Tutoring policy

[kimmytaaa]

Hi
I just wanted to ask is there a policy for tutors not refunding payment or is that just ridiculous?

[brenden]

Hi
I just wanted to ask is there a policy for tutors not refunding payment or is that just ridiculous?

Hey, what do you mean? A policy from who?

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi
I just wanted to ask is there a policy for tutors not refunding payment or is that just ridiculous?

Do you mean like, refunding payments for weeks in the future (prepayment)? If you haven't provided a service yet, you have to refund it. Pretty sure.

Conversely, you can't be expected to give a refund for a session that's already happened (like, you can't eat a steak and get a refund)

[kimmytaaa]

Do you mean like, refunding payments for weeks in the future (prepayment)? If you haven't provided a service yet, you have to refund it. Pretty sure.

Conversely, you can't be expected to give a refund for a session that's already happened (like, you can't eat a steak and get a refund)

Hi there
So this tutor of mine keeps changing my allocated session, like the first time I let it off because it's just a first time but then it's being happening for the past 2-3 weeks. She keeps on promising to tutor me with the timetable that she allocated for me so every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The first time it happen was on a Sunday, I asked her if she was able to teach a bit earlier Because I had a clash with another tutor. She said it was impossible and then I asked her on Tuesday because she said she was booked out, then I asked for a Wednesday and she told me that Wednesday was fine, but didn't tell me the time. I texted and called her the next day to ask her what time I am suppose to come because If she doesn't text how am I suppose to know what time to go. She didn't reply to message until Tuesday next, saying 'I'll let you know tonight' but never gotten back to me. When Wednesday arrived, she texted me saying 'sorry,I can't teach tonight.ill finish work late. I'll see you tomorrow' then I tried to call her because my mum wanted to say something but no reply and then a few hours later she texts back say 'I am in a meeting right now. I can try to get out work early to teach at 6pm tonight if you still want' and I said yes that's fine I can come. Then 30 mins later, she texts 'but I might running very late, cuz my meeting will be a while. Do you want to leave it tomorrow?? 4-6pm' I got really pissed out, because can't she just stick to the time that she said and not change things around. I texted saying 'I'll come tonight, if you are running late I'll wait for you in the car', she then texted 'are you sure? Just leave it tomorrow. Ok. I don't want to rush, by the time I get there, will be 7ish and too late. And Wednesday is not your day' I have to go back to the meeting now.' My mum then called her a numerous of time but she didn't pick up and didn't return the missed called, so I ended up not going that day. Not very happy with how she is dealing with this situation. The next day, she texts me tutoring starts at 4-6pm. My mum confronted her saying that if you said Wednesday then keep your promise because my daughter is in year 12 not year 10,9 or whatever. If she was still in year 10 or so, I won't care about you changing the time. My tutor then said Wednesday is my busiest day and I have no time to teach on Wednesday at all. So please understand me. On Saturday, she told my mum that I'll have an extra 30 mins for makeup or something. Then Saturday come, she said I can't teach until 6:30pm have to do something and I'll give you that 30 mins on Sunday, then Sunday comes she says I need to finished at 5:30pm because I need to go to the church and will give me 30 mins extra on Monday. Then Monday arrives, she texts me 4-6pm, I then texted her you said it was another 30 mins yesterday, however she said another student comes at 6pm. She then texts me saying she is in a traffic jam, so won't be arriving there on time, by 4:20-25 ish I waited and waited but no sign of her. I then called her and she said she will be rough there by 4:40pm so then my tutoring will only go from 4:40pm-6pm. Then she tells me to come on Wednesday but doesn't tell me the time, like I never asked her for that day,she clearly said it with her own mouth, clearly she knows she is busy but keeps putting me on a Wednesday night. On Wednesday, she texts me 'I can't teach tonight as Wednesday is my busiest day at work and will not make it on time. I'll see you tomorrow as usual.' She then puts me on Saturday( as that is my time) and Sunday, I told her I can't come on Sunday because I had to study for a sac, so I'll come tomorrow instead. She then said okay. The next day, she texts me saying 'I still have a lot of deadline at my workplace.ill see you on Wednesday 4pm-6pm. Thanks.' Omfg why you keep putting me on a Wednesday night when it happened so many times and you CLEARLY know that you are fricken busy and we have establish this many times already. Then she texts me I might finish work early at 3pm tomorrow. We can have a class at 3pm. But I need to confirm it with you in the morning. I told her that's fine, then on Tuesday she tells me 'I can't teach at 3pm. See you tomorrow at 4pm' then Wednesday comes and she said 'sorry can't teach tonight, I have emergency things to do. I'll see you tomorrow at 4-6pm, Saturday 5-7pm then Sunday 4pm-6pm. So sorry.' So basically the same thing happens on Thursday night, she told me she can't teach again and moves it to Friday and now it's basically Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, fricken 4 days straight. So great!! My mum went to confronted her again and said if you keep doing this I'll get my daughter out of this tutoring place and we will quit so give the refund back. With that keeping in mind that I payed her advance 5 weeks, and she told my mum if I don't want to keep having tutored then she will refund the money and now she is saying the opposite. Then she writes on a piece of paper, a new timetable and writes WEDNESDAY AGAINN!!!
My parents are not happy with how she is dealing with the situation and wants to get the police involved. I'm in a lot of stress, I don't want to stress because my first exams are in a few days time so don't know to solve this issue.
Please help or give me your opinion. Sorry about my grammar and spelling errors if there is any. How would you deal with this situation?

