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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Dh signed CM contract for extortionate fee- can we back out?

93 replies

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 16:07

We are in a bit of a childcare crisis. Thought we'd found a CM, dh went to meet her today. He signed the contact and then called me to query the amount. Putting aside his idiocy of signing when he wasn't sure, and not questioning it, what can we do.

I sent her a message querying fee. The contract states £50 a day for 2 children wrap around care. From 7.45am until 8.45 (school) and 3.15 until 5.15, one day until 5. I work this out as therefore being £8.30 an hour PER child! The rate around here is £4.50 to £5. And she has stated her rate is £5.

Additionally she has put the hours as 7.45 to 9 (school starts at 8.45) and 3 (school finishes at 3.15) to 5.15.

I am going to call her (I'm currently on a train and signal is patchy) but what can we do if she won't change it? What are the implications of just saying no thanks and finding something else?

OP posts:

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ILoveMaxiBondi · 06/02/2019 19:45

Have you contacted any childcare or nanny agencies?

ILoveMaxiBondi · 06/02/2019 19:44

She’s not charging you for her travel to work time. She’s charging for the full hour of the part that you use.

Original poster

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 19:44

A nanny would be ideal. But I haven't been able to find anyone. Most are looking for full time posts, or part time in whole days. Not just wrap around.

We don't have a spare room for an au pair, and don't think that would be suitable with dd anyway.

OP posts:

Original poster

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 19:43

Dh pointed out that we don't get paid to travel to work, but she sets her own charges so she can if she wants.

The other option is one of cobbling something with work until we can find somewhere. It's all a mess. Not her fault at all, obviously our fault for not realising.

I'm stressed and I'm upset. Once I got the new job I told the kids we would be able to go on holiday. Because obviously I hadn't factored in our childcare bill being tripled.

OP posts:

ILoveMaxiBondi · 06/02/2019 19:40

OP is a nanny an option? Might be better for your Dd.

Somethingsmellsnice · 06/02/2019 19:37

She presumably needs to get to the school from her home and get back from school after drop off in the morning and has factored in the extra 15 minutes each end for this. I am not sure how you are getting £8.30. I make it £7.10 per child per hour. Also before 8am some charge a higher rate because of it being an earlier start time than 8 am.

The reality is by offering the wrap around care is is precluded from taking on two full time children and therefore her rate is higher to compensate for that.

YourFly · 06/02/2019 19:31

We have a local nursery that takes ages 0 - 12.

They pick DD up from school in their minibus and take her back to the nursery.

I pay £10 in total per day. (we only use them every few weeks)
Thats for 2.5 hours.
3.30pm - 18.00pm

Could you ring around?

Smoggle · 06/02/2019 19:30

Well if you don't have any choice then it sounds like your dh wasn't wrong in signing up. Remember you can get 20% back through Tax free childcare too.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 06/02/2019 19:28

Are you eligible for any help with childcare? Have a look at the childcare choices government website.

Original poster

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 19:26

We don't have much choice. There is a massive shortage of childcare in this area. So our choices are leave them in a school that fails dd hugely regarding her ASD. Or be financially screwed/stressed trying to get enough childcare. I could just cry.

OP posts:

Original poster

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 19:25

Argh, so basically I'm an idiot for not knowing how much it should be and for sending dh. It's not even ideal childcare.

Argh. I just started a new job, bloody ideal job. Gone from part time to full time. And now all that money will go on childcare. No wonder there is an issue with women in work.

I'm not blaming the childminder for that btw. They used to go to a childminder as babies and toddlers. £34 a day including food and nappies.

So we are financially screwed for less than ideal childcare.

OP posts:

Smoggle · 06/02/2019 19:23

The "norm" varies a lot my location - you could call the other cms with spaces at your school and see how they charge, someone else might suit you better.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 06/02/2019 19:21

Is it normal to charge until 9am if school starts at 8.45 and from 3 if school ends at 3.15.

For some, yes. Like I said, some don’t charge by the part hour. If you use 15 minutes of the hour you pay for all of it.

Also, I know you say you don’t want from 7:30, only 7:45 but from what I understand it would be a flat rate of £10 whether you used her from 7:30 or 8:30 or 8:45.

katykins85 · 06/02/2019 19:18

intents yes its normal to charge for full hours even if part is used, she or he can't offer the other 45 mins to anyone else because of ratios so why should they lose out??

Original poster

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 19:14

No food. I don't want from 7.30 though, I want from 7.45. And I only want 3.15 to 5.15pm.

Is it normal to charge until 9am if school starts at 8.45 and from 3 if school ends at 3.15. I genuinely don't know as they have always gone to school childcare.

OP posts:

BeekyChitch · 06/02/2019 19:11

She could take it further but do you really think a CM would go to those lengths? I really don't think so.Just tell her you're really sorry but you won't be using her services.

OrigamiZoo · 06/02/2019 19:03

And I provide a proper dinner, is she feeding them?

OrigamiZoo · 06/02/2019 19:01

I also charge by the hr, its the norm but I do finish at 6 and parents pick up at 6.

OrigamiZoo · 06/02/2019 18:59

I have a clause in contracts saying that either party can leave in the two week period after signing, makes sense for both parties.

To be fair, I charge £6 per hr, (London) so for two children, it adds up. I also charge more for 7.30 start, why shouldn't she, you'd want paying for working from then wouldn't you?

Smoggle · 06/02/2019 18:54

If you are sure you don't want to use her, call and be very, very apologetic about it.

Try not to end on bad terms as ime childminders talk to each other, especially at the same school, and will warn of bad payers etc.

Original poster

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 18:49

No deposit

OP posts:

Original poster

IntentsAndPorpoises · 06/02/2019 18:49

She's the only CM with spaces for this school for all the days. There is another that has space on one day, and me and dh will have to cobble something with work (early starts/late finishes) on two days.

My dd has ASD (which is why we are moving her schools) and I'm concerned at her going to one place for 4 weeks and then somewhere else.

It's just a big mess. And did I mention I could kill dh.

OP posts:

Smoggle · 06/02/2019 18:46

Have you paid a deposit?

JennyOnAPlate · 06/02/2019 18:40

Does she have a waiting list? She's far more likely to let you out of the contract if she has other families waiting for places.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 06/02/2019 18:39

If you have other childcare options I would tell her your DH didn’t understand the fees (as he clearly didn't, and she knows this as you called to clarify) and so you won’t be using her.

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