Thread: If a student drops your class..

And asks if you'd credit them the difference on a future class, do you/would you?

One of my students has only been able to make 2 classes so far (tonight wouldve been class #4). I know her situation and why she can't make it, she's been waiting a while to take classes and thought the timing was right but turned out not to be. She left me a message saying she didn't want a refund, but asked if I'd credit it towards a future class when things settle down.

This doesn't seem unreasonable, however I'm unsure when to say that will expire/how long she has to take another session before she forfeits it. 6mos? 1yr? I currently do 8wk sessions, so 6mos would give 3 opportunities to come back.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I've got to call her back shortly.

Originally Posted by TexasRuya

And asks if you'd credit them the difference on a future class, do you/would you?

One of my students has only been able to make 2 classes so far (tonight wouldve been class #4). I know her situation and why she can't make it, she's been waiting a while to take classes and thought the timing was right but turned out not to be. She left me a message saying she didn't want a refund, but asked if I'd credit it towards a future class when things settle down.

This doesn't seem unreasonable, however I'm unsure when to say that will expire/how long she has to take another session before she forfeits it. 6mos? 1yr? I currently do 8wk sessions, so 6mos would give 3 opportunities to come back.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I've got to call her back shortly.

I think 6 months is completely reasonable and generous. I've offered credits to folks who were unable to attend an event and couldn't cancel in time to get a refund. I have 2 people this year who applied credits from a previous year.

i only do this when taken up in the next session, and i often offer it directly myself, dont wait for them to ask/. that way they come back... and i just, well, if someone pays for an entire season, and only comes the first class, and then something in their life prevents them from coming back. some people will "demand" their money back. i feel like extending the curteousy to the nice and polite people who dont ask for anything. i dont give them all of it, but email them, ask what has happened, and when they reply, explaining shortly (i'm suddenly finding myself in the middle of a divorce/i'm pregnant and nautious 24/7)... i'll offer to deduct X € amount from their next enrollment (like half price or something). this has given me long time students who despite absence for illness/pregnancy/family disasters/divorce, have come back again and again

As a student, I think 6 months is fair and 12 is quite generous. I've never had this experience in relation to BD lessons but have in other situations. It makes good business sense to offer the credit.

I think 6 mos is more than fair. I have offered credit and usually give 3-4 months to use it, although if a student asked for an extension due to unique circumstances I would oblige. I don't want people to sit on it for too long or they might forget about it or lose the interest in coming to class.

We have a 90 day policy on class credits. This applies to group sessions only and not private lessons.

Our stated policy is no refunds, and only transfers within the same term to a class level equal or less than the one booked into. We have have many classes at many different times though so it is not so unreasonable to think if a student can not make one class there are still 10 others to choose from.

I think a transfer to the next session/term is fair and 6 months is generous. For some life is always in the way.

*waves to daVid* welcome back :-)

I would offer her the credit, but definitely put restrictions on it. Tell her this is a one-time thing, and the credit will last 6 months. You don't want her to start another class in 5 months, drop it, and ask for another 6 month credit. She may not be like that, but some people are.