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Cancellation etiquette

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Updated regularly for the latest SkillSwap experienceApprox. 3–4 min read

Why cancellation etiquette matters

Life happens — but how you handle cancellations says a lot about you as a tutor. Clear, respectful behaviour helps you build trust and keeps learners coming back.

General principles

  • Cancel as early as you can
  • Always send a short explanation in chat
  • Offer at least one alternative time if you want to continue

When you need to cancel

  • Open the session from Calendar → Upcoming
  • Click Cancel
  • Immediately message the learner with a short apology and options

Frequent last-minute cancellations can harm your reputation and may affect how often learners want to book with you.

If the learner cancels

Stay calm and professional. You can reply with understanding and, if appropriate, suggest another time. Over the long term, SkillSwap may factor cancellation patterns into reliability signals that influence matching.

No‑shows

If a learner doesn't show up, wait a few minutes in the room, then send a polite message. You can decide whether you're comfortable scheduling with them again.

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