Re: Childminder charging for late pick ups

[TheRealMrsHannigan]

DC has been with the same childminder since she was a year old, so 2 and a half years now. In that time we have never been late picking her up, if there has been problems with trains etc, my sister has stepped in and picked her up instead.

DH usually picks up, contracted hours are until 6.30pm (Although he is usually back by 6.10pm), last night however, he was stuck in horrendous traffic jam, I left work as soon as I could, but it meant I was an hour late collecting DC. Childminder charged £10 as per contract terms.

However, what I do feel a bit put out about is the fact we have never been late before, ever. This is the only time I simply have not had anyone else close enough to pick up DC.

Childminder has, on a fair number of occasions, asked for DC to be picked up early ( 5pm or 6pm) so she can attend school plays for her own DC, or appointments etc. I have never deducted money as a result of this, as I assumed there was a bit of give and take and flexibility.

The AIBU is this: Given that I was charged for the one late pick up in two and a half years, would it be unreasonable to therefore, next time she asks for DC to be picked up early for whatever reason, deduct money from the next weeks payment at the £5 per half hour rate she charges for excess hours? Or am I being petty?

I admit I am feeling a little bit stung, as we have always got on so well.

Not at all unreasonable.

I'd be annoyed - and upset too. As you say, I would have thought there was a kind of relationship here and you've been very flexible in the past accommodating her needs. This was a one-off and there was nothing you could do. Now, if you're regularly late then that's another story. I agree also that you can't expect anything in return for early pick ups when you arrive early. But, if she's sometimes asked you to pick up early so that she could do stuff and that's not been deducted, I think she's being unfair in this case.

I'd probably do like Ballerinabetty. Whilst, the best thing is to talk to her, I'd be chicken too and bring up fees when she requests an early pick up that suits her.

YANBU.

It was a one-off situation you didn't have control over. You have been more than fair with her. Let's hope it's a one-off and you don't fall out over this situation. If it happens again, I'd have to call her on it tbh.

I was all set to say YABU but then I saw that you said that you had never deducted when you collect your DC early for her to attend a play or whatever.

On that basis YANBU and she has a bit of a cheek charging you. Let this be a lesson and on the next ocassion she asks you to come and collect early make sure you deduct it off her invoice.

Its not fair

she can't on the one hand ask you come early and not reduce costs, then charege extra for late pick up

this will be a deal breaker for me TBH

what ballerina says maybe, pay it but say that you would like to revisit contract to ensure recipocrity for times when you pick up early at her request

If I ask parents to pick up early for appointments etc then I don't charge.
If they choose to pick up early as they've finished for the day then I still charge.
if parents are late, I don't charge for first 10 mintues but do from then on

However I am like this with every parent

Are you quite sure you have paid your full rate when you have picked up early?

I don't know anyone who would do this you see so definitely check the bill.

I used to be a cm and did charge late pick up fees, but like another cm said, I on;y had this in my contract to guard against piss takers, and only had to use it a few times over the years.

Are you certain your DH has been picking up on time? If you are then I agree with you, you have shown her flexibility and been generous in paying her when her finishing earlier has left you rearranging your own working day. You have been generous, flexible, and understanding. She has not. I would be disgruntled too.

Oh and if I was not available to cm I didn't charge and was very clear about this both verbally and contractually.

Something similar happened with SIL, albeit she hadn't been using the CM as long, but I think probably discussing it first, before just taking money off payment may be better, esp if you trust the CM/don't want to go finding another

Laurie and Bored Definitely been paying the full rate, I transfer the money at the start of every week. DH definitely picks up on time, I am usually on the train home at that time and most days call home to say hello to DC.

Nothing to add re childminding issue, but I love Mike Hannigan too! He was the funniest one on Friends, wish he'd been on there since the beginning!

I'd be peeved too OP. Things work better when there's a bit of give and take on either side.

YANBU at all. I too would have felt annoyed at the CM. As you say, flexibility works both ways. I would assume the 'late fee clause' is in the for those who take the mick, but, in effect you are overpaying for 20 mins most days anyway, and this is an unavoidable one off - the first time in 2 and 1/2 years.
I think I would do what other have suggested, and say "I was a bit surprised you charged us for that one off late evening, I thought we had a established a more flexible relationship that that. If you want to do that though, that's fair enough, your choice, but we need to look at you refunding us for the times when we've come early to release you from your contract so you could go to school plays etc. Flexibility has to work both ways or neither way. Either is fine by me, but we need to establish if we are working on a 'doing what we can to help each other out' basis, or 'strictly to a contracted hours basis' " and see where she wants to go from there.

This childminder has spoilt things abit hasn't she?

I get the late charge. Some people take advantage. But she has not adjusted the bill when she wanted flexibility... Ummm not fair. Well you play by the rule book now don't you? She's set them, you know the score.

Don't let it sour your thinking to her though if your child is happy and she's a good childminder as good day care that suits you isn't easy.

Our nursery suffers with parents collecting kids late. It's often the same parents. A bit ago I was late ( let nursery know I was on my way but stuck in traffic due to accident). I expected it to be added to our monthly bill. They didn't. They told me to not worry as it was a one off and we pay on time. They obviously valued us a on-time payers and we reaped the reward that time. I was delightfully surprised.

I used to be a CM and I would have charged you for late pick up as per the contract, I would also charge full rates if you chose to pick up early, however, If I asked you to pick up early I would of course not charge you - this to me is the unreasonable action of your CM.

I also sometimes asked the parents to collect late, if for example we were on a day trip, and on that occassion I wouldn't charge them as it was my choice to be late.

I do think you should speak with your CM, if she is running her business as a business and adhering to the contract then that should work both ways, she cannot charge you when she has asked you to take you child home early due to her personal events.

YANBU

My CM doesn't charge late fees but on the one occasion I was ridiculously
late picking DD up I paid for the extra time and bought her some flowers and chocolates.

But if she is unavailable to work I don't pay. I'm happy to be flexible so she can go to see her gc in school plays etc but I'm not paying for it too!