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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell clients to just leave

385 replies

selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 22:43

I"m self employed with clients who pay monthly. I work 12 months of the year and take 4 weeks a year holiday which are unpaid - this is all explained upfront.

This year I've had an unprecedented number of clients who've informed me that they're not prepared to pay for my services over the summer as they're 'going on fancy holidays' and won't get the use of my services.

But they want me to take them back on in September once the summer holidays are over and the children are back in school.

AIBU to tell them they're free to go in June but I won't be giving them their space back in September?

I simply cannot afford to not be paid for 2 months. When I go on holiday (unpaid and only UK) I still pay all of my monthly bills (swimming, nursery etc)

I realise the cost of living affects even the wealthy, but it's the wealthiest clients who are doing this to me! For context, last year I earned £15k if that matters. I can't afford to take my children abroad (not that that's their fault I might add, but it does irk!)

AIBU to feel really pissed off and a little bit used/undervalued?

OP posts:
Original poster
selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:03

Soapyspuds · 05/05/2023 22:52

Contract says that if I miss due to sickness, I will refund. If the client misses due to holiday, payment still needs to be made. Four weeks notice to be given

So they're giving more than 4 weeks notice now to say they're finishing in June but 'Don't worry, we will give you a call in September when we need you back

Okay so you need to make it clear to them that they are not having a months break, as there are no rules for that in the contract. What they are doing is terminating the contract as per the terms.

If they ask for your services when they return from holiday then you advise them that the rate for new customers is 20% more than your previous rate. And they can take it or leave it.

Obviously the above is on the assumption you are able to pick up other clients if they decline.

I

Thank you. I think I will do this. One client in particular whose done this has been paying less than my fee for the last 12 months as it is.

I just don't understand why you wouldn't keep on a tutor you highly value just for the sake of two months payment, when your fancy holiday of a lifetime is costing thousands. I've always paid for the children's extra-curricular activities. I simply wouldn't occur to me to tell the I want my money back. The service is still there - it's me who's not making use of it.

OP posts:
Soapyspuds · 05/05/2023 23:03

Don't know if this is relevant, but tutoring is my only income. I'm not doing it as an extra income on the side

Then you need to be firm and polite. Their options are

  1. Continue to pay as per the terms
  2. Take their chance with your availability and new prices come September

Nothing else is on the table. I suggest putting any communication in email as well.

Soapyspuds · 05/05/2023 23:04

I just don't understand why you wouldn't keep on a tutor you highly value just for the sake of two months payment

They are probably trying it on. Often the richer you get the tighter you get.

BeenThereTooo · 05/05/2023 23:07

Maybe you just need to up your rates and accept that you offer a 10 month service ( like a supply teacher).

Cosyblankets · 05/05/2023 23:08

Actively advertise to fill any spaces early on as soon as they've booked their holidays. Maybe offer new client discount for lessons in holidays for the first few weeks

Merangutan · 05/05/2023 23:09

Tell them that having tuition means they are having a weekly slot of your time allocated to them exclusively. This prevents you from offering it to other pupils on your waiting list. For that reason, if they choose to have more than two (or 3/4 - whatever you feel) consecutive weeks without lessons, you reserve the right to offer that slot to other pupils.

They can’t have it both ways - expect to not have the lessons for months but also expect to have the slot reserved and you turn away other clients who are willing to start now.

The other options you have are to charge more per hour so that it covers you for holiday pay OR to charge a holding deposit over summer to retain their place for September while still allowing other pupils to book in if they want to, on a temporary ad-hoc basis.

TheHateIsNotGood · 05/05/2023 23:09

There are so many spheres of self-employment that work without contracts detailing every condition - rightly or wrongly - but generally gets along ok with prices, quotes, invoices and payments or the dreaded non-payments (very rare in reality).

A truly self-employed person can not rely on an income from a particular customer unless they have an arrangement/contract that legally specifies this. That is the meaning of self-employment, not the easy street that most imagine, but being totally self-reliant.

Spiderboy · 05/05/2023 23:11

Just say they are welcome to go on holiday but as they are not paying you, their space is now available and it is highly likely it will be filled upon their return. It’s business. Be black and white

Original poster
selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:13

Soapyspuds · 05/05/2023 23:03

Don't know if this is relevant, but tutoring is my only income. I'm not doing it as an extra income on the side

Then you need to be firm and polite. Their options are

  1. Continue to pay as per the terms
  2. Take their chance with your availability and new prices come September

Nothing else is on the table. I suggest putting any communication in email as well.

I will definitely increase the price if they come back. One client in particular has been paying 2018 prices since I took them on.

That's a good idea to put it in writing.

As it stands, I've had a verbal conversation with 3 clients now saying I simply cannot hold the space for them.

Another client wants to not pay me for 4 weeks - even acknowledged it's his choice to go away and miss the lessons but why should he pay for something he's not getting (another one with money I might add) . Whilst I completely appreciate he's entitled to feel this way, I don't understand why you'd risk your slot you value for one month's payment.

It's unprecedented this year. I've never had this much trouble in 10 years of self employment.

OP posts:
Merangutan · 05/05/2023 23:16

You need to increase the charge to the person paying 2018 prices. OP, you sounds lovely and kind but you are running a business where you aren’t charging rises in line with the cost of living. You are paying yourself less than you earned five years ago. Just add a few quid. You are underselling yourself here.

Original poster
selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:18

BeenThereTooo · 05/05/2023 23:07

Maybe you just need to up your rates and accept that you offer a 10 month service ( like a supply teacher).

I considered this, but I do think I'm at the top end as it is. I am a highly regarded tutor with verified reviews and my pupils achieve excellent results.

