Today I have been notified that a course I was due to deliver on Thursday has been cancelled - weather conditions leading to staff issues I believe. They are rearranging it for a couple of week's time. I had booked a Premier Inn room on a non-refundable basis. My client (a training company) won't be charging their client any cancellation fee as it is being rebooked but I feel I should be paid at least a percentage of my daily rate. I cannot "sell" Thursday to anyone else as it is far too late and I now have one fewer date to offer other clients because of this rebooked course. The training company's T&Cs say that the trainer will get the % they get but, if they aren't going to charge any at all it means I will get diddly squat! They have said they will pay my hotel costs.
I would be really interested to hear what others think. Am I being unfair in expecting some recompense for the lost day?
Thanks
Jenny
3 Responses
you hit the nail on the head….
…with the comment about the lost "day"…..the "day" has been cancelled even if the course has only been postponed.
The problem you have is the all to common clause that "The training company's T&Cs say that the trainer will get the % they get but, if they aren't going to charge any at all it means I will get diddly squat!" I'd be prepared to bet that the person who made the decision not to charge the client a cancellation fee is a salaried individual; in other words they can easily make a decision to let the client off with no charge because it has no direct effect on the pocket of the person themself.
"Power without accountability"….probably one of the major causes of problems in governement and organisations in the modern world!
If I were you I'd accept that this time you are just going to lose out, but I'd try to have a word with the PTB at the training company and get them to recognise the pain that this type of thing causes to their "faces" ie the self employed associates who deliver on their behalf. That may have a beneficial effect in the longer term.
Rus
what about your cancellation policy?
Jenny
You are correct to feel agrieJenny
You are correct to feel aggrieved with your situation.
Definitely speak to the provider about their terms and you should insist on your own terms and conditions which kick into play if the provider decides not to charge the client. Maybe explain to them by reversing the situation – you cancelled on them with very short notice and they lost the ability to earn revenue by not having a trainer.
Whilst the provider has their reasons for not charging a client they need to handle their supply chain i.e. their trainers with more respect.
On a positive note you do have an extra day to use on activity that will generate more work in the long term.
Blake
I sympathise, but
Jenny, I sympathise, but you are just experiencing the outcome of the contract terms you have agreed to. We all learned stuff like this the hard way.
As Blake said, go and renegotiate your contract to include coverage for cancellations you are happy with, AND remember to specify the rescheduling will be subject to your availability. This stops them allocating the rescheduled work to elsewhere if you are already booked.
Tony