AIBU I think piano teacher is rude

[ClippyClopp]

I pay for my child’s piano lessons a month in advance.

My child has a group lesson (with one other student) to keep the cost down.

My child was off sick today so I messaged the teacher this morning informing them and saying we would carry this lesson over to then next term.

Teacher responded saying sorry she was unable to credit/ reschedule due to it being less than 24 hours notice. However she would spend longer with my child next lesson.

I responded with ‘how am I supposed to give 24 hours notice with sickness?’

I then got a shirty response ‘you don’t, which is why I am kindly offering to spend extra time next week’

I don’t see how it is an issue given it’s a group lesson that still takes place whether my child is there or not!

This is rude is it not?

It's very normal to pay for music lessons if your child is sick and can't make it. Otherwise how would the teacher budget?

Different if she cancelled on you.

I think you were rude first and the teacher responded back in a tone to match yours!

Did you sign a contract agreeing to t&cs? Because it's pretty standard to pay for a late cancellation.
Otherwise how can she run a business?

This is no different to other extra curricular activities that are paid in advance. If your child is sick you still pay. That's it.

I think you were rude OP

What are the terms for cancellatio?

I'm presuming this is a reverse? If it's not you come out of this looking really bad 😂

Wow you were very, very rude. In fact she was very kind to offer you extra time next week as cancellation without required notice for any reason is your own problem. Can't believe that you think She is the rude one🙄

That's not how it usually works.

Unless you agree a week off in advance for holidays etc then if your kids are ill you just lose that lesson. That's how it's always been for my kids.

YABU - the lesson took place, the fact your child was not there was not the teachers fault, not was it their fault that you gave less than 24hrs notice so why should they give up their time for free?

Their brusque tone probably came from your presumption that you'd get a free lesson (as opposed to you saying "Sorry for the late notice, is there any way to make this time back another day?") And they have compromised by saying they will spend extra time in the group session with your child but will not be making up the lesson time with them.

So you're assuming that the lesson goes ahead (with just the other child) and the teacher gets paid half as much? Or that the other child's parents should pay double this week?

Her solution sounds sensible - the other child will get more attention this week, and she'll do her best to redress the balance next week by giving your child more of the attention. Maybe the other child will be ill and then all will be fair.

YABU. She's a business, not a charity.

Don't like it? Good luck finding another teacher who'll carry over lessons with less than 24hours notice.

Great response from her to your cf message.

You'd pay for a block of gymnastics/ballet/football/karate and suck up missing a session if sick. This is the same. It must be very tedious as a self-employed businessperson to receive such messages.

I'm amazed the teachers accepts even 24hr notice to be honest. YABVU. How is she supposed to earn money with that kind of notice? If she didn't make you pay she'd lose half her wages for that hour. It's not like she can magic up another pupil for that one lesson at that short notice.

I had to read that twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing things - YOU are the rude unreasonable one. You cancelled the service, therefore the service provider decides what happens with the lesson. She’s very good to offer to give more time with your child after your quite rude message.

Also her response wasn’t shirty at all

You have a group lesson so you are splitting the costs with the other student.

You were asking the tutor to take half pay for this session by asking her to carry it forward

I understand that you can't plan sickness, but in the same way as if you had booked tickets to an event, you just lose out

Wow, the teacher was being more than generous with her response to your very rude and entitled message!

You had budgeted for that lesson - your kid can't go as he is sick but you're not being charged extra. You just miss a week. Doing things your way means SHE misses out next term. You can't predict illness but that is just parenting.
Your priority should be your sick child, not your wallet.

Annoying but that’s life. Her response was normal and she’s being nice by offering extra time next week.

Has to be. I have no doubt that clients are this rude, but they rarely admit to it

Sorry OP you're in the wrong here. You may not have realised but you have been told now so can avoid making mistake again. Almost everything I or my kids do is pay if <24 hours notice to cancel. Occasionally a very long standing/flexible teacher will rearrange out of goodwill.

Wow 💯 poll. Not seen that before!