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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to be paid for childminding!!

129 replies

Mum2Luke · 13/02/2012 12:19

mother has not been paid (or so she says) by Tax credits, rang them this morning to have some snotty git tell me its nothing to do with me yet I am the one who is out of pocket because I have not been paid!!

It is time childcare providers were paid directly by tax credits, she could be telling me anything but I cannot prove that. She owes me £78 for last week too.

Its not fair this, am doing a job and getting nothing for it, how do they expect us to entertain and feed the kids full-time in the holidays without any money?

Has anyone else had this problem?

OP posts:
redskyatnight · 13/02/2012 12:20

could be time to request money up front and refuse to take the child/ren if you're not paid? I've always paid in advance for childcare.

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll · 13/02/2012 12:23

I agree that you should ask for money in advance. The parents you work for have the responsibility to pay you for the service you provide them regardless of whether their benefits come through in time or not.

Scholes34 · 13/02/2012 12:31

Always paid up front for my childcare on a weekly basis.

Saltire · 13/02/2012 12:34

Do you not hav e anon payment clause in your contract? Mine says that I reserve the right to refuse to care for the child/ren until teh outstanding amount is paid,and that I can add on £ xx amount late payment fee for every day it is late.
Time to start gettting tough

TheParanoidAndroid · 13/02/2012 12:35

Your client owes you money, not tax credits...of course you were told her tax credits were nothing to do with you!

You need to be far more professional, get paid up front and don't take the children if you haven't been paid. More fool you working for nothing!

TroublesomeEx · 13/02/2012 12:36

Introduce a late payment policy.

EirikurNoromaour · 13/02/2012 12:50

It is nothing to do with tax credits, if money is late coming in it's up to the parent to prioritise commitments. She obviously has other priorities over you. Frustrating but you need to take it up with her. I am astounded that you thought you could discuss her tax credits claim with HMRC!

Original poster
Mum2Luke · 13/02/2012 12:59

it is because they are paying her so she can pay me!! She has to work a week in hand.

Have told her am not minding next week unless all money owed is paid by Wednesday.

Childcare element of tax credits should be paid direct to us childcare providers.

OP posts:
Colliecollie · 13/02/2012 13:01

No I don't think it should be paid directly to you. You just need to get your policies in order.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 13/02/2012 13:02

If that happened OP, then you would be liable for any over-payments.

Your contract is with the parent, not HMRC.

Original poster
Mum2Luke · 13/02/2012 13:04

Paranoid, how can she pay me when she has only just started back to work, has to work a week in hand and tax credits haven't paid her?

Am NOT a fool, am a childminder, powerless because a parent is saying she hasn't been paid, how the hell do i know what is happening!!!!

I don't know how the Tax credits thing works, not dealt with them before as have had parents who pay without any problems.

Have told her she has to pay otherwise no minding

OP posts:
TheParanoidAndroid · 13/02/2012 13:10

Thats her business not yours, you shouldn't be involving yourself in other peoples money issues. Payment upfront is the standard for childcare.

You can't moan about not being paid and dismiss suggestions for how to be paid properly, when they are industry standard. Stop acting like an amateur and be a businesswoman.

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll · 13/02/2012 13:12

It's harsh, but you are a business, and in your position, I wouldn't take on clients who can't afford to pay upfront.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 13/02/2012 13:18

I can imagine out of kindness allowing someone to pay in arrears (I did this with a lodger once), but really if you do that then you have to understand that there's a risk.

Original poster
Mum2Luke · 13/02/2012 13:19

I have!!!!! Am dealing with someone who is obviously telling me one thing and doing another, have already told her there is no minding now until I am paid so its her choice.

How dare you call me amateur, we childminders have to put up with this weekly where I live, you may live in an area where people pay up front and on time but I don't.

She has signed the contract which says she must pay on time, if she wants to go to work and have her kids minded, she will have to pay today and have pointed that out, what the hell am I supposed to do, march her up to the cash point with the kids? If you have any better ideas on how to deal with this woman let me know but don't ever tell me I am amateur!! Angry

OP posts:
JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 13/02/2012 13:21

By the way, the "snotty git" was right. Your client's relationship with HMRC is no more your business that it would be NPower's (or any other service provider's).

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 13/02/2012 13:22

How do you know she's lying? Her payment is probably late! It happens.

TheParanoidAndroid · 13/02/2012 13:22

How dare I? If you act like an amateur people will call you that. You are WORKING FOR FREE. And chasing someone elses tax credits, suprised when they won't talk to you.
It has nothing to do with where you live, its how you choose to run your business.

Nixea · 13/02/2012 13:24

In response to your last post, from one "professional" to another (Hmm) you don't ring HMRC because someone hasn't paid you!! That I'm afraid smacks of amateur who won't stand up to clients.

WorraLiberty · 13/02/2012 13:24

If you have any better ideas on how to deal with this woman let me know but don't ever tell me I am amateur!! Angry

Yeah cos with that attitude everyone on MN is going to come flocking to help you....

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 13/02/2012 13:27

You do sound very cross OP. Are you always this angry?

halcyondays · 13/02/2012 13:28

Why on earth would you ring Tax Credits about this? It has nothing to do with them.

south345 · 13/02/2012 13:35

Your contract is with the mum not tax credits and it's confidential so no they won't speak to you. Tax credits is also only a contribution towards childcare not the full cost.

It's upto her to make sure you're paid, I would refuse care if no payments are made.

SparkleSoiree · 13/02/2012 13:35

It could be viewed as helpful that you are giving her the flexibility to get into a routine having just started a new job with her bills, like you say below:

'Paranoid, how can she pay me when she has only just started back to work, has to work a week in hand and tax credits haven't paid her?'

I also appreciate the fact that you have to pay your bills and feed your family. But just as her not being able to pay your bills fails to gain much sympathy the same applies to you. This is a business transaction to be managed professionally and fairly to both parties.

OTOH (and this would make me not bring my child back to you) is the fact that you took it upon yourself to ring HMRC to discuss that lady's tax affairs. This is a gross invasion of privacy. She may have an element of childcare built into her tax credit award but that is her private business and nothing to do with anybody else except the taxman.

I have never heard of anybody doing that. Don't you see how wrong that is?

NatashaBee · 13/02/2012 13:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.