Tutor canceled lessons!

[grassisgreener2015]

AIBU to think our (now ex) tutor has behaved unreasonably?

Our 11 plus tutor charges monthly in advance and I stupidly forgot to pay for February's lessons on time. She did remind me once about the invoice but it just slipped my mind as it's been a really busy few weeks.

We turned up for our lesson on Friday and she actually turned us away and had arranged for another family to take our place! I feel really embarrassed as the other family are from our school and they were there when she sent us away.

We've been having lessons since September and I've only paid late once on one other occasion. We've cancelled very few lessons and we're really pleased with our child's progress.

I think the tutor has been really impatient and quite frankly, rude! Surely someone working with children should be kinder than this and could have given us some leeway?

You should have paid on time and at the very least when reminded once, pay on the spot. I hate when people make you chase them for money they owe....terrible. Lesson learned for you, to pay on time....esp for 11+ tutors, some might be more patient then others...but when things are competitive and if they are wanted by others, you could lose your spot. She could have given warning though, a little rude not to explain you will lose the spot if you do not pay by end of day.

If this is real you need to grow up OP.

As a "busy working mum" myself I didn't realise I could just ignore bills at will. Thanks for the heads up OP.

😂 I'm not the op but thanks for putting me in my place !

Ok.
If there is any chance she would even consider to squeeze your child in, it would start with you acknowledging that the problem was on your side, understanding she was right to replace you as a client and apologising.

Of course it depends on how have you worded your other communication - maybe you were polite with her and are venting only here, maybe you made your feelings known.

She has admitted that the reminder email does indeed state that the lesson would be cancelled if payment was not made. No ambiguity at all. Businesses don't have time nor should they need to make time to say btw what I said before remains the case

i think the OP was in "Will nobody think of the CHILDREN!" territory with that one.

hahaha very sorry!!!

It's a pity the tutor isn't more understanding but maybe that's why she's no longer a class teacher.

Or maybe the tutor realised that being a teacher today means the job now includes a daily dose of dealing with irate and unreasonable parents and in some cases unruly children preventing them from doing the job they signed up for and wanted to use the experience they have towards actually teaching those that want to be taught.

I think you need to stop being so entitled and take some responsibility. You failed to pay (after an invoice and reminder, twice), you lost your place. This is all on you. Good on her for not letting an entitled parent take advantage.

This has to be a reverse, surely? You've only been with her since September (so not very long, despite your claims otherwise) and have already paid late once before, so within a five month period you've been late to pay twice? Yeah, I'd bin you off too.

Absolutely. I rent an office. My payment for that is due on 5th of the month - no ifs : no buts. If I allow myself to work with flaky unreliable clients I won't have the money for my rent. That's why I make my terms and conditions clear at the first client enquiry.

You had an invoice and a reminder. This is all on you.

@grassisgreener2015 if your dc is grammar school material then get the papers yourself online and get dc to practice.
In my day (late 1960’s early 70’s ) my dp’s bought the books from WH Smith and we sat a timed paper every week at home. We all 5 passed.

She's not punishing your child! She's running a business.

You have disadvantaged your child by your disorganisation.

Surely you don't really think the tutor was 'unkind' they'll have bills etc to pay. Really op self obsessed much

As a small business owner, unfortunately people like the OP enforce us to have so many terms and conditions about payments. People like her have caused this huge issue across many businesses where now pre payment and credit card details are necessary to even book a table at a pub

Good on the tutor for getting rid of a bad client, lesson learnt

Funny she forgot the payment but didn’t forget to arrive for the unpaid session

Sorry @grassisgreener2015 but you are in the wrong.

Did you sign a T&Cs doc with her - have a look through that.

I also live in an 11+ area. I have set up email alerts from my tutor. I prioritise emails/ invoices from her over virtually anything else.

You were late paying a second time. She sent you a reminder to pay which outline that future lessons would be cancelled if payment wasn’t received. It could be that she took your late payment as deciding not to come again. I think unfortunately this rests with you.

It's a pity the tutor isn't more understanding but maybe that's why she's no longer a class teacher

This is a really horrible comment. She’s probably no longer a class teacher because, like many of us, she’s sick of entitled, unsupportive, unpleasant parents and their equally entitled, boundary-free children.

What a pity you aren’t capable of paying professionals on time, OP, like a normal, functioning adult. Maybe that’s why you’re no longer a client and probably blacklisted locally, to boot.

I imagine that you are often the kind of person who accepts no personal responsibility for your own failings and always blames others for your own mistakes.

You fucked up. You are to blame that you have lost your tutor. It is your fault if you child is upset about falling behind on their training for the exam. No-one else.

It makes no difference what kind of self employed business she runs - whether it’s for children, animals or elderly people. She is running a small business and deserves to be paid and paid on time.

Why should she spend her time begging you for overdue payment? Presumably she's busy working? I'd imagine she may have a day job also? It's your fault for forgetting to pay her.

Being a busy working mum is no excuse.

Own your mistake.

Would you really want to take back the OP as a client after she’s ragged you on an international forum?

yeah nah mate.

You know you needed to pay and she also sent you a reminder. We are all busy but you need to do better at your life admin. The tutor is running a business not a charity and does not need the hassle of reminding customers to pay. It seems she has a waiting list so she does not need your business anymore.

I’m not seeing a lot of responsibility taking, OP.