Despite having a pretty water tight set of terms and conditions, both for school and home pupils I still find that some parents alter their bill and pay a lesser amount. This happens with both home and school pupils pretty equally. I am not especially assertive and find this sort of thing very embarassing so tend to let it go. It's usually over kids missing without letting me know so I charge them.
Also with school ones they sometimes amend the next terms bill because they have been marking off the lessons and know little Johnny only had 7 out of ten. I then find out it's because there were only seven lessons made up in the notebook. Notebooks aren't a reliable record of lessons given. The three missing lessons were the ones where little Johnny forgot his notebook! This is an analogy but I have had many similar experiences. Also the parents haven't always been told if the lesson has been on a different day in a particular week.

I keep meticulous records and registers and it really aggravates me when parents insist that they are right. I never mind an enquiry about when lessons were given but I think it's jolly rude to amend an invoice without first discussing it.

What to other people do in this situation?

I don't think it's acceptable to simply amend an invoice, and no, I don't accept it.

Sometimes it's been already discussed and then of course if it's been agreed it is ok.
But otherwise no. It happened only once to me, and I refused to accept the change - and lost the pupil. I don't regret standing my ground - it would have set a precedent which I'd not have been happy with.

You could point out to parents that children sometimes forget their notebook ! Yes, I think it's rude, especially if they are mistaken anyway. Do you list the lessons given and challenge their calculations?

I think I'd be looking at making my terms and conditions a bit firmer - make it clear that without notice of absence, lessons are charged as usual - and stick to it. They really shouldn't get away with treating you like this.

I've had a bit of trouble like this with a recorder club I run. Most parents are fine and know that the lessons have taken place, but there are always a few looking for ways of saving money

Could you send out a list of when lessons actually took place, even get this signed by the headteacher if necessary? Because music teachers in school are usually 'invisible' to the parents, they don't seem to get a lot of respect. Something endorsed by the head may carry more 'weight'.

Whatever the situation, it's not acceptable to amend bills without consultation, maybe you could add this to your next version of T & Cs.

I had a very different situation this week, I'd accidently given the wrong payment note to a child, one for a 30 minute session rather than a 20 minute session. The mother had just written the cheque, no query as to why there was a sudden and unannounced 30% increase in fees! I had to return it with a note explaining my error!

I get this a lot at one particular school I teach at. I simply write the reason on the bottom of their receipt (for example - the lesson Johnny missed in week 6 was made up in week 8 on whatever day", and then politely inform them that they don't need to worry, I'll ust add the amount onto the next term's invoice.

It's irritating having to wait for the next term for the money, but I find this is the least confrontational way to do it.

Although I do have one parent who regularly pays $5 less than the normal amount for no obvious reason .. perhaps she thinks that she can get away with it?!

If you are teaching in a school it is far better to send out bills at the start of each term. Add a note to say that the bill should be paid within fourteen days. They are paying for the time that you spend there. Most children will miss a lesson or two. especially in the cough and cold season.

Petrat, what a pity you amended your typo - I thought it was brilliant!!

Care to share it with the rest of us?

What, about sending out BULLS at the start of the term? I must put my glasses on!

I didn't need any bulls at my last school. If the bills were unpaid the head wrote the parent's names on the notice board by the entrance hall. It worked instantly.

Brilliant advice Petrat (both the bulls and the noticeboard ) Fingers crossed my principal agrees!

*had visions of bulls charging at parents who amend them*

Isn't it a great image! It will certainly put a smile on my face the next time one of my students appears with an amended invoice!

It doesn't happen often but this week I had one. The thing is I do charge in advance, but on the envelope it said "won't be here on the 31st" and 3 weeks money was enclosed rather than the usual 4.

Not sure how to deal with this one. With so much notice that lesson could be easily made up at another time.

It doesn't occur to some parents that we need to rely on a certain wage. If I have sent out invoices I am then able to czalculate my own budget based on what I'll be paid the following week. I can't do this if I have to wait and see if the parents decide they are going to pay the whole bill or not

It's a day for funny typos!! I liked your czalculate. No offence meant - it's a lovely looking word!

so it is!

It is very rude.

Good points. My one experience of this (a few years ago now) was very similar - half a term's fee, with the last two weeks subtracted. Not even a holiday period. Like yours, it was a little way ahead, and virtually all my other parents would have paid up, and then we'd have sorted out some kind of "make-up" arrangement for one or both of the weeks. But just to change the invoice - would you do that to a tradesman ??

Yes it's a good day for amusing typos. Found myself wondering if we needed a czalculation czar ...

I bet that would work!

I don't have any problems with private pupils.

But, my start of year letter to parents of school pupils includes -

"It is the pupil's responsibility to check their lesson details on the music noticeboard each week and to attend his/her lessons punctually and fully equipt. Regretfully, it is not possible to make a refund for any missed lessons, whatever the reason. If however I miss a lesson, a replacement lesson shall be offered at a later date."

Fees are requested in advance each term.

I do get privately irritated when the intimation is made that I should be happy to forfeit my lesson fee because wee Johnny wil be off on the school skiing trip to Austria!!!!! I expect my fee to be honoured.

Oh yes, I do request that a copy of my letter be returned ( I issue two identical letters to each family), acknowledging my terms etc., signed by both a parent/guardian and by the pupil concerned. We are all clear on the path ahead that way.

Runs!!!!

I used to od this when the girls danced ....

Only when the teacher charged me for lessons she didn't deliver though

Butter fingers - I was eating my breakfast croissant at the time

I shouldn't really...One of my students fixed the computer for me once, and had to hoover the keyboard

The only time this happened to me was when the child in question was away for a school trip. I wasn't sure what to do about it. I mean, it wasn't the parent's fault that the trip was arranged for that day, but nor was it mine. I didn't even know about the trip until the day in question. The bill was subsequently paid with that week missing.

I did nothing about it at the time, but this term when two children were off on a school trip, I rearranged the lessons and gave the children instructions to tell their parents politely that the invoice was correct as the lessons had been rearranged.

I always charge for lessons missed through holidays or illness. I figure the school doesn't refund tuition fees on those occasions so why should I?

At the other end of the scale, I've known people to amend bills from large companies if they feel that the charges are incorrect! Nevertheless, the charge remains due and will be pursued until settled (or corrected - yes, large companies do sometimes make mistakes...).

If I get a bill that I think is wrong, I will contact the company to rectify the matter. I won't just amend the bill.

There was a Papal Bull which Martin Luther refused to sign...... (or is my history a bit mixed up somehwere? I knew there was Papal Bull - hey! maybe it was a typo and it was actually a Papal Bill????)

That was shortly before he went on a diet of worms.

there you are then !

I have had to come down really tough as was really being taken advantage of in one of the Primary schools i work privately for in a very affluent area. it drives me mad! One of the parents drives around in a bently but wouldnt pay up the £23.90 prep test fee as they felt "it should only be around £3, surely?" !!!!!!!!!!

They pay me late and when i see them around the village or in the local town, they sometimes look the other way!

I now insist payments are paid by a certain date otherwise their childs place gets offered to someone else.... i really want this to happen, just to prove a point!

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Penny wise but pound foolish Ask them to take it up with the board.

When I enter students I let the parents see the table of exam entry fees for the year (printed from the site). Not that anyone has ever doubted my word when I ask for £xxx for the exam fee, but I do it anyway.