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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Skype tuition AIBU

80 replies

CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 10:21

I tutor a GCSE student over Skype on Sunday at 10 every 2 weeks.
The student knows it's every two weeks, as does their parent.

(I keep in contact with the parent in case they need to cancel/rearrange the sessions, which they have done in the past, but never at the last minute).

This morning, I logged into Skype just before 10, and saw the student was offline.

I waited until around ten past to check whether they would come online, but they're not online yet (as of 10:19).

I texted the student's parent at ten past to let them know of the situation, and haven't had a reply yet.

If they come back to me and say they'd like to rearrange for later today, that would disrupt my schedule. But I do see that it may also be a misunderstanding on their part.

From now on, I'll text the parent the day before to confirm the lesson, but it just frustrates me a bit that they haven't kept to their commitments. I have regular commitments that I have to attend weekly or every 2 weeks, and I would be letting people down if I didn't attend.

WWYD?

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napmeistergeneral · 22/10/2017 11:52

It doesn't sound like the parents see this as a "long-standing arrangement"; there's already been a change in lesson type to suit you and then a cancellation by you. They may well feel that since you've changed things, they are also justified in doing so without penalty (although of course contractually speaking it sounds like they are in the wrong). I'd let the agency deal with it - this sort of thing is why they take a cut.

Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 11:58

Thanks everyone for all of your replies.

I've sent the agency the email that I wrote on the previous page.

I agree with what everyone is saying that the client might feel that it's not a long-standing arrangement - I understand that.

I do feel though that the client didn't keep to their side of the contract (not giving 24 hours' notice in advance of cancelling or rescheduling a session), which is why I feel it was best for me to email the agency and let them take care of it.

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Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 11:59

Finally I tutor the teenager, but have always contacted their parent to arrange the sessions.

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Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 12:09

I've really thought about it, and I do think it's fair of me in this situation to ask for payment.

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PerfumeIsAMessage · 22/10/2017 12:16

I'm a long time tutor and have found it's better to always always deal with the parents, not the kids. I go to their houses but if they come to mine a discount for the fact they are travelling is standard courtesy so I imagine Skype sessions would be the same.
If you're with an agency then I'd have thought any quibbles over money go via them , not directly with the client. I only did agency work for a while and the agency paid me, not the client. If your agency leaves you to sort out rubbish like non payers then it sounds a bit useless.
Your mail to the client needs to begin with your second part:
As you are aware, terms of the agency are that lessons are paid blabla and therefore I have to insist on payment for today's missed lesson. Etc.

Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 12:21

Perfume I have always contacted the student's parent about the tuition and never contacted the student directly. All of my contact so far regarding the arrangement of lessons has only ever been with the student's parent.

I've now sent an email to the agency (written out on the previous page on this thread) about the situation with the parent.

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Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 12:25

When we mutually agreed on changing from travelling to their house to Skype sessions, the student's parent agreed and didn't object to the costs at any stage.

The way that I see this situation is that the student and their parent both forgot that we were having a Skype tuition this morning, so they forgot to mention to me in advance that the student would not be able to attend the session and now they're refusing to pay because they forgot to cancel in advance.

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Mrskeats · 22/10/2017 12:29

Dump them and get a new client.
I tutor and some clients are just flakey.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 22/10/2017 12:33

Its tricky because contractually (assuming this policy has been previously outlined tp and signed off by the parents) you are completely in the right. But on the other hand they have already made allowances and been inconvenienced by you very early into this arrangement so it might be worth not persuing payment as a good will gesture this time.

permatiredmum · 22/10/2017 12:38

I think you should let it go.You have messed them about twice and you've only done 2 sessions.I think they have more right to be aggrieved than you!

Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 12:38

But on the other hand they have already made allowances and been inconvenienced by you very early into this arrangement

Yes, they have made allowances for me - I completely agree. However, they agreed to making each of those allowances.

