Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To think the school is bu about this money?

23 replies

extremepie · 27/09/2014 14:35

I've started using wrap around care both before and after school 2 days a week so I can attend college.

So far it's working out fine but the school did warn me that I would either need to pay day by day or weekly to avoid getting into arrears. No problem.

Last week I tried to pay off what I had used over the week but the lady in the office said she didn't know how much I owe because I only use part of the after school session and because ds2 has autism and so gets charged a higher rate. She asked me to pay the following Monday when the relevant person who would know the money totals would be in the office.

Monday comes, finance woman is in the office and she doesn't know either! How can I be expected to pay the money when they won't tell me how much it is!

In addition, they only seem to accept exact change and don't take cards, there is no cash machine in my village so I have to go to the closest one at least a mile away, then they won't take the notes because I don't have the correct change!

Aibu to think this is really silly and they need to sort out a card machine to enable them to take payments more easily or get a bigger float to be able to give out change and that they should get a better grip on producing bills for things?

OP posts:

LadyLuck10 · 27/09/2014 14:38

Don't you know the rate yourself? You would have had to agree to something, so just work out the number of days and use the rate?

Original poster

extremepie · 27/09/2014 14:44

Thing is the 'after school session' is £44 for 3 hours or £16 an hour, it would normally be £20 for 3 hrs or £8 an hour for 2 dc's but I get charged extra because of ds2. I don't use the whole session though and I don't know how their pricing workes - for example the session starts at 3 so if I come at 5:20 do they count that as 3hrs, 2.20 hrs, 2.25 hrs or 2hrs?it depends on where the 'cut off' is for the charging and that's the bit I don't know :D

OP posts:

WeAreEternal · 27/09/2014 14:46

I only ever pay the school cheque, there have been a few occasions where cash payments have not been noted down and Ives had to pay twice as a result. They don't have card facilites, I doubt many schools could or would have them.
Can you pay by cheque?

And tell the school to send you a bill when they have decided how much they are going to charge you.

BrucieTheShark · 27/09/2014 14:48

Write a cheque?

But no you can't pay until they have provided an invoice. I would email them to this effect (nicely).

Then surely nobody can come back to you and complain you are in arrears, if you have the paper trail.

Sound like you might be worrying over nothing as nobody has mentioned your lack of payment yet.

Can they legitimately charge extra because of a child's additional needs? I can understand that greater supervision or even a one to one might be required, but is it specified what the extra charge is for?

WeAreEternal · 27/09/2014 14:49

Pretty much every single facility I have ever come across will always charge for the whole hour regardless of how much of it you would use, so I would assume they will charge you for 3 hours.

Original poster

extremepie · 27/09/2014 14:49

I have never written a cheque as I don't have a chequebook :) Not sure the school would accept it either but I'm just getting fed up of trying to pay and being told I can't! Especially since they also told me before I started that if I fell into arrears then they dc's would have to stop the before/after school clubs but they're making it pretty difficult not to get into arrears at the moment!

OP posts:

Original poster

extremepie · 27/09/2014 14:53

Sorry x post brucie, yes I've been told the extra charge is for 1:1 for ds.

You're probably right in that they haven't mentioned it yet but I'm just worried that I will turn up one day and they will say 'because you're in arrears they will have to stop coming as of tomorrow or clear the balance immediately' which I can't afford to do :/ They did this once will school meals, then me a letter saying 'as of tomorrow they will have to bring packed lunch until the balance is cleared' :(

OP posts:

redexpat · 27/09/2014 14:57

Well to protect yourself you need to put in writing to someone at the school that you have tried twice to pay but were unable to do so. Include dates, times andnames of staff. Ask how much you owe, and how mich the weekly amount will be. Ask if you can do a bank transfer and what you should put as the reference. Or get cash back when you do the supetmarket shop for the exact amount.

