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Original poster

Tutoring company apparently going bust…

36 replies

NellesVilla · 06/12/2022 23:12

Wasn’t sure where else to post for advice from knowledgeable person, so here goes…

Recently started working for well-known tutoring company as a tutor (surprisingly enough!). This company is known for getting clients to pay upfront so they- the company- are always quids in and not owed monies or so I thought.

Firstly, one of my temporary students recently said that they’d not taken payment from them. At all. V odd.

Then cut to yesterday- us tutors received an email from a client (a school) that basically said the company had told them they were no longer providing tutors and all invoices had to be paid ASAP. No work for us: all cancelled. INFORMED BY CLIENT, NOT tutoring company!

Today I emailed and called the tutoring company several times. No reply to email; phone call disconnects immediately. I have emailed other tutors that were cc’d in to email but again, no reply as of yet.

I’m not personally owed much money (payday was last week, thank fuck), but others will be.

Biggest issue and mora dilemma: so it looks like they’ve ceased trading but where does this leave my responsibility to my current clients through them? The ones who have paid upfront? I have a couple of lovely regulars who I believe have paid several lessons upfront. Wtf do I do? Do I go still and not get paid? Or do I leave them to fight for their cash?

What would you do? I don’t want to leave them high and dry but I can’t afford to work for free. The travel time and expense is already high, yet I don’t want the guilt of knowing they’ve paid upfront for…nothing.

And yes, if this matter is not resolved I will name and shame on here, Facebook and Twitter.

OP posts:
Original poster
NellesVilla · 06/12/2022 23:13
  • moral dilemma, not mora!
OP posts:
Allsnotwell · 06/12/2022 23:15

Can you offer to take them on as a private tutor?

Their money issue isn’t yours.

Why not speak to them and see how the land lies.

Original poster
NellesVilla · 06/12/2022 23:18

You speak sense; I think I’m concerned that they’ll say as they’ve paid that they expect me to fulfill my side of the bargain in providing lessons.

OP posts:
ForestLilac · 06/12/2022 23:20

But surely their contract is not with you, it’s with the company?

Allsnotwell · 06/12/2022 23:21

Their contract is with the company - they will understand the difference between you and the company.

Being upfront and honest about the situation will go along way in retaining them as clients -m

Keyansier · 06/12/2022 23:21

To leave the students who have legitimately paid out of pocket just to prove a point to the company that ripped you off is appalling. I can't believe you're even considering this. Bad form.

ForestLilac · 06/12/2022 23:24

Keyansier · 06/12/2022 23:21

To leave the students who have legitimately paid out of pocket just to prove a point to the company that ripped you off is appalling. I can't believe you're even considering this. Bad form.

Eh? You want her to do voluntary work teaching children?

ZenNudist · 06/12/2022 23:24

Just be upfront and if you want to, offer to tutor privately and pay you upfront. They need to deal with the company for a refund and you can tell them tge company owe you wages too.

Original poster
NellesVilla · 06/12/2022 23:25

No @Keyansier , I don’t want to do this. But say you work for a web design company and the clients have paid before the work has been done; then the company folds leaving you and others out of a job: would you still pay £20 to make that 9am meeting with several hours’ work done on a presentation that you won’t get paid for? And then be there for 3-4 hours, again knowing you’ll not see a bean? Really?

OP posts:
FriedasCarLoad · 06/12/2022 23:25

It's kind of you to want to keep them in spite of having no obligation to do so.

Could you offer them the remaining sessions at your house or online, so that you'll be giving your time but not otherwise out of pocket?

KrisAkabusi · 06/12/2022 23:30

Explain to the students (and to Keyansier above) that you've been left in the lurch as well and that you're not getting paid and are out of a job.

WeepingSomnambulist · 06/12/2022 23:31

Keyansier · 06/12/2022 23:21

To leave the students who have legitimately paid out of pocket just to prove a point to the company that ripped you off is appalling. I can't believe you're even considering this. Bad form.

Do you understand what has happened?

You think the OP should work several more sessions, incurring travel costs, whilst not being paid?

The OP wont be paid. She hasnt taken the money from the clients. You want her to do free work? Why? She doesnt even have access to the accounts to see how many clients have paid for what sessions. The clients could tell her they've paid for 10 when they haven't.

SummerInSun · 06/12/2022 23:31

If the company has gone bust, then both the clients who have paid but not been given the service and the tutors who have worked and not been paid are all creditors in the administration/liquidation and may get some money through that process (though I wouldn't count on it).

This is entirely separate to you continuing to work for your own personal client base and those clients paying you directly from now on. Assuming the company was taking a fee, if you just changed the clients what you were personally being paid, it may even be cheaper for them going forward.

But how does any tutoring company go bust in this post-covid climate where kids have massive gaps in their education and parents are freaking out out 11+, GCSEs, A levels, etc. I'm in London and tutors all have massive waiting lists....

