Ways in which the poor are penalised.

[malificent7]

Dd loves her music but paying for lessons can be a struggle. Studen single mum. I do my best but i am sometimes late with payments . I have totally settled up and dont owe any more.
However as i was late with another payment dd is not allowed to go to thr last lesson of term. I have paid for this lesson however and im not allowed a refund for it. Its £10 worth which for someone like me could get food for Christmas or pay a bill.
Apparently she cant go as its not fair on parents who pay on time.

Op should have paid on time but knows that.

Still, how the fuck can someone take the money and refuse to provide the service?

@Blueshells Actually in my t and cs I say that if people pay late, I can stop lessons and still charge.. so many people were paying late and without that money, I have nothing! Plus if they suddenly decided to stop lessons, I would have to give child care a months notice to change my hours (and pay) so I would be at a loss. Everyone has signed to say they agree and have paid prompt.

You say you ‘sometimes’ pay late and usually pay ‘just after’ you should which sounds to me like you are a frequent late payer.

So yes, this is another way that the ‘poor’ as you say are penalised....because of people like you who don’t pay on time! Your DD’s music teacher has bills to pay and Christmas to budget for so why should you be allowed to frequently pay late for a contracted service with no penalty?

So you make them pay and refuse to give a lesson elle?

How does that work?

My Ds has music lessons through school provided by the local authority music service. They are paid termly in advance but it is meant to be an inclusive and accessible service so I dont think withholding services would happen unless you were really bad a paying. Is yours a private provider OP becuses they are prob not as flexible. We pay £54 for each term, thirty min lesson. I think low income families FSM get a reduced rate.

If that was made clear by the school and is consistent regardless of parental income, acceptable in my view. Schools spend a lot of time chasing those who forget to pay for such activities and especially school meals.

Posters have made their point but it is very sad for you that you are trying to do the best for DD and it is being thwarted, and anyone on UC must worry about Christmas costs.
Ask them to carry it over to next term and assure them you will pay on time in future is the best you can do imv.

Ellesbelles, I don’t disagree with you, I think you can charge a term upfront and if lessons are not taken it is their loss. (Maybe offer a make up session or two) but to allow the lessons to continue when payment wasn’t made, but cancelled when payment was seems a bit off.

@Blueshella I haven’t ever had to enforce this.. and in fairness I am not unreasonable, if they clearly just forgot to pay then paid late a day or so late, I would of course carry on the lessons. However I have had people not pay for the term then expect lessons anyway saying they can’t afford to pay on time. Or not give the required notice which leaves me short.
So putting that clause in, harsh though it may sound, is to protect me and to ensure I am covered £ wise for that slot if I need to change childcare arrangements.

@Blueshells even

That's a weird punishment...so you've paid but because you were late she isn't allowed to attend the last class...am I misreading that?

Hellena. Yes, think the point is that the OP clearly hasn’t paid late just the once!

@WereYouHareWhenIwasFox fair point and as I just said, I would in all honesty honour the lessons.. this was really to get rid of the p taking.
I had someone who constantly paid late, cancelled lessons with less than 24 hours notice then expected me to give her extra time in sessions for free. So now my t and cs sound harsh.. but no one abuses them

helena I think this is a case of the op getting into a habit of paying late so the tutor getting to a point of having to do something to make it clear that it can’t continue.

I don't get it but then I never learned music

Child pays for lesson, child has lesson?

Isn't that how it's done?

I'm glad the music service we using isn't so strict. They also have a fund for people on low incomes funded by the Rotary Club to help pay for lessons. It might be worth finding out if it's also in your area?

Blueshells. Yes, usually but when the parent is regularly not paying for the lesson on time what else does the music teacher do to provide an incentive to pay?

How would the OP feel if, when she gets the well paid job her course will lead to, her employer frequently says “oh sorrry, I forgot/can’t afford to pay you on time”? It’s the same thing...

That’s absolutely how it should work! ;) however in my experience..
No payment
Tutor chases payment
Parent promises to pay
No payment materialises
Lesson comes up, tutor doesn’t do it
Parent suddenly pays but expects lesson to be made up
🤦‍♀️

Not the music teachers fault and would have happened regardless of income as it was a penalty of paying late.

Little point blaming UC, your choice to study and claim benefits rather than work. Maybe it's a luxury you can't actually afford. Most parents study around work given they have chidren to support.

If they don't pay they don't get the lesson though, do they? Or do they?

Some of you need to give the op a break. She's struggling and struggling to do her best for her dd. I assume these are school related music lessons and the impact on the child will be quite punitive as one of the ones who misses out.

Any musician knows that practice and regular lessons are essential. I think this is awful and am really sorry op.

The school should be able to deal with this as they deal with those who can't afford trips imo. The DC's former primary does so every child can participate. There is some allocation of PTA funds and DH makes up any shortfalls and buys instruments where necessary he was your dd in the 60's/70's.

Why are people assuming it’s scchool lessons?

Even if it is they still need paying of course but the Op has said nothing about where lessons are

I think it is awful too OP. Every parent wants their child to participate and feel part of their hobby, interest.
I do believe it is poverty when you cant pay for what your child loves, it is a class, not an expensive outfit to show off. I hope things get better. Is there another club, more unreasonably priced.

Ontheroses. What about giving the music teacher a break and paying on time for what is owed? How do you know the music teacher isn’t struggling financially or that their DC may have to miss out on something because people haven’t paid on time?

It’s obviously not a one off late payment (which I agree would be rather punitive) so I think unfortunately the OP just has to suck it up.

I think if you have paid for the lesson then the teacher should provide it.
If they don't then I would pull DD out of the lessons and explain that you cant afford them at the moment. Which basically you cant.
I'd do other things with her which you can do on a pay as you go basis.