Paying for lessons that music teacher has missed

[Notcontent]

My dd has instrument lessons outside of school. Dd is at quite a high level so the lessons are 1 hour weekly and rather expensive. We pay upfront every term and her policy is that if we have to miss a lesson for some reason we still pay, although she will try to find a slot to make it up. I think that’s fair. There have been a couple of instances where the teacher had to cancel and once again She did not offer a refund but simply offered to make it up. However, the teacher has a very busy schedule so it’s hard to find a spare slot to make up lessons and in the past that hasn’t always worked out, although we have probably only missed out on one lessons worth.

Dd was supposed to have two more lessons this term but the teacher has now said that her plans have changed and she is going away and can’t do the lessons but will make up the two lessons next term. I don’t see how that is going to work as dd is going to be extremely busy when she is back at school in September and I expect the teacher will be too. So I would like To ask her to just take the cost of the two lessons off the next term’s bill. Do you think that’s ok?

Absolutely fair.

Yes absolutely fine and should be done as standard

have you asked?

As a piano teacher - yes this is absolutely fair. How many lessons do you usually pay for each term? I just ask because the Autumn term is so much longer than the other 2 so you may find you can fit them in. But you should definitely have the option of just knocking those 2 off the bill.

I think the teacher offering to make up the time is reasonably fair. But by all means ask for a refund if you would prefer that. So many people on here have been paying for services they are not getting and with no offer to make up time. I wouldn't do that.

The problem with making up the lessons is that the teacher is very busy (as is dd!) so she will say something like “I have a slot available at 5pm on Sunday” - but if that doesn’t work for us, there is no alternative available.

I will ask for a refund when she is back in September. Thank you.

(If it was a small sum of money or due to the teacher being ill, I would probably just take the loss.)

Actually, I'd ask now. Why not?
Along the lines of -

'As you are no longer available to teach dd on X and Y dates as per our arrangement, I would like the refund of Z pounds, payable to details.
As you know, the Autumn term is usually very busy and I'm concerned that it will be difficult to squeeze the missing 2 lessons into dd's schedule. This will leave us all square going forward.'

Or something better!

Otherwise, I think it'll be far too easy for those lessons to just be lost and I think she's a cf for not refunding you immediately.

I agree with teaflake

If the teacher is unavailable at your regular slot, then they have to offer to refund the money you have paid. If there is a mutually available different slot instead, then that is fine, but that is a bonus. the default should be that if the teacher isn't available for the regular slot then they refund the money.

You need to ask for a refund now rather than wait another two months until the new term. You've paid for a service that isn't being given, therefore, are entitled to a refund.

That’s true teaflake.