It should have been made clear in your terms and conditions that payments must be received at the beginning of each driving lesson. If your client arrives without the money, you will then have four possible courses of action. The first way is to refuse to take them on the lesson. This way you may end up not being paid and may also loose the client as well. The second way is to ask them to sign a form stating that they agree to pay for this driving lesson plus the fee for the next lesson at the start of the following lesson or within 10 days if another lesson is not imminent. The third way is, if you feel the previous two methods are a bit heavy and that you can trust your client 100%, that a verbal undertaking may do – but be very careful as many of us have been disappointed with the results of misplaced trust. Finally, you might ask them if they have a bank card they can use at an ATM machine. It cuts both ways. Remember that penalising clients either for late cancellations or for not turning up works both ways: if you seek payment for loss of lesson fee because they cancelled late, then you must also give them a comparable reduction if you have to cancel a driving lesson at short notice or give them a shortened time. State this in your terms and conditions.
s mentioned above, at the beginning of the very first driving lesson, the client should provide you with a signed copy of your terms and conditions, showing that they understand and agree with them. If the client is under 18 years of age, then their parent or guardian must countersign this and the client should keep one copy. Although unusual, if for some reason you need to take legal action against your client, having this signed document will help your case. Legal obligations
Before you attempt to drive your client anywhere, you should first check they can read a vehicle number plate from 20.5m and that they have both parts of their driving licence with them. Check their details, including their photograph.
It is important to discuss the following issues with your client. You can do this on the way to the driving site and/or when you arrive there: Ask them if they have had any previous driving experience. If so, establish exactly what that experience consisted of. Ask them if they have taken the theory test. Inform them about the two tests – what is involved, what is expected of them and where they take place. Inform them that they need to pass the theory test before they can book their practical test and that they can prepare for and take their theory test at anytime before or while they are taking their practical course. Ask them if they know how to prepare for their theory test. Recommend books and CD- ROMs to them and insist that they buy the Highway Code and read it. Tell them that there is no guarantee that everyone will pass the theory test the first time. Do not let them be complacent about it. Tell them about the near-geniuses you have taken in the past who failed their theory test. To avoid driving course disruption and driving test delay, advise them that they should get the theory test out of the way as soon as possible and at the latest before 20 hours of instruction have elapsed.
Ask them if they feel they may have any problems learning to drive.We are talking about learning difficulties here, but be very careful and sensitive about how you ask this question. Ask them if they have any disabilities that could affect their driving. Ask them if they are on any medication that could affect their driving. Ask them if they have consumed more than the legal amount of alcohol within the last 24 hours and inform them that you have a zero tolerance to anyone taking drugs (including prescribed or over-the- counter medication) 24 hours prior to each lesson that could affect their driving. Ask them whether they will be having driving practice with friends or family. If this option is available, you should actively encourage it but suggest that they wait until they have at least practised roundabouts with you before they do so.Warn them that whoever is taking them out may feel very nervous and anxious and this may translate into a few sharp words. Give them some guidance on approximately how long it takes an ‘average’ client to achieve test standard (rule of thumb: 2–2.5 hours for each year of a client’s age). The DSA carried out a survey in 2005 whereby hundreds of successful driving test candidates were asked about their driving experience. The result showed that, on average, 35-45 hours of driving instruction had taken place, along with the use of a private car outside driving lessons. Tell them that they can ask as many questions as they wish, especially if they do not understand something that was covered on a previous lesson and they are hoping this problem will just go away – because it will not. If later during the course you find your client is having major difficulties with co-ordination and clutch control, you should discuss with them the alternatives that are available. You must talk this over and allow your client to make the decision whether to persevere with manual or try driving an automatic geared vehicle.
Documentation and training resources It is, of course, essential that you record your client’s details. This will be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your professional approach. If you log on to the Driving School Pro website (free downloads) you will find all the documentation you will require. This system has been tried and tested over many years by the school’s instructors. As mentioned on the web page, you should consider investing in a zip-up conference folder with a four-ring file inside. You can then place the downloaded documents in this folder. You will find that these downloaded documents will not only enable you to enter the client’s details but also allow you to record their progress through the driving course. If you invest in the Driving School Pro logbooks you will have the whole package. You will also find on this web page question papers to be printed off and presented to your client at the end of driving lessons.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Bonnie Draper at 01172010
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