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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:
WGACA · 06/05/2023 03:11

Find*

Dintananadinta · 06/05/2023 03:51

I've had many tutors over the years growing up. I've never paid for the summer holidays. I'm really confused why you would pay for a service you haven't received? However, I can't quite remember having the same tutor for over a year so there was no continuation. Could you do group tuition to increase your income?

BlackberrySky · 06/05/2023 04:30

I have never heard of a tutor expecting children to have sessions during the holidays. The ones I know, including my son's, charge appropriately per session to cover the fact that they don't get paid in the holidays in most cases. It's up to you to manage your cash flow - as a PP said, you're running a business, and people are allowed to only want your services at certain times.

Fraaahnces · 06/05/2023 05:23

Don’t give them advance notice to get someone else lined up. Just get other clients and when they call you, you can have the joy of letting them know that their spot has been filled. (Or, if the new clients aren’t fabulous, you can take them back if you want.)

Theunamedcat · 06/05/2023 06:26

Charge more and work "less" so when it's stretched out your covered for the holidays

Offer payments over 12 months making it clear the full 12 months need to be paid as per the contract

Theunamedcat · 06/05/2023 06:27

Also ask them to give notice in writing so they are aware it's termination not taking a break might wake them up a little

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 06/05/2023 06:39

They're being really cheeky, but if its becoming common maybe change it up a bit. Would you consider doing term time only tuition for a slightly higher rate, and then supplement it with a holiday program? It could have longer sessions, group sessions, daytime, catch up programs, etc.

You might find that you end up with a bit more money than you otherwise would have.

It would mean you couldn't spend every day with your DC, but you could just run it for 2 or 3 days a week and then have your evenings back for the holidays.

ShandaLear · 06/05/2023 06:53

Send them notice - ‘Thank you for giving me notice that you intend to withdraw from lessons on xxx date’. Then if they come back to say they just want a 2 month break tell them that you have a waiting list and unfortunately cannot keep places open without payment.

Paq · 06/05/2023 07:01

You're working hard but not really making much money. You can't even charging your own rates and are angsty about doing so, and angsty about enforcing T&Cs.

Are you sure you are cut out to be self employed?

Totalwasteofpaper · 06/05/2023 07:06

Up the rates for everyone to £40 (old and new)

If awkward customers want to go on hols for 2 months and the have space when sept comes charge then £50 ph (arsehole premium of £10)
This is what we do in my industry, they dont turn away existing business they try and price them out.
They either leave (win) or you get a massive premium for dealing with them (win)

itsgettingweird · 06/05/2023 07:16

Have a look at how sports clubs word contracts. Especially clubs like gymnastics and swimming.

Our swimming club words it that payment is made monthly but reflects the yearly cost spread over 12 months. They have 2-4 weeks off over summer (officially 2 but if you compete British champs you don't need to train after that as season has ended for you) and they go back slowly after summer break and take 5 weeks to build up fully.
They also don't swim any BH.

Changeling78 · 06/05/2023 07:19

Can you put a rejoining fee? So when they want to start back they have to rejoin? For admin reasons. If I were to cancel my gym for a month, no way could I just rejoin, they’d charge me an admin fee.

user1471538283 · 06/05/2023 07:20

With any service like yours you've got to pay to hang onto your place. When my DS was at kindergarten I paid every day including if he was sick or we were on holiday except Christmas day and boxing day. It's what I signed up to.

Some people are just mean and short sighted. If they don't pay they don't keep the place.

itsgettingweird · 06/05/2023 07:22

If your having trouble getting payments in time I'd also add a clause about a monthly DD debit being set up and give a choice if dates.

Eg 1st or 5th.

LaurieFairyCake · 06/05/2023 07:25

Just start charging more so that if there are quieter months then you still have enough

Where I am tutors are £50-£70 an hour - they are fully booked January to End May - and then take half June/all July/August off

Floppyelf · 06/05/2023 07:28

selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 22:57

I've been fully booked for the last 7yrs +.

This is the first year I've had clients saying they want to take the whole two months off.

I can't just fill those slots for two months. I can either take on new clients or I would lose income.

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.

Show quote history

the solution is simple then? Get new permanent clients in June. Whatever you do… there will be people wanting your services. Start advertising now. Kindly yet firmly explain to the chancers that you appreciate their business over the last x amount of years but cannot guarantee their place in September. Business is business- no one said you have to take a vow of poverty.

airforsharon · 06/05/2023 07:29

selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:22

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?

Show quote history

I'm not a tutor but my dcs have various music lessons & any fee increases are generally in September. Both tutors send an invoice for the upcoming term just before it starts, and any increase is flagged with a simple 'price per lesson is now <insert figure>' or words to that effect. Neither have increased much or frequently, but definitely since 2018! You really need to get that client paying your current rate - i'm surprised they haven't queried it tbh

MaryPoppinsHat · 06/05/2023 07:30

selfemployedwwyd · 05/05/2023 23:03

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.

Show quote history

I would say change your contract terms.

As someone else suggested new customers fee is increased from what present customers pay.

Either have it as an annual contract which can be paid up monthly in arrears with no termination for convenience (i.e. can only terminate if there is fault or at the end of the one year term again build in notice) or if you want to keep the 4 weeks notice make it clear IF they are accepted back on the cost will increase.

WeeblesWobbled · 06/05/2023 07:30

If they had just decided to not subscribe to your service anymore without telling you why, you would have accepted it. Then if they'd decided to rejoin in September you'd have accepted that too? They shouldn't have said anything and just left.

You're the business owner so you decide what to do with your clients. Whatever you do make sure that you don't show that you are pissed off and stay professional. Word gets around fast these days and you want them to recommend your service to others.

TheNachtzehrer · 06/05/2023 07:32

I'd cheerfully tell them for September your rates for new contracts will be £current + 10%, but you're going to maintain current rates for existing clients. Cheerio, have a nice hols!

Themermaidspool · 06/05/2023 07:36

As a compromise could they roll the lessons they are going to miss into extra time before they go? Ie almost catch up lessons beforehand so you have the money upfront?
If they dont take the offer they go to tje back of the waiting list.
It depends what you tutor.
Eg our violin teacher we dont pay over holidays and she actually doesnt charge when we are away even though i wouldnt mind at all. However if we were here and still paying wed be using it.

dig135 · 06/05/2023 07:38

Sorry but I wouldn't ever pay for a tutor if I wasn't around to use the service. Particularly given the cost and during the summer holidays.

By the same token, I don't pay for my cleaner when I'm away (although I've given her two unsolicited pay rises in the last year and it's only four weeks a year).

I wouldn't expect to have a regular slot held, I'd wait to see what you could offer (or not) once I was back.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 06/05/2023 07:39

I haven’t read all posts but I take it you’re a childminder?

As long as it’s set out in the contract YANBU. I always had to pay my childminder over holidays. They wouldn’t get away with this with a nursery would they? Assuming you can get more work easily and wouldn’t be cutting off your nose to spite your face, say to then that if they do this without paying for the space you will need to take that as their notice.

Guineasrule · 06/05/2023 07:41

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'

just agree to this, they can cancel the contract. But you are under no obligation to keep the spot open to them. When\if they call back in September, and if you have any spare slots, you can take them back on.

Do you keep a standby list for people?