What to do when clients don't pay?

Q

Quartz

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 April 2010
Messages
723
Location
England
Visit site
Our club is having problems with people not paying for lessons. You can buy a card of ten lessons which works out slightly cheaper than paying for individual lessons. However many parents have seem to of taken the view of not renewing the card when the lessons have run out but still dropping kids of at the stables to have their lessons!! The parents then drive off leaving the kids behind so my YO feels too guilty to tell the children they can't ride as parents haven't paid. My YO reminds the parents at every opportunity but they don't seem to be forthcoming. She is actually thinking she may have to sell up as she can't keep doing it for free. What advice can any of you give please??
 
This is very sad, I couldn't do that to someone with a clear conscience.
Perhaps an open letter that each child can take home (so as not to "embarrass" anyone) giving a date by which all outstanding accounts must be paid or unfortunately there will be no more lessons?
 
She's going to have to get tough and tell the kids No. Then it's up to the parents to sort out. They are taking advantage of her good nature.
 
No money, no lesson. Either ring all the parents before the next drop off and 'remind' them to bring their money or wait in the car-park and turn them away when they arrive.

Do not give anymore free lessons.They will have to learn.
 
Maybe rather than the 10 lesson card she could do the same discount for paying by direct debit then they won't have to remember when the card runs out and she will be guaranteed her money?

Naughty people using their children to take advantage of someone's good nature. Personally I would refuse to teach them - its tough on the kids but the parents will soon get fed up with the tears and moaning when they can't have their lessons!
 
Why doesn't she just type up a letter stating that lessons MUST be paid for and that until further payment is forthcoming then the child cannot attend lessons. Seal the letter in an envelope and put the parents name on the outside. At the end of the evening, all children who's parents have not paid get an envelope which they are asked to give to their parents, who we assume have reappeared in order to pick up their little darlings.

Alternatively, she stands by the gate at the beginning of the evening and as the cars turn up, she demands payment. There is nothing like a screeching child to loosen the purse / wallet.
 
Next time they drop the kids off and speed off don't let the kids ride but let them groom the ponies, clean tack, muck out, yard duties etc until the parents come back for them.

The kids still get to be with the ponies, you get a few saddles cleaned and an opportunity for you to have a word with the parents when they ask why their kids haven't ridden.

It's not fair, your trying to run a business and they are taking advantage. I'm sure they wouldn't walk out with a weeks shopping from a supermarket or drive off from a petrol station after filling up so why do they think they can get away with not paying you?
 
I would suggest a stipulation in writing that if you pay for your lesson weekly in advance you get a suitable discount or you pay on the day prior to the lesson. To be honest I never left my children at their riding stables when they were having lessons and I don't think any of the others did either, some sat in their cars but I think all stayed on the yard. Something will have to be done these parents are taking advantage of a good nature.
 
She must have the parents phone number? When the kid is dropped off why doesn't she call the parent and say "oh there must be a mistake. you haven't paid for a lesson so you chhild isn't booked in for one" They'll either come back and pay or collect child.

I'm surprised none of these parents ever stay and watch their children ride!
 
i will never get over how rude people can be - omg - gobsmacks me every time - i owuld hav ehelpers stood in car park as they drop off - reminding they owe money - if they cant or wont pay - they have to take their children home - people lol - see why i love my animals xxx
 
A loud PA system on the yard, wait till everyone there, then very loud setting to almost feedback sqeal to get everyones attention, then go through names of people who owe money and how much, the embarassment factor works pretty well ;)
 
I know its difficult for her to corner the parents, as they well know!! She is usually in the middle of a lesson when they drop there kids off so she can't go and talk to them. I think writing a letter saying they need to pay or no more riding is the way forward. At least worth giving it a go. I can't believe that people can get away with not paying like that, I''m sure the parents wouldn't go to work if they weren't getting paid!!!
 
Not sure if it's the same situation but if people don't pay up (for anything), our fierce YO uses their horse in the riding school to recuperate some of the money :D Some little kids occasionaly ride some very good ponies :D

She says it's amazing just how quickly people pay up when they are told :D
 
Hiya

I used to work in a riding school and the policy was that everybody had to book in at the office when they arrived whether they were there for a lesson or had come to help. With payment in advance we had a set of tickets and when a child booked in at the office they handed over a cut out token from the sheet. No token no ride!
Maybe you friend could issue a letter to all parents stating that for health and safety reasons all children must be booked in and out again whilst accompanied by an adult over 18. That way it avoids the whole problem of them saying "oh mum/dad will pay next time. Especially on a busy yard its difficult to catch up with people and even easier to slip through the net!!!!!
Good luck
 
On the basis that she is a business and not a charity if that child's lesson hasn't been paid for then I'd suggest that maybe said child does some grooming, tack cleaning or whatever until the parent arrives to pick them up again. And that the parent gets told no money, no lesson.

I know its harsh but the lady has bought this on herself by not running a proper system and people are now exploiting her. Any parent who wants their child to have proper lessons will happily stump up the money.
 
I can't believe she just lets them ride anyway! No way would this happen on our yard. All lessons have to be block booked on a month by month basis and if you haven'd paid, your child doesn't ride. Nor do they work on the yard, parents are simply asked to bring them home, otherwise parents will use it as a baby sitting service. I'm not sure you can leggaly get the kids to work on the yard without some renumeration but I could be wrong.
 
The yard i used to be at had a "riding working or not here" policy. We all had to be signed in and out by someone over 16 and no way would we get a lesson if it wasnt paid for.
I would send a kind letter home to each childs parent stating the ammount of money they owe and that she is running a business here and if people continue to not pay for lessons there wont be anywhere for them to have lessons. You should also start a point scheme where the children can get free rides if they come down and help with the ponies/yard activites this is a great way to teach the kids about welfare and management from a young age (only kids who do pay for lessons should be allowed to do this though not just anyone)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top