I charge monthly and my students pay me up front for the month. I am considering charging also for the last month. In my policy I state that students need to give me their notice for the last month at the beginning of the final month. Nobody has followed through. Especially since some don't realize they are done with lessons until mid-month. This is something that happens not very often...but this last Sunday I had a mom say that next week would be the last week. I felt like reminding her that I request for longer notice so I can fill that time slot. But I also don't want to continue this relationship. This little guy just doesn't like piano lessons!

I suppose this situation is covered with teachers who charge tuition for the semester....I am seeing the wisdom in this....If they want to opt out...they can forfeit the semester and no harm done to teacher's bank account.

Unfortunately they will most likely ask for a refund. If you refuse then they will continue with the lessons they have paid for and the situation can be very uncomfortable. I am like you in that I often don't want to continue the relationship if things are not going well or if a child really doesn't enjoy the lessons. I just let it go.

I haven't done that, but it is a good idea I bill by semester but I still have the same problem, they tell me at the end of the semester that they won't be returning. I am hesitant to ask for a semester's payment plus a month, that's a lot of cash. I don't know of a way we can avoid it, some people are just not thoughtful, even if we ask them to be.

I'm sure you, like me, have had siblings show up for a lesson and tell you "Sissy won't be coming any more". Gee, thanks.

I have never had a parent ask for a refund, but it states "no refunds" in my policy sheet.

I have recently set up on my website the ability to use Paypal. This also allows the option of them setting up recurring monthly payments either put directly on their credit card or debit card, or withdrawn from a bank account. They would have to physically go into Paypal to discontinue this. I'm hoping that such an arrangement would help in these situations, although most parents do give notice according to my policy.

I know that if you get a Business account set up with Paypal, then you can have credit card or debit card information that you can run yourself each month, giving you greater control over these things, but I thought for now I'd try it this way.

I also do not give any refunds. If a student wishes to discontinue lessons with me, then I will remind them of my 30-day cancellation policy. It's your call, trillingadventure, but I think it would be good for you to be in the habit of enforcing your own policy. I will too often make exceptions to my own policy to the point where I wonder why I bothered having it in the first place. My resolution for this year is to stick to it better.

YES! I need to stick to my policy too! Good words of wisdom!

I charge by the semester, and have never been asked for a refund if a student quits before the end of the semester. It's spelled out clearly in my policy that there are no refunds.

I've toyed with the idea of charging first/last month's tuition. I require a 30-day notice to drop from my studio, but there are always those students who decide to let me know at the last lesson of the month that they won't be coming anymore (or those who just never show up for the new month of lessons). Students who just drop out this way are reminded that they will still owe for a month's tuition. Charging first/last tuition would take care of that reminder. And if a student drops at the last minute with no plans to come to another month of lessons, they do not get a refund of that last month of lessons (as they have NOT given a 30-day notice).

Mmm... I should really consider this.

I thought about it for a long time, but decided to go with a registration/materials fee which is at $125 per student.

Meri