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.

You need to set out your terms and conditions in writing.
So when payment to be made, cancellation terms etc. Reserve right to request payment in advance.
If you don’t need their business day you are ending arrangement from today due to repeated late payment.
If you do say you are moving to payment in advance and if not paid the session won’t go ahead.

I put my payment terms on my invoice, and I do think 24 hours is steep TBH. I also think it's dodgy not to send T&Cs but to expect people to act as if you were behaving professionally. And YY, it'd be perfectly fair to say you want payment in advance if you feel they're really at risk of not paying. But I think mostly, people treat you as a professional if you behave like one.

If they ignore a contract you can enforce it and take them to small claims court.

Perhaps charge double next time to get up to date, plus the next lesson a week in advance. Or a block payment. The first time they forget, drop them. Or drop them once you receive the owed payment.

You can have a proper contract or the verbal agreement you currently have, but YOU need to stick to your terms. You've been too lenient with them so far.

I'd tell them that due to the number of late payments you're changing your terms to payment 24 hours in advance

It a long time for a session by session service especially when you’ve been told the payment terms are 24 hours.

How about half term prepayment to be paid by a certain date and that’s it?

I do agree I've been far too lenient and so I will take on the above advice

I did a bit of tutoring in the past. I used to get paid in cash, which they handed to me as they arrived- if they hadn’t given me the cash, I wouldn’t have let them in! Could you do something like that?

You need a proper contract that sets out everything, what happens if you or they are ill , or on holiday etc. It should state the hourly/session rates and payment terms.

All the tutors I know charge upfront for a block of sessions, so per month or even per term

If I were the parent I would prefer paying in advance on monthly direct debit, anything to make the admin easier! They are clearly not good at remembering to pay after the lesson which isn't fair on you.

Would you get away with paying for a haircut three days late?

I wouldn't do 24hr in advance, because when they inevitably don't pay, you won't have the required notice to fill the gap.

Ever had a driving instructor? Well if you haven't, they charge in advance and if you don't give 24hrs of cancellation, you lose your money. Its because its your income and you absolutely have a right to be paid.

I would send the family a polite message by email, not text or WhatsApp and say that going forward, payment needs to be paid 24hrs in advance at the latest and without this it will be deemed the lesson is cancelled and the cancellation will be offered to other clients.

As for a read receipt and an acknowledgement. In the email give the payment details. Its the only way to avoid this.

Perhaps offer a discount if they pay monthly in advance so lets say if it is normally £50 a session and there are 4 a month, say if they prepay the month in advance, you will offer a discounted price of £190 for 4 sessions, individually it is £50. Fees are forfeited if the lesson is cancelled with less than 24hrs notice.

You need to get tough.

Hi,
Our daughter is getting Tutorials for 10 weeks and we are requested to pay the full amount in advance of the Tutorials commencing.
You need to contact them and stated going forward all tutorials need to be paid for in advance, otherwise the class won't go ahead, they are not being forgetful, they are being disrespectful to you.

We have had a tutor who wanted payment after each lesson and it was a bit of a pain. The new tutor charges in advance half termly and I much prefer that.

Just ditch them. Life is too short.

Maybe you should ask for payment before the lesson begins. At least then you can refund if you cancel or roll.over if they do.

This is actually what my dd does.

DD is being tutored twice a week: I get the invoice on Sunday, pay on Monday and tutoring starts on Tuesday. Tutor wouldn't teach if not paid.

DS was tutored and we paid the day of the tutor session happening.

Bin this client.

Ask for payment in advance……..or you could consider ‘forgetting ‘ the tutorial

Agree with PP, just ask for payment in advance.

This. You're not a charity.

Send them another reminder and say you need the payment immediately. Once you have the money just message them to say they either pay for each lesson 24 hours in advance or you cancel their child.

All of the tutors we have used have asked for a payment for the term before lessons begin!

I used to mostly charge in advance for 6 lessons. For others who paid weekly I actually bought a sum up machine so I could take card payments. Absolutely no excuse then! They are super cheap to buy (£15 on Amazon) - no monthly payments or contracts or anything - just buy the machine and download the app and you're good to go. They do take a percentage about 1.6% I think for each transaction but I just adapted my fees to reflect this.