I'm testament to someone who "paid" for an instructor. He was out of a local hobby shop from the Salt Lake City area. He charged $25 for a half hour. During the 3rd lesson, my plane deadsticked after making half a circuit after take-off. Turned out it was the carberator hex head had stripped, and the carb came loose, leaning it out. He charged me the $25 anyway, and didn't offer to assist.

Luckily I knew what I was doing anyway, and tapped a little oversize on the hex head. He also didn't get another penny, and I bought a simulator instead. Don't pay anyone to instruct you, no matter how desperate you are to get into the air.