Nickie
Community Tutor
Skype Calls No Show

What do you do when a student leaves a Skype number, which costs money to call, rather than a username or email? I have tried to send numerous messages and I have not gotten a response. I have had 35 lesson with no issue. I am new and do not want to ruin my reputation or rating because of this.

Please help.

Thank you,

Nickie

Apr 3, 2017 12:13 AM
Comments · 4
2

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Unlike the last poster I am not willing to take a loss to teach a student who has not communicated with me. I showed up, I waited and the person did not feel the need to attend.

I have successfully taught 35 lessons with no issue up until now. I will take this as a learning experience and move on.

Thank you again!

Nickie

April 3, 2017
2

Hi and welcome to Italki. Do not stress about this! 

Move had students leave a Skype number, and I've called it from Skype for free. It's doesn't work the same way as  a traditional mobile phone service. Skype works through internet, so your internet will be "charged" the same, regardless if you're using Skype to call a username/email/phone number. 


However, if the phone number isn't associated with their skype account, then yes there are standard fees. For example, If i use Skype to call my grandmother's cell phone, I'd be charged a fee per minute. 


I hope this makes sense. 


If the student doesn't respond to you in a timely manner, they simply forfeit the credits for the class.  no communication is unreasonable! 


April 3, 2017
1


April 3, 2017
This is just my opinion, but I believe that if a teacher accepts a lesson booking then that teacher needs to be present at the time of the lesson, and needs to call the student (by any means the teacher knows HOW to contact the student) and fulfill the contract of the lesson. It is irrelevant whether the teacher's profits are eaten into by call costs; it's even irrelevant if the teacher ends up making a loss on the lesson. The teacher can then choose not to accept lessons from the same student in future under the same conditions. It is of course sensible to do what you did, and send messages to the student asking them whether or not there are cheaper ways to call them. But the student is under no obligation to respond to such messages. Anyway, just my 2c. :)
April 3, 2017
Nickie
Language Skills
Arabic (Egyptian), Chinese (Mandarin), English
Learning Language
Arabic (Egyptian), Chinese (Mandarin)
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