“Payment made.”
This cold, brusque message from a former client came as a shock – not because I hadn’t been
chasing that result, but because it made me feel two things simultaneously: a huge sense of relief,
and also, unexpectedly, a really heavy sadness.
An Understandable, But Inexcusable Oversight
It had been two and a half years since I delivered in-person tuition to this student. They were
lovely – we’d done some fantastic work and genuinely enjoyed the sessions. The client
relationship felt upbeat, positive and, I thought, healthy.
But that was later marred by a complete oversight on my part. The student had moved into
one-to-one sessions after joining a group programme, and because of the existing relationship, I
hadn’t collected full client details. The only contact I had? A mobile number. No address. No
invoice contact.
Communication Red Flags
Communication had never been this client’s strong suit, but their warmth and directness always
seemed to make up for it. So I was surprised when they suddenly stopped replying – leaving the
tutoring relationship hanging, and two unpaid invoices in their wake.
I thought maybe something had happened. Personal circumstances can sometimes cause
breakdowns in contact like this. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and took a gentle,
medium-term approach to both resuming sessions and getting paid.
First Attempts at a Formal Route
Fast forward: several months passed. Then a year. I’d sent friendly, low-key nudges, but still
hadn’t been paid. Worse, there was no explanation. I was being ghosted, and it hurt.
I started researching late payments and discovered it was my legal right under the Late Payment
of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 to claim interest and compensation. I added these to the
invoices and kept chasing.
Tumbleweed
Still no replies. I was getting frustrated. What if I never got paid?
I had delivered services to the best of my ability, in good faith – and someone had effectively
stolen tuition from me. It was bewildering.
Most days, I was too busy to deal with it properly. It sat on the back burner, flaring up now and
then as a little burning reminder of my own fallibility. It chipped away at my sense of trust. And
honestly? That’s exactly the kind of mental weight a self-employed tutor does not need.
Getting ‘Hectic’
Eventually, I had to up the ante. I decided to submit a claim through the UK Small Claims Court
system (MCOL). It cost £50 just to get started – and yes, it felt uncomfortable. But it also felt
official. And empowering.
I was backing myself. I was no longer asking – I was (politely and professionally) demanding.
I was lucky to have old emails, QuickBooks data, and WhatsApp messages to help rebuild the
paper trail after cancelling the original invoices. I kept my tone respectful but firm. I gave the
client every chance to settle the debt privately. When I sent a formal Letter Before Action, it
changed the tone completely. People pay attention when things get real.
Everyone Needs Support
I didn’t go through this alone. I had quiet support in the background from the wonderful
Qualified Tutor community. I didn’t share the details at the time – honestly? I was ashamed.
But knowing I had a supportive safety net gave me the confidence I needed to follow through.
I Celebrated by… Paying My Bills
When the payment finally came in, I cried.
Then I used it to:
● Pay overdue bills (special mention to NCP Parking Charge Notifications!)
● Leave a small buffer in my account
For the first time in months, I wasn’t playing catch-up. That feeling? Worth everything.
It didn’t clear the sadness of how that tutoring relationship ended. But it did clear some debt,
and some weight off my shoulders.
Protect Your Worth
If you’re in a similar situation, I see you. What we do as tutors is valuable, and it’s okay to stand
up for that – even when it’s uncomfortable.
You’re not being petty. You’re not being difficult. You’re being professional.
You deserve to be paid – no matter how long it takes.