To think this is supremely cheeky?

[Falaffeleybollocks]

I offer a sleep consultancy service where I support with sleep for babies and toddlers. I run my own small business and I have started to offer a discount to low income families. I have have taken on some work and at the point of contract agreement the mum said she was on a single parent on a low income and that she would qualify for the discount, of which nothing had been mentioned previously, despite my sending her the information as part of my information pack. However, the meeting I was having was with both parents, who share care. I appreciate she may well be on a low income, and may not receive maintenance from her exp but the service will of course be for the child but both parents are supposedly going to benefit from the services I provide as the strategies I provide will not just be used in one home, and the father was fully involved in the consultation. Am I being unreasonable to feel uncomfortable about this?

What does it say in your terms and conditions about the reduction for low income families?

This is a minefield - what proof of income do you accept?

I agree that they're co-parenting so she doesn't get any sort of single parent discount as they share care

What kind of discount and how are you phrasing it in your offer?

I can see it from both sides to be honest. I suppose it depends how you have worded your contract. If it was me I'd give her the single family income but that's just me and probably why I should never run a business!

What I've said is that a low income household is as defined by the gov of something like lower than 19k. The proof of income is either self assessment tax return or bank statements.

Should i ask for proof of both parents income?

@Falaffeleybollocks

What I've said is that a low income household is as defined by the gov of something like lower than 19k. The proof of income is either self assessment tax return or bank statements.

If that's all it says and she does have an income of less than 19k then you'll have to give her the discount regardless of shared care. You need to add it as a clause to your contract going forward.

Yes I will you are right. Really makes me want to not do the work however!!

I think you need to re-think your contract. I would get financial statements from both parents. As you quite rightly state, your services will benefit both parties/ parents in many cases.

I guess the only stumbling block would be if Mum/Dad make the contact, and need the help, if the other party Mum/Dad refuse to provide proof of income what will you do then?

I have started to offer a discount to low income families.

YABU- You said you offer discount to low income families, you don’t specify that it should be single parents with no support from their ex.

Why on earth are you doing this? You're making issues for yourself, you do a service and you deserve to be paid for it.

You really need to think this through OP. If you are saying you want to see proof of income from both parents if separated then you are essentially saying only children who won’t be sleeping at both of their parents home can benefit from the discount. Or children whose parents are still together but on a low income. But children who have two homes won’t be able to benefit from the discount. You seem miffed that both parents will be using the tools and advice to help the same child sleep. Which is weird.

The discount is to work with one households surely. If dad isn't part of that household but wants to be involved then you need to assess both people's income and they need to agree who will pay what between them if above where you would allow the discount.

Where there's a discount there's always been someone willing to look for a loophole to obtain it.

You should probably stop the official discount, although you could potentially offer discounts to some future clients based on their circumstances if you wish.

Seems like a bit of a grey area in your policy. They may live separately but then they have to run two households from their respective income so how do you decide what meets your threshold? Where do you draw the line with overnight stays? Baby can sleep at dads 2 nights a week but 3 nights is too many?

I think you have created a rod for your own back here. I think it is odd for a private business to have different prices according to income level, I can honestly say I have never come across that before. It puts you in ambiguous situations such as you currently have and also you have to check proof of income, strange thing for a private business to do. I’d be rethinking this offer.

Well yes it’s a bit of a grey area isn’t it but I guess they are two separate households who may jointly be on a low income each?

It makes sense to want both parents there so they can both adopt the same strategies to increase the chances of it being successful.

@Aprilx

I think you have created a rod for your own back here. I think it is odd for a private business to have different prices according to income level, I can honestly say I have never come across that before. It puts you in ambiguous situations such as you currently have and also you have to check proof of income, strange thing for a private business to do. I’d be rethinking this offer.

This.

I run my own business and I do offer discount to certain groups but not on income because it's a minefield to get proof of.

As it stands though she's within her rights to get the discount.

I don't think you're obliged to give her anything. Your business, your decision.
But I'd do away with the discount, too many CFs out there.

It sounds too difficult to administer.
We started off in business offering a discount in some circumstances, but it wasn’t worth it as you devalue your own work and end up competing on price when that may not be the best thing to do.

Thanks all for the comments. I am going to remove it from the policy as its too much of a grey area. Thanks all

It's your business so you have a right to refuse her your services for any reason - simply do not accept her as a customer and return any money she has paid you. You aren't obliged to provide her a service.

In future make it clear you require proof of income from both parents households.

Alternatively you could simply offer the discount on a discretionary basis and not add it into your general terms and conditions at all. If you think someone might be on a low income you can offer the discount on a discretionary ad hoc basis, taking into account all the customers circumstances.

Take out that part of your contract, replace it with ‘I operate a policy whereby I set some funds aside such that I can offer a very small number of clients discretionary discounts based on low household income, but note that this is at my own cost and at my sole discretion’ or some such.

Probably only total chancers will ask, others will get cross, so you’d be better off not subsidising anyone.

I would probably remove it from the policy and every now and then advertise how you normally would that youre opening up 3 sessions to help families who wouldn't normally afford you and they can apply here". Then you can read through and see where you feel your time and energy can best be donated.

I get why this client has ticked you but its such a grey area I would struggle to walk back and ask her to pay more.

PS thank you for offering your services to low income and single households. I cant imagine how difficult it would be to have poor sleep on top of single parenting.

Maybe change your discount policy to dps with more than 1 baby!!