Driving instructor threatening me and demanding cash?

So I had to go with a different instructor as my normal one was away for my test day. I said to do 2 lessons and then the test day with him, and he said it was £76 for a 2hour lesson and that I need to pay him cash.

So I brought £150 cash on my first lesson to pay for the two and then asked what the test day costs would be, he started saying it was £180 with 1 hour pre lesson. I said that was really high and not the normal and unfair. And asked why? He started sayi by additional insurance and test wait fees, which sounded very odd? He then said he can go to £150 with the 1 hour pre lesson. I still said that was very high and was hesitant and said I’ll see how the next lesson goes. My normal instructor would charge for 2/3 hours on the test day normally.

Then after that next lesson I said I didn’t want to do the pre lesson on the test and go straight there. He said okay and didn’t speak since. He got there 30 mins before the test and I was back within about 1.5 hours. I then said how much it would be since I didn’t do the pre lesson and it’s been less than 2 hours. I said around 100 is still high but much more reasonable.

This is where it got weird and he said have you got cash where I can get cash and then wanted to drive me to an ATM near me. I said can he send a breakdown of the price and why it is that, and then I will pay today once im home and it’s a fair amount. He was then demanding that I pay immediately and get the cash for him. I said I don’t have cash on me right now and can bank transfer a maximum of £114 once I’m home. I got out of the car at this point as it was like he was threatening until I paid immediately, he said that if I don’t pay now he would go to my house and knock to ask someone to pay?! I said I’ll bank transfer £114 while I was standing outside the car, he kept asking to sit back in the car but I refused and said that he should tell me when he’s received it.

Do you think what he was charging was fair (total time I used his car was maybe 1.5-2hrs)? And the way he was threatening at the end felt very very weird, like he wouldn’t allow me to go home and pay once I’ve received the cost break down. I’d never been late to pay and said I would the same day. He didn’t put any of his prices in writing, and only said it was )76 for 2 hour lessons on the phone.

Also he was someone my instructor gave me the number to as he was away so I thought it would be normal and not asking for cash and inflated prices.

Posted Aug 5, 2026, 1:25 PM UTC

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