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Original poster

Childminder is charging for christmas day

46 replies

ChevalierTialys · 25/11/2019 23:03

Is this normal practise?

Contract says she will charge for public holidays but also says she will not charge for days she will not be available. Is she suggesting she will be working on christmas day? Is this right?

OP posts:

Poetryinaction · 25/11/2019 23:40

She is a CF. Try bookong them in and see what happens.

Original poster

ChevalierTialys · 25/11/2019 23:41

Thanks for the link, just having a read of the holidays bit. I will speak to her tomorrow and try to clarify.

OP posts:

JenniferM1989 · 25/11/2019 23:46

She's using this as a way to get paid holidays and that's not good. It doesn't matter what she can legally charge and not charge for. You can't expect people to pay for a service for an entire week and not be available. If she is closing over Christmas and new year and isn't available, she is having a holiday but still charging. She didn't charge for her day off in August so she isn't being consistent about this. Fair enough if she outlined before you signed up that you'll still pay even if she isn't available and you chose to sign up anyway but did that happen? She either does or doesn't charge for when she is off. Most childminders take a couple of weeks off a year and don't charge for those weeks. Christmas and new year and in between is common to be closed and taken as holidays but if she is taking a holiday and not open, she can't surely expect everyone to pay for all that time and take the time off work and still pay her?

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cabbageking · 26/11/2019 00:28

Book her for Christmas day.

Purpleartichoke · 26/11/2019 05:29

We have always paid a flat rate each month regardless of holiday closures. Holidays are published well in advance and are very stable year to year. It makes charges and income predictable for everyone. The alternative is that the provider charges more per day and some months you have bigger bills than others.

chomalungma · 26/11/2019 05:57

Book her for Christmas day

Don't most self employed people charge a bit extra on their daily rate and then take unpaid holidays to compensate?

chomalungma · 26/11/2019 05:59

She's using this as a way to get paid holidays and that's not good. It doesn't matter what she can legally charge and not charge for

Interesting - she could either charge less per day than her competitors but insist on paid bank holidays and annual leave

Or charge more per day but take bank holidays and other days off as unpaid.

It probably works out the same in the end...

SuperMeerkat · 26/11/2019 06:32

Do you get a couple of weeks ‘free’ per year? My old childminder used to allow 2 weeks per year where I didn’t have to pay, I guess for holidays. Not sure if this is common practice. Dying to know what would happen though if you turned up with them on Christmas Day so you and DH could prepare dinner/have a shag 😂

selfhelpneeded · 26/11/2019 06:41

Call her bluff and say what time you'll be dropping DS round

Straycatstrut · 26/11/2019 07:16

It's just bizarre childminders and nurseries do this. Why not just increase the termly (or whatever) prices to include holidays etc?

Confuses people constantly.

I’m sure some parents would take me up on it and go to the pub!

I'd so do this "Ah cheers, will need a few baileys after all that!"

RebootYourEngine · 26/11/2019 07:29

I would also book her for Christmas Day. If your contract says that she does not charge for days that she is unavailable and she is charging for Christmas Day then i would assume she is working that day. (Obviously we would all assume that she isn't available and is just being a CF) but it needs to be pointed out to her.

Original poster

ChevalierTialys · 26/11/2019 07:41

I'm planning to speak to her today and clarify why Christmas day is down as a working day. I'm not sure I'm bold enough to tell her to have him that day though

OP posts:

Blackbear19 · 26/11/2019 07:42

My friends CM tried charging for Boxing Day, DF called her bluff and went shopping child free!

Don't think CM tried charging for between Christmas and New year again.

FLOrenze · 26/11/2019 09:05

I was a childminder for 20 years whilst my children were little. The majority of parents were wonderful and treated me fairly. Occasionally some would try to take advantage. Never did I have one who was so mean spirited as to deduct pay for Christmas Day.

Venger · 26/11/2019 09:47

I do have to say that if someone turned up at my door and insist I must be open they would be very swiftly served their notice especially if they had made no attempt to discuss it with me first and if it had been made clear that the day was chargeable but not useable.

I hope your chat with her goes well, OP.

bluebluezoo · 26/11/2019 09:53

I kind of figure that my childminder is taking care of my most precious thing. Teaching, nurturing, parenting in my absence.

I really don’t get why people quibble about odd days and cm holidays. It’s a job, they aren’t doing you a favour, they should get paid holiday.

If you don’t like it find someone cheaper or who doesn't charge for holidays. The question is which is more important, the cost or the care? For me it’s the care so i’m happy to pay up.

chomalungma · 27/11/2019 15:52

Never did I have one who was so mean spirited as to deduct pay for Christmas Day

What were your contract terms with parents?

PurpleCrazyHorse · 27/11/2019 16:19

I would approach it as regarding a clarification over her charging terms rather than Christmas Day specifically. I presume she can put whatever she likes in her terms but it should be clear what you're being charged for and when.

mumwon · 27/11/2019 16:45

is your dc happy, well cared for, safe. Are you happy with her, is she reliable? how much do other local cm cost, does she include food or other expenses, does she have a assistant because they go under min wage etc ? If you say something like "I wonder if you could explain how this works? Is she on any benefits - ie is she a single mum or her dh/p on zero hours - because she maybe finding it difficult with the UC (they take benefits off of her ect).

Blackbear19 · 28/11/2019 19:59

I really don’t get why people quibble about odd days and cm holidays. It’s a job, they aren’t doing you a favour, they should get paid holiday.

Actually I've read and reread your post and still don't get your logic.
Yes it's a job and a business but like every other business they should build holiday pay into their rates that they charge for the service they provide.
I mean would you pay the bus company on Christmas day when they aren't providing a service?
No - but you'd expect they'd still pay their drivers!

Newmumma83 · 28/11/2019 20:03

My nursery is not open bank holidaysand has 3 staff training days ... if this falls on my sons days we still pay for those days

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