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Original poster

Childminder petrol

72 replies

Myusername2015 · 24/02/2023 14:38

Hi all; my childminder has been collecting and dropping my 5 year old son home from childcare this week while I’ve sustained an injury. We are 3 miles apart. I told her I’d contribute towards her petrol. It’s country driving around 5 minutes drive…I should have clarified exact costs but what do you think a sensible fuel contribution would be?

OP posts:

Nixynic · 24/02/2023 17:56

If she set off from her home at the beginning of your usual drop off time, plus got back home at the end of the day within your usual hours, then that changes things in my opinion. And if it didn’t mean she had to cancel other children in order to collect your child. Then I can see why you would expect to just be paying petrol costs. If that’s the case then I would politely ask for a breakdown of the cost, she may have made a mistake (or taking the mickey!)
“Hi Childminder, thank you so much for helping me out this week, I really appreciate it. Could you possibly breakdown the £120 cost for me please as it is a little more than I was expecting? Thanks OP”

GiddyUpJingleHorse · 24/02/2023 18:03

Bloody hell. I was all ready to come on and say well done to your childminder for helping you out. How much?!? Piss take. For context, I’m a childminder - when one of my parents recently had a bug and couldn’t transport child to and from me for a couple of days, I collected and dropped child home. For free, because I’m not a piss taker. When parent had recovered she brought me some flowers and thanked me. That was more than enough for me. We don’t all take the mick.

UsingChangeofName · 24/02/2023 18:03

That's extortionate.

I am all for paying for her time, and her expenses - although you say she has dropped her within her normal hours so it actually isn't adding time on to her day.
She would be 'making' on the 45p a mile part, in that all the other expenses to do with running a car are, in truth already paid for, but I would be more than happy to pay that, which comes to £27. Yes, happy to round it up a bit or give her a bottle of wine or something to say thank you, but £120 is ridiculous.

I too would ask for a breakdown.
Sha can't charge taxi fairs as she presumably isn't paying to hire out her vehicle for reward.
I would actually say I was expecting this to be 45p a mile, which comes to the £27.00 and ask how she gets to the huge figure, when she hasn't worked any extra hours.

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UsingChangeofName · 24/02/2023 18:06

Exactly @GiddyUpJingleHorse
When I had dc2, my CM brought dc1 home for me for a few days (dh dropped him off) to save me having to go out. No charge - just someone doing the decent thing

A few years later, with a different CM, when I had a small op and couldn't drive, another CM did the same. Again, no charge.

I would certainly offer / be happy to cover any expense incurred, but this CMer is being ridiculous.

ImAvingOops · 24/02/2023 18:08

I think she's taking the piss. Given she's working within your set hours I'd think that petrol, plus a bit for the inconvenience would be enough. I think half of what she's charging. I know she's running a business and shouldn't be doing favours for no money, since this is her job but for the little bit of extra driving that really does seem excessive

ImAvingOops · 24/02/2023 18:10

Actually are you sure she said £120 and hasn't just put the decimal point in the wrong place and she means £12 for the extra petrol?

GoodChat · 24/02/2023 18:21

Myusername2015 · 24/02/2023 17:45

Fair enough it seems like it’s reasonable. Just to clarify she received £445 for this week’s care and wasn’t working any extra hours for me. My house is between her school drop off and her house (3 miles apart) so when she offered to help out by offering lifts (inside of her usual paid hours) I just assumed it would be a £50/60 petrol per week; but I can see I was wrong. Next time I’ll know not to guess!

Oh if you're just an extra drop on her route I take it all back and she's taking the piss.

TyneTeas · 24/02/2023 21:33

Oh, if it is on her established drop off route then I'd probably just be expecting to pay whatever parents who pay for drop off/ collection already do. Which I am guessing isn't that amount!

fruitbrewhaha · 24/02/2023 23:28

After you latest update OP, I’ve completely changed my mind.

its too much.

jannier · 24/02/2023 23:41

amiold · 24/02/2023 17:04

@jannier I thought it was £120 on top of her time but now I'm not sure.

