Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay my driving instructor for missed lessons?

MSE_Sarah

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I started driving lessons eight months ago and sometimes have to cancel at the last minute due to sickness or childcare emergencies. It's a fairly informal arrangement, but should I pay my instructor anything to make up for the inconvenience? She's also cancelled on me a few times, so I don't feel too guilty.

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EssexExile

You & your instructor come to an agreement.

Marvel1

Yes, someone else could have taken the slot.

Scrapit

Of course.

thriftylass

Depends on what the T&Cs say to cancellation. Let's say you cancel 24 h in advance it's free, less than that you pay.

TheTalkingDead

Never had an agreement with my instructor as I paid per driving lesson and not in a block in advance which may tie you to a Terms and Conditions of a contract.


Personally unless the subject is brought up by the instructor then 'nuff said the better.

Tokk

Difficult...

Would anyone expect the instructor to be giving free lessons in lieu of ones cancelled at short notice?
... But what if the client in question were booking time out of work for the lessons in question? At that point (lost income, no time to rearrange to be working) I don't see a difference.



It's difficult - I'd be expecting the instructor to get rather annoyed with me after a while and even to start refusing to give lessons if it's getting too regular... On the other foot, if the instructor was cancelling on me too often I'd start looking for another instructor.
If the instructor is happy to keep giving lessons and hasn't asked for payment for the missed slots I don't think I'd be mentioning paying for them - obviously apologising for missing at short notice, as per good manners though... Having said this, obviously I'd have to be tolerant of the instructor having cancelled at short notice also.

Pickett1025

Yes you should Pay.If you bought a ticket to the theatre and then didn’t go they would still charge you as they could of sold the seat to someone else.
If you bought a seat on a flight and didn’t go they would still charge you as they could of sold the seat to someone else,
It’s no different for driving lessons.

Pickett1025

Also if you were going to work tomorrow and your boss said nah we don’t want you tomorrow and we are not paying you, then you would be peed off.Well it’s the same for the poor driving instructor if you don’t pay

Simmy77

It's a difficult one, especially as the instructor has cancelled on you.

Driving Lessons are not like a one off event like missing a coach trip on a particular day or missing a concert, they are an on going thing.

If the pupil misses that lesson on that day, they will still need the lesson at some point. Even if the instructor doesn't get paid that day, they will get paid for it when you have it.

Being self employed they should realise things like this happen and have sufficient funds laid aside to cover these eventualities.

Dame969

It’s quite simple if the instructor cancels on you you dont pay......if you cancel on them at short notice (usually within 48 hours) you still pay! Driving instructors are a professional service - you book a lesson you pay for it! They are not charities ..they have to earn a living just like everyone else - if it’s last minute they can’t fill a slot just like that and even with 48 hours notice they often can’t! Just remember it’s not just you they teach - If everyone cancelled they wouldn’t survive. Yes they need to keep money aside but that’s for holidays, sickness and vehicle maintenance etc. Not to cover for people cancelling at the drop of a hat!