AIBU to charge for this?

[speckledostrichegg]

Opinions please, I think IWBU

I tutor A-level economics and had a lesson scheduled for this morning. I got an email from mum of a student, explaining that he wanted to cancel as he has several exams next week, is feeling stressed and doesn't want a lesson. This was 20 mins before our lesson was due to start. This is frustrating as I spend several hours planning lessons (as the exam is this week I cannot use the plan for him at another time)- I don't normally teach at the weekend and would have stayed an extra night at my partners (LDR) if I had known in advance he wanted to cancel.

She was extremely apologetic and asked for details to pay. I sent her my bank details and have had no reply. I now feel that she wanted me to offer to waive the fee.

I feel really guilty that I went ahead and charged, a-level/uni exams were a long time ago for me but I still remember how incredibly stressed I got about them and would also probably be tempted to cancel things last minute to panic revise!

If I were the parent, I would certainly expect to pay in this situation.

You were quite right to charge with only 20 mins notice in a non- emergency/ illness. I fully understand the lad's revision panic but no reason you should be out of pocket for your planning time.

I wouldn't worry about the non- reply. Perhaps his DM is planning to visit the bank tomorrow.

Total bugger about missing out on an extra night with DP though :(

Definitely ok to charge

She asked for bank details this morning! It's been a couple of hours, maybe she went out to lunch, had friends over, has gone running? Even if she has mobile banking on her phone, setting up a new payee can be a pain so she may we waiting until she can do it from a desktop. I don't see any suggestion that she did not expect you to provide the details.

I don't think the OP is worrying about the non-payment (as of now) - it's whether or not she should have charged.

I agree that you should charge it with only 20 minutes notice

Your original policy of 24 hours notice unless due to an emergency is perfectly professional. I have to say also, if my 'A level' aged student DC wanted to cancel twenty minutes before a Sunday morning lesson due to 'stress', A. it wouldn't be me ringing up and B. it wouldn't be me paying for it.

Charge.