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

philclayton7

I would change instructor especially if they cancel on you. Find an instructor who is smypathetic to your circumstances

Car_54

philclayton7 wrote: »

I would change instructor especially if they cancel on you. Find an instructor who is smypathetic to your circumstances

The OP has cancelled on a number of occasions, and the instructor has not charged her. How much more sympathetic would you like him to be?

happyinflorida

If it's an informal arrangement and she's not asked for the money, then I'd say no don't pay as she has also cancelled on you several times.

stmartinsdiver

Despite being a parent I find it hard to believe that "sickness" or "childcare emergencies" would just happen to coincide with a pre-booked driving lesson more than once in a blue moon - unless you were having lessons every day week in, week out.

If the arrangement is sufficiently informal that your teacher also fails to turn up sometimes without prior notice then I would say it's 'tit for tat' but I bet that before long one of you will get fed up with being let down so you'd better hurry up and pass your driving test.

oldnewhand

It's always difficult when friends or acquaintances do a paid job for you on an informal basis, you want to keep it informal but that can lead to discord. It is best to set out ground rules at the start to avoid bad feelings or disagreements later. In many cases it could be possible to negotiate an alternative time, when someone can mind children etc. It was mentioned about pupils booking time out of work; do people really do that; I thought most folk booked lessons when they weren't working. I know my grandson found it a nightmare as he worked varying shifts that were only decided 1-2 weeks in advance, but he managed. Seems someone may be making mountains out of molehills. Yes the instructor has to make a living but a better living will be made by fulfilling the needs of your clients and the pupil needs a good relationship with instructor so both sides need to play fair.

saajan_12

Once a lesson is booked, that forms a contract -> so if either side cancel they should reimburse the other side's losses.

* If learner cancels with enough notice, the instructor should be able to get another lesson in that slot, so loss = 0
* If learner cancels at short notice then the instructor is losing out on income for that time. Rearranging the lesson doesn't help an instructor thats usually fully booked and could have had 2 lessons paid instead of 1. => Loss = lesson price - fuel cost.
* If instructor cancels with enought notice, and the learner hasn't made specific arrangements which they can't get out of => Loss = 0
* If instructor cancels with short notice and reschedules, then the learner should pay for 1 lesson (ie not pay for the cancelled slot). But they could also have to book time off work twice, pay for child care twice etc => Loss = Childcare / work income for the missed slot

Basically with enough notice, all good. Otherwise the learner should pay for lessons they cancel, while for lessons the instructor cancels, of course they should not charge, but also compensate the learner .

The reason shouldn't really matter. If you have an emergency then its unfortunate but atleast its rare. That doesn't mean it should impact the other side financially.

Car_54

saajan_12 wrote: »

Once a lesson is booked, that forms a contract

Indeed, and a well-organised instructor who subscribes to the industry's code of practice should have given the OP a copy of the terms of business which govern that contract, and which include "the terms which apply to cancellation of lessons by either party".


That would have removed any uncertainty.

theshed

Some years ago I was a self employed Driving Instructor, sub contracting to another provider.
Their policy was full payment if cancelled within 48 hours, however the fee was split between the two of us. Generally I would charge 50% and pay the provider, I would take the loss on the first occasion. Second time within 24 hours again 50% third time full payment.
I only cancelled on one occasion, when my wife went in to have our first child.
As others have said, driving Instructors have to earn a living like everyone else, but if you start charging for every missed appointment you will run out of custom.