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Original poster

Tax free childcare, why is the money not going to childminder?

25 replies

Sevo7 · 02/12/2019 06:33

November was my first month back at work. I set up a tax free childcare account and paid in the money on Friday 22nd it took until the Tuesday after for it to show as topped up so I transferred it to my childminder that day but around 8pm. It’s now Monday and the money is still showing in my account as a balance but my childminder hasn’t been paid!

I’m getting so stressed about it as I’m now several days late for paying my bill even though I’ve put money into the account.

I’m going to ring the helpline once I get to work but has anyone else had this happen or have an idea how long it takes to reach your childcare provider? Thanks

OP posts:
Thegirlhasnoname · 02/12/2019 06:43

Nursery have always said to me that it can take up to 2 weeks to get into their bank account (and that’s withOut bank holidays) and that they would always prefer an early payment than a late one so no late fees have to be given out. Anything transferred at 8pm wouldn’t be started until the next working day if I remember rightly too

LisaSimpsonsbff · 02/12/2019 06:45

Mine always goes into her bank account on the day I've set up the payment for - so I think you need to ring them as I think there's a problem with your account

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 02/12/2019 06:46

They’ve updated the system now, it should be almost instant now.

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Childcare & nursery Families
OutComeTheWolves · 02/12/2019 06:46

Because the whole thing from finding your way around that website, to the time it takes for money to arrive where you've sent it is a load of shit. I'm convinced they make it as annoying and user-unfriendly as possible to deter people from using it.

CatToddlerUprising · 02/12/2019 06:47

I find it quicker to pay as a payment directly from my bank account (as opposed to using a card)- it usually clears with the top up the same day. And once transferred to the childminder, it’s in their account the next day

LisaSimpsonsbff · 02/12/2019 06:49

I'm convinced they make it as annoying and user-unfriendly as possible to deter people from using it.

I do think this too - I think it's crazy (and telling) that there's no tool on there to help you work out how much to put in to get the amount you want - the maths is simple when you know what to do but I think it must put a lot of people off

Original poster
Sevo7 · 02/12/2019 06:58

Thank you for the replies. I feel like it’s purposely made difficult as well! It’s just so frustrating because I feel quite embarrassed dropping DD off this morning because I feel like a non payer! I have shown her that the money is in the account and she’s been quite reasonable upto date but I just don’t know how much longer this can go on for it’s ridiculous.

I don’t have the money spare to just pay her as it’s tied up in the account and tbh without the 20% top up I’d struggle to pay her anyway. I’m just angry that I paid my money in early yet I’m now going to be seen as someone who fails to pay their bill on time and is now at risk of a late payment charge! Angry

OP posts:
wintertime6 · 02/12/2019 07:02

Nursery tell me that it can take up to 1 week or so for the money to reach their account. So I find I'm always working a month in advance, e.g. I get paid at the end of November, transfer money into the tax free account, then transfer it to nursery a few days later, they will have it by mid November and that pays my fees due on 1st dec.

Original poster
Sevo7 · 02/12/2019 07:08

Am I right in thinking that once it’s gone to the childminder it will show as a zero balance and show in the money out section? I keep wondering if I’ve missed something Confused

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 02/12/2019 07:09

Have you definitely sent it? M

Thegirlhasnoname · 02/12/2019 07:11

Once it’s gone to the childminder it’ll just show as whatever is left in your account (I’ve got something like 83p in mine). If you go to look at your transactions it should show the date that it was transferred by you so could always show that to the childminder as proof

Thegirlhasnoname · 02/12/2019 07:13

(Though I just checked mine and the money has gone through to nursery when I just transferred it to them last Wednesday - always do it on the day transfer rather than on a specific date - so double check you have sent it maybe?)

