-
Students Owing Some Money (All Teachers)
Just a bit of advice really needed on my next step!
Got a student who is currently owing money from missed lessons, they are currently on my ‘pay as you go’ scheme rather than pay monthly.
Invoice was served in February and the date due passed at the beginning of this month, and so late payment charges are being applied for each late day.
Payment still hasn’t come through even though I am emailing and texting daily, so I have said that if it is not received by midnight tonight then all future lessons will be suspended until payment is made.
SO what I’m looking for is what is my next step should the payment still not be made even if I suspend lessons? I don’t think the amount owed is substantial enough for small claims court unfortunately.
EDIT: Will also note that this is a long standing student who has been with me for a few years, payments used to be absolutely fine with them up until the end of last year!
-
12 Replies
-
I usual only give students two weeks if no payment received I suspend lessons X
-
Beckie Oldham I’ve had to deal with something similar a few times in the past.
I had someone who was ignoring the fact they didn’t show for some lessons, for me the threat of suspending lessons for them did the trick (It was 2 weeks worth of lessons they were a no-show for) – you’re right in what you’re doing. If the threat of suspension doesn’t shake them up then unfortunately I think it might be a lost cause. Is it a few lessons worth? It’s always hard to write off earnings. As you said, its not an SCC issue because its a low amount. You’d also have to consider if your time is valuable enough to chase it, or if you can just take it on the chin and move on.
In the past I’ve also had someone attend a lesson saying he didn’t have any cash on him and that he’d pop to the cash point at the end of my road and drop it back in. This wasn’t an issue as I tend to trust students and in the past people have done this and honoured in. This particular guy didn’t return. I found it odd because it was perhaps his 7/8th lesson but I dismissed it as he’d just forgot because we discussed it at the start of the lesson. So I texted him, he asked if he could bank transfer me the funds so I agreed and he said he would bank transfer me that lesson and the following lessons worth. Week after rolls around and I’ve got him booked in and he doesn’t show…. I then ended up 2 lessons out of pocket. He never returned any texts or calls.
Since that, I’ve learnt my lesson. All lessons are payable upfront via Paypal invoices now. You have to pay Paypal a small commission (3p per £1 I believe), but for me the piece of mind that its paid is so much better than having to chase cash transactions. Also my admin is reduced because the money goes straight to my bank!
-
But… you could always call their bluff and tell them you’ll be speaking to the Small Claims Court… perhaps that’ll light a fire under them:)
-
The invoice that is late is for 4 lessons missed over the course of a month (I teach 2 children out of the family), but there is another invoice for one more missed lesson in February, but that isn’t due until the beginning of next month.
The parent has text me back saying that payment will be made tomorrow, but now having the cheek of trying to reschedule tonights lesson to monday – I’ve told them there will be no reschedule until the payment is made. So just got to see what happens tomorrow!
They used to be really good in terms of paying – they would pay in cash at the start of the lesson, then this all changed as of December, they’ve become very sporadic and I am barely seeing the students (they keep cancelling an hour before the lesson so I am still charging for lesson) I’m considering making them move to the ‘pay monthly’ scheme so that there is less chance of this happening again, and I get payments for the full month in advance. I have spoken to the parent about the regularity of the lessons and they’ve said they want to carry on with them.
I’ve had to write off earnings before, with both students and other teachers I have worked with in the past (but thats a whole other story lol)
Just glad to know that what I’m doing is right!
-
Glad you got it sorted (provisionally!)
I’ve had that issue in the past too. I find the issue is, for the children that are learning, music is a hobby. It’s something they do in their spare time. It’s seen as ok to miss a night of a hobby. They don’t see the implication on it being someones job/income.
It’s not seen as a big issue to cancel something that’s a hobby. I find most people are totally understanding of this being our jobs and our livelihood depending on them showing up as scheduled. But you do occasionally get someone that comes along to throw a challenge in the mix.
It almost goes back to the age old idea that what we do isn’t actually a job! haha.
“But it’s not really working is it, you’re just making music”
Log in to reply.