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.

I translate that as some families value their time far more yours

I’d tell all parents that you have a 24 hour cancellation policy so payment be received 24 hours before the start of the lesson. And with pains in the arse, tell them that the slot isn’t their’s until they pay to secure it. They can have a refund if they give 24 hours’ notice.

Nope.

OP should insist on being paid up front going forward for families like this, or child won't be tutored.

My piano teacher does it like this - at the first lesson of each month writes an invoice for the rest of that month and I pay there and then by bank transfer for that month. He doesn't offer refunds but will accommodate a reschedule during the month for any lessons which I can't make due to illness etc (which is pretty rare). it works for both parties, puts it on a clear and unequivocal business-like footing and is fair. If you establish something like this from the beginning I'm sure it'd work work well for you. hope so.

@Sashavelour65 OP this is how my old boss started off.
She eventually stopped paying altogether.
And I don't mean just me - it turns out she'd done it to tens of people, amounting to millions.

It's a warning shot. Don't work for them.

Our tutors (we have a couple across the kids) either invoice at the end of the month (so normally after 4 lessons, we pay). Or they ask for a block up front and ask me to pay once it's run out for another chunk. They're all quite pricey (over 100 an hour) but really don't seem to need paying immediately. Their invoices state within 7 days and the tutor who we pay a chunk to, quite often does a couple of free lessons before he flags that we have emptied the account (i have checked he isnt expecting me to stay on top of this and he isnt, he forgets to check regularly himself).
I'm not defending the parents, you've clearly asked them and clearly work differently to our tutors, so do whatever you need to do to make it work for you. However, I think you're the only tutor I've heard of who needs paying afterwards but within 24 hrs. I'd probably forget too, every week, when parents are super busy and life admin is hard to be on top of, it's tough to balance things and I normally dedicate a couple of hours throughout the week to transferring to various activities, clubs, lessons etc. I think if you need it immediately, invoice for a block up front or ask for cash only.

My husband has done this with our cleaner a few times and I remind him constantly. He’s like this with me when he owes me (we don’t shave joint accounts, we have costs each so we have similar disposable income) - I have to remind him over and over. It’s annoying. I’ve told him he can’t do that when people are self employed and it’s their wages - he’s better now.
I genuinely think people who are employed don’t realise how big of a deal this is. To them they compare it to a friend forgetting to send a bit of cash they owe.

Give them one last chance, explain you need payment in advance. That’s what my son’s driving instructor does - he does still send a remind though, it’s harder to remember ahead of the lesson I find!

What are they learning that costs 100 am hour?
It's perfectly normal to expect to be paid within 24 hours

Ugh bring a kids club and have this for the whole bloody term. I mean people owing me hundreds do weeks. It’s always the rich ones too

Sorry that meant I run a kids club

Our child has a tutor for a GCSE subject and we pay upfront in ten lesson blocks. I'd demand the payment or say you will be starting legal action and sack off this family. From then on, get your families to pay in advance.

It’s difficult because you know if you get rid of them you get nothing, or you just put up with late payment. As a self employed person you do want to try and keep the clients

It sounds a stress- but I hate to say I was fearful when I clicked on this thread that it was our tutor complaining about us.

which is to say - before you walk away from this customer- try to see if you can automate payments so there is no need to have hassle at your side or their side

Maybe even suggest a standing order? There might be ways to automate payments with accounting software if you have it.

but thy obviously want you, and you want the custom. So have an open and honest conversation about a smooth system of payments which is no hassle for either of you.

I’ve actually been meaning to email my tutor to suggest the same thing

A lot of people are dishonest, unfortunately. But it's also a real hassle to have to pay per lesson. Bill them in advance for at least a month's worth of lessons. It's easier for everyone. Rich people are the worst, in my experience. It think it's the sense of superiority. They're rich and special, so they deserve the best. What they conveniently forget is that they're paying the same as everyone else.

It takes 3 seconds to do a bank transfer. I don't get how anyone can have an excuse for late payment now

Lesson learnt. Always get an upfront payment from any client.

It's a no brainer.

If anyone enrols for classes that are run termly (eg adult leisure classes or kids' classes) payment is upfront for the term.

I learned the hard way. I tutored for 20 years as an alternative to being in school on a 0.5 post.

I set up my home with books and other equipment needed and ran it as a business.

At the very start of my tutoring , I did accept payment weekly but that was when I worked through an agency- 30 years ago.

When I was established and had a waiting list, it was payment half-termly.

I've been tutoring for 20 years .... have you got a business account ? I used to get so anxious chasing up payments ... now I send a Payment link through my bank . My son has a maths tutor ... we have to pay a month in advance and I wouldn't DREAM of not doing it x

Dear ....
Due to regular late payments for my services I now require payment me at least 48 hours in advance of the planned lesson. If I dont receive payment please be advised that the lesson will not taje place.
Many thanks in anticipation of your support.

Writing an agreement doesn't help you get paid quicker or timely. People often make the mistake in thinking it solves anything and it doesn't. Written agreements and contracts are only used when you go to court, as evidence. That's it. And only a numpty will go to court unless absolutely necessary.

It is so frustrating OP. You trust people on their good will and sending payment on-time. No excuse for sending late. They don't forgot dc has a lesson but will totally forgot with sending money. When my dc's were being tutored, we paid 4 weeks up front. It worked well. If they continue to do this then I would tell them you cant continue with the tutoring.

My tutor asked for payment in advance. Implement this for late payers.

Fell foul of this myself - I was the shitty payer with my therapist. Her signal was rubbish and I couldn’t connect to tap the transaction through. On a number of occasions we’d abandon payment and I’d swear I’d do it from home. I’d forget in the rush of everything. She would send a reminder which I know is a pain in the arse for her.

she’s changed premises now and the signal is good, I don’t leave without the payment going through. Can you ask him to complete the payment at pickup?

There’s no excuse for this.
I pay my son’s tutor during his lesson.

It does, actually.

No one is talking about legal action FGS!

The whole point of giving out T&Cs is so parents know how to pay.

If they don't pay on time you stop tutoring their child.

I had a waiting list and enquiries almost weekly. I could have replaced a 'bad payer' overnight.

No tutor wants to do that if they genuinely care about their student, and I never had to do it- perhaps because the parents had the T&Cs in writing?