to be upset at childminder

[Chachah]

I met with her in early February, we agreed she would start looking at dd in mid-April. We didn't sign any papers, though - I contacted her several times to find a time that would suit us both to do the paperwork, but one of us was always away. I called her in mid-March as I was getting a little anxious to still have nothing signed, she couldn't see me as she was about to go away again but did ask to change the times we'd agreed on. The times were less convenient for me, but I really needed a childminder so said yes. She also asked to push back the start date by 2 weeks, to which I also agreed.

The week before dd was due to start I texted her again asking if the agreed date still worked for her - and then got a reply saying she couldn't take her until July after all, and she understood if I wanted to go to another childminder (as if there were dozens available at short notice in my area!). My very polite response text asking to meet went unanswered.

I feel taken advantage of, and I suspect she was keeping me dangling until another mother came along with requirements that suited her better. But we had nothing signed (not for lack of trying on my part), just a verbal agreement.

I feel like telling her how disappointed I am in her, but I'm not sure I have a leg to stand on. AIBU?

That does sound really poor of her but you probably had a lucky escape if the amount of times she was away is anything to go on - it sounds like she would have been quite unreliable.

You don't really have a leg to stand on but telling her that you feel messed about and misled won't do any harm and may make her think a bit.

Bear in mind that once she's looking after your child you'll have her deviousness and evasiveness to deal with all the time! She may let you down.
I think she sounds utterly unprofessional, to be honest; my CH posted contracts, certificates and T's & C's to me as soon as we had talked and sorted out hours.
if you can, find someone else.

As an ex cm that's not the way I would have behaved.

Look on the childcare/cm section here. If you put your general location you might find a match to a mumsnetter.

Hope it works out.

My DH is a childminder and he would never do this! In the case of someone wanting a place months away he would still have all the paperwork drawn up and charge a small retainer to keep the space. Youve had a lucky escape I think, hope you managed to find another cm.

Yes I did find another place - at a nursery, which was not my preferred option, but I really needed dd to start soon.

In a way I'm glad I found out what a flake she is. Glad to hear that's not common accepted behaviour for childminders.

Thanks for the responses everyone x