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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Complicated one. Pre paid childminder, turned out to be wrong decision.

31 replies

Wiltshiremum83 · 31/07/2019 00:36

Hi. Before I start my query I want to add some info.
We've been with our childminder for over 4 years (with our 2 sons whom she looked after one at a time as youngest started when eldest left for school).
We have a contract and have always paid as per this, weekly in advance (ie pay on Monday for that week).
Despite a few minor niggles over the years (none ever serious enough to bring up) we have been happy with the care provided.

This year our youngest became eligible for 30 hours free care, this saves us alot of money and also meant we were no longer entitled to (the very small amount we were eligible for) tax credits. Great in term times but very costly in school holidays when she looks after both our children and the free hours don't apply This year rather than pay weekly I thought I'd be organised and pay her the full amount in advance as I'd saved up some money. I paid 2 weeks before the start of the chargeable care period (which begins 5th Aug as she is on holiday first week of school hols).
However 8 days prior to the care period I was advised (by gov.uk after applying for my latest 30 hours code) that I was now eligable for tax free childcare for any amounts I paid over the 30 hours. Doing this would save us around £100 over the school holiday period, money we could really do with. But of course I've already paid her so I can't claim this as to do so I need to pay her via the gov tax free account. I contacted her immediately by text to say I'd been signed up for this , she'd receive the same amount herself but i'd save £100 if she might be able to refund me so it could be paid via the tax free account as I'd been advised to do. She replied to say she couldn't refund it as she'd used the money already whilst she was on holiday that week.

Basically I want to see what others think, am I being unreasonable asking for the money back to then pay her straight away from a different account? Part of me thinks I am as it was my choice to pay well in advance as it wasn't required or requested, but then again that's the point, I didnt even need to have paid her ANY of what I've paid already, my contract states I pay weekly and the first payment for this isn't due until 5th August, whereas I've paid up until the end of the first week of Sept. And I'm not asking her to refund so I can keep it, I'm asking her to refund it so I can pay via another method, she'd have the same amount of money and still before it was due with only minimal fuss to herself.

I don't know whether to push further or just begrudgingly accept it, the tax free care won't help us much for the rest of the year as careful planning and recently reducing my working hours means we don't go over our 30 hours free during term times, it will help next summer hols but that's all really. Any thoughts? Nice responses only please, I've been reading some other posts and I'd appreciate the irrelevant snide remarks be avoided as no one benefits, I'm doing my best as I'm sure all mums on this forum are too. Many thanks.

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NoSquirrels · 31/07/2019 07:46

with only minimal fuss to herself

It’s not though, is it? As you don’t have sight of her finances, you don’t know how it would affect her. Yes, she’s received it well in advance iof your contractual obligation but once it’s paid it’s reasonable for her to assume she can spend it - so she did, she says. Maybe she splashed out in things she’d have scrimped on otherwise - that’s her choice and not your business. If she doesn’t have it to repay you then she can’t.

If she had it to give back and was happy to, fair enough . You’re not wrong for asking. But she’s said no so you have to accept with good grace.

Imagine paying your gas bill early, or any other bill to someone. You couldn’t get it back once paid.

Snazzygoldfish · 31/07/2019 07:44

Gosh that's hard. I think you have to suck it up though as if she hasn't got the money she can't refund you presumably without taking out a loan. She's probably also losing out massively on offering you the full 30 hours during the term-time. I know our nursery loses a huge amount and only offers the 15 hours as they'd go under if they didn't charge extra on the additional hours.

Much sympathy to you though.

AuntieMaggie · 31/07/2019 07:43

I think you just have to accept you've made a mistake - it's not fair to expect the childminder to have the inconvenience of paying you back and then waiting to be paid again. It's not like it will be instant - there will be a delay of a few days at least and if she doesn't have the money she doesn't have the money.

Original poster
Wiltshiremum83 · 31/07/2019 07:38

To clarify, we didn't choose to come off tax credits, we were o ny ever eligible for the childcare part of tax credits and received about £50 a month towards our childcare now that we have 30 hours free even with the expense since school holidays we're not eligle for any tax credits. I'm not sure why but we've always seemed to not quite be eligble for much even though we don't earn masses and other friends and family seemed to get lots of help. I'd never thought of using the tax free childcare, it's very likely we'd have actually been better off on this for some time, when I updated my 30 hours free account (which you have to do every 3 months) I received the code for this and a message to say we'd been automatically signed up for tax free childcare as now that we dont get tax credits we're now eligble.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 31/07/2019 00:42

Tax credits plus 30 hours I mean not tax free childcare.

MyDcAreMarvel · 31/07/2019 00:41

You should have stayed on tax credits they are based on income not childcare costs. You divide the whole year by 52 and give that as the weekly cost.