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I’m struggling with last-minute cancellations – what should my policy be? (All Teachers)
This is probably my least favourite thing about teaching. That moment when you get a no-show and you have to call them up and remind them about your policy. Usually this is the moment where the great students apologise and offer to pay straight away, but I’ve had some people just not reply and disappear off the map. My only technique thus far is to have a written version of the policy that students sign right at the start at the end of the first lesson. But when push comes to shove, this still makes me feel awkward.
Any tips on how to get around this? (Especially for teachers who are usually paid cash)
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67 Replies
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Get them to pay one week in advance so they are always one week in front. x
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Great idea! Do you introduce this right at the start? Are people nervous about paying for two classes at once when they’ve just joined up?
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Due to a strict and clearly communicated system, I am rarely messed around. Sometimes you just can’t avoid the odd let down, which Matthew refers to as “bad debt” which you just write off and move on as you can’t exactly go to court for the sake of £30.
My system is: Upon booking a first lesson, I inform the student straight away that the first lesson is cash in hand and that 48 hours’ notice is required for cancellations. I also inform them that upfront monthly payments are required after their initial lesson if they’re happy to continue.
For first lessons though, there’s literally nothing you can do except trust them. I haven’t had a problem too often though, but if you need to cover yourself for those first lesson no-shows, I have a teacher that takes upfront paypal payment online even for first lessons, which also includes a £10 deposit.
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I would like to add that you should never be shy of detailing the policy at the start. This is how you can gage how serious and committed the student is. And it’s your business after all, and most people understand and respect that:)
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I take all new bookings through my online booking system, where they pay for a lesson via Paypal. Since implementing this system I have completely removed the problem of ‘no shows’ – I generally like to think that if they won’t pay in advance for a lesson then they are not serious or committed for the lessons. I also ask for 48 hours notice for cancellation to be entitled to a refund.
In the first lesson I let the student know that I ask for them to pay a lesson in advance from the second lesson. Most people have been understanding of this and I never really have a problem with it. If they do ask why I do this I tell them that it is to secure their lesson in advance as well as provides them with security knowing that the lesson is already paid for if they for example, forget to bring payment on one lesson, they can then pay the lesson in advance from the next time to put them back to where they were. I also get everyone to sign a pre-prepared student agreement which I make a copy of for them to take home:)
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