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?

Alanna1. That's a bit off. Why does someone who has provided you with a service have to wait for payment because you get really busy?

Use this as an excuse to say bank transfer in advance or cash in future. My tutor asks for a month's payment in advance.

It being the weekend is no longer an excuse- with Faster Payments money gets transferred virtually immediately.

What I would do is say that you need to take one payment up front as well as the payment in hand. Then, if he forgets one week, you still don't lose out and he can pay when he remembers. Kind of like a deposit, if you like.

You might not be able to instigate this now with this particular client, but I'd do it for future ones - a payment upfront as a deposit for holding the student's place, and then payment weekly (or every lesson) as needed. If it pisses them off, then they're not going to be good clients anyway.

We use a system called Gocardless for Guide payments. It is a direct debit system (you have this confused with standing order in your OP) so YOU take the payment. It charges a 1% commission which it not much compared to other systems.
You could say it's cash or direct debit only.

(And add the 1% to the payment - we don't but you could easily).

What does your contract with them say? If you don't have one, I would really recommend getting one in place ASAP! I invoice all my tutoring clients monthly and payment terms are clearly set out. I prefer being paid by bank transfer though as it makes it easier to do my tax return.
Your client probably just forgot or didn't think you needed instant payment - obviously that's not acceptable but just make it clear to him next time what you expect.

Nothing wrong with sending a polite reminder. As an aside have you got your bank’s app? It takes me 30seconds to check my accounts as I have an app.

He may havdbeen unable to do it online for sone reason (e.g. Lost pins entry machine) and for o buoys reasons hasn't been to the bank. So long as he oaysby the next lesson I don't see what the problem is.

Bank transfers these days are as quick as cash. I would expect that someone whose terms are usually cash, means that they expect to be paid the same day as the service is delivered. I pay my PT by bank transfer and take 1 minute to do it either while I’m having breakfast before I go to the studio or immediately I get back. On the very rare occasion that I’ve forgotten, he drops me a text.

OP, I suggest you text and ask for the payment for the first session to be made today. If it isn’t made, cancel the next session.

Takes minutes to do an online transfer.
Doesn’t matter how busy you are.
It’s like going to the supermarket,getting your shopping totted up and then saying you do t have the means that they accept to pet so you will do a transfer when you get home
It’s not the done thing is it.
Your running a business not a hobby.

Remind him and also say that from now on you will accept bank transfer 24 hours in advance, or cash on the day, but the lesson can't go ahead without one or the other.

In these days of faster payments there is no reason a transfer should take anything more than a few seconds. I paid my builder a substantial amount last night and it was in his account less than 2 mins later.

Send him a polite reminder and say that in future the payment must be in your account or the lesson won't take place.

Stunned at people saying they can't see the issue with paying someone a week late. People saying they wouldn't notice if they got paid late, good for you but it takes very little imagination to see that it might matter immensely to someone else.

Unfortunately, many people see sending their children to a tutor as a casual arrangement. Unless there is a binding contract in place, which very few tutors have, then the client does have the upper hand. It's a case of the customer always being right. (I have been tutoring for over 20 years- just ditched my last couple as am now full time in a school)

It's of course true to say that a bank transfer takes seconds, that you should insist on payment upfront, that clients should pay for missed lessons etc etc.

If it was this student's first lesson- is there a possibility they are not going to come back and so the parent has just decided to try and pull a fast one? One of my tutees, who I passed over to a fellow tutor, tried to pay her the same as I had always taken (the other tutor takes £5 more as she has to travel for the lesson) and then when the tutor clarified this (she had already done so initially) the mother told her not to come back.

I would insist that the payment clears before each tutoring session if he doesnt want to pay cash, and it should be his responsibility to ensure that the money is there on time. If it isnt, sorry no tutoring this week. My sons have a tutor that does it this way (they use paypal which is instant) but if the client wants to pay a specific way then they have to get it organized in time.

Sorry if I've missed it OP but is this the first time he's made a payment? I'm with Natwest, first transaction requires card reader and can take up to 48 hours (working hours) to show. Subsequent transactions can be done by app/online and appear pretty much instantly. I would wait until tomorrow morning, if still nothing showing I would email (attach a read receipt) and say please could you confirm the bank details you've deposited payment to as it hasn't shown and you want to make sure there's not been an error. If he has forgotten it gives him chance to own up without awkwardness and a reminder to get on with it. I'd be inclined, assuming of course he pays straight away, to give one more chance but if not forthcoming a second time yes go to cash

I tutor too OP so you have my sympathies for this one. Yes I think you should say something. This is why I take payment in cash only. You've done your job, he should have paid for it. It's that simple.

I'm surprised to hear some banks take til Monday to complete a weekend transfer. My bank takes 2 hours max whenever it is done.

I would send a text saying just checking you sent the money as I can't see it in my account yet. And please either transfer prior to the lesson or bring cash next week.

I have just recently switched my account from a building society and they would only clear in office hours and took 24 hours so I’d check again today before you say anything but if it’s still not there I don’t think it would be unreasonable to send a gentle reminder. Then, if the money still isn’t there by Wednesday, that’s when I’d say you’ll be insisting on cash going forwards as you can’t afford to be out of pocket.

He's had services, so should pay when agreed. Why is he trying to dictate how and when you should be paid? And if he really is too important to remember to, y'know, remember to provide the fee in cash after services rendered, (like you would in many, many businesses) then what's stopping him setting up a standing order? Even if he had problems accessing his bank online, he could have been polite enough to inform you.

So long as he oaysby the next lesson I don't see what the problem is.

Eh, how about the OP having bills to pay and needing the payment due for her services? That's a problem right there.

I don't care if he "hasnt had time". You make time. A bank transfer is quick and easy, and if he knew he'd be busy, he should have stopped by an ATM.

If your terms are cash, your terms are cash.

Back in the 80's DDad used to do some private tutoring (he was a secondary school teacher). Instant bank transfers weren't a thing individuals could do back then, so his payment terms were cash at each lesson/session. Occasionally, somebody would forget their payment & he would roll it over for one week - so that they then paid double the next week.

With that in mind, I would say give him this week as a grace period - in case he's genuinely forgotten or accidentally transposed a digit and made a mistake with the payment. Tell him on Saturday that you are still waiting for his payment & see what he says. If it happens twice, then future lessons should be cash payment on the day only.

I’d find this very frustrating.

Bank transfers are quick and easy. I’d ask for cash in future.

This is where cheques come in useful!

But if he says he'll transfer it then he should. I'd maybe give it today (with the weekend) and then let him know it hasn't come through and ask if/when he did it. Ask him to set up a standing order too.

I don't online bank - I telephone bank and for a first payment it is more difficult, so perhaps when this one has come through and he's all set up the others will be quicker?

Faster payment Bank transfers clear immediately, although it does say it can be anything up to 2 hours. & that includes weekends. Long gone are the days of doing online weekend payment and it not clearing into account until Monday, it's 2017! I'd either take cash, or online payment on the day before my arrival. You shouldn't have to chase him for money. He's put you in the embarrassing position of having to ask. I'm self-employed and learned long ago not to let anyone mess with my income otherwise you get driven to the wall. Especially if you're nervous about asking for money you've worked for that is rightly due to you. Tricksters depend on many people's reticence in pursuing money owed as wages. Set out your contract with him on a no pay no work basis. Stick to that