So cross. I think I need to grow a pair of b*ll*cks.....

charlimouse

charlimouse

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Need to vent, or I think I will go mad :mad:. Just had a phone call (at 9.40!) from my 10am client to say she is still in the Isle of Man as she decided she wanted to stay an extra day, so she will be home tonight so can I teach her tomorrow instead :mad::mad::mad:. Now if she was flying I would understand her not being here, but she is not, it was her descision not to be here for her lesson. And of course instead of standing up for myself and telling her I still wanted paying (I could have easily filled that 10am slot) I just said it was fine and didn't matter :o. Stupid stupid me!!!!!!!:mad::mad::mad:. She mush have know yesterday when she didnt get on the ferry she wasn't going to be here, so it is just pure rudeness not to let me know until 20 mins before the lesson, when I cant now fill the slot. When I said I wouldn't be able to teach this weekend (I'm competing both days) she was like "Oh that's annoying" as if it was my fault :eek:!!! Then she said that actually it might be quite a good thing beacuse the lawnmower had eaten the bridle, so she wanted to borrow one of mine :eek:. How does the lawnmower eat the bridle???:confused::confused::confused:. At this point I did manage to say no, as I use all my bridles!

If it was a 1 off, and just got days mixed up I wouldn't be so cross. But this isn't even the first time. Last week she cancelled 20 minutes AFTER the lesson was supposed to have started as she didn't want to ride in the rain and get her tack wet. :eek:. To which I told her I was standing in the rain waiting for her, but seeing as she hadn't set off yet, she would have to cancel, as I didn't have time to teach her later.

And that isn't everything she insists on bring her dog every time she comes, which she leaves loose on the yard. I have a no dog policy on the yard which she is aware of, and I have asked her to leave it in the car, or better at home. To which she says it gets upset if you leave it! I have free range chickens which are loose, so I don't want a dog running around, also this particular bitch has not been spayed, so when it is in season it sends my male dog (despite having had the chop) ballistic so he tears round the house madly trying to find a way out. So it is a complete nightmare, and throught this i'm trying to teach a lesson :confused:.

Sorry about the rant, but i think I am about to go mad. Part of me wants to ring this woman back and tell her to find a different instructor, but it is difficult as we are also neighbours. I think I need to find a pair of bollo*ks and tell her I want paying really for the past 2 lessons, but me being me i'm always too bloody nice, and she is just taking advantage.

I AM SO BLOOMING CROSS :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:


***********Deep breath, and calm***********

Sorry for the essay, remains of a quality street easter egg available.
 
I don't blame you for being angry! It's very rude and implys that your time is not important. Can you not write/type a letter stating the rules as it were, you could head it to 'all clients' but say if lessons are cancelled without 24hrs notice then they must pay or will have to find lessons elsewhere, also air any other grievances you have. i.e state firmly that NO DOGS are allowed, that is also plain rude of her. If she fails to abide by the rules then she goes, simple as. If it's written down then you won't have to say it but she would have read it and maybe even get her to sign it.
People like her don't realise how rude they come across.

P.s Lawn mowers don't eat bridles:D
 
I am exactly the same, biting my tongue when what I really mean is 'who the f**k do you think you are'!!! I totally sympathise. I really need lessons on assertion! Instead I choose to write DOORMAT on my forehead! :S
 
Grr that would make me so mad! Agree with sarahsum1 on the letter issue :)
Also... for the lawnmower to "eat" the bridle.. the bridle would have to be lying on some grass being mowed?! Very odd :p
 
Ah but you are the instructor! You can come up with many cruel and sadistic punishments to exact your revenge. Maybe you could start off by taking away her stirrups....for ever.
 
I think you are far too nice a person and this woman is taking advantage big time. She is rude, unappreciative and a pain in the &^%. Ideally you should just tell her you can't teach her anymore, but to be honest I understand why you hesitate! I hate confrontation as well, so usually I wait until I can't take it anymore!
 
