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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cf hobby teacher

32 replies

christmascrazylady · 07/07/2022 04:19

I attend a hobby class every Thursday morning 10am to 12. The group is run by a very nice lady and we have all become friends. It's 5 pounds to attend each week which covers tea/coffee, rental of the hall and you can purchase supplies of the teacher. Now the teacher is a on call TA at a preschool and as she gets paid more for this job occasionally we turn up and there's no one to run the class. Lately this has been happening more which is disappointing. Last week I received a text message from the teacher asking if I could set up the class, call around to her house pick up supplies, make tea/ coffees, tidy up and return supplies to her house while she was at work. I agreed as I enjoy the class. The next week the teacher came and asked if I had collected the fee which I had not. She then asked everyone to pay double for last week and this week including me. I was abit annoyed as it would have been good manners to not charge me as I actually ran the class. So my aibu question is it ok to agree to run a class not turn up when you have a better offer and expect people to pay

OP posts:
NCNC5667 · 07/07/2022 04:25

You turned up, did all of the work and then she took the payment?
Not only from you but from everyone else?
I'd say you should have received the payment for that evening as you did it all!
Absolutely she is being cheeky!!

whoamitodisabrie · 07/07/2022 04:28

That’s really cheeky of her to collect money for a class she didn’t run.

Speak up, OP!

5zeds · 07/07/2022 04:40

Presumably the hall still has to be paid for?

Blobblobblob · 07/07/2022 04:54

You should get the fees, minus any expenses for the hall hire.

Total cf!

ImustLearn2Cook · 07/07/2022 05:06

Wow, that is unbelievable. Sure the hall fees need to covered and any of the craft materials you used. But charging you when you did all that for her is not ok. She should be paying you the profit to cover your petrol expenses for picking up and dropping of the craft materials and for your time and effort in running the class for her.

Have a meeting with the other members of the craft group about creating your own craft group. Find out how much the hall hire is, how much the craft materials cost and everyone contribute to that and hold your own craft group.

Original poster
christmascrazylady · 07/07/2022 06:02

I've ask the other ladies and they are all happy to pay her even when she doesn't come. They say because we are all friends I should just let it go but I feel she is getting paid to do nothing and using our friendship as a means to basicly get paid twice.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 07/07/2022 06:06

Maybe she is not making any money from it and the money is just to pay for the hall?

I think you should definitely not have paid for last week. That’s really bad form, but it might be an opportunity for you to set up your own class now!! Good luck.

ReneBumsWombats · 07/07/2022 06:06

No, you should get that money, minus costs.

I have a hobby group and I've been known to run it when the teacher can't, as I'm the second most proficient after her. The fee is mine when that happens.

Original poster
christmascrazylady · 07/07/2022 06:48

I think she's going to try and ask a different person each time until we all get jack of it. I was feeling guilty that I was a "B*h from the others but I just don't think it's fair to get paid for a class your not even at

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 07/07/2022 06:57

Is there any profit element where she gets paid though? How many x £5 is there and what does the hall and supplies cost?

If that matches the amount collected she doesn't get paid and does it for the social activity. If she doesn't get paid it wouldn't have occurred to her that you would expect to.

Applegreenb · 07/07/2022 06:59

Maybe suggest the person who sets up and collects the items from her house doesn’t pay? Then it’s an incentive to run the group and can be done on a rota so it’s fair. If you have to go out of your way with a car (petrol isn’t cheap) it’s then costing people more to set it up. I would put that to the leader and see what she says

AmaryIlis · 07/07/2022 07:16

christmascrazylady · 07/07/2022 06:48

I think she's going to try and ask a different person each time until we all get jack of it. I was feeling guilty that I was a "B*h from the others but I just don't think it's fair to get paid for a class your not even at

But presumably this isn't going to arise over the summer anyway with schools being closed?

clpsmum · 07/07/2022 07:17

I would pay but wouldn't set it up
Or help out in future

clpsmum · 07/07/2022 07:17

Why can't she set it up the night before or before work?

AmaryIlis · 07/07/2022 07:20

How much teaching does this lady actually do, given that the class runs fine without her? Might it be better to reconstitute this as a group rather than a class and run it in somewhere like a big café instead?

steviewiththecankles · 07/07/2022 07:24

I would’ve expected her to pay any costs and then give you the profit, or charge everyone a reduced fee just to cover costs.

Meraas · 07/07/2022 07:37

YANBU, I wouldn’t help her again.

Trixiefirecracker · 07/07/2022 07:45

How much does the hall cost? That still has to be covered. If you are the only one unhappy with the scenario then maybe you should think about leaving?

11Hawkins · 07/07/2022 07:47

YANBU, I wouldn't help her again. Next time she asks "that's a shame, I wish you had given me notice it was cancelled."

dancinfeet · 07/07/2022 08:01

she is a CF to charge you for attending the session when you organised and tan the session. Also, do you have public liability insurance yourself to run hobby sessions?? if not, you are in potentially dodgy territory if someone injured themselves during the class time

dancinfeet · 07/07/2022 08:01

ran not tan

AngelinaFibres · 07/07/2022 08:06

christmascrazylady · 07/07/2022 06:48

I think she's going to try and ask a different person each time until we all get jack of it. I was feeling guilty that I was a "B*h from the others but I just don't think it's fair to get paid for a class your not even at

I dare their their attitude will change once they have done all the work and she has taken the cash. Make sure it isn't your turn for a long time.

Vikinga · 07/07/2022 08:13

I help run a sports and the money we charge the kids goes completely on hire of hall and sports equipment with some money left over when there isn't enough fees to cover Hall hire.

SirYawnsAlot · 07/07/2022 08:22

She should have waived your fee and bought you chocolates or something and yes, absolutely let the others take turns in future.
Also you say she provides materials etc so I assume you are paying her for tuition / guidance in the craft, so that is what your fees are covering and she should be there to teach.

LookItsMeAgain · 07/07/2022 08:36

Trixiefirecracker · 07/07/2022 07:45

How much does the hall cost? That still has to be covered. If you are the only one unhappy with the scenario then maybe you should think about leaving?

I'm 100% in agreement with the first part of this. The cost of hiring the hall should be covered. If you can, try to find that out and find out if you can pay that directly to the owners/renters of the venue on the occasion that she doesn't turn up for the hobby.
This is where I differ from @Trixiefirecracker - I would then only collect that amount and pay that when she isn't around. She isn't there to lead/teach the group so she shouldn't be able to claim any payment for her class for that week.

If she demands payment for her, I'd actually say to her "CFer Teacher, We've already paid for the use of the hall for last week. Renter Dave took the money when I dropped it off to him. You can't surely expect us to pay you for your time when you weren't even here, right?"