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?

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

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!

Yes, I expected that; I'd still query the 25% discrepancy, but what you intend to do was clear from the start and I hope the tutor will be principled enough to refuse

However if he doesn't, please remember that he'll lose any further work from that agency and you'll find yourself unable to use them in future (and others too because, believe it or not, agencies do actually talk to each other over things like this)

[Jaxhog]

Look at it this way. Without the Agency, you would never have known about the Tutor. And until you found out what he got paid, you thought the fee was acceptable.

Instead of ruminating about it, just pay it and secure the tutor you want now. If you hang about, you may lose him..

[OccasionalLecturer]

Negotiate a better deal with the agency. Their prices clearly aren't cast in stone. You should be able to negotiate a lower fee per lesson if you are planning to have more lessons, though you may have to offer to pay upfront.

[NoonarAgain]

look peng, i understand your point but i'm still going to think about it and decide what to do :). Its not that black and white to me, but i appreciate the input of everyone on this thread.

[Firesuit]

The agency cost sounds excessive, given the below web site below might find you a tutor for a one-off fee of (they claim on average) £25.

www.tutorhunt.com/about.asp

[NoonarAgain]

folks, I'm going to have to hide this thread now or i'll get no work done!

appreciate all the advice.

[Firesuit]

£24 actually.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

The cost to you of using their service was clearly set out. You don't get to decide retrospectively how much you are prepared to pay it keep using the service anyway

This ^^ Despite "the 25%" - which OP doesn't seem to favour querying, and interestingly was only mentioned when PPs disagreed - it really is as simple as that

[NoonarAgain]

oh god.. i must get off this thread!!!

i only mentioned the 25% now as i only just found out, when a previous poster suggested i look at terms and conditions carefully.

puzzled, isn't it funny how some people (you?) have me down as some shifty lying character who will change my argument to strengthen my position.

actually, i'm just trying to afford some tuition for my very, very sick daughter. and am i'm a bit pissed off with the agency. and am weighing things up in my mind.

[NoonarAgain]

peng. another assumption. no contract. no signature. no contract. just an email query, a chat on the phone and then they gave me the tutor's number and we met up.

[NoonarAgain]

yes, there is an implied contract. hence my dilemma. not sure 'disgusting' is quite fair, tbh.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Pengggwn I think you'll find the translation of that is "I don't like the answers I got from the majority of posters"

Ditto the hiding of the thread ...

[FlouncyDoves]

Why don’t you offer the tutor time and a half? That way you save 25% and he gets 25% extra.

[NoonarAgain]

I'm hiding the thread because i'm wasting too much time on MN. why, how do you interpret it, puzzled? i'm not upset by it.

i've acknowledged the opposing view many, many times and said i'm still undecided. why are you talking to peng as if i'm not here, puzzled? are you trying to gang up on me? as, i say, i have avery sick daughter so its water off a duck's back.

flouncy, interesting suggestion. thanks.

[NoonarAgain]

ok peng. i'm finding the forcefulness of your tone a little odd, but i guess this is AIBU.

i'm going to go and do a bit of work now. thanks all.

[SandyDenny]

Sorry if I've missed it but have you asked them why the fee is higher?

[NoonarAgain]

I see.

[Booboobooboo84]

Don’t take out on the op the behaviour of past clients peng that’s not her responsibility she’s asked for advice and you’ve given yours.

[NoonarAgain]

x post

no sandy, not yet because I've been on MN since finding out :)