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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to quit childminding after two weeks?

56 replies

MaryPoppinsMagic · 11/10/2011 08:01

Posted a few threads about the troubles I have been having with getting paid by parents that I have taken on, I have been registered for 2 weeks and after yesterday I just want to quit...

The college paying for one parents fees has told the parent to move her youngest into a nursery as apparently they have deals with them where they don't have to hurry payments through, the college also told the parent they are going to ring ncma as they feel childminders should not be able to ask to be paid upfront.. What the actual fck??

This same parent owes me £118, I agreed she could pay me half on the 10th (yesterday) and half next monday... Shock horror she came yesterday to pick her children up and said oh I don't have the money to give you!

Then another parent (who is very well off) each week has fussed over payment, they were supposed to give me £48.75 on friday. The dad turned up and gave me £30 then yesterday the mum turns up and gives me £10 then tells me to add the rest onto the next bill!!!!

So I am left with no money yet shattered from being very accommodating (3 school runs to the same school every day) to help out 1 parent.

Aibu just to quit this???

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 11/10/2011 08:05

No yanbu!

All parents can't be like this, surely??

MrsDreadfullyMorbidMausoleum · 11/10/2011 08:06

I don't have anything helpful to post, but just wanted to say that it sounds like you are having a tough time.

Certainly nurseries that I know of ask for payment up front, they'll have a bit of a shock I suspect.

It always hacked me off when I was running dc pre-school the priorities of some parents. Lots who were habitual late (or sometimes even non) payers had iphones etc when I was making do with old crapster phone.

whackamole · 11/10/2011 08:06

I really feel for you, I did read your other threads although I didn't comment.

Seems a shame to stop childminding completely, I know there's a lot of red tape and hoops to jump through to get there.

Could you drop the first one as a bad experience, and sit down the other parents when they pick up their child and explain that payment must be in full, by the end of every week, in cash or by standing order, otherwise you will have to give them notice. Clearly this is your income, and they need to be told in no uncertain terms they need to pay.

What does it say in the contract about payments?

whackamole · 11/10/2011 08:08

Oh yes, as a bit of insight my boys go to nursery 3 days a week, when they started I had to pay a week up front plus admin fees, and I have to pay every week by Friday. Twice I have been late, but only by prior arrangement with the nursery (had overspent couple of days before payday - my fault entirely!).

If I was consistently late or short on payments they would give me notice and that would be that.

WhoWhoWhoWho · 11/10/2011 08:10

I remember your other thread, don't stop cm'ing but give these two parents notice and tough it out til yo find others.

Put it clearly in your policies and contract, and reiterate it verbally that children will not be allowed to step over the threshold without upfront payment. They will be turned around with their parents and pointed in the direction of the nearest bank/cash machine. You will only have to do this once with each piss-taking parent. Not all are like this but there are always some who try it on and push and push.

Flisspaps · 11/10/2011 08:14

YABU :)

You need to give these families notice, advertise like crazy and get some in who pay on time - they're not all like this, I promise!

mnistooaddictive · 11/10/2011 08:16

If they don't pay when they say they will, don't accept their child.

HattiFattner · 11/10/2011 08:17

send each parent a formal, registered letter, requesting payment in full within 7 days. If the payment is not forthcoming, state that you consider the contract to have been terminated by them, and that you will no longer mind their child from that date. And then stick with it - even if that means turning them away at the door unless they have the cash in hand.

I would also add a personal note that their non payment has led to considerable financial embarrassment for you, and that you will seek redress through the small claims court for the balance owed if the money is not forthcoming.

I might even go as far to say that in future, payment will be expected by X date of the month, and that failure to pay the full amount will effectively be a breach of contract by them, and you will give their space to someone else.

As for your student, they need to be the one running around chasing the uni, not you. its not your responsibility.

Childminders are really in demand, and for all you know these parents might actually be serial non-payers. toughen up cookie!

pigletmania · 11/10/2011 08:21

Yanbu the they are taking the piss. I would drop the first couple.
Mabey ask for a week upfront when having new clients

mycatoscar · 11/10/2011 08:22

I agree with the tone of hatti's post.

