Mum won’t pay for whole of lesson

[Saltedcaramel78]

I am not the teacher on the other thread! But clearly there’s something in the water because I’m having my own AIBU

Mum booked 90 min lesson for her son, got stuck in traffic and so was about 25 mins later. Son is teenager, paid in cash and left. I realised afterwards that he had only paid for the hour.

I sent polite chase up emailing asking for the full amount, she’s replied saying he only had an hour lesson and so doesn’t want to pay full amount. Not sure what to reply to that!

The more I mull on it- it’s the casual attitude to my time not being important that frustrates me (as does the unexpected loss in earnings). Mum has long term illness and so I’ve been pretty relaxed in letting her cancel classes, so really is my fault for not taking harder line from the get go.

Do you feel like you want to continue with this family, going fwd?
I'm not sure I would, after the disrespect the mother has shown towards you.

Do you need her as a client? I would consider telling her you no longer have space.

You definitely need some form of contract or agreement however.

Nobody is going to agree non favourable terms applied to the past. However you could increase the fee to cover current and future losses or agree to keep current rate plus pay outstanding 30 mins. Then it's up to mum whether she agrees or not.

Although it’s partly an issue of income, people who are prepared to pay ahead are more likely to be serious and committed to the lessons. And have the funds to keep going in the long term.

With music there are many people who think it would be nice for their kids to play without having the remotest idea of the kind of commitment required in terms of time and money.

Tutoring is slightly different. Some children might need only 5 sessions, some 10, some 6 months or a year. It’s slightly more fluid.

If people arrive late, they still pay for the whole of the time they had booked.
I think you need to make it much clearer AND count the money before the pupil leaves!

I think she's very cheeky. If you can afford to loose the student I would decline further lessons until she has paid. If not, I would insist on payment in advance in future.

Bill in advance for each half term for ALL clients. Payment upfront for each half term, if you want to be passive aggressive you can apologise for the change which was prompted by students arriving late and expecting to pay for part-lessons.

Andco will send out contracts to be signed exectronically and invoice if you wish www.and.co/

If you send an email, please do NOT say it’s your livelihood etc...
You need to make it clear that it’s an agreement/contract and that the agreemnt is for the pupil to arrive in time. Any cancellation less than xxx hours before or been late means payment if the full fee.

I actually wouldn’t bother to ask about the payment this time. It’s clear she will be arsey about it. Chalk it up experience and learn from it.
But I would establish the rules again and maybe even actually give her a copy of Terms and Conditions.
Make it clear it’s not about her. It’s the rule for everyone.
And give a copy of your brand new T&C to the other pupils too.

You see I dint think it’s right to tell that woman no other lesson until you have paid because the T&C weren’t clear in the first place.

If, as the provider, youbarent clear about whatnis and isn’t allowed, people will be taking the mick. But you also have no leg to stand on.

Seeing that it is the first time something like that happened, the best is to learn from it and have some clear rules.
The other pupils/parents won’t mind either!

Nothing to add to the advice given, but what a cheeky fucker!

Next lesson ask for the cash for the lesson at the start of the 90 mins then shove him out the house 30 mins early. See how she likes it!

So many CFs about.