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Original poster

Mileage

39 replies

likessleep · 01/11/2008 20:16

We have found a childminder who we are very happy with and who has availability. We were really chuffed and very impressed with her attitudes towards childcare, range of activities and warmth. She is by far the best we've seen, in an area where they are hard to come by!
She is more expensive than other childminders we've seen, but felt happy to pay more, especially as we are looking for someone for just two days a week.
However, we got the contract through today and she has included 50p per mile for mileage. As she does a 20 mile round trip to a baby and toddler group on one of the two two days, this would mean an extra £40 a month.
Am I being mean by asking if there is any negotiation on this? From me singing from the treetops last week, so chuffed to have found someone who I was very impressed by, I have been left a little disappointed that she is proposing 50p a mile, which seems a lot to me.
Would appreciate your honest thoughts please.

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RachieB · 02/11/2008 11:07

childminders arent supposed to charge mileage are they ?! have never paid mine and never would,well not 50p per mile anyways!

nannies are different

Nettee · 02/11/2008 09:27

I think 50p a mile would be expensive if you was only taking your child to something that you said you wanted your child to go to. She has decided to go to this group and is taking ?3 other children too so I think it is completely unreasonable.

Original poster
likessleep · 02/11/2008 09:19

But is 50p a mile reasonable?

OP posts:
nannynick · 02/11/2008 08:56

As a nanny, as I in theory charge my employer for mileage, my car insurance includes Hire & Reward as part of my childcare job. My car is effectively now a mini-bus, but with only 5 seats!

Childminders can claim against tax either the Fixed Profit Car Scheme rate, or the actual cost of car expenses (you can only change between schemes when a vehicle is replaced) - see HMRC Document: BIM52751
To be able to claim the amount, the childminder must ensure that the journey is "wholly and exclusively for business purposes". So if they were collecting from school, which includes their own child, then it would not meet that criteria. However, if they were taking minded children to a toddler group, without their own children being present, then that journey is "wholly and exclusively for business purposes". Additional costs such as parking charges, are also claimable.

likessleep - negotiate the contract. Everything is negotiable, though if the childminder will negotiate is another matter. If they won't, then you need to consider if you can foot the bill, or if you will look at other childcare providers.

Original poster
likessleep · 02/11/2008 08:55

thanks theprisoner, i hadn't even thought of that.
all of your postings have reassured me that i am not being ott about this and that it doesn't seem to be a common occurrence.
thanks so much, i will speak to her about it tomorrow.

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ThePrisoner · 01/11/2008 22:17

I am pretty sure that if a childminder charges for mileage, there are implications for the car insurance. We are not supposed to be operating like taxi drivers, or we have to have a different business insurance for cars.

Original poster
likessleep · 01/11/2008 20:45

£4.00 is the going rate near me. but this childminder is charging £4.50, which as i say, we were happy to stump up (i have seen others charging £5.00) but this petrol thing has made me a little cynical (which is a horrible feeling for such an emotive, big decision - yes my pfb!! ).
that cost doesn't include food, but does include activities.
thank you so much, i think i need to take the bull by the horns and say that whilst we are very keen, we cannot justify an additional £40 on mileage. it is quite a tidy sum.

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AbbaFan · 01/11/2008 20:40

I charge £4.00 PH and that includes food, activities, everything. I have never even thought about charging for petrol. So yes, I just add the mileage to my expenses. For me, I don't want to charge for extras because it just bumps up my income, and then I have more tax to pay. So by adding food, petrol, entry fee's etc to my expenses, it offset's it better.

Anyway, if she is charging upto 4 sets of parents a mileage fee of 50p per mile, she is making a great profit!

I would ask her if the mileage can be shared between all the parents.

Original poster
likessleep · 01/11/2008 20:38

thank you so much for posting. i have been thinking about it all day and not sure what to do. i think i am going to say to her that it is a cost we hadn't accounted for and given that it will be that much each month, ask whether there is any flexibility on it.

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Original poster
likessleep · 01/11/2008 20:34

thanks abbafan. no she has others she takes too. she actually has a variation on her cert to look after 4 (is the usual 3, it is all confusing to me!).
when you say you add 40p a mile onto your expenses, do you charge these as extra to your parents or are they included in your hourly rate?
sorry to ask, but i am wondering the best way to tackle this with her.
it is a 20 mile trip, as she lives out in the sticks a bit, we live 5 miles from town and she lives another 5 miles from us.

OP posts:
AbbaFan · 01/11/2008 20:30

Also will your child be the only one she takes to M & T groups?

AbbaFan · 01/11/2008 20:24

Im a CM and also know many more - and I have never heard of a CM charging the parents mileage.

I just add 40p per mile onto my expenses.

20 mile round trip is also a bit much. Is there not a M & T closer. I have about 6 within 4 miles of my house.

Original poster
likessleep · 01/11/2008 20:22

thanks for responding. i feel mean asking her about it, but i kind of feel she is taking the mickey a bit, which is why i've been in a bad mood today. the government recommend a 40p a mile for business use.
i just wondered what others charge/get charged, so thank you for responding.
difficult one.

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ChasingSquirrels · 01/11/2008 20:18

mine charges £1 a trip (each way) for playschool drop-off/pick-up (a couple of miles at most). But this is something I am asking her to do. If it is her choice to go to the groups I think it is unreasonable to charge you mileage.

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