Tutoring deposit

[Flyg]

I’m hoping I can get some other opinions on a situation with my child’s tutor company.

At the end of the school year just gone, we were sent an email asking whether we would like to continue with the same arrangements in September. I confirmed we did. Next email was along the lines of “great, please pay a £90 deposit” - I only scan read that email because as soon as I saw “deposit” I thought it was to guarantee the tutor and slot we wanted and the £90 would be deducted from Septembers invoice.

today I received the invoice for September (not due for payment til 1st September, sent early because of holidays - fine) and there was no deduction for the £90 already paid. So I replied asking for it to be amended.

i was then told that the deposit won’t be deducted from Septembers invoice but will be held to provide 2 weeks termination notice for when I do eventually cancel the arrangement.

she pointed me to the previous email, which reads:

• To confirm your child’s space for September, a non-refundable deposit covering the cost of two lessons is required by 1st August 2025.
• This deposit will secure the booking and will be used to cover the 2 week notice period when tuition is terminated.
• Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee your child’s slot if the deposit is not received by this date.

is this standard practice? I feel robbed at paying £90 in August when I expected a month off paying for tuition, seeing as my child is receiving no tuition.

i understand she has to deal with parents who probably cancel without notice, but this feels punitive to all her existing clients. I’d appreciate anyone else’s thoughts on whether this is reasonable? I haven’t replied yet.

I see your point. I do understand why it’s being done that way to account for those that cancel without notice. I wouldn’t like it though, especially at this point in the year.

So when you give notice of stopping tuition, you won’t have to pay for the last two sessions? Because this payment covers them.

I guess it’s to stop people giving up the tutoring with no notice at all, which would then make it really hard to fill the space immediately. Surely you can understand that if they don’t do it like that, they are very vulnerable to being left in the lurch? It’s not like they’re taking your money for good - it will pay for your last two lessons.

I think it was all set out in the email, and it wasn't her fault you didn't read it. I also think it's fair enough as a policy. The tutors' need to have some protection.

And likewise it isn’t my fault that other parents have broken their agreement to give notice.

i would have found this a lot more palatable when I started the arrangement, but now we are almost a year into it and this change has been introduced.

im not the only parent who feels this way as she’s also sent an email to several parents called “deposit clarification” and said her earlier email seems to have caused confusion.

im asking really whether this is a standard practice. I completely understand why it’s wanted, and I also understand tutors need to be paid which is why I would adhere to the 2 weeks notice period.

£90 is a lot of money and it’s really making me think I should now cancel because I expected a £90 lower bill in September and now I won’t get that relief. I just want to know what other people would do as I’m not thinking as clearly as I’d like because money worries are emotive aren’t they.

and yes, I didn’t read the email, realise I should have thank you 😅

Yes that’s right the last 2 lessons, which could be 1,2,3 years in the future will be free.

or I could give notice now in response to the £90 issue and take 2 free lessons in September and try and find another tutor

I do a similar job to this, and if I change any T&Cs, I always send an email to warn parents a term in advance. However, getting parents to pay/give notice etc isn't always easy so I do sympathise with tutors who charge deposits/registration fees etc.

Well, yes, you could. If you don't like their terms of business, you can choose to take your business elsewhere.

The other part I should have mentioned is that I’m paying a month in advance, every month, so if I cancel in the first 2 weeks of the month she already has that full months payment which makes up the 2 weeks notice. She will only lose out if I cancel at the end of the month.

if I was paying week by week I’d maybe find it easier to accept.

It is off of her to do this when you are a year into working with her, but it would have been fine if she’d done it from the start.

It doesn’t really matter what standard practice usually is if she’s a one woman band. She can state the terms she wants and her potential clients can respond how they want. If she’s good at what she’s doing and you want to keep her, you will just have to deal with it.

Posted twice somehow

I had a client cancel with no notice- I had been about to send the invoice. It left me very uncomfortable financially and made me think that in future ongoing situations like that, early break in the contract needs to be paid for. I’d look to those parents who don’t give adequate notice rather than the tutor, there’s very little you can do otherwise as people simply don’t pay.

on a different but related note, do you expect the tutoring to continue for several years? Or might you see those two paid-for lessons a bit sooner?

I agree if this was the deal from the start it would be different.

Ok. I should read emails - check! and I can choose to take my business elsewhere - check.

will you be popping up to state the obvious for the entire thread, or??

Advance payment is very much the norm in tutoring - I charge termly in advance, some half-termly or monthly but I've never heard of anyone charging week-by-week

I’ve also done self employed teaching (of adults, a professional qualification) myself and wasn’t paid one month because the guy running the company was short on cash flow so I do totally get it, I just think it’s moving the goalposts on me, an existing client who has never so much as paid late.

I would like to continue for the next 2 school years, that’s the current plan. So in 2 years I’ll be £90 up!

I think both of you (tutor and you) are reasonable in your positions. It’s difficult with the clash of interests because each of you can justify feeling the way you do!

I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to drop the tutor a line and say you'd have appreciated some notice before changing T&Cs. It can be helpful to know what clients are thinking.

Having said that, I don't think the tutor can do different rules for different clients - I feel I have to treat all my clients the same, I can't have a different rule for the good-payers (much as I'd like to!).

It’s £90 let it go. If you’re happy with the tumour and don’t want the hassle of finding another just drop it. You’ll get it back one day.

Yes I’m fine with paying in advance

but if someone was planning to leave without any notice they would probably wait until the end of the month to do so!

Thank you, although 78% think I’m unreasonable for asking how they would feel about it 😂

I guess they would.

I struggle understanding that because it’s just not something I’d do. I signed up to an agreement whereby I give 2 weeks notice and so that’s what I would do.

No need for the snarky response. If it's all as obvious as you say it is, then there isn't an issue, is there?

I don’t tutor but I do work where people pay me by the session. Sadly not everyone thinks as you do and I assume the tutor has been stung by people not keeping to notice terms. It’s shit but she needs to protect her income or she’ll not be able to continue.