Also (sorry for only just adding this now - I should've made it clear before), the one session that I rearranged also happened to be a session that the student couldn't attend anyway, due to a commitment of theirs that clashed with the session, so rearranging that session was also convenient for the student.

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Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 12:40

You have messed them about twice

Sorry - how?? I haven't 'messed them about'. I've always stuck to the terms of the contract and each arrangement that I've made with them has been something that they have agreed to.

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Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 12:48

Bump.

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CappuccinoCake · 22/10/2017 13:00

As a teacher i can kind of see your point and if it had been a long standing arrangement you would be in the right.

However as a parent I'd feel you'd already messed me about twice (I'd been expecting a tutor to come to me house and compromised on Skype, you'd already cancelled one session.) So I'd feel a pattern hadnt already been established. If you'd texted 24/48 hours to confirm and the parent had said yes it would be different.

I'd see you as a flakey tutor and be pleased to start again elsewhere... an arrangement that hadnt worked out. Maybe be clearer what and when you're offering it next time?

LemonShark · 22/10/2017 13:01

Just seen your bump, not sure what else you're looking for now OP? You've done as much as you can and contacted the parents and agency, you can't force them to pay and have made an error in not taking payment in advance. What can anyone else really say? It seems resolved to me as far as you can take it.

PerfumeIsAMessage · 22/10/2017 13:02

I can see how they would think you're a bit unreliable too tbh. Your first lesson you decided it was too far to travel and so suggested Skype-fair enough but it makes you look a bit can't be arsed (sorry!) Then you cancel a lesson when they've only been given one? And this would then be the first session for a month? Did you not offer to make up the session you cancelled?
I think tbh, they've probably decided you're not the tutor for them.
Sorry to be blunt but unfortunately it's a customer service thing.
Whether or not you get paid, as others have said will depend largely on your contract with the agency and the client's contract with the agency.

Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 13:02

Maybe be clearer what and when you're offering it next time?

Really good point - thanks. I'll chalk this up to experience, and make sure I always confirm a session with the client 24 hours before.

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Pippatips · 22/10/2017 13:04

Your first lesson you decided it was too far to travel and so suggested Skype-fair enough but it makes you look a bit can't be arsed

That's so nicely put Hmm They live an hour and a half away from me.

PerfumeIsAMessage · 22/10/2017 13:15

Name change fail?

Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 13:27

Perfume yep Blush

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musicposy · 22/10/2017 13:39

Don't agree with the agency to go and see people who live an hour and a half away in future. That's, what, 3 hours of travelling plus your petrol plus an hour of tuition, and for what? Less than £30, I'll bet (I also tutor GCSE maths). That works out less than minimum wage. You do other tutors a great disservice by agreeing to such poor terms.

Know your worth. Maths teachers are not easy to come by. Get payment in advance, require 24 hours notice of cancellation at least and make it clear that even then, more than one or two cancellations a term and they're on sticky ground if they want to continue. The flip side of that is you can't be flaky yourself. Cancelling gets people's backs up. Save cancelling for when you're too ill to get out of bed only. You have to treat it just as you would any other job or you'll get a bad reputation.

Chalk this one up to experience. But learn from it. I don't generally teach during school holidays - it's more hassle than it's worth. At the very least check with parents for holiday times. I make it very clear to mine that if they book a lesson in holidays and don't turn up, it will be added to the next invoice. I've never had a problem with parents paying for missed lessons - but clarity before the event is key.

musicposy · 22/10/2017 13:41

Sorry, I don't know where I read it was maths but advice is the same for any GCSE subject.

permatiredmum · 22/10/2017 13:53

They wanted a face to face tutor
If they live further away than you are prepared to travel, then you need to tell them at the outset not change the T & Cs

Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 14:16

If they live further away than you are prepared to travel, then you need to tell them at the outset not change the T & Cs

I did tell them at the outset perma, and they agreed to the T&C change.

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Original poster
CatWranglersAnonymous · 22/10/2017 15:17

Bollocks. I've fucked up majorly, haven't I? BlushSad

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