Horror Stories - Tutor Recommendation Agencies
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Hey folks, I've very bad impression of tuition agencies too. Besides the fact that some of them are fly-by-night business, the way they handle things are also not fair to the tutors. I am a tutor, ever since I graduated, and used the services of such agencies in my first year of work. It began when the student refused to pay their side of the fees (it's usually 50-50% sharing for the 1st month), but that student did pay my share. Now instead of asking from the student, the tuition agency forced me to hand over my share of it to them, threatening contract and all.
I was young and silly, so didn't bother going to court of small tribunal for it. Sometimes it's not the money that counts, it's the principle. I'm an older and hopefully wiser person now, haha
But ever since the 1st yr, I'd not touched any agencies now. Been 8 yrs of agency free tutoring now 
That said, I think there are nice folks out there. There are a few who went out of their way to help me. But I don't know...better don't trust everyone out there. -
Kind_Soul:
No worries kind soul, what you're doing is great. Better help others avoid unnecessary painHSM, unfortunately, there is no regulator to oversee the 'unkind' work of such business.
ACRA - only register business, across any industry. General guidelines and requirements.
MOE- No no, not their business, as this is not direct education, yet its education related.. confusing actually.
CPE - Council of private education, also not their jurisdiction.
CASE - sad to say, they are just an association, not a regulator.
AceTutors123, sorry, black sheep... I am just doing my part to warn other parents to fall for it. It's stressful, apart from parting with additional payment. Hopefully, they keep their receipts.
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lapapillion:
Thanks for sharing Lapapillion. Just curious, might you remember the name of the agent or the agency name? And how did you come to work with him/her? 8 years is long and I had not started tutoring thenHey folks, I've very bad impression of tuition agencies too. Besides the fact that some of them are fly-by-night business, the way they handle things are also not fair to the tutors. I am a tutor, ever since I graduated, and used the services of such agencies in my first year of work. It began when the student refused to pay their side of the fees (it's usually 50-50% sharing for the 1st month), but that student did pay my share. Now instead of asking from the student, the tuition agency forced me to hand over my share of it to them, threatening contract and all.
I was young and silly, so didn't bother going to court of small tribunal for it. Sometimes it's not the money that counts, it's the principle. I'm an older and hopefully wiser person now, haha But ever since the 1st yr, I'd not touched any agencies now. Been 8 yrs of agency free tutoring now
That said, I think there are nice folks out there. There are a few who went out of their way to help me. But I don't know...better don't trust everyone out there.
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AceTutors123:
Thanks for sharing Lapapillion. Just curious, might you remember the name of the agent or the agency name? And how did you come to work with him/her? 8 years is long and I had not started tutoring then
Wah, 9 yrs is a long time for me to remember, haha I don't think I can give you the name or the agency name. I only remember that the sum of money is not much, around 100 to 200, and I cut loss before this situation get worse. That sum of money was impt to me in the past, and I rmb agonizing over it. I even have to go down to the student's place to ask him to pay me but nothing works out....sigh..
I was starting out as a tutor, so to have students, I tried searching for a list of tuition agencies to join in. I rmb joining a few pages of search results just to have more leads. That's how I came to work with this particular agency.
But I'm sorry, can't rmb the name or the company already
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Kind_Soul:
oh..u didnt pay them despite the tutor came??Hi Parents out there, I would like to share my experience, to know if anyone out there has the same experience, how you handled it... If no, take it as a warning..
I went through a tutor reommmendation agency (Txxtutor) in Nov 2011 and they recommended a tutor to me. As the tutor kept using handphone during lessons, I decided to stop her despite one warning to the tutor. So I managed to find another tutor through another agency and she is excellent.. tutoring my children since Jan 2012.
Yesterday, Thur, 27 Oct 2012, I received an SMS from the 1st agency claiming I have not paid the agency fee... and demanded the evidence to be shown by this week. Else, to make payment or they will make small claim through court. How can I produce the evidence within such a short period, especially when the bank transfer could be done in Nov 2011 or even Dec 2011? This is talking about last year statement or a receipt which I caould have discarded when shifted house. They also claimed that if I do not produce, will go through other means that might casue me embarassment...
I am seeking legal advise from my lawyer. As this could happen anytime. The fact that they only stress parents when PSLE just started yesterday. Btw, the fee is only $100... not that I can't pay, is why should I pay? Why they only close accounts one yr later? What if I pay now, and they come back again 1-2 yrs later claiming the same? I am really stressed by them with one child having PSLE and one streaming Sec 2. What will they do especially when they are aware of my children's school and worst, my address.
Any advise?
i think just pay them cos the tutor already made their way to ur hse. -
lapapillion:
Yep 100-200 is a lot during our school days!
Wah, 9 yrs is a long time for me to remember, haha I don't think I can give you the name or the agency name. I only remember that the sum of money is not much, around 100 to 200, and I cut loss before this situation get worse. That sum of money was impt to me in the past, and I rmb agonizing over it. I even have to go down to the student's place to ask him to pay me but nothing works out....sigh..
I was starting out as a tutor, so to have students, I tried searching for a list of tuition agencies to join in. I rmb joining a few pages of search results just to have more leads. That's how I came to work with this particular agency.
But I'm sorry, can't rmb the name or the company already
Looking at the state of the industry, maybe regulation will indeed be a good thing in terms of raising the trust and standard of the industry, although its going to cost agencies extra time and money in registration and certification... -
AceTutors123:
Looking at the state of the industry, maybe regulation will indeed be a good thing in terms of raising the trust and standard of the industry, although its going to cost agencies extra time and money in registration and certification...
Hmm, I'm not sure if regulation will do the job. It's hard to regulate it even if the authorities want to. Likewise for tutors, they can regulate it but it'll be hard to enforce. I guess the bad services and bad practice will spread by word of mouth, perhaps even faster when the services are good. Perhaps someone will come up with a blacklist of some sort. Either way, I think self regulation could be the only way rather than to depend on the authorities to step in
I'd like to believe that bad services and practices are ultimately bad for business too
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What exactly is the difference between a tuition agency and a tuition coordinator? If I am not satisfied with the services of the tutor, who can I complaint to? Many tuition agencies are registered with ACRA but looks like tuition coordinator and tutors themselves do not need any registration. What do you say?
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no registration / regulation for tuition agencies. many of them don’t even register with ACRA . A tuition coordinator works for a tuition agency… i had a very horrible experience with a tuition agency before… no avenues to complain… just find another tutor or tuition centre… through word of mouth safest
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I met pervetic tutor before too. My daughter was so freaked out. had to pull her out just after 1 lesson.
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