Nursery not honouring price given

[LNTwinnies]

Hi,

I’m due to back to work next week and with a few days to go the nursery I have arranged for my twins have decided to let me know that the price they have given me twice in writing is incorrect and is now hundreds of pounds more. Does anyone know if there is anyone I can speak to about this?

Thanks

Is it possible that the price they gave you the first time deducted the 15 hours free childcare and this price is the full price without it. DD's nursery certianly gave us the full price then showed it as a deduction lateron the bills

No, they’ve just said that the price they gave me was wrong.

In my experience nursery staff are often terrible with financial admin - they were at the nursery we used anyway. They were all simply lovely people though and we forgave the frequent billing mistakes because it was clear that maths being not their strong point was part and parcel of them being really lovely childcare providers.

But meanwhile yes you have been put in a jam. And legally no you almost certainly can't make them provide nursery care at the lower price - unless the document they provided with the price "in writing" was an actual contract signed by them (and then it would only be for the short duration of the official notice period so not worth trying to force the issue).

Assuming the price they are now quoting is unaffordable, you'll need to find a different option fast, and will have to let your work know that your childcare has fallen through and you'll have to postpone your return for a short time.

Theoretically you could try suing the nursery for the amount by which you are financially disadvantaged (your lost wages, less the childcare costs you would have been paying if everything had gone smoothly) for the time it takes to sort out this alternative - but nurseries don't have any money so you probably wouldn't actually end up with anything.

Did they give you the cost for one baby and lead you to believe that this would be the cost for two? In my experience only extremely well-paid parents can afford to put twins in nursery - the costs would outweigh most normal pay packets. Most people with twins that I know either go for being a SAHP until the free hours kick in, or use a nanny.

What are the rates in your contract? Those shone the ones they honour unless feed have gone up, which they usually do every year or so.