I sympathise! Not much you can do about charging her for the cancelled lessons after you have implied it's ok, but when you next see her, tell her that you have too many clients to be able to afford short-notice cancellations, and that in the future, you will have to institute a 24-h cancellation policy. If you make it sound like it's a general policy applying to everyone, she hopefully won't take it personally, but will maybe take notice and improve her behaviour (or give you grounds for getting paid). About the dog, if she's so worried about her dog being upset, just tell her that the presence of her dog is upsetting your dog/other animals, so that you unfortunately will need to insist that she leave it at home/confined (can she tie it up somewhere?). If you keep things nice and impersonal, but gently stand firm on charging her whenever she cancels, she may just wander along to a different instructor of her own accord.
 
I would never be anything but subservient to an instructor because I know what sadists they can be! (jokes) I agree though, if you said it was ok you can't tell her there's a charge now. You need to tell her- in a friendly way- that in future you will need 24 hours notice or there will be a charge as "some people" have been messing you around. Regarding the dog- reiterate that you can't have the dog there, it upsets your chickens and they won't lay for a couple of days after, lock it in a stable/car/her house. There really is no excuse for that kind of rudeness. Make her do 20 circuits without stirrups.
 
When i used to teach i would charge more to the people who for what ever reason i didnt like

Then i wouldnt feel so bad about it as i was getting more cash and with any luck they would stop having lessons the people i did like i would ask them to keep quiet about what i charged as i charged some people more.

Very very naughty of me but made me feel better about timewasting irritating people.

Id tell her that unfortunatly you have to increase your prices.
 
In any business people who 'know' you tend to take advantage more/want special rates etc etc

At the end of it, you are running a business, do you want her repeat custom, could she possibly bad mouth you to others if you did charge her?

'the customer is always right' *bites lip*


If it were me, Id firmly and politely mention to her when shes having her lesson that you must have more notice 'next time' otherwise you will have to charge for the slot. Sometimes just reitterating your running a business which brings in income you rely on jolts them into remembering its not a free for all.
 
I like the idea of the "idiot tax"!!!!! I'm thinking a letter (supposedly to all clients) going along the lines of: "Due to the high number of recent cancellations I am having to up my prices to £x. Cancellations must give at least 24 hours notice, if not the lesson must be paid for in full. Please can I remind all clients the yard is a dog free zone, it is also not a childrens playground, so please bear this in mind when you book a lesson."
 
OK, if I have read this right, you don't want to upset her by telling her you are not able to teach her anymore, as she is a neighbour and she is also a customer and the customer is always right.

Lets address these one at a time: 1) She is NOT a customer, customers arrive on time and pay for your service, she has done neither, so she is a time waster.(2) She has absolutely no issues with messing you about, and does not seem to reciprocate your concerns regarding being a neighbour, so once again she is a time waster.

It's your business, but if were mine I would only offer her lesson times that suited me well, regardless of whether they suited her at all and I would work her VERY hard.

I was a Martial Arts instructor for many years, those that trained well were appreciated, those that thought we were a glorified fitness gym used to get the work out they deserved and usually did not stay with us very long :D

You do not need to be confrontational and upset people, you just make it easy for them to go elsewhere.
 
When she turns up tomorrow then just say to her you want double money and if she has to cancel she must give you a days notice or this extra payment will continue.

Sorry if this has already been said I didnt look through the whole thread.

Nikki xxx
 
On the next lesson, I would say that as she has had the one time cancelling, would she not that if less than 48 hours notice is given, then she will have to pay for the cancelled lesson - bit like you have to at the dentist.

If this does not work, then plenty of riding without stirrups and maybe you being late for a change or not turning up a few times, might be a way of getting rid of a pain the arse customer.
 
On a lighter note ...............

do you know something I do not??

Are there bridle eating lawnmowers loose in the Isle of Man ???

Do I need to lock my tack room tonight to save my tack from these savage implements ??