I charge £40 an hour for new clients. Some of these clients are still on the old rate of £30 an hour though (from 5 years ago) . I changed to monthly payments about 6 years ago as I was regularly getting people cancelling lessons to take their child for a hair cut or similar and I couldn't fill the space on a one off ad hoc basis.

I'm paying £40 an hour for the tutor I use for my child (different subject) so seems to be the going rate where we are.

OP posts:
JagerbombsUnite · 05/05/2023 23:19

OP you can also add in your contract prices subject to annual review.

Original poster
selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:21

Merangutan · 05/05/2023 23:09

Tell them that having tuition means they are having a weekly slot of your time allocated to them exclusively. This prevents you from offering it to other pupils on your waiting list. For that reason, if they choose to have more than two (or 3/4 - whatever you feel) consecutive weeks without lessons, you reserve the right to offer that slot to other pupils.

They can’t have it both ways - expect to not have the lessons for months but also expect to have the slot reserved and you turn away other clients who are willing to start now.

The other options you have are to charge more per hour so that it covers you for holiday pay OR to charge a holding deposit over summer to retain their place for September while still allowing other pupils to book in if they want to, on a temporary ad-hoc basis.

In addition to this, I've also had two clients decide they're finishing at the end of June instead of the end of August as they originally said. I'd turned down two replacement clients in March who could have filled these slots if I had known.

OP posts:
Original poster
selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:22

JagerbombsUnite · 05/05/2023 23:19

OP you can also add in your contract prices subject to annual review.

Yes I need to add that, thank you.

When do people think is a good time to increase? September in line with a new school year or April with a new tax year?

OP posts:
TheHateIsNotGood · 05/05/2023 23:22

Well done OP - be firm, there are a lot of chancers out there. Value the services you provide - after 10 years you've proved your 'market' worth.

I say this to myself often. Not a tutor myself but one of my clients employs tutors as a large part of his business. I've respectfully told him to do one at least once, we are currently working under 'truce' arrangements (the job needs doing) and at least he's upgraded his T&Cs for his tutors as a by-product.

VivX · 05/05/2023 23:23

Similar to pp suggesting you increase your fees, the alternative to attempting to enforce payment over the holiday period would be to build in the 2 months of unpaid holiday by increasing your fees for the other 10 months by 20%

GCWorkNightmare · 05/05/2023 23:30

Can you work more than 8 hours a week?

Ellie56 · 05/05/2023 23:33

I would up your fees in September for all your clients in line with the new academic year, and in the meantime make it clear that you cannot hold spaces open for the CFs wanting to "take a break."

knobheeeed · 05/05/2023 23:38

I teach music - people pay for 10 months of the year and receive 38 lessons during the school terms. (I also tutor but they pay for blocks of 5 in advance, so a different system to yours).
The problem I had with the music students was people not beginning promptly again in September and then rocking back up in October. So I kept spaces open for them and they'd keep delaying their start. So I had to change terms and conditions to reflect that. They have to give notice at the end of the summer term if they don't want to come back in September (and one month's notice the rest of the year).
That still wouldn't solve the problem of people starting the term late so I added that people must reconfirm two weeks before the autumn term if they are continuing lessons and to arrange their time slot. I send a message out in good time. I won't keep slots open for anyone not confirming their return. Anyone confirming but wishing to start later has to pay from the beginning of the autumn term or lose the slot.
Also had one this year who really took the piss in a different way, so again, I've had to add yet another sentence to my terms and conditions for the coming academic year.

It's hard sometimes but you're running a business. Those clients are free to leave if they so wish, as long as they give adequate notice that they won't be continuing the lessons in the summer, but that means they won't be guaranteed a slot in September either.
Just tell them they can leave but you can't hold the slot for them, you have a waiting list and you can't afford to have free slots open not being used for an indeterminate length of time. There's no guarantee they'll start again promptly in September or even return at all.

Original poster
selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:39

GCWorkNightmare · 05/05/2023 23:30

Can you work more than 8 hours a week?

I do. New clients (taken on in the last year) pay £40 an hour but I've got clients going back on various rates.

I do need to get everyone on the same rate of pay and will up my fees in September for all. Just need to get the wording right as it will be an increase of £40 a month for some, £30 a month for others.

I'm actually really bad at asking for money which is one of the reasons I went to monthly pay - although I regularly have 4 or 5 clients who don't pay on time (it's the 5th today and I'm short by 5!)

OP posts:
Aweebitpainful · 05/05/2023 23:50

OP if you are fully booked you need to increase your price slightly.

Also consider giving old clients notice
that their lower payment is coming to an end and charge them the current / new rate going forward.

You are a business.

Aweebitpainful · 05/05/2023 23:51

Your time and knowledge is WORTH it!

Aweebitpainful · 05/05/2023 23:54

I need to tell myself this firmly because I'm
doing the same as you! Lol… you aren’t alone!

Dibbydoos · 05/05/2023 23:54

Do you have a contract in place? It should specify this exact situation and your own holiday entitlement so when/how you will advise them of your own holidays, how kuch notice etc. Honestly the rest of the year, they have to pay even if thry dont use the service - its exactly the same with nurseries etc.

How unreasonable are your clients?

Find better clients, OP.

Good luck x

sladys · 05/05/2023 23:57

Scalessayeek · 05/05/2023 22:50

Just say, as a business I can’t afford to keep your spot open so you can either pay or lose the spot (if you can afford to maybe offer half price like some nurseries/childminders go for similar situations).

Or do this but word it as "I can't hold a spot open. Feel free to contact me in September and I'll let you know my availability"

That way if you're struggling in November as you haven't filled the slot you're not cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Hopefully you fill the spots tho and they regret being so tight

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