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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be sulking about getting a 'late' fine from hour club?

62 replies

SleepOhHowIMissYou · 15/05/2013 19:16

I was 20 mins late collecting my little girl from hour club after school tonight, she was the last one there. Massive traffic queue due to road-works was the culprit.

They've 'fined' me £5.50 for the twenty minutes. Hour Club costs £3.50 for the hour.
Wanted cash then and there, but only had £2 in purse so they're adding it to bill (which is paid already up to 1/2 term).

Is this legal even? What are the rules? Anyone else have experience of this?

Have a massive sulk on, AIBU?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 15/05/2013 19:18

YABU really, yes.

The staff need to get home and £5.50 for working impromptu overtime, really isn't that much.

Were you given a copy of their policy?

MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 15/05/2013 19:23

In the nursery I worked in we charged £5 for the first 10 minutes then £5 a minute after that.

YAB totally U if you don't expect to pay for someone else to look after your child for 20 minutes because you were late. They might well be running late to pick their child up now and have to pay extra.

HariboAndWine · 15/05/2013 19:25

Sorry but yabu. It is your responsibility to pick up your child on time and this includes allowing for traffic delays. The staff looking after your dc have families and lives to get home to and £5.50 is a relatively small amount to pay for the inconvenience caused. Annoying for you but fair I think.

grabaspoon · 15/05/2013 19:26

Did you call to say you were running late?

FrebbieMisaGREATshag · 15/05/2013 19:28

So they're supposed to work late just because you can't get there on time?

Doesn't work like that, sorry. You have to be there on time to pick up, regardless of roadworks.

I'm sure the 5.50 hardly covered their costs for the 20 mins either.

CPtart · 15/05/2013 19:28

Check the terms and conditions.

TheDetective · 15/05/2013 19:28

YABU. They have every right to charge for the extra time, and this can be at a premium. It is to discourage you from being late.

Childminders and nurseries operate the same policies.

Sometimes being late can't be helped - but you need to pay the price for it. I suppose if it was a one off, it would be nice if they let you off, but warned you next time they would charge.

But they don't have to. It should be in the terms and conditions you signed up to.

If a parent doesn't turn up for a child, they can actually phone Social Services and report the child as uncollected - abandoned.

I think £5.50 is getting off lightly.

But I understand your frustration when it comes to traffic. Twatting traffic is the bain of my life.

tiggytape · 15/05/2013 19:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oblomov · 15/05/2013 19:31

Is this the first time this has happened? Did you call? I think it is totally reasonable. When ds1 was at private nursery, I was late twice in 3 years. And I phoned. And I was only 6 or so minutes late. And I picked up at 4.45 so it made no difference to staff or closing. If I was your club, I would be most miffed at your lateness.

TiggyD · 15/05/2013 19:32

YABVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVU.

It would have been 2 staff working 20 minutes unwanted overtime. That works out at £16.50 an hour or a rate of £8.25per member of staff. If you don't think the staff are even worth £8.25 an hour why are you letting them look after your child?

You're lucky it was so cheap. Angry

TiggyD · 15/05/2013 19:33

Take some wine and chocolates next time you go there.

ParadiseChick · 15/05/2013 19:34

Yabu, twenty minutes late for a club that lasts an hour is really taking the piss

Snazzynewyear · 15/05/2013 19:35

YABU. If they didn't do this, no one would ever feel they needed to be on time, and it's not fair on the staff. Even if 'not your fault' you have to suck it up.

SauvignonBlanche · 15/05/2013 19:36

YABU, there has to be a fine for beig late or people would just take the piss.

Original poster
SleepOhHowIMissYou · 15/05/2013 19:36

Looks like I've got to tuck my lip back in and swallow the fine.

Will go kick something on way to sweetie jar.......stoopy traffic Angry

OP posts:
Numberlock · 15/05/2013 19:41

You're angry with the wrong people.

LadyintheRadiator · 15/05/2013 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

buildingmycorestrength · 15/05/2013 19:45

Sleep well done taking it on the chin. Smile

CloudsAndTrees · 15/05/2013 19:45

The fine is very reasonable. Some places charge for the whole hour that your lateness ate into.

AvrilPoisson · 15/05/2013 19:54

Ours is £25 for any time overdue, for first 15 mins, then extra £25 per 15 mins after that!

It is stated very clearly in the terms and conditions though... they don't get many late pick-ups!

WeAreEternal · 15/05/2013 19:57

Your lucky it was such a minimal amount.

At DS's after school club they usually give you 5 minutes but the policy is £10 if you are 10 minutes late, and after that they charge you for every minute you are late.

DeskPlanner · 15/05/2013 20:20

Well done for accepting it. Most don't on AIBU.

Snazzynewyear · 15/05/2013 20:30

Yes, props to you (is that what the kids say now?) for taking the YABUs on board.

phantomnamechanger · 15/05/2013 20:37

wow - maybe I need to put this in my rainbows T&C -always the same 2 parents turning up 10 minutes late, very annoying!

well done on your change of heart OP

if nurseries etc did not do this people would be regularly taking the piss and turning up late

phantomnamechanger · 15/05/2013 20:37

"props"?? Confused