Student owes money

[sdflyer2]

Have a student that that is taking a checkride next week and he owes for previous lessons. I have asked that we "clear up" any outstanding balances before the ride and he has been slow to respond. Wanting to be proactive, do I:

1) Not endorse his logbook for the checkride if he does not pay.

2) Extend credit past the checkride and hope he pays.

3) Take him out back and best the sheese out of him.

Yeah, I know I should not have extended the credit in the first place....lesson learned.

Thanks for the input.

 

[gordon24]

Do not, I repeat, do not endorse his logbook. First words out of your mouth should be, "Pay up sucka!"

 

[No Delay]

Agree. That endorsement is the only leverage you have. I would not sign it. I think it is disrespectful not to pay you. It is like he is saying he does not value your time.


It is different if he comes to you and says, "hey man, I am having a bad week...can I pay you next week?" but to keep flying and not paying????? Plus, I bet he won't hesitate to pay the examiner.

Don't sign it unless you are willing to walk away from that money you worked so hard for.

 

[JediNein]

You are under no obligation to endorse his logbook. You may not want to do any further training (for free!) until he brings his account out of arrears. Think a gas station would allow him to buy more gas if he didn't pay for the last tank?

He can 1: Stiff you and pay more for another flight instructor to do the endorsement to which you haul him off to small claims court after following the due process, 2: Get hit by a bus and you are outta luck, 3: Pay you.

Sometimes the students run out of dough. I've got one now that I'm extending credit to until he finishes the ride (Monday). It's a risk, but he's worth it.

Another student wrote a bad check and is making excuses instead of paying it. He's going to find out that leaving the state only makes bouncing the check worse; it doesn't forgive the offense.

Another instance, a long time ago, the fellow thought he wasn't getting the best value and we parted ways. He then wanted to come back 3 years later for an even cheaper price. He thinks I'm being mean to him by saying and meaning "no."

The other 99.99% sometimes make a mistake and bounce a check, forget their wallet, or something. They are greatly embarrassed, quite apologetic, and go out of their way to make good. Why would I want to sacrifice time I could be spending with these types to waste time on the other .01%?

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[crzepilot]

Tell the student that you will not endorse them until they pay the account balance...I know you hate to be a jerk but you need to get paid.

 

[350DRIVER]

Do not endorse his logbook until he pays his balance, no questions asked. .

3 5 0

 

[RideTheWind]

That's an easy one, #3

 

[User546]

See the common trend going on in each one of these posts?

 

[Vik]

If flight instructors *ever* want to be treated like professionals, they need to behave that way.

Do not provide further flight instruction until he has paid you. Simply call him and tell him that in order for him to take his checkride, he has to pay all previous debt and from now on needs to clear his balance after each lesson.

Do not sign his logbook until the night prior to the checkride or he might stiff you for the last lesson or two.

Everyone has to pay their bills. You can't tell your landlord that your student didnt pay so don't evict me. You can't tell your family you can't feed them because your student didn't pay you.

So get him to cough it up, or stop dealing with him.

How much does he owe? (Not that it matters. I would hold up the checkride for even 5 bux if he is just dragging his feet).

 

[FracCapt]

Hmmm.....I see a trend in these responses....and...well, I agree with them, for the most part...but I think you should not excercise ONLY option #1....but you should excercise option #1 and #3 at the same time!