20 mins chat with very experienced instructor is sometimes worth paying for. If his advice really improved your flying pay for it. If it was just chit chat then run away from that club.
i just want to know if this sort of situation is common practice and i just need to make allowances or as my dad keeps telling me "they've had my pants down"
Unfortunately flying schools are operating in very tough commercial environment and any opportunity to pocket few £ is welcome.
I used to have instructor who used to briefe me in the aircraft and I was paying for it as a flying time. I was 21 at the time and didn't dare questioning his methodolgy.
More advanced training gets even worse as when you fly multi engine aircrafts it cost about £400/hour or almost £7 a minute.
Who said flying isnt fun?
My advice: agree everything in advance, check all the prices carefully and be firm