with regard nursery fees?

[Charleymouse]

Sorry for the long winded post but I am a bit aggrieved. This is about nursery fees.

I have 3 DC all have attended the same nursery some of them at the same time.

DD1 at nursery since 2006 full time, part time/full time during maternity leave in 2007. Leaves in 2009 for school.

DS2 starts nursery in 2008 full time, part time/full time during maternity leave in 2009. Leaves in 2011 for school.

DD2 starts nursery in 2011 I worked part time so she was part time 3 days initially with occasionally 4 days a week until September 2013 when I returned to work full time so she attended nursery full time.

There is a daily rate of approx 35-40 depending on which child due to staff ratio and inflation. There is also a weekly rate which if you attend full time you receive a discount of (currently) 25.

When DD2 started full time in September 2013 I said to a member of staff "at least I will get the discount for full weeks" and was told it was no longer available as it had been phased out. Existing customers who were full time still got the discount but as I had had a period of DD2 attending part time I was no longer eligible. There was no information circulated to inform parents that this change was to be implemented and I did not realise it was no longer available until she reverted to full time.

I have paid my fees since then based on the daily rate. It has now got to summer sessions booking time (we have term time contracts 38 weeks which end shortly) and my colleague is paying 25 less per week than I am. We are in receipt of the exact same service; our children are in the same class.

Is this allowed? I have been a customer for 8 years and have just worked out I have paid 950 more than my colleague for this year. How can that possibly be fair? Her child was attending full time at the point it was decided to stop the discount.

Can I do anything about this? Obviously I dont want anyone else to pay more but not sure why I should be paying more either. Can anyone advise please? Thank you.

I get why you're annoyed but is it any different to Netflix charging new customers a different rate to existing ones?

Aren't they just saying people with the orginal arrnagement keep that arrangement but it doesn't apply to anyone else?

I can see why you're annoyed but there's not much else they could do.

When your DD was part time it wasn't relevant to you so they had no need to tell you.

They can't change an existing agreement but these will phase out as the children it applies to leave the nursery.

I think it's one of those 'life's a bitch' situations.

Sorry by the way in case I have misunderstood...but what I think you were saying above is:

• you've had children in the nursery for 8 years, sometimes full time sometimes not.
• When your last child was part time, the policy regarding reductions for full time children stopped except for children who were currently full time but now your child is full time you think you should get the reduction too?

In which case YABU (although I would have hoped for some discretion!).

I'm not sure really. I would have thought that it would depend on the contract that you signed when your child started nursery. If it states that children will get a discount if they go to nursery full time then surely that will still apply as you haven't signed a new contract with different terms and conditions. The new policy would only apply to new parents as they are signing a different contract.

whatever5
I'm not sure really. I would have thought that it would depend on the contract that you signed when your child started nursery... The new policy would only apply to new parents as they are signing a different contract.

Good point. Unless the nursey have been pretty smart and have the fee policy separate to the contract so it reads something like "Fees according to the fee policy in place at the time will be paid, monthly, in advance by cheque or BACS" type of thing.

May be a loophole though OP?

So they are charging the same rate for DD2 as they would any child who started full time in September 2013, I think that's fair. If you had asked for a new terms and conditions for each child it would have up to date pricing.

In the same way, if you'd had children 10 years apart, would you have expected the same rates as before to apply? I can understand why you feel aggrieved but they're a business and loyalty means nothing in comparison with cold, hard cash. The market dictates what they can charge anyway. And I have never lived anywhere where nursery has been £40/day. More like £90! So I'd consider I'd got a pretty good deal at that price.

So they are charging the same rate for DD2 as they would any child who started full time in September 2013, I think that's fair. If you had asked for a new terms and conditions for each child it would have up to date pricing.

Her DD started in 2011 though so I would have thought that the contract signed at that time would still apply.

Yes good point Whatever

I can understand why you are annoyed but if my reading of the situation is correct then I think YABU. You were part-time when the rules were changed so you can't expect them to give you the discount really.

I don't think you can do anything other than complain and see if they would give you a discount, but they are within their rights to say no.

Thank you for all your input.

I am afraid I think it is a lifes a bitch situation. Just wanted to rant and get it off my chest. I started to suck it up when I knew the discount had ended when enrolled DD2 full time in September 2013. It just wrankles now I realise I have paid 950 more for the same service as someone else. I dont begrudge them the discount just fed up I dont have it as well IYSWIM.

A new contract is signed at the start of each academic year. Contract ends at the end of July. Summer seesions bookable on a pay as you use basis.

The fees are average for this area, not the cheapest not the most expensive.

I am happy with the nursery and staff. As I said I have been here for 8 years.

But other people are now paying a reduced rate for additional sessions over the summer even when the contract has ended for the year.

But other people are now paying a reduced rate for additional sessions over the summer even when the contract has ended for the year.

That bit does seem unfair and you'd be justified in questioning it.

If they are not covered by a contract for the summer then they shouldn't be applying the discount to anyone in the summer.

Thinking about it- I don't understand how, if everyone signs a new contract at the beginning of the academic year, some contracts had the discount but others didn't?