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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not pay my driving instructor

33 replies

vanillanice · 23/07/2011 16:47

Third lesson today with new instructor. Lesson booked at 3.30pm. DH working, no-one else available to babysit the dc's. Ended up persuading begging my 18 year old cousin to babysit, agreed to pay her £10 to babysit.

Anyway, cousin turns up at 3.25pm. We sit and wait for my instructor, eventually it gets to 4pm. Instructor hasn't texted or phoned. Cousin says she has to go at 4.30pm so I tell her she might as well go. Instructor pulls up at 4.05pm. I explain to her that there's no way I can have a lesson now as she is so late and babysitter had to leave.

Instructor tries first of all to say lesson was booked for 4pm, but I whip out my card that clearly says 3.30pm. She then says she had to 'move' my lesson to 4pm but didn't have my number to ring and tell me. Total crap as we exchanged contact details first lesson.

She then said I had to pay her for lesson even if I don't go out with her. Told her absolutely no way.

Absolutely furming. Driving lessons are stressful enough especially coupled with trying to arrange childcare. AIBU not to pay?

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 23/07/2011 16:49

YANBU. Don't pay. Find a new instructor.

LineRunner · 23/07/2011 16:52

What Dooin said.

And sorry you got messed about. Driving lessons are difficult enough without all that crap.

I had an instructor once who was paid in advance and she then refused to take me out because I was pregnant. And yes, this was in the post-Victorian period.

KAZAMM · 23/07/2011 16:52

It's the instructors fault for being late and not calling you. YANBU.

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 23/07/2011 16:56

No. You are not being unreasonable.

She should be paying you for the wasted babysitter!

AnyFucker · 23/07/2011 16:57

don't pay

find a new instructor

breatheslowly · 23/07/2011 16:58

YANBU - totally out of order not to contact you and then to lie about various things. You do need to feel comfortable with your instructor, so will need to find a new one.

coccyx · 23/07/2011 16:59

Cheeky mare. Don't pay her

ILoveThinLizzy · 23/07/2011 17:01

Grrrr.....get a new instructor!!! And don't pay her!!!

working9while5 · 23/07/2011 17:01

Not a chance! I wonder if she's the same one I was with. Where are you based?

SilveryMoon · 23/07/2011 17:04

YANBU!
Do not pay her, cheeky mare.
It's completely her fault for being late and not communicating that with you.
I'd be very angry if she were my instructor and she'd be losing my custom.
Find someone else.

LoveBeingAbleToNamechange · 23/07/2011 17:08

Move to a new instructor

woollyideas · 23/07/2011 17:09

Definitely YANBU. Find a new instructor - one that behaves professionally!

TidyDancer · 23/07/2011 17:19

YANBU. My driving instructor occasionally had to change times, but he always gave me notice of at least 24 hours.

Is she demanding payment before the next lesson? If so, just keep refusing and find another instructor. It's a bit different if you've pre-paid already though.

MrsSnow · 23/07/2011 17:44

YANBU don't pay! Find a new instructor who is better at time keeping.

skybluepearl · 23/07/2011 18:12

dont pay

FabbyChic · 23/07/2011 18:15

Don't pay.

Original poster
vanillanice · 23/07/2011 18:16

This is my second instructor, had similar problems with the first one - he kept turning up late/cancelling and then not giving me full one hour lessons but charging me for the full hour.

I seem to have spectacularly bad luck choosing instructors - did try another woman before this one (thinking women would be more reliable) but only lasted one lesson with her - she kept losing her temper and shouting.

Is there any way of finding a reputable instructor.... [hopeful]

OP posts:
giraffesCantZumba · 23/07/2011 18:18

no way! not in glasgow are you? know a good one

forehead · 23/07/2011 18:18

Cheeky cow . Don't pay

LineRunner · 23/07/2011 18:20

Next time, interview them in more detail on the phone when you book.

'If you are late, what happens?'

'If you can't do the full hour's lesson, what happens?'

'Are you prepared to put that in writing for me?'

lesley33 · 23/07/2011 18:33

I had problems finding a good instructor. I eventually found out that all instructors are rated independently on how good they are. The top grade is 6. Very few have this. I googled and found 1 in my local area. He was brillliant and I passed!

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 23/07/2011 18:33

is she a one man band or part of a big school like bsm or something?

If you say where you are, I bet someone will be near you and know a good instructor Grin

If you live near chesterfield, I recommend my old instructor. An old goat who looped me round and round and round every roundabout in town because I happened to mention I was scared of them. Bastard. Grin But I lost my fear! And I passed easily.

TidyDancer · 23/07/2011 18:42

Where do you live, OP? My friend is currently learning and has a brilliant one. We are in Hertfordshire.

nannyl · 23/07/2011 18:45

YANBU!!!!

Kladdkaka · 23/07/2011 18:50

Don't pay and keep the appointment card as evidence.