I would have suggested doing a newsletter highlighting some of the lovely things you have done with their children, other notices etc etc then add on to it that you have a late fees policy of charging x amount for each day that money is overdue past the date given.

welshbyrd · 11/10/2011 08:25

Do not quit - as a mother of 3 DCs, I can assure you a quality childminder prepared to do the school run is worth her wait in gold. You have had 2 asshole parents who are essentially taking the piss, they are in a small minority not majority
Do not quit, I can assure you, if my DCs needed a childminder, she would be paid on her terms/dates/amounts. I do not know anyone who would fuck up childcare within the first weeks 2 weeks, let alone at all.

There are honest parents who are desperate for the services you are providing.
Stick with it honestly Smile

sunnydelight · 11/10/2011 08:26

I'm outraged on your behalf!

Apart from giving both families notice and finding ones who pay (not all families take the total piss) I would make a formal complaint to the College. If the staff there don't understand the principles of honoring a contract (assuming payment terms are in your contract) they really shouldn't be in post. I would also tell them that you will be writing to the NCMA to enquire as to whether it is possible for their members to blacklist this college as they are encouraging their students to act in breach of contract and also to behave in a manner that threatens your livelihood.

pigletmania · 11/10/2011 08:26

Good idea Hatti

Northernlurker · 11/10/2011 08:27

I pay my nursery by the 10th of every month

Atwaroverscrabble · 11/10/2011 09:05

My nursery is paid on the 1st of each month for the month in advance and if you are late by 14 days you lose your place!

Don't give up, just be tough!!

meravigliosa · 11/10/2011 09:11

Don't give up. Make advance payment by standing order compulsory. That is what they would have to deal with if using a nursery, or with older kids, an afterschool club.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 11/10/2011 09:14

Has she spent it do you think? Have they given her the money in her bank and she's feeding you a ile of lies?

mollymole · 11/10/2011 09:15

don't give up you have really given it long enough and seem to have just been unlucky with the ones you have,

plupervert · 11/10/2011 09:23

Don't quit childminding; quit these famililies! And pursue them for outstanding payment, as HattiFattner suggested (make sure it is the student mother you pursue, not the college; your contract is not with the college).

This is a crazy way to behave. I can't believe parents risk pissing off the people they want to look after their children.

WilsonFrickett · 11/10/2011 09:29

What a PITA OP, but I don't think it means you should give up. There's some good advice here about getting your money, and I think you should look for some new mindees with a tighter contract. Unfortunately, getting the money in is part of having your own business, I am always amazed at the amount of time and effort I have to put in to making sure I get paid, so learn from this, get payment in advance in future - but don't give up!

(And good luck to the parents finding a nursery that doesn't expect payment in advance btw, mine was a full month's fees in advance and I also think the after-school club in DS school is a month in advance as well. It's pretty standard for childcare....)

Original poster
MaryPoppinsMagic · 11/10/2011 09:31

I am going to find out the name of the person in charge at the college as I want to complain about how they have handled it, they are like the above poster says influencing this parent to break her contract with me

I am waiting on parent 1 letting me know this morning if she has been paid her benefits for the extra hours.. If not I am giving her notice I think. I just don't need this stress!

The only problem is we so need the money for xmas!

OP posts:
pigletmania · 11/10/2011 09:36

You need to mean business, give them till the end of the week for example, if they have not paid in full you have wright to terminate their contract. Nexttime in your contract ask for a week in advance and to be paid in full at a set time in the month e.g 10th each month. So parents are aware of the expectations.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 11/10/2011 09:38

Just to say that the college thing is normal, not right but normal.

My local college used to do the same. If they had no space in their nursery then they'd fund a place with a childminder but if a space in the nursery then came up, you had no choice but to move them there.

breatheslowly · 11/10/2011 09:41

Our nursery is payment in advance by 25th of the month before and £20 late payment charge if you miss it. I wouldn't dream of not paying for my childcare - I need it too much.

alison222 · 11/10/2011 09:52

As an ex childminder I always asked for payment for the month in advance. I gave them an invoice towards the end of the month and then expected it to be paid in the first day or two of the calander month. I set out these expectations from the beginning and other than once or twice reminding parents mainly had no problems. Most of them made a direct transfer to my account.

I think that your parents here are trying it on and you need to be tough with them. The advice that Hatti and others gave you is good. You need to put it in writing - Its easier to chase then if you do end up needing to go to the small claims court.
Did you use standard contracts and if so what did they say about payment terms? You can refer to clause XX in your letter telling them you consider them to be in breach of contract.
Also IME nurseries also expect payment in advance - after all they too have to pay staff and their running costs.

Also if they don't pay up promptly I would be tempted to terminate the contracts and replace them with parents who will pay you on time.