What a muppet - thank god she is only visiting here and will be gone soon - If you customer is actually Manx I can only appologise for her behaviour - we are not all like that !!
 
cronkmooar said:
On a lighter note ...............

do you know something I do not??

Are there bridle eating lawnmowers loose in the Isle of Man ???

Do I need to lock my tack room tonight to save my tack from these savage implements ??

What a muppet - thank god she is only visiting here and will be gone soon - If you customer is actually Manx I can only appologise for her behaviour - we are not all like that !!
Click to expand...

She is originally from the Isle of Man, but don't worry I won't tar you all with the same brush!!!!!

I assume the bridle eating lawnmower is loose in Yorkshire not the IOM, so you should be ok. I however had better lock mine away;)!!!!
 
I like the idea of the letter but perhaps would leave out the comments about the children! You could also say you have had complaints about the loose dogs and therefore have to insist that there is a no outside dog's loose on the yard policy - no exceptions. And do say that due to the number of last minute cancellations, you will now be instigating the 24hr notice( I liked that!) or payment in full. You will however, have to stick to your guns on this as I have a strong suspicion that she will ignore your letter - but at least you have formally given her notice! I would then bring it up and say that you have to do this - no exceptions and you cannot operate a policy which could exclude some clients!
 
No wonder your mad - I'd be spitting tacks.

Totally hear what you say about not feeling you can stand up to her, I'd probably be the same. But would you be able to say when you see her next that in future if she doesn't give you a certain amount of notice then you will have to charge her. You could make it generic so its not about her and its just a new rule your making. its a very reasonable request and you shouldn't feel awkward about saying so.
 
The bit about the kids I want to put in because sometimes clients do bring their kids with them, which I don't mind so long as I am not expected to look after and they stand quietly and watch the lesson. I have however had an incident when I was teaching in the showjumping paddock, clients 3 children ran riot and decided to dig up my arena down to the membrane, and bury themselves in the surface. I was not happy, and the client hasn't brought the kids since, but I don't want it to happen again. I think I just need some better wording!
 
vixtucker said:
I am exactly the same, biting my tongue when what I really mean is 'who the f**k do you think you are'!!! I totally sympathise. I really need lessons on assertion! Instead I choose to write DOORMAT on my forehead! :S
Click to expand...

Same here!

Not surprised you are angry, she has done it again and again, it wears thin, and it feels like they are taking the mick, which they are!
 
Become professional! write her an appointmnt card for her next lesson''''''''''''''''''''''''
! i think 36 to 48 hours notice is reasonable to cancel an appointment! otherwise charge at cost! make sure the small print on the card states this! yes you dont want to lose clients but time is money! get some cards printed with asppointment times and state cancellation charges! if someone cancelled 20 mins before time i would charge in full unless serious circumstances! (death, divorce, etc) you have a living to make! you are not tesco open 24 hr per day!
 
Love the suggestions - if she jumps how about a WHOLE lesson doing grids without stirrups (or if you can manage a jumping lane - no reins either).
Then just shut her dog away for "upsetting" your chickens, tell her new 24-h cancellation rule & add on the "idiot tax"
I reckon she'll sort herself out (or toddle off to annoy a different instructor) pretty soon.
Anyway, good luck with whatever you do.
 
The solution seems obvious to me.
Accept every cancellation with a good grace, be nice, smile lots at her, don't charge for your wasted time.
BUT become less and less available for the rebooking. If possible find another client to take her normal slot. If not, become 'busy' with other things at that time - and don't weaken.
So the next time she cancels, make sure you can't find another slot for about a week, the second time, two weeks, the third time, three weeks, and the fourth time, say you'll get back to her, but don't.
Then you are shot of her, but in the nicest, professional way. :D
S :D
 
With regard to bringing dogs and children you could always quote elf and safety - insurance compliance etc - We would never dream of treating my daughter's instructor so badly - she is so sought after we are extremely grateful when she can fit us in. Perhaps you can tell her that you are applying these new conditions to all customers so that she doesn't feel picked on.
 
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