Keyansier · 06/12/2022 23:33

NellesVilla · 06/12/2022 23:25

No @Keyansier , I don’t want to do this. But say you work for a web design company and the clients have paid before the work has been done; then the company folds leaving you and others out of a job: would you still pay £20 to make that 9am meeting with several hours’ work done on a presentation that you won’t get paid for? And then be there for 3-4 hours, again knowing you’ll not see a bean? Really?

I think I understand where you're coming from. But I don't think it's the right approach. In essence, you would be also ripping the students off like you claim the company has done to you.

Keyansier · 06/12/2022 23:36

WeepingSomnambulist · 06/12/2022 23:31

Do you understand what has happened?

You think the OP should work several more sessions, incurring travel costs, whilst not being paid?

The OP wont be paid. She hasnt taken the money from the clients. You want her to do free work? Why? She doesnt even have access to the accounts to see how many clients have paid for what sessions. The clients could tell her they've paid for 10 when they haven't.

Show quote history

Do you understand what has happened?

Yes, thank you , no need to be rude Hmm

The OP wont be paid. She hasnt taken the money from the clients. You want her to do free work? Why? She doesnt even have access to the accounts to see how many clients have paid for what sessions. The clients could tell her they've paid for 10 when they haven't.

I understand that. However, you just completely made up the last part as fiction in your own head.

WeepingSomnambulist · 06/12/2022 23:37

@Keyansier

How? How would she be doing that?

She has lost her job and has work she hasnt been paid for. And you think she owes them sometbing? You think she should work for free?

What planet are you on?

WeepingSomnambulist · 06/12/2022 23:39

@Keyansier

She said herself she believes some have paid but she doesnt know, she cant check and you think she should somehow be working out how many free lessons to give? For what? To fulfill her obligation go a company which no longer exists and has left her with no job?

Some people are either really stupid or just really insane.

Keyansier · 06/12/2022 23:53

And how is any of that the paying students faults @WeepingSomnambulist ?

PawsAndReflection · 06/12/2022 23:57

Just ignore @Keyansier, he's been writing nonsense all over the forum this evening Biscuit

Arkestra · 07/12/2022 00:03

Keyansier · 06/12/2022 23:53

And how is any of that the paying students faults @WeepingSomnambulist ?

It's no-one's fault - but it's clear where the obligations lie.

The students have paid the company that the tutor works for, for some lessons that lie in the future. The company will not pay the tutor to deliver these lessons, since it has gone bust.

In terms of who is under an obligation:

  • the company has an obligation to the students, since it has received the money to deliver the lessons.
  • the tutor does not have any obligation to the students re these future lessons, since the tutor has not, and will not, be paid to deliver them.

Yes, the students have paid the company some money.

No, the tutor is not under an obligation as a result of the students paying the company some money.

If the tutor wants to keep teaching the students, then fine - but the students need to write off the money they have paid to the company.

Orangepolentacake · 07/12/2022 00:06

PawsAndReflection · 06/12/2022 23:57

Just ignore @Keyansier, he's been writing nonsense all over the forum this evening Biscuit

He’s been writing nonsense for way longer than this evening

LonginesPrime · 07/12/2022 00:08

If your plan is to offer to continue to work privately for the students you've already build up a relationship with, I would discuss the situation with them and see if you can make an arrangement that works (e.g. work the next lesson that they've already paid for on the basis they pay you direct for future lessons, assuming both you and they are happy to continue sans the agency).

But if you're not intending to offer private lessons to those students (or if they'd rather not continue, which would be understandable if they've lost a large amount), I would just call them and explain that you're obviously unable to continue teaching them - I'm sure they'll appreciate the transparency if the company has been ghosting them as well as you.

Blanketpolicy · 07/12/2022 00:18

Your clients contract is with the company.

If the company has gone bust and you are not being paid there is no moral dilemma you just stop working and direct clients to the company, sympathise with them but make it clear you are no longer being paid by the company either.

You could offer to work for clients privately for cash up front and agree if you do ever get paid for those lessons from the company you will refund them.

You are not obliged and should not feel guilt to deliver any service you have not been paid for. None of this is your issue.

gleegeek · 07/12/2022 00:24

Would there be insurance/legal issues tutoring when the company has gone bust? What would happen if somehow a student got injured or accused you of some crime while you were in their house?
I think I'd have to be entirely honest with them about what you think has happened and wait for clarity. They might be happy to continue as private students paying you direct once you know what's going on.

cathcath2 · 07/12/2022 00:28

I would contact the families in the morning (probably by text/email) and say that you have heard the rumours/reports going round about the company going bust. State that you have had no communication from the company about the issue and that you have no idea what is going on. You need to get in there before families think you are complicit.