ILovePud · 27/09/2014 14:58

I think you need to just work the amount out for yourself and be a bit more organised about sorting out the money. I don't think that many schools have a card machine but I can't imagine they wouldn't accept cheques unless you have a history of writing bouncy ones. I think it's really crap that you're having to pay extra because your DC has SN though.

AcrossthePond55 · 27/09/2014 14:58

Do you think they'd let you make some type of partial payment based on an estimate? You could probably figure a rough amount & pay part/all of that. At least that way you've paid something & they wouldn't be able to say you were in arrears.

I've had more than one situation (my dentist's office) where they tell you 'not to worry' until the insurance pays their portion, but when they receive that they then send an 'in arrears' bill for the balance due! I've started paying them what I think I'll owe. It shows as an 'overpayment' on their balance sheets until insurance pays!

Inertia · 27/09/2014 15:07

I would email them and request an invoice, stating that you have attempted to pay twice but have been told that you could not pay because they don't know what you owe. I would ask them to let you know the details to transfer money directly from your bank account, so that there is a trail.

If you pay cash, insist on a receipt.You could try to pay what you think you owe and then they can work out the balance.

bloodyteenagers · 27/09/2014 15:13

Can you not just pay something whilst it is being sorted out?
As suggested email them as well. Also ask them if you can pay online, even as a bank transfer.

A ot of schools have on-line facilities. But they don't have machines (because of cost) or a large float.

I would also be asking questions to the council about paying extra for a child with sen. That doesn't sound right

BackforGood · 27/09/2014 15:17

Don't think any school has a card machine.

Can't believe you can operate without a cheque book, especially if there's no cashpoint near where you live.

If you are anxious about getting into det, then why not pay what you think it will be (presumably they told you when you asked about places / signed the contract in the first place?) with a note to say as you've tried 2, or 3 times and the office have never known how much it is or been able to take the money, then, this is your best guess for now and that you'd like a break down by the end of the week / month / however you are going to work.

That sounds quite expensive to me - £8 an hour - however, if that's what you've agreed to, then surely that's what it will be...£20 if you are using the full session and £16 if you are using 2 hours (per child).
I'm appalled they are expecting you to pay extra because your child has additional needs though!

CSIJanner · 27/09/2014 16:00

We use parent pay at ur school - online banking that pays for lunches, trips etc. does the school have that facility?

Heels99 · 27/09/2014 16:05

Can you use childcare vouchers to pay? It saves you money as you don't pay tax on them.

FunkyBoldRibena · 27/09/2014 16:06

Wait until you get your invoice and then pay by one of the methods that they advise.

DaisyFlowerChain · 27/09/2014 16:10

Can't you simply work it out yourself and write a cheque for the amount, surely it's not that hard? I don't know of any local primaries that accept card payments.

AlpacaLypse · 27/09/2014 16:12

Nag for something in writing, and log who you spoke to, what they said, days and times.

I can remember other threads of yours extremepie, you always seem to be getting messed about with bureaucratic paperwork fails!

Good luck getting this one sorted.

SoonToBeSix · 27/09/2014 16:17

Charging extra for your ds seems unfair. Can you apply for direct payment to cover the extra cost?

littledrummergirl · 27/09/2014 16:24

Work out the most that you think it will be -full hour etc- and put that to one side.
When they ask for it then you have it ready and if its not as much as you think then you have savings.
If it is a little more then you dont have as much to find.

You know this bill is coming so be proactive and be ready.

BellaVita · 27/09/2014 16:34

I think they will charge for the whole session whether you pick up 10, 20 or 40 mins early.

Original poster

extremepie · 27/09/2014 17:21

I don't get any childcare vouchers unfortunately and I'm already receiving direct payments to pay for respite for ds2 :) I dont mind paying it as I will hopefully be able to get help with the cost from the college I just need to know how much.

Think I might ask them if I can transfer direct, would be so much easier!

OP posts:

Littlef00t · 27/09/2014 18:16

Are you putting the amount you estimate it to be on one side for when they sort themselves out?

Flip