To expect a driving instructor to ring the doorbell?

[NotTonightDeidre]

Just that really. DS missed a driving lesson this morning because he wasn't awake. The driving instructor text him to say he was outside. He didn't call his phone or ring our doorbell.

I get that it's DS' responsibility to be at the lesson, but if it were me I'd just ring/knock when it's a pick up from home.

Is it really that unreasonable to get out of the car & walk 10 steps to the front door?

Your child was in bed asleep and you were expecting the Driving instructor to hang around until your son bothered to get up and dressed?

I hope your not the one paying for your DS' irresponsibility

Your DS should be up outside waiting to go at least 5 mins before.

Perhaps the instructor can also drive the car and take the test for him too?

You pay for a lesson of a certain length of time - it's not unreasonable for the instructor to expect you to be ready at the start time. My dd's instructor always texted her. In fact DD would be waiting, looking out of the window.

It's a life lesson for him to learn. Grown up enough to have driving lessons means you're grown up enough to be ready on time.

If he’s old enough to drive, he’s old enough to get himself up in time. I was always looking out for my instructor and went outside when I saw him pull up. I think your annoyance is misdirected.

Expensive life lesson for your DS, I bet he won’t do that again!
Maybe if your son is so unreliable, you should take it upon yourself to phone him before his lesson time and chase him out of bed?

your son should take full responsibility for his behaviour

As others have said, what would’ve been the point in ringing the doorbell anyway? It might have woken him (but it might not!) and then what? The instructor has to hang around waiting for your son to go to the loo, have a wash, do his teeth, get dressed… etc?! Be serious now please 🙄

I assume when DI was late he probably had legitimate excuse of traffic. What was your son’s excuse for not being up on time?

Do you expect work/college to phone him to make sure he is awake?

this is FAFO for your son. He needs to be ready.
If the instructor is late, it won't be because he slept in, and your son will still get his full time (or money off)

AFAIK there are waiting lists, don't piss off the instructor. This is a good life lesson for your DS.

DIs turn up late because of clients like your son dicking about and being late. Puts the whole day behind for everyone. Most DIs will be doing the paperwork in the car and don't have time to be getting out and ringing doorbell for over sleeping teens.

I can't decide if this is real or just a poking stick for a Monday morning 😂

Not sure a driving lesson when he had only just woken up would be a sensible or safe thing to do anyway, even if the DI had rung the doorbell. Although as others have said, your son should have been ready and waiting anyway, and it isn’t up to the DI to ring the bell.

Or maybe your son should be out of bed, dressed and waiting for the instructors text. It's not his job to wake your son up and then wait for him to get ready.

I've never known a driving instructor get out the car and ring the bell.

Youngest brother is a driving instructor and never knocks for his safety and to safeguard his car which provides his living.
He texts and takes a photo of the door which is evidence he attended on time.

If it is a social payment the picture is used for payment in case they say he didn't come or they cancel when he is on the way or when he gets there. He expects to be paid regardless.

Does he even know the actual address? DSD driving instructor used to text her and wait from the end of the road, I don’t think he actually knew what number she was.
but yes yabu, he’s a driving instructor not an alarm clock. Be annoyed at your son for not being up and ready and if he was actually fast asleep did you really expect her to run downstairs and outs of the house to drive when he doesn’t yet know how to without having breakfast/shower?

Your son would hardly have been ready to jump straight in the car, if he even heard the door.

Surely the instructor is charging for say 9 til 10 and if DS doesnt come out til 920, then DS has lost 20 mins? (I dont know how long lessons are, never had any)

I blame the parents.

Parents today seem to blame everyone else apart from themselves.

Why is it the driving instructor's fault that your son missed a lesson?

Your son seems to not have been taught
to take responsibility for being on time for the appointments he made. And the driving instructor came to your doorstep!

When I learned to drive I had to get a bus into town and walk to the opposite side of town to go to a place where the driving instructors were based. And I got myself there on time - without help from my parents.

Mine would wait outside for me. He'd ring me after 10 minutes. The responsibility lies with your son.

You are turning your son into an entitled man-child.

My driving instructor never even texted me.
My appointment was at X time and so I would be ready and waiting 10mins before.

He’s paying for the lesson.
If he doesn’t want to get up in time that’s on him, the instructor doesn’t even need to text, let alone do anything to try and persuade him to attend.

I hope this is fake because honestly it’s embarrassing that you’ve even asked this question.

Not up to the instructor to ring the bell

I wouldn't have expected the lesson to extend beyond the finish time & delay others.

DH said he would wake teen. He forgot about the lesson. Had I realised I'd have woken him prior.

DH agrees that it's DS' own fault.

Sometimes we need help. Alarms often don't wake kids/teens. Including smoke alarms too.

Expensive life lesson.

So technically breaking the law then? Good example for the learner

No, they don't knock.

It is probably best not to roll out of bed in a rushed daze to do a driving lesson.