Original poster
Sevo7 · 02/12/2019 07:16

Yes I’ve definitely sent it, it says one off payment on 26/11 and the Childminders name. But is showing as a balance and then when you view transactions shows as the money I put in on the 22nd, the government top up but nothing in the money out section. It’s still giving me the option to withdraw the money.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sevo7 · 02/12/2019 07:25

Is it because it’s the first month? I really can’t bare the thought of this stress every month as I get paid on the 24th as a rule and the bill is meant to be cleared by the 28th. I don’t have the money available to pay her in advance and without the 20% top up I can’t really afford to go to work Confused I’m barely bringing in £100 a week after childcare and fuel as it is but saw going back to work as a long term investment. I just wish it wasn’t so stressful Sad

OP posts:
CondeNasty · 02/12/2019 07:28

Yes mine shows a zero balance and the money in the out section. Did you select the right day for the payment to be made?

Have checked my nursery account and they mark the payment received as the day it pays out from my account.

WhenYouCantRunYouCrawl · 02/12/2019 07:32

I've found them to be very helpful when I've rang them before. You do have to wait for ages on hold though.

BeginningToLookLikeChristmas · 02/12/2019 07:41

Phone the childcare provider & check.

MeTheCoolOne · 02/12/2019 07:41

That's really frustrating. Hope you can get it sorted.

CondeNasty · 02/12/2019 08:41

I think you need to ring them as it sounds like you have made an error somewhere. If you only set up the payment to the Childminder on the 26th you couldn't have made the payment same day, you can only set up payments to go the next working day at the earliest.

Next to the Childminders name in the transaction list does it have anything in the money out box and if so is it the right amount to pay your bill?

How it works for me is I get paid on the penultimate working day pf the month, before 8pm (I normally do it first thing) I pay the correct amount to my tax free account and set up the payment to go out to nursery the next working 8day. So on the day after I get paid the money reaches my account and pays out to nursery, my nursery bill shows payment received the same day it leaves my tax free account.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 02/12/2019 11:08

Have you sorted it OP?

DappledThings · 02/12/2019 11:12

Mine shows as the money going out instantly but often takes at least a week for nursery to be able to confirm having received it.

When I panicked the first month that it had gone missing they said this is very usual.

Would your childminder accept you showing her a screenshot of the money going out as proof you have paid on time?

BendyLikeBeckham · 02/12/2019 11:47

OP, you need to allow one clear day (two if its past 4pm) after the money clears in to your childcare account. So, say it clears in on Tuesday, you have to set up the payment to your provider for Thursdays date. If you set it up for Tues or Wed, it will not go through. I found this out the hard way.

It is a bigger delay if it clears on a Friday as you have to set the payment up for the following Tuesday. It them takes 2 days to clear into the providers account.

The service doesn't notify you the payment has failed either. Just login and do it again for payment today. And tell your provider it is on the way, don't pay them directly.

ElluesPichulobu · 02/12/2019 17:46

I think you need to find a way to get your account in enough credit that you can pay in advance. you can't expect a childminder to put up with late payment every month for years. I can see it's difficult for you but that is not you childminder's problem and being late every month is like forcing her to make you a payday loan every month without her consent. it isn't fair.

can you do a bit of weekend or evening overtime some time when a friend or relative can have your little one for free, just enough that you can break this cycle by paying in advance just once. you only need to do this once because from then on you have a month and a bit for the credit to come through, instead of only 3 days which is never going to happen

PurpleCrazyHorse · 02/12/2019 17:50

Mine shows up as paid very quickly so I do hope you get it sorted out. Now I've had one payment go through okay, it's all set up to take the money from my account automatically after pay day and then to pay the childminder about a week later. I have however just put the 3 monthly dates into my calendar to logon and confirm I'm still eligible. Make sure you do that OP.

Original poster
Sevo7 · 02/12/2019 18:26

Thanks for all the replies. I phoned the helpline who said the payment had frozen for some reason Hmm and I was to cancel it and resend it. I did this and the payment showed as leaving the account instantly and my childminder confirmed she received the money 3 hours later so no idea what that was all about Confused The helpline reassured me this should be a one off and payments going forward should be the same day. At least now I know what to do if the same thing happens again

OP posts:
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