To sack the music teacher

[Stopandlook]

We have had a music teacher giving weekly private lessons to my two children. We found him through a local paper, and have had him for 3 years.
He’s a bit abrupt but I’ve just thought socially awkward, and the children get on fine with him.
In the first lockdown he charged £5 less total 2 classes as he wasn’t using travel time or petrol. Fair and fine because the quality of zoom teaching is less.
Since September we have had one lockdown lesson on Zoom as dd was self isolating. He said that was the full price - fair enough as it was only us.
We are obviously back on Zoom now and paying by bank transfer. He messaged us the day after the lesson asking for the payment as it was due on the day of the lesson. We then paid the £5 less again. He messaged us to say thank you but it is the incorrect amount and should be £5 more. No explanation.
When I questioned it he just said quite aggressively ‘Please pay the £5’
Previously we have always paid in full, on the day of the lesson, for 3 years.
DH thinks he is an arsehole for being so aggressive to people who have welcomed him into our home for 3 years, provide coffee each week and pay a fortune for lessons, and he wants to cut him off. Is he BU?

why are you saying he was aggressive?

My sons singing teacher & piano teacher charged less over zoom during the first lockdown as did several dance/drama teachers.

But now they are more experienced in using the platform (dh is also a singing teacher and has been teaching successfully online for years) they are mostly charging the usual rate.

treated like criminals

OP I'd love to see you actually arrested if this is how you react to a text saying please for a fiver!

His response does come across as rude and abrupt to me. I would also have assumed it was £5 less for a zoom appointment if it was last time and nothing more had been said about it. I think I would have paid the extra £5 but would have also had to reply to him that I assumed it would be £5 less like before as no one had said otherwise.

Just re the price reduction: my physiotherapist is charging full rate for zoom consultations despite not being able to touch me! I don’t think people should feel obliged to drop their prices for Zoom lessons etc during a pandemic - you’re still paying for an hour of his time regardless of how the lesson is given. I think we all have to understand that everyone is just trying to consistently earn as close to what they did back in March and being self-employed sucks for a lot of people right now. But yes, I think he was unnecessarily curt so YANBU about that.

Like a PP I also was surprised you do not pay termly, in advance, for music lessons - surely that is the norm?

Your DH sounds a bit precious with the welcomed him into our home comment. He was there to provide a service you were paying for. You weren't doing an act of charity. Would your DH say that about a builder or a plumber?

My music teacher charged a half term in advance. If a lesson was cancelled with less than two weeks notice then there was no refund Same price for zoom lessons. Seems fair enough, he has to make a living.

Both DH and DD pay by the lesson but it has been the same price online as in person and payment made on the day.

Musicians are having a hard time. I wouldn't part company with him over this if your children are doing OK with him.

Maybe the first lockdown discount was out of curtesy but the guy has to make a living. Do you have a contract or is it an informal arrangement? I'd just say you were confused about the price because of blah. If he's a good teacher and your child likes him I would stick with him.

It’s not cold. It’s not aggressive. It is a simple clear request, one you can’t misunderstand.
He doesn’t need to do all that bollocks about ‘I’m sorry but the discount wasn’t sustainable’, the discount was a favour and he isnt keeping it up. These are his prices. Please pay my fee for teaching your children.
Poor guy is lucky he’s not female given we have to layer friendliness on to be seen as normal people not crazed psychopaths in work.

The discount was given because the music teacher was charging a premium on the original lesson for mileage and time travelling to the lesson. Not as a favour or because they were getting to grips with zoom. I don’t think it was unreasonable to query if that specific reason was given for the discount, as it still applies. Obviously they are entitled to charge whatever they like but it should have been communicated in a polite way. If he’s a good teacher and your kids get on with him I’d overlook it, if he’s not a great teacher then maybe time to look elsewhere!

Why should zoom lessons cost less? You are still getting the same level of expertise. There’s no way I would have expected to pay less for Zoom lessons...in fact I was thankful that the teachers were able to continue during lockdown. DC have been able to carry on with their instrumental lessons and have even taken exams. Lessons are good quality because the teachers are excellent.

This teacher is not doing you a favour by teaching your DC. It not generous to pay on time, it is expected. Likewise I would always offer a hot drink to anyone who came to my house to do a job-plumber, builder, teacher or whoever. This is what people do!

Either pay the going rate or find someone who charges less. Just be prepared that you might not get someone who works as well with your DC.

YABU

His message really isn’t aggressive. YWBU to assume a discounted rate and when he politely asked you to pay the full price you disputed it.

@Nappyvalley15

If he is a good teacher it would be wrong and a bit of an own goal to let him go for such a minor offence. I would follow Edmund BlackAdder's advice and just 'pay the fellow and damn his impudence'

I'm sure that's Lord Percy's advice.

The only thing he has done wrong here is not invoicing you termly in advance for lessons.
That's his fee, he has made that clear. Either pay it or find someone else.

You paid a day late.

He perhaps should have been a bit less abrupt.

It would be harsh to let him go for just this esp in a middle of a pandemic when you do t know what his situation is - esp after 3 years

Perhaps strike it down to you both were in a bit in the wrong and try to move on.