to be really mad that you can use childcare vouchers down the f*cking pub?!

[clutterqueen]

Sorry for the expletive. I'm just doing some admin and have discovered that you can convert your vouchers into discount vouchers for all sort of things. I agree it's a nice perk to get them converted to Sainsburys, ELC, etc and it's good but a slight stretch to have them go towards clothing at Gap and New look but you can also get Spa vouchers and bloody pub vouchers! Why should people get tax free bloody vouchers to use them on a sodding manicure and getting pissed? Not that I have anything against either of those activities I just think it's a shocking waste of money! And why should people without kids effectively pay towards this???
I am fuming. Someone give me a name to be mad at!

I like this thread, it is the sort of thing I get all excited about and then actally read whatever it is and have to give myself a slap.

Oh what a shame. We've paid too much into ours now DS gets his preschool paid for, and I was really excited for a minute.

To be fair to OP the whole point of Laithwaites et al jumping on this marketing bandwagon, is to:

1. Gain access to large body people receiving the vouchers.

1. Imply however slightly that their vouchers are in some osmotic manner interchangable perhaps, maybe, with CC vouchers. Having created this hook they have successfully manipulated their target audience attention into connecting with the underlying message(s).

And as an indirect result of that, hey presto Laithwaites, yes Laithwaites get free advertising on MN.

Hurrah for CC vouchers.

"Find me an ofsted registered pub" - I'm sorry but I am killing myself laughing at this thread and I haven't even had a glass of wine yet! I think this should be in MN classics!

Wackywarehouse ?

I exchanged mine for the my plasma TV from Argos. I am hoping to get some UGGS next.

So that's why our local is now called The Slug and Childminder.

I was so excited there, almost broke the news to DD she is going to a new nursery called Selfridges where there is lots of make up and handbags to play with.

oh my goodness OP is wrong on so many levels!

Basically the company is just offering you discounts on commonly used sites and organisatons (like this site does).

It does not say anywhere or imply in fact the you use your childcare vouchers as payment for any of these organisations. Basically it is just saying that becuase you are using the childcare voucher service you are able to get discounts on stuff.

Probably becuase these companies are wanting the custom of young families (i.e. ELC) so a good place to advertise.

Now can we be more sensible please!

:)

whoops didnt see there was a thrid page. glad it is all resolved now! I will get off my highhorse lol.

noooo please don't refer to this as a MN classic - it's bad enough I can't delete the bloody post!

Do you think if I report myself it will get removed?!

I'll settle for twonk of the day award...

and that bloody grin face above makes me look like quite the village idiot. It should be this

lol, clutter it is just the type of think i would think or say, dont worry!

ha ha ha this is a very funny conversation :)

My Childcare Vouchers provider clearly stated to me that they must be spent at a registered offsted inspected provider!

source

However, mine does provide some extra benefits if you register with them, in the form of discounts elsewhere. Do you think it could have been confused with this?

Also I heard in the news that people had been spending their vouchers on pony rides, but it later turned out that the politician retracted the statement and said that the money saved was being spent on pony rides.

Keep up the cheerful banter :)

Mary x

I'm disgusted that you are now allowed to go to the ELC and swap your children for beer. It's terrible that Laithwaites are in on this as well as the Nectar people.
There's a pub near me that ofsted have just assessed as outstanding, partly due to having formula milk on tap and partly because all the children get breathalysed before they're allowed on the trikes.

clutterqueen, you are wrong.

The childcare vouchers which are exempt from tax and NI CAN ONLY be used for Ofsted registered childcare.

I use the voucher company you quoted and I know this is definitely the case!

I know that this company is at the moment trying to push their new employee incentive schemes which can involve discount vouchers but these are NOT tax and NI free and can be made available to any employee.

Sorry, clutter, just seen you have realised your mistake, I will not rub it in any further!