To ask them to adjust the bill?

[milkysallgone]

Have posted this in 'Nurseries' but thought I'd post here for more opinions please.

Ds started at nursery at the beginning of term. He managed one full session but was very upset and unsettled (he's 2 btw). After this it was deciede between us that I will leave him for an hour each time with the aim of building this up to a full session as he gets better at being left.

I'm perfectly happy with this arrangement and it appears to be working; he is getting a little better each time .

We had the bill at the start of the month for my dd who also attends, and ds. The thing is though the bill reflects the original plan of 2 full sessions and 2 lunch club hours per week. It is quite a bit of money for us.

Should I request that our bill is discounted because he is spending so little time there at the mo or not? I don't mind paying for the full session, but he's not doing the lunches yet. I hate bringing these things up and get quite . I really love the nursery and don't want to get all shirty about it with them.

Is this reasonable or is it expected that 'you book 'em you pay'? even though we're not using all of the time.

[milkysallgone]

quite

[KatyMac]

Would you be happy if they sold his space to someone else and asked him not to come back?

[spicemonster]

I think that if you've booked sessions, you have to pay for them. You could change your mind at any moment and decide that he attends the full session couldn't you? So it's your choice not to use them.

Sorry, I know it's pricey

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Well if they have reserved the session for you, then I think that you really have to pay for that.

Lunch club sounds more negotiable though, so I would ask politely if it is an oversight to still be charging for it, and see how they react.

[falcon]

It's pretty standard to be charged full price as if they gave you a discount they'd be losing money as another child could be in your ds's slot at the full price.

[dilbertina]

I think that's the point - you are paying for his place.....

[morocco]

if you ask them to discount the price, maybe they would decide they'd rather have someone else who's going to pay more instead? how long is their waiting list?

[milkysallgone]

Yes I thought that would be the case tbh. I wouldn't expect not to pay for the full sessions whether he's there or not - I suppose it's just a bit of a wrench paying for the 'top up' lunch club iyswim?

[loobeylou]

YABU - standard practise. Our nursery is worse. They start doing 45 mins, then an hour, build up slowly and we pay the full whack from word go. However, all the little taster sessions in the summer, we did not pay for, so it evens out

you probably would not expect to pay a childminder less if you picked your child up earlier would you

it wont be for long

[sb6699]

I think everyone's right in saying you pay for the place. If they had given it to another child they would be paying the full amount so why shouldn't you.

It's not their fault your ds isn't settled and they're doing their best to rectify this.

In saying that, it wouldn't hurt to ask but be prepared for them to say no.

[mayorquimby]

yabu - as pretty much everyone has said they are keeping the space for him, you are choosing not to utilise it.

[Janos]

I know it seems unfair (and it's expensive) but this is the way nurseries work - you are paying to keep a place for your DS.

You can of course ask them (worth a try)but they are well within their rights to say no.

Hope you get it sorted