My stepson (20 years old) is taking driving lessons from someone I knew vaguely 20+ years ago. He's had about 16 hours and all was going fairly well. She is a professional. She has had to change lesson times a few times and DSS has been flexible and accommodating, she also turns up 10 mins late sometimes to which DSS is understanding. We are paying £52 per week for two hours.
DSS does carpentry and the driving instructor asked him if he would try his hand at doing a concrete shed base for her father as there was a shed being delivered imminently and they could not find anyone to do it. DSS was reluctant as it wasn't his field (told the instructor this) but he is quite practical and as they were desperate he gave her a very good price to do it. DH and I did wonder if it was a good idea for him to get involved but DSS seemed to think all would be well, we didn't really give it much thought after this.
DSS worked two very long days for them, until nightfall last Saturday and Sunday and they were happy with the work. He was asked to come back this weekend (Saturday) to do an extra job, a pathway, and he said he would let them know. He ended up making plans with friends and texted on Friday to say he could come on Monday to do the pathway, cue both the man and the driving instructor both ringing him up to yell at him. Clearly they feel that DSS committed to work on Saturday but he is adamant he didn't promise that (he's 20 so would not usually want to work two weekends in a row).
DSS has been accused of being unprofessional, accused of doing a runner, plus the man has gone on about DSS not bringing the sand and cement round (he has no way of doing this as he can't drive yet). This was all unbeknownst to us, as DSS lives with his mum, until I received a FB message from the driving instructor today saying to call her. I called her and she proceeded to rant about the problems with DSS not turning up and that her father was 'very angry and going to give him aggro' plus saying that she has been put in a terrible position.
It's taken all day for me to act as a go between to find out what has occurred but as the day has gone on I am feeling more annoyed that the driving instructor has dragged me into this, we are on our second block booking of lessons with her and there are 4 hours remaining. I don't speak to this woman other than to tell her when I've made a driving lesson payment (we pay and the DSS contributes to us).
I cannot see how he is supposed to learn from someone who has shouted at him. As it stands she says she is 'too busy' to do his lesson this week so won't be coming until the week after.
I feel like it is inevitable we will lose the last 4 hours of lessons due to this breakdown and it doesn't seem right to me. What do others think?