Paying for missed classes

[littlesez]

I am a dance teacher and over the last 2 weeks class numbers have been ridiculously low. People get sick, injured, and more commonly can't be arsed.

Because of this i do not have enough money to pay the room hire or wages (week before christmas), they should all be made to pay right? if my daughter misses swimming i still have to pay for the lesson because the swimming teacher still has to be paid right? Tough shit.

WDYT?

[littlesez]

thankyou so much all very good advice, i had thought about closing down early for christmas but we already have 2 weeks off and missing more would upset the majority of cooperative families.

ok i wrote a letter asking for missed payments, if they dont pay, no class next year for them. I think monthly is way to go for next year as not as much a change as termly. its already an option and works out cheaper anyway so that will be my argument "its cheaper"

thanks mumsnetters much appreciated

[RoadArt]

I would start the new term as pay for the term upfront, no payment, cant start.

Dont worry about the sob stories, you will get lots.

People have to make a commitment, as you said, you still have to pay your costs and your fees will incorporate these costs.

Also specify that to run the class you need a minimum of xxx paid customers. If you dont get that number by a certain date, then the class cannot run.

People will always not pay, delay paying, give sob stories. It doesnt concern you, you are running a business/service for children.

Pay as you go is great for parents who dont want to commit their child to something, but you need to able run your club profitability and I would move away from this.

There is NOT ONE club we go to that we get a refund if we dont turn up. The only exception was swimming when DC broke her arm. Most clubs wont re-schedule either because again its a disruption for the organisers.

Dig your heels in, be firm, and it will work.

Good luck

[thisisyesterday]

littlesez, i would actually have a lsat ditch attempt at reclaiming the money you are owed

send letters to all of those who have missed classes pointing out that it is not a "pay per session" scheme and that they owe you £X for the sessions they have missed

THEN, send out a letter to everyone, explaining that due to some parents not attending/paying it is impossible for you to afford to hire the facilities and as such payments will now be monthly in advance. late payments will incur a fee/removal from class

this is all NORMAL. they won't leave just ybecause you ask them to pay what they're supposed to pay!!

[santadefiesgravity]

One solution could be to have two price structures which is what a local class my children went to did. They had their weekly cost for those who paid half termly in advance then they had a higher weekly rate for pay as you goers.

[QuintessentialShadows]

No, dont give them time to March. That way they will just find a different activity for their LO.

Write a letter and say that as from January 1st fees will be paid per term in advance. You can tell them this is because you need to pay the rent on the location in advance.

[louvert]

I think you're right that termly would be better. Very difficult to transition to this, though, when the school's already established (IMHO). I agree that a march start - or even september - would be sensible.

[mamatomany]

If people are used to paying on the day they will see it as pay as you go, don't go don't pay.
I'd be changing that as of the new year.

[suzikettles]

littlesez - I don't think there's anything for them to get their heads around. It's totally normal to pay upfront and they'll be used to it.

To be honest, paying on the day but then having to pay for missed sessions might be slightly confusing as you usually only pay per session when it's drop in.

I'd send a letter out saying that in the New Year fees will be monthly for everyone - maybe you could say that anyone that will find this particularly difficult can speak to you. You could find a work around on a case by case basis if you know someone's reliable but will really struggle to find 4 weeks fees.

[littlesez]

Its not drop in and they all know it but I give them the option of paying monthly or on the day but yeh its really hard to get the money back then. I am really scared that people will just not come if i say pay upfront! What about if i introduce it for say March to give them time to get their heads round it? Rather than straight after christmas.

Thing is with swimming because i have paid upfront it makes me go every week if i had to pay it on the day i might not be as strict, oh i think i have just asnwered my own question there eh ?

[23balloons]

I paid up front for ds's swimming lessons in August. He has missed 6 lessons this term which has cost me aroung £50. I have therefore decided not to risk booking at all for next term.

[Clary]

If DD doesn't go to her dance class (which is pay each time rather than upfront) we have to pay about three-quarters of the fee.

I think this is fair enough - not sure if/how teacher enforces it tho (we always go!).

Most things we do are paid for upfront - Beavers, swimming, gym etc.

Brownies charges per night but I always pay for the whole term as I think it's too cheap anyway and of course Brown Owl is not making money from it!

OTOH I run a footie team and would never charge for non-attenders. But then it's very unusual for me not to have almost all 12 of them there anyway, and I only need 7 to cover the pitch fee.

[LeakMyWiki]

Well if it's not drop in, they need to pay in advance, no? Am confused I think!

[coppertop]

All classes around here have to be paid for at least half a term in advance. Refunds are only given if the teacher cancels the class.

Agree that you need to change your payment system asap.

[suzikettles]

You need to get them to pay in advance if you're not doing that already.

I think you'll find it tricky (although you'd be morally in the right) to bill them for classes they've not turned up to after the fact.

[santadefiesgravity]

I run drama claqsses and they are paid for termly in advance. dd's ballet classes are paid for 10 weekly in advance. It is entirely normal.

You need to change your system.

[thisisyesterday]

do you not make them pay in advance?

is it clearly pointed out to them that the whole term has to be paid for and there are no refunds if they miss a lesson?

if so then send them a bill pointing out that if they do not wish to pay they will no longer have a place

[DanceInTheDark]

DO they know it's not drop in?

[DanceInTheDark]

They would have already paid for this term would they not?

Is this children or adults?

I go to a dance class that is pay on the night, some weeks are low in numbers, some are full to the rafters and that's the nature of these things.

DH is a music teacher (private) and he charges termly. If the child doesn't attend then he has not sat on his arse missing work for no pay.

[Meglet]

We always have to pay in advance for music / swimming. It's a PITA for me when the DC's are sick and can't go but it has to be done.

Have you suggested to the parents that they need to pay in advance? Either termly or half-termly?

[littlesez]

just to clarify its not a drop in basis!

[Sinkingfeeling]

Yes, it's normal to pay for classes in advance, to avoid this problem. For all the classes my children do (dance, swimming, gymanstics, Beavers), we're invoiced right at the start of term.