Mum told me on the day of tutoring that there is no more tutoring

[Thatyachtmusicsong]

Can anyone help please?

I do private tutoring and have tutored one student twice per week for three years.
She has had some health issues and we changed from tutoring at her home to online 6 or so months ago.
We tutored over summer until the last few weeks of August when she said she was taking a breaj for summer and would tutor again as always in September.
Today I messaged in the morning checking that all was okay for tutoring in the evening and the mum told me that they decided to take her out of school and have signed up to an online school.
The mum said she doesn't know about the future and how things will go and she would take a pause for our tutoring as it may be too much for her.
I feel sad for her and understand the situation, but this has come as a real shock to me as we rely on those lessons financially. I had done tje planning for September and feel shocked they only let me know on the day of tutoring, which leaves me no time to find something else.

Stupidly, I don't have a contract.

What would you do about this situation?

Would it be fair to ask for a months payment since I had no notice etc?

Feel like I've really been left in the lurch

If the client broke the contract, OP could go use the small claims court.

It happens both ways. I once had a tutor who told me - my kids were improving so much, were delightful to teach etc and without warning sent an email saying she had changed her hours and would no longer be available to teach my kids. I saw her advertising on a website shortly afterwards.

Tutoring is a casual arrangement.

The end of the first week of August then she was having a break and then to return to tutoring first day of school (whether she was able to go in or not)
Due to tutor online at 5, I texted in the morning (even though the date was set) and she replied a couple of hours before the lesson.
She said she hadn't realised was back to school today and the online school starts next week and she only got her in last week, when she could see that she really wouldn't be able to make it into school. She said at the moment she has no idea of the future, she's not sure how or if she'll cope with the online school, but tutoring on top at the moment.

It's really hard as I really feel for them too and care about her, so it's a sensitive one, but also that pay covered my mortgage. I just feel gutted all round really.

It's the risk when working without contract. I work in that way, enjoy the flexibility it can offer when my school has things happening, whilst knowing it can work both ways and some parents may be also need that flexibility too.

One to take on the chin.

Just out of curiosity OP, why didn't you have a contract? Genuine question.

Also, is it just this client you don't have a contract for or are there other clients you don't have a contract for?

There is nothing you can do. You could have contacted her earlier to ensure you were restarting.

If the work is THAT important that is covers your mortgage, why on EARTH don't you have contracts?

If a contract is in place, it would be the same as any other breach of contract…small claims court.

FWIW @Thatyachtmusicsong, I do think that after 3 years, they should have given paid notice. They don’t have to but, a decent person would. 1 or 2 wrap up lessons would also have been a good idea. 3 years is a long time to tutor a child, build a relationship and a rapport.

I feel for you. It’s not a reflection on you but it is a hard lesson to learn.

Even without a contract, she should be paying you for the lesson that she cancelled so late. There had been an understanding that you were going to teach her that day.
Also, as you had been teaching her for so long, I wonder if there is a contract by default. Ie she paid you monthly, there's she has to give or pay a month's fees. If she paid weekly, she has to give or pay a week's notice. (I know this works in other settings but not sure about tutoring!)
As others have said, get a contract drawn up for future students! Maybe a term or half term notice period/payment in advance.

I sympathise with you. When I was a teen, I gave French lessons to the little boy next door. His nan (mum) told me he wanted to stop an hour before a lesson I had prepared. I was pissed, but honestly had no leg to stand on. Unfortunately, you have no contract. so no more of a leg to stand on than I did. I get you have more of a problem as you are relying on the lessons for income, but unfortunately you've made the same wrong move I did, and you have as little come back on it. Always have a contract.

Tutor here. I don't have contracts that would cover someone stopping tuition - as people's circumstances change. I've had for example students change A level courses, or leave 6th form to start work instead. I don't worry as I can usually fill the space quickly enough. I do not hold spots for anyone though.

You've had a shocking experience there OP, but as you say, a learning experience. Now is the time to issue all future clients with a contract outlining notice periods and cancellation charges, and to produce some version of the same to send to all existing clients.
You can tell this woman factually that she has left you in a perilous position financially by leaving without notice, and that you would like her to pay for (say) two weeks' worth of lessons. Don't grovel and don't make it sound as if she's legally obliged to. Good luck.

The only thing you can do is let them know that a retainer will be required to hold the slot “on pause” for a few weeks. No retainer means that you can’t guarantee the slot will be available if and when they wish to resume.
she has no intention of coming back and is giving a soft let down rather than cancelling straight out

Yes there can be an implied contract even without a written contract. And that would usually include a reasonable notice period. Hard to say what that period is but after a 3 year standing arrangement it would certainly be more than a few hours.

how often did you bill her?
how much notice did she give you of not wanting lessons in August?
These might be indicators of a reasonable notice period.

I wouldn’t be wanting to argue this in a court but I absolutely think it’s worth a try - I’d be saying that you require a reasonable notice period in order to terminate a long standing regular arrangement, alternatively you need her to make a payment in lieu of notice of (x weeks) lessons’ cost. You could soften this by saying that if her child is able to handle some tutoring in future, you will provide lessons up to the value of any payment she has made in lieu of notice, but these would need to fit around your other tutees at that time.

I've had a couple of tutors for my children and had to pay when I needed to cancel at short notice (i.e. same day). But the arrangement itself was cancellable without notice with one. With the other I chose my sessions at the beginning of the month and paid for those but wasn't tied in for the next month.

How can you rely on tutoring for your financial stability when you don’t have terms and conditions, including missed lesson notice, cancellation and notice periods?

There is nothing you can do. But you need a contract with terms like one month notice etc, and you need to get every other family to sign.

You have to be business like whenever money is exchanged. It’s pretty naive not to have a contract.

I don’t think you can do anything.

I would get new students however you usually do that. There are lots of websites and people will be looking for tutors.

Try asking for a month's payment in lieu of notice. But don't expect her to agree.

I can see how this happens. We've only dipped our toe into tutoring but it's been casual PAYG. You should have formalised it at some point between starting and getting 3 years in and relying on the income, and she has really taken advantage of the fact that you didn't.

I was self employed for years and I did have contracts/ deposits/ retainers etc one think I learnt was that people hate giving notice and feel awkward so will avoid it where possible. I think she was letting you go in August and assumed it was done.
it is unfair but it is the nature of self employment . Advertise and replace and don’t let anyone “take a break” without holding the space with a retainer.

You should never solely rely on one single student. They are not your employer. It's like a P.T or a cleaner. If no contract, or up front payment is in place, you are left vulnerable. Having said that, you are a business. A self-emplyed business. You should always be looking for students and promoting your services. You should be constantly building yourself up so you can have a steady stream of income, and be ready to replace a student if, and when they decide to stop using your services.

Just replace her with another student and when she comes crawling back because online school didn't work(and they'll be back) just say sorry iam full

I think you need to chalk this up to experience. You've been lucky to have one student for such a long time. You need to get some paperwork in place for next time. Get payment for the month in advance and also require 24hr notice of cancellations and maybe something about 2 or 3 cancellations in a row and your place won't be reserved.

A shame but you can’t ask for the money now. Well you can ask but she won’t pay so all you’ll have done is cause bad feeling and you probably need the word of mouth recommendations.

get the word out you are available for tutoring.

in the future, get advance payment/contract in place. (I have paid in August for my DS’s music tutoring through until October half term, first lesson next week. I’ll be billed for the nov- December term the week before October half term.)

I think you need to let this go.

You don't have any form of contract or agreement. Even a whats app stating notice period and holidays and her reply agreeing would have done in a squeeze.

I also would have checked in at thenstart of the week to make sure they were still on track for tutoring this week