Client not yet paid for tuition session on Saturday

[RangeTesKopeks]

I work as a tutor, and have recently taken on a new student for weekly lessons.

His dad (who pays for the lessons) said that he'd prefer to pay me via bank transfer rather than with cash every week. I'm not entirely happy about this, as cash after every session would be more convenient for me rather than having to check my bank account to see if he's paid me. I agreed to it though, as I've had situations with clients before who kick off and say they can't remember to bring cash every week. These clients have set up things like direct debits though, so I've always been transferred money on the day of the lesson by them.

Anyway, I had the first lesson with the student yesterday. I saw the dad at the lesson, and he said he'd make the payment for the lesson via bank transfer after the lesson (later yesterday). I had already sent the dad my bank details via email as he'd asked for them.

I checked my bank account yesterday and today (latest time I checked it was just now), and still haven't had a payment from him.

If he still hasn't paid me by tomorrow, WIBU to say something? Should I say (politely) that as the bank transfer has not been done as promised, I'm going to cash payments each lesson instead?

*I'm going to request cash payments each lesson instead.

Well, personally I wouldn’t. I pay most people by bank transfer but sometimes I suddenly get really busy. I would ask him in a few days to make the payment before the next lesson and politely say that as you usually invoice for cash, you would ask he pays on the day of the lesson.

I don't think that is unreasonable as it is a lot of hassle to keep checking and chasing.

Well it is the weekend, so I think you have to give it until at least Monday evening before you chase to give it time to show in your account

Why don't you ask to be paid 24 hours in advance by bank transfer? And don't accept any further bookings until you receive payment.

Yes BritinUS1 has a point. Bank tranfers arranged on weekends generally clear on a Monday.

I hate paying cash, maybe you could ask for a months payment at the start of the month, I used to pay my DC's tutor online weekly before the next lesson, my dog walker half way through the month for the whole month and swimming lessons in advance in a block but at a discount. If being paid on the same day matters to you then just highlight this, it probably hasn't occurred to dad that you are checking each day.

Well, personally I wouldn’t. I pay most people by bank transfer but sometimes I suddenly get really busy
It takes about 3 minutes to do a bank transfer online, it's hardly an onerous job you have to think about!

What options of payment did you give initially? If you said you preferred cash and the father said he preferred to pay by bank transfer and then is late with payment YANBU to ask for cash next time you see him. However, be prepared to lose the student because some people are funny with money and payment and bringing it up might (unreasonably) put his nose out of joint.

You could send a reminder tomorrow but paying cash to people is a hassle. There’s also no record of it. You could say next time that bank transfer is fine, but please do within x hours. I pay DS’s piano teacher by bank transfer if I’ve forgotten to get cash and I just do it whilst he’s there.

It's only 3 mins to do the transfer, but finding time to get behind a laptop (my phone doesn't like my online banking) and get through security (I have a card reader thingy that generates a code to access my account that I have to have physically present) takes rather longer.

A transfer won't clear until Monday anyway, so you will need to wait until tomorrow to see if it has been made. Asking for the transfer to be made 24 hours in advance is a good call, so you will have access to it at the weekend

I think that the student's father is being very rude. If he knew that cash was the preferred method, then that is how he should have paid the tutor.
As from what I can glean from the op, he had some time before the lesson to ensure he had the money, it's bad form and bad manners to have the OP on the back foot like this.
Op, I would do as you say and insist on cash from now on, and if he removes his child then so be it, for to start off in this way is not a good sign of things to come.

your terms are cash.
He needs you more than you need him.
Put your foot down. Cash it is.

I don't like bank transfer as there is not a clear link between the tuition session and the payment, especially for irregular payers.

It is simpler to keep track of cheques or cash.

Hold fire until tomorrow to see if it is that the transfer hasnt cleared. If not, however...

Cash suits you, so ask that he pays you in cash. You can send him an email confirming receipt of the money if he's looking for proof of payment.

To those saying they just might have not had time to do the transfer - would you be happy if your job did that with your wages? If the payroll dept said sorry we got really busy we will pay you some time a week after your wages are due? It’s the same thing for the op, the Dad is being incredibly rude by paying late.

can you arrange a fee per term. bank transfer before first session.

Rather than insisting on cash - could you not request payments before the session or four week block/term block etc?
Hope he pays you soon!

This is why I use email transfer for payments, they go through right away. I do on call child care , and everyone pays by email because no ones uses cash, but you still need something that posts right away.

What are email transfer payments?

nancy honestly I struggle to remember to check my bank balance so would be unlikely to notice if my work paid me a few days before or after the salary date, which moves around a bit anyway so I never remember it.
If the lesson was yesterday the payment is unlikely to show up until Monday and dad may well just not have realised the importance for OP. Some things in life have to be paid in advance, some at the time, some within a month etc, there is a whole range. I am sure OP can arrange a payment system that works for both of them with minimal drama.

There are different types of payments. Some go through straight away, others go through in two working days, so I would wait until Tuesday to say something.

I don't know why they are different, but some payments I make are immediate, others take the extra time.

nancy75 email payment is done through on line banking. You select the option for e transfer, put in the person's name and email, and set a question. They get a notification on their phone that they have an email, when they answer the test question the money deposits into their bank account.

It's really not on in the op's case for someone to use the excuse they are busy. She prefers cash and has made an exception. That means he needs to sort himself out and do it quickly. Yes op, chase it up today and ask for cash or bank transfer in advance next time.

I transferred money to one of my other accounts on Friday evening and it's not showing up yet: it takes longer over weekends.

Leave it till end of Monday then text asking if he's made the transfer as it has not appeared in your account.