Parents not paying for tutoring, getting beyond a joke now

[Sashavelour65]

This is where I should probably have a written agreement rather than relying on the goodwill of parents as I have done until now.

Started tutoring a GCSE pupil just after Christmas, agreed duration, rate and method of payment were agreed in a phone call before the Christmas holidays.
At the end of the lesson, we verbally agreed to continue the following week.

At the end of the very first lesson the father asked for payment methods and I sent over my bank details immediately after the lesson.
No payment sent, still nothing the next day. I sent a polite reminder, still nothing. 2 days after that I got a 'So sorry I totally forgot!' And a payment that evening with the wrong amount.

I advised on the correct amount, after the next lesson same thing happened. No payment after 3 days, so I texted saying going forward I will require payment within 24 hours of each lesson. They apologised and sent the payment and said they'd set a reminder.

The following week they sent it within 24 hours, so I thought the issue was resolved.

2 days late the week after. This time it's been 4 days and I haven't had the payment.
I've had enough now, they wouldn't do this with another paid service. I am still waiting on Thuesday's payment and I shouldn't have to be chasing up every week. Aibu to just tell them I won't be returning? I feel like they do not respect my time, I don't want to let the pupil down as it's not their fault.

Exactly this, they definitely wouldn't do this if they didn't think they could get away with it and it's totally unacceptable. They should be ashamed.

You need written T&Cs indicating that you need payment on the same day as the lesson. Pre-payment would be reasonable if you had a lot of issues like this. You also need to state that you need 24 hours notice for cancellation or even 48 hours because people like this are going to argue the toss with you if their child becomes ill or there is some other family drama. Have a look at a few websites for similar or related services as often the T&Cs are on there. I would always give a print out by hand at the outset. Make good eye contact and say politely and confidently, "These are my T&Cs and I do recommend that you read them".

Pre payment. No payment no lesson. Simple.

Tbh I wouldn't see this as unusual. Very few services I use require payment within 24 hrs and it sounds as though you weren't clear up front that yours did. From the title of your post I expected they were weeks behind in paying. As long as it's paid by the next lesson is have thought that would be ok. Now you've communicated your terms it's fair to expect them to meet them but are you making yourself easy to pay? Using Monzo or similar? Bank transfers are a pain.

Sashavelour65
They either pay in advance
Or
You don't tutor their liddle darling anymore.
He'll survive.
Some people mistake niceness for gullibility
And then will ride roughshot won't they??

I used to pay in cash when I collected after the lesson.
As it sounds like you go to them, why can't they just pay you via their banking App before you leave?

There was a total CF thread on here recently where it was the parent moaning about the tutor charging a month in advance.

Have a read.

Initially I would have maybe thought they were just used to paying for getting work done. You say they "wouldn't do this with another paid service", but I have never had work done in/on the house where the person who gave the invoice cared much as long as it was paid within a week or so. Just an invoice, pay when you get the chance, and gone.

But if you really want it to be so strict for some reason, now you have told them they should be doing it.

Ask for payment upfront if not, no lessons. They are taking the piss.

I can’t think of anything I pay weekly like that for my children. Tutorials I pay in a single invoice in advance per half term.

I think you’ve assumed it’s either normal or convenient to bill immediately after each tutorial whereas parents might actually prefer to pay for a block of tutorials in advance. I’d personally find it annoying to have to pay each week.

Sorry if this has been suggested already, but for all future clients, can you ask them to pre-pay monthly?

My husband was a self employed sports coach some years ago, payment was always taken up front for a block of lessons or if it was an ad-hoc thing it was cash up front before the lesson. No payment, no lesson. You need to have people pay up front for a block of tuition, rather than paying after each session, also if the person can't make it you aren't losing income. All clubs etc my children attend are done like this, a dd each month up front, if we can't make it that week we still pay.

Payment in advance of session and written contract.

All that needs to be done after payment is corrected and up to date is send a message:
Thank you for you recent payment. Please be advised that all further sessions are required to be paid at the time of booking in advance of the session.

My kids’ tutor bills us monthly in arrears, and I pay within moments of receiving it. I’m generally crap at admin but I’m super on it with her because I’m always afraid she’ll sack us.

I have to pay for my kids’ driving lessons before they set off so maybe you should do the same ;-) xx

Im clearly in the minority here, but I am self employed. I wouldn't be chasing until it was a week in your case, my work is done for people from my desk but I wouldn't chase until a month after my invoice was sent. I also invoice monthly though.

If it is such a big issue then get them to pay for blocks in advance. Clearly within 24 hours doesnt sound an issue for you but I regularly just forget to pay my cleaner (by bacs). She leaves a paper invoice and I purposefully leave it out to remind myself and recycle once paid - the couple of times my husband has thrown it away by mistake I have just forgotten to pay until days later.
And I literally do finance for a living.

I think your boundaries are too tight - get them to pay for blocks upfront or ask for cash on the day if you need it so fast.

If it is such a big issue then get them to pay for blocks in advance. Clearly within 24 hours doesnt sound an issue for you but I regularly just forget to pay my cleaner (by bacs)

I love the way you denigrate the OP's requirements and still regularly don't pay your cleaner on time. What shit behaviour.

If you regularly forgot to pay me you'd be binned off

ask them to book the lesson and pre-pay

I always found it was the wealthiest clients - who were so lax, had such little regard for settling their bills, and complete disregard for people (like you and me) who depended on work like this for our income.

It took me a long time to learn not to do any more work for them - until they pay for the work already done.

Get the latest payment owed and terminate their contract

Ooo I know - get a card reader!!

Following with interest. In a similar situation, many instances of not having the money until the next lesson or only part of it. I gain the least money from this family and now have two new families, all pay on time without fail. It’s not even completely about the money at times, it’s the lack of respect, it just doesn’t feel right and is not something i’d ever do. You never know a person’s circumstances and they could need that money and be relying on it that day.
I think I will probably be letting this one go in the future, really nice family, but I work hard on planning, often spend money on materials and then not to receive pay is just not professional or the respectful thing to do

All of those examples have a clear payment flow though - you get presented with a bill that you pay there and then.

You aren’t giving them any kind of flow and I can totally see how it could be forgotten.

Definitely change the way you work.

Either bill in advance for a term.

Or present them with a bill and a smile before you leave and wait for them to transfer the money before you leave.

It’s very hard to remember absolutely everything I need to do in my life and if service providers don’t send me reminders then yes I’m afraid there’s a chance they will get forgotten.

Make it easy for them - 1 bill for every term that you hand to them at the end of the last lesson of the previous term and wait for them to pay before you leave.