't do that I wouldn't remember so that's the best thing for me and the teachers actually prefer to be paid lesson to lesson rather than in blocks.

Always payment in advance and if it’s not forthcoming, simply don’t show up.

I have always had to pay in advance of tutoring and driving lessons.

Tell them if payment is not made 24 hours in advance the session will not go ahead. Stick to it

This!!!!

A lot of people have advised the OP to do this. She is yet to say, "Yes, that's the best idea, isn't it?"

No idea why she seems reluctant to do so.

Dear Mary and John
I am happy to continue to tutor Joe on a Monday at 5-6 pm but you have been late with payments for the last 10 sessions. This causes an additional workload to Chase as per my my term and conditions payment must be made in advance or the same day of the lesson. I am happy to take a lump sum in advance but from now on any late payments will involve an additional £10 charge for each 24 after the lesson that payment is not made.

Something like that?

I pay my hairdresser (known her for years) on the same day by bank transfer and we pay my son’s guitar teacher a block payment of 10 lessons in advance.

Insist on payment in advance for a block of lessons. If they grumble and don’t want to pay, then no lessons. You’re the one holding all the cards here.

We pay DS’s guitar tutor for 6 bi-weekly lessons in advance.

You can tequest upfront payment

Just replace this student with someone whose parents actually pay.

I had the same problem with one of my students. I didn't ask for prepayment but every other student would pay me immediately. The problem one's parents used to "forget" and would usually pay me after a reminder a few days later. In the end I'd had enough and told them I was no longer available. I had lots of enquiries so I was able to fill her spot immediately, with someone who paid on time!

I would either start insisting on payment in advance and explain that if they fail to agree to your terms, you'll cancel the sessions. If they kick off, you've not lost out because they sound as flakey as hell anyway.

I used to mostly charge in advance for 6 lessons. For others who paid weekly I actually bought a sum up machine so I could take card payments. Absolutely no excuse then! They are super cheap to buy (£15 on Amazon) - no monthly payments or contracts or anything - just buy the machine and download the app and you're good to go. They do take a percentage about 1.6% I think for each transaction but I just adapted my fees to reflect this.

All of the tutors we have used have asked for a payment for the term before lessons begin!

Send them another reminder and say you need the payment immediately. Once you have the money just message them to say they either pay for each lesson 24 hours in advance or you cancel their child.

This. You're not a charity.

Agree with PP, just ask for payment in advance.

Ask for payment in advance……..or you could consider ‘forgetting ‘ the tutorial

DD is being tutored twice a week: I get the invoice on Sunday, pay on Monday and tutoring starts on Tuesday. Tutor wouldn't teach if not paid.

DS was tutored and we paid the day of the tutor session happening.

Bin this client.

This is actually what my dd does.

Just ditch them. Life is too short.

Maybe you should ask for payment before the lesson begins. At least then you can refund if you cancel or roll.over if they do.

We have had a tutor who wanted payment after each lesson and it was a bit of a pain. The new tutor charges in advance half termly and I much prefer that.

Hi,
Our daughter is getting Tutorials for 10 weeks and we are requested to pay the full amount in advance of the Tutorials commencing.
You need to contact them and stated going forward all tutorials need to be paid for in advance, otherwise the class won't go ahead, they are not being forgetful, they are being disrespectful to you.

Ever had a driving instructor? Well if you haven't, they charge in advance and if you don't give 24hrs of cancellation, you lose your money. Its because its your income and you absolutely have a right to be paid.

I would send the family a polite message by email, not text or WhatsApp and say that going forward, payment needs to be paid 24hrs in advance at the latest and without this it will be deemed the lesson is cancelled and the cancellation will be offered to other clients.

As for a read receipt and an acknowledgement. In the email give the payment details. Its the only way to avoid this.

Perhaps offer a discount if they pay monthly in advance so lets say if it is normally £50 a session and there are 4 a month, say if they prepay the month in advance, you will offer a discounted price of £190 for 4 sessions, individually it is £50. Fees are forfeited if the lesson is cancelled with less than 24hrs notice.

You need to get tough.

I wouldn't do 24hr in advance, because when they inevitably don't pay, you won't have the required notice to fill the gap.