Would you refund child birth class if baby comes early?

[Jster]

I teach Bradley classes, and a couple called me in their 35th week wanting to know if I had any classes. I do teach a condensed/private course, although I usually spread it out over a couple of months so parents still get to practice/get prepared. I agreed to teach a private course at their house, for $250, with originally 5 classes. On our first class, I find out she's 36 weeks already, so we decide to push it to four classes. A few days after their first class, her water breaks and baby is born. Turns out her sister's baby came at 37 weeks, and early births are pretty typical in their family. I spoke to them three times on the phone during labor, and offered to come to the hospital if they needed it, and they had the workbook.

Then, a couple of days ago, they asked me how much I would be refunding. Grrr. I feel like, in some ways, yes it would be fair to refund some of their class fee. But on the other hand, it was circumstances beyond my control that prevented me from finishing the classes...not any way in which I failed in my duty to teach.

Anyways...what do others do in this situation? Would you refund any money, and if so, how much? TIA for any suggestions/advice/btdt!

[momma4fun]

Originally Posted by Jster

I feel like, in some ways, yes it would be fair to refund some of their class fee. But on the other hand, it was circumstances beyond my control that prevented me from finishing the classes...not any way in which I failed in my duty to teach.

Were you inconvenienced because their baby came early? Did you have to change or postpone any of your previous commitments to schedule their classes? If not, I think you definitely ow them a decent refund.

It's not about your teaching duty and not getting to finish it. It's about the time you spent with them, and what your time is worth.

[mamachandi]

I think in these circumstance *some* amount of service fee could be refunded, though they seem to have not told you everything up front and you did block out time in your schedule to see them as well as drive to their house. So I would say it *is* an inconvenience how things went especially counting on the funds. would you have done a one day class? If not you should take that into consideration as well. Good luck-what a sticky situation

[JessicaE]

I'm a Bradley instructor too.

I would refund half their fee. That seems reasonable, since you did teach them one class, offered labor support by phone, rearranged your schedule, probably gave them a workbook, etc. BUT, they only got 1/4 of the services they expected. It was obviously out of everyone's control!

I understand how frustrating these things can be! I had a student for my June class ask for her non-refundable deposit back a few weeks ago, so that she could take another instructor's class (her husband has a smoking cessation class that conflicts w/ my class night). I did it in the interest of community harmony (and I empathized with her situation). Anyhow, I'm sure you'll be much more clear about fees/refunds in the future when a couple calls last minute. I've had to learn a few of those lessons the hard way too!

[soybeansmama]

I just came to post something similar...

I am a Bradley teacher, too and one of my students is having a scheduled c-section because of huge vaginal varicosities. She just decided before class last night that is how she feels "safest" with the circumstances. I have decided that it's irrelavent how I feel about her choice and that I will be refunding a certain amount (not sure yet how much) for the 4 remaining classes. I told her that she can still benefit by coming, I will just have to modify my lessons so they have a different focus. I feel like it's important that classes leave a good taste in her mouth. Besides, if she feels like things are fair, that could be some good word of mouth for me...

I hope that you can work out something that you feel good about!
Jessica

[chandasz]

I am also a Bradley teacher. I think I'm the dissenting opinion here. I would not refund personally unless they are in a real hardship situation.

[JunipersMom]

I would give them a refund and then write up a payment plan - schedule - agreement for your next clients that states what amount of a refund you offer and when you will not refund. Have them sign it during the first meeting or mail it to them before you meet them.

[charmander]

Not a birth professional, but just wanted to chime in here. I think it would depend on the amount of classes. You say they signed up for 4 - but only got 1. In that case I definitely think a refund would be in order. If I were the couple, I would expect it.

However, if I had taken 50% or more of a class and then couldn't finish it for some reason, I wouldn't expect a refund. But less than 50% I would.

[channelofpeace]

So, did they have a drug free birth?:

[ellebelle]

For private classes, I am less likely to offer a fully prorated refund because of the extra time and planning that those take. I think a 50% refund is reasonable.

For my full series, I rarely offer refunds unless there are special circumstances (like a baby coming very early - like before class 4.) Also, I do not offer refunds until I get any borrowed materials back. If they took a hospital class, they would not get a refund at all, not that I want to emulate a hospital. I usually make these decisions on a case-by-case basis.

Ellen
Wife to G. homeschooling mom to ds13, ds11, dd6
Bradley® Certified Childbirth Educator

[Rockies5]

What a pain to have to figure this out!!

Can you take your orig. price and divide it by class...refund them what they didn't attend.

