AIBU re fee for tutor?

[NoonarAgain]

Hi. DD has been unwell and has missed a lot of school. I contacted an agency which was offering revision courses over the holidays as she needs to catch up. It transpires that they are not running the course but could offer 1:1 tuition.

They quoted me their fees and it was v expensive but I accepted that I would find it hard to find someone to work for less so close to xmas.

I have met the tutor and he seems ideal. However, I have since found out that the agency are charging me double what they are paying him. I expected to pay them a fee, and expected him to get a premium for holiday work, but he is only going to be getting paid his usual hourly rate ( and we get to pay double that!).

AIBU to not want to pay so much to a firm that offers poor value for money (to me) and that doesn't pass any of the premium fee on to the tutor?

AIBU to want to book him up on line using his own webpage now that I know who he is? (I suspect he would feel compromised by me suggesting this).

So AIBU and WWYD?

[fruitbrewhaha]

I think it's rather dishonest and if your tutor is honest and principled he will refuse.
You have arrange some hours for this month.
If he is very good and you see an uplift in your childs performance, you can use him again and pay directly.
The agency has met, vetted, checked qualifications, carried out dbs checks and references. There will be tutors who didn't make the cut who they dont put forward. They need to be paid for this work. They can't do all they for free.

Perhaps schools should help with searching out tutors.

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

I think you should phone him & talk to him.

Explain that originally you wanted to book the course they advertised, you weren’t looking for a tutor, but now you’ve found him would really like to book him, but can’t afford enough sessions for DD at the Agency rate, but could if you booked directly - see if he’s ok with that.

It sounds like the Agency are offering a course to get people’s attention, then shafting them with the price of an Agency tutor. Unscrupulous people getting what they deserve...meh.

I hope DD is ok 🌷

[NoonarAgain]

I've just checked the website and the rate I was quoted on the phone is 25% more than it says on website.

There is no contract as yet. Just a phone call.

Thanks all. I'm now panicking that I'm outing myself!

[DirtyDripSpout]

Have you attempted to negotiate the fees with the agency? They may be open to taking a smaller cut. DON'T however, let them know that you know what the tutor is getting

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

I think that he is a really unassuming sort or person with principles

Then please don't embarrass him by suggesting this, especially if you planned to mention "splitting the difference"

There'll almost certainly be a clause in his agency's T&Cs requiring him to disclose any work for a client who they introduced. You could ignore this of course - and I suspect you will - but please be aware that, when they find out, they'll throw him straight off their books

I'm sorry, but since you were happy to go along with the cost until you found what the agency are charging, it's obvious that you just want to save money at their expense - and that's not on

[HopingForSomeSnow]

Roughly how much is the agency charging per hour?

[Mousewatch]

I'd phone them and mention the difference in price on the phone and website, use that as your get out and then book him privately xx

[Mookatron]

The agency probably pay for his DBS check, check his qualifications, give him holiday pay and (maybe) sick pay, would presumably send someone else if he bailed for some reason, maybe even provide premises to teach on? If your daughter was attending a class they would be getting a fee per student. The profit margin on 1-1 lessons will be much lower. So it's not actually bad value for money.

That said, if they're charging more purely because it's xmas and not passing that on to the tutor, that IS unscrupulous and if you cancel for that reason you should tell them so.

[NoonarAgain]

I do not disagree with many of the principles pointed out by those posters who are arguing the opposing view. But its about fairness, which is another important principle, no? I would be happy to pay the higher rate if he was earning more out of it.

[pinkdelight]

Presumably you were quoted the fee before you met him? Therefore you don't have a problem with the fee per se, just with the split, which is between the tutor and the agency and none of your business. Sure it'd be nice if he earned more - it'd be nice if pints cost pence instead of pounds, but that's not how business works. Pay the fee you agreed to - or see if you can get the fee quoted on the website - but you can't use the same tutor and not go through the agency. You found him because of the agency. That's how it works.

[crisscrosscranky]

Presumably he's happier to accept the agency rate else he wouldn't have accepted the work.

My best friend is a teacher who is also registered with an agency. Her contract states she will be charged an introduction fee if any of the clients go to her directly after the initial agency introduction- she has to wait 6 months after the client ending the agency arrangement before she can take them.

The agency fee will cover their overheads, admin costs, salaries and profit to reinvest in advertising etc.

[Booboobooboo84]

Just book direct with the tutor via his website. If the agency asks don’t mention you’ve booked the tutor just say the truth- your unhappy at the fact they don’t offer the requested course and they are charging you a premium over what is on their website. If they offered the course they advertised at the cost they advertised you wouldn’t be in this position- it’s their own fault for being greedy.

[NoonarAgain]

sorry puzzled, you are mistaken in your final assumption- read my x post.

Mookatron, I'm not sure re xmas, but they have told me 25% higher than the web rate!

hoping for snow, Im not sure i want to say.

I'm going to give this some more thought.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

But its about fairness, which is another important principle, no? I would be happy to pay the higher rate if he was earning more out of it

How much he's earning "out of it" is the business of the tutor, not the client; if you don't like the way it works and the T&Cs involved, the thing to do is source a different tutor independently and leave agencies out of it completely

Which is surely the "fairest" thing to do for everyone?

[NoonarAgain]

thanks boo.

pink and others who disagree with me, what do you think about he fact that they are charging me more than advertised?

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

And yes, I saw I'd cross posted with you over the fees being 25% different than they'd quoted. It may be that they've increased it around Christmas, though in that case perhaps the tutor is getting more as well?

Either way the details on the website should have been updated, so why not call them for clarification?

[gillybeanz]

You could be in trouble if you try to book him privately now as you were introduced by the company.
The company will have overheads so you'll be paying for this, plus admin etc.

[Viviennemary]

The agency fees are unfair but these were the terms you agreed to. Most people get round this by having a few lessons through the agency and then cancelling and booking the tutor direct. Because agencies do have expenses for admin and advertising costs and they did help you find the tutor.

[Mookatron]

Yes, I'd want the 25% disparity between the quote and the website explained so I'd ring and ask. And if it is because of xmas, I would ask directly "does the tutor get paid extra then?" (I wouldn't say he'd told you he doesn't as that'd cause him problems). And if they told you he does and he definitely doesn't, I would not book through the agency.

[NoonarAgain]

gilly, i understand that.

vivie, that would suit me well as i am very happy to book through them for a few lessons so that they cover costs. I just don't want to do this all the way! its still a dilemma how/if to broach the subject with him.

[HopingForSomeSnow]

I ask because when we have had private tutors we have paid £30 per hour (NW based).
If they are charging you £60, that is way over the odds and I think you could find a better deal.
But if you dump the agency you run the risk of losing this tutor who you say your daughter likes. And trust me, that's half the battle.

[pinkdelight]

"pink and others who disagree with me, what do you think about he fact that they are charging me more than advertised?"

Wait till you've discussed that with them - there may be a valid reason or you may get them to reduce it to the advertised rate. I think it's a separate issue to the tutor fee split, but because you've gone off them due the split it's obviously compounding your feelings. And possibly making you feel that if they don't play fair, neither will you and you'll go behind their backs and use this tutor independently. I still think the right thing to do is talk to them, ideally get the reduction (if applicable) then hire the tutor through the agency. Or go elsewhere and start again.

[NoonarAgain]

Hoping, I've pm'd you but please don't comment on this on the thread!

[NoonarAgain]

Ok penggg, maybe I should say 'contribute to cost incurred'. i clearly have no intention of paying for all their running costs. that would be daft.

as i say, i'm going to have a long think and am grateful for all responses. might send him a tentative text and test the water.