Horror Stories - Tutor Recommendation Agencies

[cutecuteteddyy]

Kind_Soul:

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?

oh..u didnt pay them despite the tutor came??

i think just pay them cos the tutor already made their way to ur hse.

[AceTutors123]

lapapillion:

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

Yep 100-200 is a lot during our school days!

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...

[lapapillion]

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

[karenmok]

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?

[kiasu_mum75]

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

[Jessisme12]

I met pervetic tutor before too. My daughter was so freaked out. had to pull her out just after 1 lesson.

[janet88]

kiasu_mum75:

just find another tutor or tuition centre... through word of mouth safest

this i totally agree...word of mouth is best.

[weatherbee]

Jessisme12:

I met pervetic tutor before too. My daughter was so freaked out. had to pull her out just after 1 lesson.

Oh my God!! Like what did he do? That one can report to police.

One thing - Always hire a female tutor for your daughter unless you are always at home during the tuition time.

[octoberbaby]

Can you really trust word of mouth?


It is still depend on each kids. For example, parent A recommends to parent B about how good is the tuition centre or tutor, how her kids enjoy. So parent B enrolled but her kid has attitude problem, doesn’t like the tutor’s style. Hence withdrew.

How parent A will react? How the tutor will think about parent A and parent? So embarrassing.

[verykiasumummy]

weatherbee:

Jessisme12:

I met pervetic tutor before too. My daughter was so freaked out. had to pull her out just after 1 lesson.

Oh my God!! Like what did he do? That one can report to police.

One thing - Always hire a female tutor for your daughter unless you are always at home during the tuition time.

i dun discriminate against male tutors if they can prove themselves to be good...

however i must say that i do find more female tutors that are passionate and detailed in their teachings...

not trying to contradict myself, just dun want any parent here to lose a good tutor if they discriminate the male ones... who knows if he can teach very well and ur dd likes his teaching?