[Orb]

Man this sounds like an absolute nightmare :/

I think you just got a really bad egg for a tutor, most tutors aren't this irresponsible

[jamonwindeyer]

I agree with Orb; 99% of tutors would never treat you like this. What company is it? They need to be named and shamed, because that kind of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable as a tutor.

I'd be demanding a refund for the sessions you haven't received and taking your business elsewhere. If they refuse, request their ABN and make it clear you'll be taking it to NSW Fair Trading. They are actually fantastic at resolving stuff like this. Plus, if the tutoring company have any brains at all, they'll just give you the refund rather than try to deal with them.

Seriously sorry you had to deal with such an absolutely terrible situation so close to your exams.

[kimmytaaa]

I agree with Orb; 99% of tutors would never treat you like this. What company is it? They need to be named and shamed, because that kind of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable as a tutor.

I'd be demanding a refund for the sessions you haven't received and taking your business elsewhere. If they refuse, request their ABN and make it clear you'll be taking it to NSW Fair Trading. They are actually fantastic at resolving stuff like this. Plus, if the tutoring company have any brains at all, they'll just give you the refund rather than try to deal with them.

Seriously sorry you had to deal with such an absolutely terrible situation so close to your exams.

She isn't a company or anything, this is a self made tutor (not sure what's the exact name for it ). So this morning, she texted me and said as the policy, we do not refund: since this is a special case, you have two opinions
1.continue the session
2. Stop the lesson and get HALF of the refund
3. Forfeit the remaining fees and stop going to the session.

So what should I do in this case? And should the police get involved or no?

[Swagadaktal]

She isn't a company or anything, this is a self made tutor (not sure what's the exact name for it ). So this morning, she texted me and said as the policy, we do not refund: since this is a special case, you have two opinions
1.continue the session
2. Stop the lesson and get HALF of the refund
3. Forfeit the remaining fees and stop going to the session.

So what should I do in this case? And should the police get involved or no?

Demand a whole refund - non negotiable.

If she refuses get the police involved - focus on your exams for now but after exams collect all your evidence and get the police involved. You can do it during exam period but tbh atm you don't want to be distracted by this and cause you to do worse. You'll have a stronger case if you report it immediately but honestly if it comes to the worst case and you don't get a proper refund it's only money that you're losing, and not your ATAR (if that makes sense  - not to undermine the value of money but atm your concern should be on your future and not on the money)

But you have a solid case and your tutor is a horrible person that I'm surprised you've stayed with. You've come before reporting some really abhorrent things they make you do and how impolite and inconsiderate they are.. they must've been extremely helpful and critical in the past if you've stuck with them for this long.

[HopefulLawStudent]

But you have a solid case and your tutor is a horrible person that I'm surprised you've stayed with. You've come before reporting some really abhorrent things they make you do and how impolite and inconsiderate they are.. they must've been extremely helpful and critical in the past if you've stuck with them for this long.

Even then, I don't think anything your tutor could have previously done deserves the sort of loyalty you've demonstrated.

Don't take this lying down.

EDIT:

I think tutoring counts as a service so imma redirect you to here: https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights-guarantees/consumer-guarantees

[brenden]

She is in no position to be giving you an ultimatum. As Jamon said, ask for her ABN... if she doesn't have one then she's working illegally which is great reason for her to give you all the money back. And if she does have an ABN, then that's good reason for her to give you all money back too- because she's (probably) breaching Australian Consumer Law.

[kimmytaaa]

Good news, she finally is giving back the amount that is left over, because I think she is scared of my parents getting the police involved.

[Orb]

I think you should call her out after exams anyway, I would shudder to be a student on the receiving end of a tutor like this in the future. Glad to see your tutor's giving you a refund though

[jamonwindeyer]

Good news, she finally is giving back the amount that is left over, because I think she is scared of my parents getting the police involved.

So good to hear! I agree with Orb though, once your exams are done call out this tutor and make sure others know about your experience. As an ex-student, it's really frustrating that educators aren't taking their job seriously. And it makes me mad that tutors like that take business away from other tutors too great to hear you got a good outcome!

PS- Orb you're about to hit 1000!