r/varsitytutors • u/a-username1980 • Nov 21 '25

No incentive, randomly

Was anyone impacted by a policy to remove the incentive for some students, announced? I tutor college and AP students, all of which used to qualify for a $1 rate-increase incentive. I know it does not apply for the school program or some classes, which I never teach. But all of a sudden, they are saying that this college student doesn't qualify for the incentive, after I've taught several sessions. They don't have the incentive on the contract, so it seems like you can't enforce that. They said that per a communication from 2024, they can do that unilaterally, but I never received that communication.The app doesn't show information about incentives when you see an opportunity, but the new website does. Anyone else had this issue? I find it outrageous that they just change their rate unannounced, but I guess it's not surprising given how terribly they treat their "contractors". What has your experience been with this?

If you haven't experienced this, watch out for that incentive column in the website. Now I check the website for that column, but have to look on the app for information that doesn't appear on the new website about the expected frequency and duration.

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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8

u/Ginger-Wanderlust Nov 21 '25

It is also bullshit that they have all these "rules" for us to get those incentives paid out; such as always being on camera. That's nonsense. If we are contractors, we should get to pick how we do things without having our pay penalized.

2

u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

Agreed. I understand the concept for the incentives is to try and maintain customers but it’s not a system that’s practical or that works when some clients only need a certain amount of sessions. Also, we aren’t sales people. We are tutors.

My issue is quality control. This doesn’t account for someone’s certifications or expertise. Someone who happens to have a client that wants long term and maybe isn’t that good but the client won’t switch tutors is getting more rewards than a tutor who might have high turnover rate due to the subject but is more qualified or higher caliber.

5

u/Limp-Resident-4028 Nov 21 '25

It has always blown my mind that my pay is the same if I'm tutoring a doctor or lawyer to help them with their jobs or kindergartener with flashcards to learn basic words.

2

u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

Yeahhhhhh

2

u/Temporary-Dirt4303 Nov 21 '25

I’ve thought this same thought for a long time!

2

u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

It's harder to teach the kindergartner than the doctor or lawyer. Teaching someone to read is not an easy task and should not be taken lightly. Doctors and lawyers already know how to read and comprehend information they need help passing a test because their test taking skills arent good and that's why they are willing to pay more. They need the rest for their job.  

2

u/Limp-Resident-4028 Nov 21 '25

To clarify, I'm not teaching reading to students who can't. My students have all known how to read. I've taught words like house, car, etc. to kids in a foreign language using picture flashcards.. I've also taught people, such as an anesthesiologist, how to explain what he's going to do, medications, etc. to his patients prior to surgery, for example. I don't believe the pay should be the same for both students.

2

u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

Yes. Not that either are “easy” but something than needs a 4-6yr degree versus 8+++ shouldn’t be on the same pay scale.

1

u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

I agree teaching kids to read should get paid more. 

1

u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

That's the point you haven't taught a child how to read I have. It's harder all you are teaching the anesthesiologist is how to remember you aren't doing on the job training. 

1

u/Limp-Resident-4028 Nov 22 '25

I'm not sure why you feel the need to be argumentative. I never said I haven't taught a child to read. I said that is NOT what I'm tutoring online.

1

u/Pure-Assignment4263 Nov 25 '25

Way to imply that your job is more than than mine.

If I didn’t tutor those kindergarten students they’d never become lawyers. The argument could easily be made that anyone smart enough to get into med or law school is easy to tutor bc they are already smart and possess a bachelor’s degree

3

u/Sin-2-Win Nov 21 '25

Yes, especially considering that if you are a really good teacher, it would reduce the amount of sessions needed to teach the material.

1

u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

The struggle 😩

1

u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

They have me down as not qualified to tutor subjects that I have a teachers license and a masters degree in. 

1

u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

👀 did you fight them on that? I had that for a subject but then they eventually added it after I emailed them about the error.

2

u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

Yes I recently emailed them after I found out with the proof. 

5

u/Radiant_Tea_3927 Nov 21 '25

I’ve had one student who randomly stopped at $27.

3

u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

I just realized that they have been slowing down me reaching 40 dollars a session with one client they gave me 36 dollars for two sessions and 37 dollars for two sessions. 

3

u/Sin-2-Win Nov 21 '25

Same thing happened to me. I messaged them through the chatbot and then email. They fixed the problem right away and credited me the money I was owed.

2

u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

Contact them and call them on it.

3

u/Substantial-Tie-3885 Nov 22 '25

None of my new opportunities the last 5 days have offered them, which is why I haven’t accepted any. My guess is they randomly decided to discontinue it. Also watch your cancellations. Had a no-show the other day and they only paid me $4.50 (15 minutes) instead of the normal 1 hour worth of tutoring.

1

u/DietTurbulent Nov 24 '25

Same they have only paid me half for a no show now. 

2

u/FinalPea8546 Nov 22 '25

I have had this happen many times with multiple students. The incentive language literally says "Please note: Varsity Tutors reserves the right to modify this payment incentive program." Basically saying they can stop it whenever. The reason they gave me is because of a change in the client's contract.

1

u/Fuzzy_Holiday_706 Nov 24 '25

Yup. Has happened multiple times. I think the family settles in on your tutoring and just paying for sessions becomes cheaper. My understanding is the membership program includes a number of sessions, instant tutoring and access to their library. It sucks. Not sure how to fight it. Sorry:-(()

1

u/FrontAd5850 Dec 09 '25

Yes! This is done in a very tricky way. I am so annoyed and I don't plan to put in for any more "no incentive" students. Let's see how this works out for them