To not go again until I get paid ?

[mindreaderofdarkthoughts]

Hi all,

I tutor two days a week. It takes me an hour to get there .

I tutored on Tuesday , and she normally pays me on time by an app. This time however I haven't received everything . I asked as a reminder on Thursday and she apologized and said she'd send it that day, but now it's Saturday and I still haven't received it. I don't know how to ask again, as it makes me feel awkward .

My next tutoring session is on Monday - would it be unreasonable for me not to go ? It takes an hour and I rely on the money, but I don't want to go again and not get paid . Thanks

Why would you feel awkward about this? It's not personal, it's a business transaction!

Absolutely you should remind her again, and point out that until you have been paid, there will be no more lessons. Oh, and like the line about giving the place to someone on your waiting list too!

I normally phrase my final reminder as:

Please make payment as per your invoice/our agreement by XXXXX at the latest. If I've not heard from you by then I'll not bother you again but will assume you no longer need your child's tuition place and will give it to the next person on my list.

99% of people who pay late haven't forgotten. They just don't think that paying you on time is a priority. A lot of parents think tutors do it for pocket money or as a hobby. They either don't grasp that by not paying you on time they are inconveniencing you, or they do grasp this but don't care. If someone has genuinely forgotten then they will apologise and make payment asap and they will not be annoyed at you asking for payment.

Hopefully yours is a genuine one.

Please make payment as per your invoice/our agreement by XXXXX at the latest. If I've not heard from you by then I'll not bother you again but will assume you no longer need your child's tuition place and will give it to the next person on my list.

All depends on type of relationship you have with the family
Our tutor - been coming weekly for 3 years.
Very friendly relationship.
If it has slipped my mind to pay due to extenuating circumstances and I received this, I’d be a bit

She normally pays by the time I get in my car . The other times I've received cash . This is why I'm stumped . I have sent another reminder and said about maybe there was an error but it hasn't come into my bank yet .

She has read it and not responded 🤨

I'll give it to Monday lunch and if I haven't heard or received , then I'll be going home after work instead :)

Hi menorca, I did say it would be my final reminder....

To be honest if it gets to the point I have to send it, it's me who is a bit !

"Hi, I still haven't received £X for tutoring on X date. Please could you send this to me? I won't be able to come in future unless you pay in advance. So if you'd like me to come on Monday please also send X in advance by Sunday evening. (Total XX). Thanks.

Give her a deadline of Sunday eve otherwise you may not know whether or not you've got to go to hers on Monday.

Op 4 days have passed since you tutored!

I owuld not go there until you have definitely received the money and for next time uyou might like to suggest that future visits are on the basis of being paid cash if you think she is going to keep messing an app up - just collect the cash on each visit.

Don't give it to Monday lunch - too long. If nothing's arrived by tomorrow morning then send another reminder and tell her that this is the final one as you don't want to keep chasing, and that if payment is not with you by 9am Monday then you will have to let her go off your client list.

I've been self employed in the past and the number one rule is do not get dicked around on payments. Be firm, be clear and do not hesitate to sack them off your list if they don't pay.

Some take the piss OP, you have to rely on terms and conditions.
Ask for one lesson payment in front.

She blocked me !

There's my answer 🤨

If she's been prompt before, the not paying and then blocking you is odd.

No way OP!!

That is awful! What a bitch to do that and leave you out of pocket.

I am shocked! You definitely have your answer and presumably lessons learned for next pupil I.e payment in advance. (Though it is ridiculous you cannot trust people to pay)

Yeah very strange ! Her kid has been acing exams so unless they don't have the money and didnt know how to say they can't use me anymore , then I'm really not sure of what happened, as I didn't do anything wrong !

How much does she owe you OP. What a horrible thing to do. Was she just banking on you coming on Monday to give her another freebie. It's her child that I feel bad for and obviously you OP.

If she’d apologised about not being able to pay I’d have let it go. But blocking you is just rude! I’d be annoyed enough to pay the £25 and take her to small claims court.

That's shocking!

Terms and conditions and advance payment for next time I'd say!

Teachers like yourself need a secret online network where you can warn each other about CF's like these.

😵😵😵

How much does she owe you? I’d name and shame her to other tutor sites to warn them. Random that she got pissed at you for asking!

Mind reader, was this through first tutor, tutor hunt or tutorful? If so, let them know what's happened.

Unfortunately, this is why you can never consider clients as friends and why you end up not giving people the benefit of the doubt. What a dishonest, nasty woman.

I would be tempted to send her a letter before action to see if that might scare her into paying. It might not be worth following through if it's not a huge amount though but the letter is the price of a stamp.

letter before action & small claims...