Parents not paying for tutoring, getting beyond a joke now

The point of a "proper" contract is that it's easier to legally enforce if the parents break it.

If you don't have a proper contract they can always say "Oh - the tutor didn't make that clear" or "The tutor never told us" or "We never agreed to that" etc etc

I’m not a tutor but I have a similar set up with clients paying per appointment. As others have said you need payment up front and a very clear set of terms that you ask them to sign and return to you so you can demonstrate you’ve made things clear at the outset. This helps if you need to use the small claims process which I’ve used once for a client who was referred to me via an insurance company so was required to pay after the session but didn’t. If people really decide not to pay it can be difficult but it’s much easier to push back if you’ve been very clear from the outset. I ask for payment 24 hours in advance to secure a session, cancelling with less than 24 hours or no show means the full fee for the hour is payable (they’re paying for your time and skill and you can’t use that time to replace the income if you’ve had no notice). If they don’t like it they don’t have to sign up for it.

TBH most people are fine, the ones who are going to mess you about will be easier to tackle. It’s really unfair of people to mess you around. To be honest, the clients I have found are the most casual about paying are the ones with plenty of money as it doesn’t occur to them that the session fee might actually represent quite a lot of money to me.

Take it as an opportunity to smarten up (or to write!) your business' T&C and get some sensible systems in place. You could use a calendar app to manage bookings, (e.g. Acuity) and get everybody to book their slots on there and the app forces them to pay at the time of booking. Or you could send a Stripe or Paypal payment link as soon as they request "In order to confirm your tutoring slot". I would imagine though that there is software specifically aimed at the tutoring market.

Most people I use (therapists tutors,etc) now require payment a minimum 48 in advance or the appointment is cancelled. Sad this has to be done, but they mortgages and utilities bills can’t be paid when they feel like it.

Money in advance or you dont deliver the tutoring

When DD had a tutor he wanted prompt payment on a friday afternoon for the hours he'd done that week (home education). He was really honest from the word go and said he loved teaching the children but not having to deal with the parents and payments - so it was a "pay up by Friday 6pm or I don't come back" situation. Funnily enough, it made us quite neurotic about paying him...

Set up new terms - payments to always be taken in advance of the session - and I would do at least a month’s sessions to be paid up front in advance.
the payment once received is then confirmation of their booking.
taking payment for each session each week is a huge lot of admin to be doing, even without having to chase up multiple times!
(I have learned to always take payments upfront as solo self employed)

Grow a pair and tell them their constant delayed payment is unacceptable and from now on you’ll expect payment in advance or you won’t be providing the tuition. OK it’s not the kid’s fault but you aren’t running a charity and the kid is their CF parents’ responsibility, not yours

So at least 4 out of 5 occasions they have messed you around OP. It's not going to change. What's that saying... "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me". I would just replace the client.

First post nails it. No idea why OP didn’t acknowledge this.

Get them to pay in advance of the lesson or it doesn't go ahead. I had to do that with DD2's maths tutor and it seemed entirely sensible to me!

You need a proper contract.

I would ask for the money again, but mentioning you will be asking for legal advice.

Tell them that you are going to pursue them through the Small Claims Court if they don't pay up today.

You don't necessarily have an ongoing contract or relationship with a hairdresser, in the same way as you would with a regular tutor. A hairdresser is more a shop mentality - albeit you're buying a servuce rather than goods - rather than a self-employed person without clear business premises.

It sounds like they are paying regularly; just a few days after rather than before.

That said, OP is perfectly within her rights to insist on payment in advance or on the day, and to swiftly end the agreement with anybody who is unwilling or unable to meet this requirement.

Couple tutors we have used have what's app the terms and condtition.

Payment has to be made 24 hours before by bank transfer or in cash at the start of the lesson.

Theres cancellation terms and conditions too.

Take payment before the lesson!

I’ve used two different tutors for both my older children in different subjects outside of school hours, for both I had to pay in advance per half term.
I think once you’ve decided on the duration you need to charge in advance.
I think most tutors work this way, if the tutor cannot make a lesson due to illnesses either carried over with the next invoice adjusted or refunded.
The music lessons, science club etc ant school all have to be paid for half termly in advance.

Definitely switch them to payment termly in advance.

I think you should tell them that you will not be arriving for tutoring unless they have paid in advance.
If they sqwark bin them

Payment in advance. No payment, no lesson
.

Voted YABU as need payment upfront. Far too many pisstakers out there.

Once agreed that you are continuing offer them a 5 or 10 session upfront payment with a discount. If they don't want to do that then they pay at least 24 hours before the session or you don't do it.

Funny how these people never actually "forget" to show up for the lesson though!

I'd use the 'incessant nag' technique. Never fails. Basically text, or even better ring, on a daily basis until they are so sick of the nagging that they pay up. You shouldn't have to, but it works.
Of course dont accept any more work with them once payment received.

"Dear Mr and Mrs cf,

In December we discussed and agreed on the amount and timing of the fees you would pay for me to tutor your son. Unfortunately you have not stuck to our agreement and I am often forced to chase you for payment.

In future please pay me for each session at least 3 days in advance (or whatever suits you). Unless I can see the amount has reached my bank account the day before each lesson is due, I will not be teaching the lesson and will have to withdraw from teaching any future sessions. I would be sorry to lose Damian as a pupil, but I cannot afford to work for nothing, and I do not have the time to keep chasing up the money you owe me."

You don’t have to change your rules for your other pupils if you don’t want to, but it might be a good idea to have a formal signed contract and payment in advance for everyone.

It's a nightmare - my dad runs a busy music school and it's becoming more and more common that the parents don't pay their bills. If he asks for payment in advance, they will book a load of lessons in and then just not pay and not show up (of course my dad still has to pay the music teacher for being there!) It's always the "wealthier" parents who don't pay as well. He has quite a few students from the local school whose parents are on UC or other benefits and they always pay on time! But the ones in a brand new BMW are a nightmare to track down.