This happened to me once now I have a set price, and on my books that is broken down to x per class, that way I am clear to myself should this ever happen again, or should I meet someone who just wants one class.

[Mamma Mia]

I don't understand what the big deal is. You gave them 1/4 of the services they paid for, so refund the the 3/4 that you didn't earn. It's not rocket science, just good ,fair customer service.

[Tofu the Geek]

I am not a birth professional, but have been a client of birth professionals in the past. I thought long and hard and I would have called and asked you if there would be a partial refund, but I wouldn't have assumed you would give me one. When I take classes at a facility, the registration form usually has all the info pertaining to refunds (and most don't refund after a class has started), so I likely would not have expected a refund if that case. But for some odd reason, it somehow feels different when you hire someone to come to your home and do a private class. I know it shouldn't be different, and it's not fair for it to be different, so I will change my view on that after reading this thread!

I think for the future you need to have a registration form that specifies when refunds are given and not. If in this case, you don't provide a partial refund, these people will most definitely spread the word about how you "kept their money for classes they didn't even take", even if that is not the whole story!

I'd come up with something fair, like a previous poster suggested, and give them 50%. The paid portion will cover the one class and hopefully your time on the phone, etc. I would provide them with an invoice showing the class cost and the cost of your support time.

[mysticmomma]

I would refund 3/4 and learn from the "burn" so to speak. write up a formal thing about your refunds based on different scenarios...

[Jane]

I'm not sure I'd refund 3/4. In this case, the client not beginning to schedule classes until 35 weeks takes some responsibility for the possibility of not getting all the classes.
Many types of classes have a non-refundable portion. $50-100 on $400-500 classes. For a $250 class, I would probably have a $30-50 scheduling fee + $20 for books. So, they might get back $250-30-20=$200/4 = $50 per class, refund of $150 for 3 missed classes. Since you don't have anything in your contract, I'd charge for the book, and divide the rest by 4 and refund 3.

Hey - do you teach any other classes - baby massage, breastfeeding, etc? Maybe they'd like to have their 3 classes exchanged for a different type.

[Rockies5]

Originally Posted by Apricot

Hey - do you teach any other classes - baby massage, breastfeeding, etc? Maybe they'd like to have their 3 classes exchanged for a different type.

I LIKE this idea!!

the "problem" is that many teachers put the $$ they earn for classes into supplies for said classes. If you are a new teacher, you are possibly investing 100% of your earnings and then any refunds have to come from somewhere else. I have nowhere else, and the first year I was teaching it was hard to even have enough extra to make muffins to serve at classes.

I agree about the word being spread though, espcially important if you are new!

[mysticmomma]

Originally Posted by Apricot

I'm not sure I'd refund 3/4. In this case, the client not beginning to schedule classes until 35 weeks takes some responsibility for the possibility of not getting all the classes

Yeah, I see your point, but how many of us here went along with mainstream ideas only to realize it wasn't for us at the last minute. I changed care providers at 36 weeks with my first pregnancy, and 32 weeks my second. Maybe she didn't realize there was another (better) way?

[Jster]

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and opinions!

They had an almost drug free birth...she had a difficulty in pushing with a flap of skin that wouldn't move/stretch and eventually needed an episiotomy there, and during pushing did take some sort of narcotic. But overall, pretty good, mom and baby are healthy, and it sounds like the hospital did a great job of helping her into different pushing positions (she pushed for 2.5 hours, with one hour of crowning, before they did the episiotomy).

Anyways...I know they felt like they got a lot of value out of the class we had and the materials that I gave them. If I had known there was any indication that they should have classes rushed even more, I would have been very willing to do so...but they didn't express that need to me. And we started classes within a few days of them initially calling me. I'm going to offer to refund $100...the first $50 goes to materials and overhead, and I can divide the rest by class. I really don't feel that is fair to ME, but in the sake of goodwill, I guess it's better to be flexible. I just feel a bit taken advantage of for my flexibility and generosity. A private lesson doesn't really pay very well, I do it out of a desire to make sure couples can still get classes even if there are conflicts.

And no, they didn't come to this as a late idea, they just procrastinated too long (and admitted that to me). They were both born drug-free and breastfed and they also don't have any hardship that would mean the fee had been hard for them to come up with. I have refunded or reduced fees for hardships before.

:

[teachinmaof3]

As stated in my class agreement, I refund the classes that they miss, which breaks down to $12.50/class.

[Rockies5]

Originally Posted by teachinmaof3

As stated in my class agreement, I refund the classes that they miss, which breaks down to $12.50/class.

do you find you have to use this much?