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Original poster

Nursery want ££ s in back payment due to their miscalculations. Help!

36 replies

StationeryNerd · 07/10/2024 12:13

Hello, This is my sister's account so please excuse.
Can anyone help me know where I stand?: our nursery provider has asked for a chunky sum of money. They have said it's because they've been undercharging us. We moved from 3 days to 4 earlier in the year, which I told them in writing. They've now said they've wrongly still been charging us for 3 days so they want the extra back. What do I do, is there any precedent for challenging it?

We didn't notice the error ourselves because it landed at the time the government 15 / 30 hours funding came in, as well as our tax-free childcare allowance so we just assumed it was correct given those 2 variables too.

I just don't have £2,300 spare!

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frannygallops · 07/10/2024 12:50

I realise it's not a straightforward calculation but you must have known at least roughly how much you'd expect to pay when you budgeted for the extra day. I think you need to pay this back but do check their calculations first

TheCraicDealer · 07/10/2024 12:46

Surely you checked your invoices to see how the 3>4 day change plus the funded hours worked out? Did you not notice the days hadn’t changed?

At the end of the day, they can easily demonstrate it was a genuine error and you were clearly erroneously undercharged. You used the service and you can’t just refuse to pay. The best you can hope for here is a payment plan so you’re not having to pay the full whack at once. Don’t mess about, people have lost nursery places over stuff like this.

Brainded · 07/10/2024 12:43

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RandomMess · 07/10/2024 12:43

What does your contract say on the matter?

Once you've checked the calculations then yes a repayment plan even if it's £50 per month.

Will the monthly get reduced further with future funding as that will help your budget to pay it off.

Moltenpink · 07/10/2024 12:42

Elphamouche · 07/10/2024 12:39

But surely you know what you expect to be paying?

I’m not the OP but it’s really not that simple once you factor in term time for the free hours, charges for lunches, tax free amounts etc

Elphamouche · 07/10/2024 12:39

But surely you know what you expect to be paying?

DogInATent · 07/10/2024 12:26

And tbh, why on earth didn't you work out what the extra would be before adding a day to the plan? - surely you budgeted ahead to see if you could afford it.

DogInATent · 07/10/2024 12:25

@StationeryNerd
Have you done the calculations for yourself taking into account funded childcare hours and childcare allowance to check, or are you once more assuming the nursery is correct?

whatshalliday · 07/10/2024 12:20

I'm a childminder and I undercharged someone once for a few months (total only about £400) and I didn't ask for it back. Not sure where you actually stand, but I'm sure they can't demand it back in one go. Can you offer some much a month?

Fizzadora · 07/10/2024 12:19

Insist on a breakdown of the figures, including how the govt. funding impacts it.
Tell them that if the figures are incorrect then you will adjust your monthly payment as you are unable to pay a lump sum.

meganna · 07/10/2024 12:18

You still should pay even if it was their mistake. You should have checked your invoices were correct, and they have provided a service for a days less pay a week!

Ask if you can set up a payment plan.