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.

Charge for at least 5 lessons in advance (preferably 10). Agree your terms for cancellation in writing and put these on the invoice. For instance, can they cancel a lesson with no charge if they give you 24 hours or 48 hours' notice? If not, make it clear that if they cancel or don't attend a lesson, it's charged for. Just think about what's the norm in your industry and how much these parents want you. Don't have a lesson if they haven't paid.

Do block bookings! Pay X in advance for X number of weeks

I'd drop them tbh

My kids have had tutors and singing lessons in the past and we have always had to pay ahead of the lessons, usually at the start of the month. I would definitely move to this from now on. No payment means no lessons

They need to pay in advance. That is what we do with the agency we use for tutoring.

You can invoice for the month so you don't need to chase weekly. That's how my piano teacher invoiced me. If you are away or sick you omit a week in the next invoice that could be in your terms and conditions.

I would ask for it in advance. I may be about to embark on similar work but for undergrads and postgrads. dont tihnk id trust them to pay on time!

honestly my husabnd is like the parents you cite and it made my life unbearably stressful and I ended up having a terrible breakdwon

Surely the easiest solution is to take payment in advance. No experience with tutors, but my driving instructor last year wouldn't start the lesson until I've paid.

If she's charging £30 a lesson and they pay per lesson. Can she take them to small claims court for £30?

She would be better off putting them and herself out of this misery. They obviously struggle to budget their money. It would be easier to call it a day.

Block payments in advance is the norm I thought. Six weeks or whatever a half term is if you work to term dates. With a reminder 48 hours before the first session if they’d like to keep their slots as you have a waiting list. They’ll soon pay if it’s important to them. If not then remove them from your list.

why not say - I have another client who wants this slot. In order to continue with X I will need to be prepaid the week in advance.

Your job is tutoring not debt collection. They will proably stiff you the last
weeks fee too.

Go to the house and ask politely face to face for the money. I've done it several times and I have had cash immediately. The fact I'm 6ft 2 and big does have an advantage.

Failing that when the kids rock up just say no, your parents don't pay me without lots of chasing, it's embarrassing to repeatedly ask for cash so you need to go home

I once forgot to pay for my hairdresser - I told her I'll send a bank transfer and went home - three hours later completely went out of my head. My dad did the same thing just a few days ago. So forgetting to pay is normal, but then rectifying it immediately is fine. I now pay her in advance of the appointment because its easier.

Then you stop teaching them
There will be plenty of other students
I was much softer when I started but not any more.
Give 'em an inch and all that

It sounds like you don’t have a proper contract. You need to be clear on your terms else sometime that week is fine IMO. If you think they’ll ignore the terms then you need payment in advance and you don’t turn up and book someone else in their session.

we had piano lessons where I just paid after. Clearly I forgot some and so she just reconciled at the end of the term and I made up in bulk. I’d have rather a more timely reminder but at the same time understand I shouldn’t have put the admin burden on her and as I couldn’t check (sporadic cancellations from the teacher) I just had to pay. This agreement worked for us. But if it doesn’t work for you then write your terms as such.

No, that's not true at all. I can't think of any service where I don't pay in advance, apart from one offs like boiler maintenance (and even then I pay very promptly)

Tell them your policy is if they don’t pay within 24hrs again you will require payment 3 days in advance of any session going forward. If not received session will not go ahead and you will look to fill their slot from your waiting list.

But that’s when OP chases, so it could well be a lot longer than that if not chased.

I would ask for 5 lessons paid in advance for those who are not being regular with their payments. I would be so embarrassed to not pay for it immediately- like a hairdresser, cleaner, GP whatever. You can't just not pay the same day.

I think I’d just say to them, politely, that tutoring is how you make your living.
Given they have trouble remembering to pay for their child’s sessions, you can now only continue in a pre-paid basis.
If that is not acceptable you need to part ways, and good luck finding another tutor.

When I used to tutor it was payment before I left

Are you changing per session? I would do it in a block of 4 or 6 and get pre-payment or they'll lose their place.

Every tutor I’ve used I’ve paid upfront before the lesson. My daughter has just started with a new maths tutor and I was required to pay in advance for the first lesson, and I’ve been offered a discount if I pay for 10 lessons upfront.

I can't think of any other tutoring service with payment after the event. Pre-payment only, preferably blocks of ten..

100% payment in advance, I pay my daughter's singing lessons by term up front. If the teacher is sick or can't make the lesson due to her fault, she will either carryy it forward to the next term, it refund of requested.