If anyone who read my post 'Here we go again!' could possibly give me any advice I would be very grateful.
The lady in question has still not phoned to discuss this in person. At the moment I have no waiting list, but a couple of friends of pupils mothers expressing some interest (that's never a very reliable one, I know ).
Under my T and C's she is supposed to give a months notice for stopping lessons. As I DON'T do 15 min lessons (and that would still have involved her stopping 1 lesson), it looks likely she will pull the plug.
The date of her email was 21/12. Do I .....
A = Phone her as she hasn't phoned me, or do I let her do the chasing? (bearing in mind I'm left hanging)
B = If she stops, do I make her period of notice from the date of email, or from the time she tells me in person, as the email was nothing concrete. Can't see her agreeing to this as she was too grippy to even buy them a £5 book each.

Any feedback would be gratefully accepted, as the longer this goes on the more angry I'm becoming. Had I had a waiting list I think I would have phoned her immediatly. It is after all a prime 4.30 to 5.30 slot.

I would send her a polite but firm email or letter reminding her of your Ts and Cs, and saying that you need to know whether she wants the slot or not. In this particular case, I would probably resign myself to using the date of the email as the start of the one month notice period, as it sounds like you'd be best getting shot of her in order to use the time to do other things, or offer it to someone else next time you get an enquiry. These things are never easy. Be firm!

I think that if they'd only had one or 2 lessons and decide not to continue I wouldn't try enforcing the notice period as the first month seems reasonable as a sort of trial period.
Might be best to phone her asking for a decision telling her that you have others wanting to fill the slot.

I think you will have to give up on this one. Unfortunately, the customer wants something different to what you are offering. Just make sure you get paid for the lessons and books you have dispensed so far and let it go.

Reading the original post, the mother didn't really want to start until the New Year anyway, so it's just possible that she will get going properly then. I think the best thing would be a friendly phone call during which you can clear things up once and for all and stop seething!!

Just for the record, although 15 minute lessons aren't ideal, it is possible to get quite a bit done it that time if you are organised. I have a 6 year old pupil who would have difficulty concentrating for more than 15 minutes, but he enjoys the quarter of an hour, and we are slowly but steadily working through his tutor book and doing some aural work.

Hope you get it sorted - good luck..

Sue

I'm not justifying her actions, but it's possible, that with Christmas and all that, the whole situation is just not really at the forefront of her mind at the minute. I'd send an e-mail telling that you intend to ring at a specfied time, making it politely clear that you need to know her intentions as you have other people waiting to hear from you - whether or not you actually have! I'd just tell her that you don't do 15 minute lessons as you feel it doesn't work, and if that's what she wants then she'd be better to look elsewhere. But that you'll ring at such-and-such a time as you need to know for certain and don't want to give the slots away before you speak to her. I don't think it's a good idea to compromise your teaching principles even if it means having a space for a while; it's better to wait for somebody that you'll enjoy teaching, with no agro, who'll stay with you, under your terms.

But keep it friendly and matter of fact. You'll be pondering over this more than she will, and there's nothing to be gained from appearing annoyed. You don't want her to give you a bad press.

I had realised that she would be unlikely to phone over Christmas as we are all up to our eyes at this time of year. She did actually say in her email she would phone as soon as she got home from her work, so I expected a call that night or next day.
I would have emailed her before now, as I always feel that is less intrusive if people are busy, but I only have a work email, and as she works for NHS 24 I have no idea what kind of shifts she is working over the holiday periods.

I have not started teaching yet as people are still away thinking about New Year celebrations
I would leave this until early January. if not satisfactory response I would move on quite frankly

The best response to a pupil who messes about is to find a replacement asap