Also can't charge for "getting ready". My boss doesn't pay me til I'm at my desk, I don't think many will be paid to get sorted beforehand

But she's getting ready because she's doing the favour not because she's leaving home to get to work...that is time she could be doing other work like paperwork, planning, setting up, cleaning down or training it's not commute time. By doing the run she's delaying the rest of her unpaid working day I typically spend an hour after children go home prepping and doing paperwork longer if I'm then doing training ...so my evening starts between 7.30pm on an early day and 10pm on a training day....then I can get dinner. I start at 7pm....so the extra time driving is a personal loss I wouldn't do for a fee of £4.50 before expenses and tax for a whole week. A one off maybe but not every morning and evening I'd be leaving the house at 6.15am at the latest and starting setting up at 5.40 am to do that favour all in my working day would then be 14 hours long just for a favour.

UsingChangeofName · 24/02/2023 23:55

But that is completely different from what this CMer is doing .

LivesOnPigeonStreet · 25/02/2023 00:15

So is she actually working less hours every day for you because she would normally be looking after your child from pick up until you finish work? If I was her and was benefiting from having to look after your child for just a few minutes each day rather than a few hours and was getting the same pay for it I wouldn't even charge petrol. I'd much rather drop them home than have another child to look after each day. An extra £120 on top of £445 for doing nothing other than dropping them back and forth to school for a week is absurd.

LadyJ2023 · 25/02/2023 00:29

People are saying taxi rate. A taxi would not also take your child into school etc and if your from where I am I couldn't get a taxi for those journeys for anywhere as low as 20 a day. I think 120 is very very fair, her time, her extra wear and tear of use of car, her fuel,oil,screenwash and you have someone you can trust

LadyJ2023 · 25/02/2023 00:32

Oh wait then saw up date she also getting 445 so I really can't say what's fair or not. I hope you get it resolved 🙂

amiold · 25/02/2023 07:53

It's not a favour @jannier she is getting paid £445. She's on a better rate than
A bloody doctor and wants another £120.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 25/02/2023 12:28

Just ask her for a breakdown. It's too much for petrol alone. It might have fairer to pay for a full tank for her which would be much less than this. It's not likely to more than one tank.

How does she fit the other children in. Is she waiting at home for them to be collected at the normal finish time then drop him afterwards?

tiredhadenough · 25/02/2023 12:33

I don't think it's fair if you are already paying her time! 45p a mile is fair.

MumOf2workOptions · 25/02/2023 14:20

Myusername2015 · 24/02/2023 15:35

Hi; that’s what I thought but she’s charged £120 🙁 (£20 per day 12 miles round trip in total)

So she's charged £5 per journey, 4 times a day = £20

When you say £5 per journey it doesn't sound bad but all week, £120 seems a huge amount.

I agree with posters about getting an itemised bill but I'm guessing she's factoring her time, fuel, etc... but even so it seems a lot

NoDairyNoProblem · 25/02/2023 14:29

weatherthestorms · 24/02/2023 16:43

blooming heck - our car does 400 miles on £50 worth of petrol! Must be for her time??

My car was £108 yesterday for 480 miles.

jannier · 25/02/2023 17:51

Op can you tell us if she's collecting and dropping your child at the normal arrival and collection time or earlier/later?

Original poster

Myusername2015 · 25/02/2023 18:01

Hi no; so for example he goes 9-6 holidays ..she collected him 9.30 and brought him back 5.30…which is where I was confused as I felt I was paying for her time already and therefore I assumed she’d be happy with a tank of petrol and some flowers..but you live and learn.

OP posts:

Gwen82 · 25/02/2023 18:34

Myusername2015 · 25/02/2023 18:01

In the five years you have known this woman and she’s looked after your child…. Has there been other financial issues?

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