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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to complain

71 replies

Royalsighness · 29/12/2014 11:31

So today I went to take my son to nursery and it was closed for the week with no warning or letter, me and my husband always make quick chit chat with the staff and nobody told us verbally it was closed. I can understand bank holidays or Xmas/New Years eve but why today and tommorow? The biggest pain is we have to pay! £48.00 per day and I've had to book emergency annual leave from work that my boss still hasn't cleared so im worried about that now.

AIBU to make a complaint and refuse to pay?

OP posts:

clam · 29/12/2014 16:03

"One didn't charge but the other did."

Surely that's down to different methods of billing/accounting. The one that didn't appear to charge will have re-couped the money by charging more across other sessions, surely?

Original poster

Royalsighness · 29/12/2014 16:17

I checked the contract when I got home, it doesn't mention it anywhere, only bank holidays, I guessed as much as this could be something that changes year after year.

I'm going to talk to them about it when I get back, thanks for the feedback everyone.

The poor communication is unacceptable really, saying I should consult my contract regarding issues like this like I am at fault is wrong isn't it? Would that be the same with a school? I was wrong to assume but they were wrong to not make it clearer, atleast 5 other parents I saw this morning were equally as miffed and peeved, and the ladies at work have all agreed I shouldn't have to pay when I don't have the option to send him and it isn't a bank holiday, just to clarify I earn less in a day than nursery costs but am hoping that by working I can start a nursing course so I stick at it, I can't afford to pay for things like this or have it jeopardise my job!

OP posts:

LindyHemming · 29/12/2014 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Royalsighness · 29/12/2014 16:35

Thankyou for the helpful posts, I didn't want everyone to agree with me and I should have asked but I still think nursery are partly (a bigger part than me) to blame!

I don't understand why anyone would come to a post to try and make someone else look stupid when they are asking for help and advice, I thought it was a pretty valid question and just wanted an outsiders perspective, not an argument!

OP posts:

clam · 29/12/2014 16:36

The contract might not specify its opening hours over Christmas/Bank Holidays, but does it say anything about payment for sessions used being spread over 52 weeks, as opposed to, say 49?

timetoplay · 29/12/2014 17:46

You definitely need to flag up over poor communication OP. Especially if this is part of the reason why you are planning to move to the hospital nursery.

Purplepoodle · 29/12/2014 19:41

Nursery should have had signs up. Ours have had their xmas opening times up since Nov and two separate notes have come home.

Bad communication but it is usual to pay for closure weeks - well around my area

Purplepoodle · 29/12/2014 19:42

Forgot to add most nursery's round here do it so they make staff use holidays

slithytove · 29/12/2014 21:10

Mine is open this week bar wed afternoon and thurs morning

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 29/12/2014 21:40

When I used nursery Te years ago it would have been open today, and... It was- I waved a neighbouring toddler off this morning. So, I wouldn't expect you to know it was closed unless that was clearly their policy and /or they'd sent out a newsletter and put the dates on a noticeboard and their website. I think yanbu and should complain.

Dowser · 29/12/2014 22:59

Don't get this idea that you pay when it's closed and you can't send them.

If the child is off and it's your fault, you pay.

If the nursery is closed and you can't send them and have to make other arrangements....you don't pay!

Any other scenario defies logic, well mine anyway!

Littlefish · 29/12/2014 23:03

Dowser - it depends what it says in the contract. If the contract says you pay when the nursery is closed, and you have signed the contract, then you pay when the nursery is closed.

heidipi · 30/12/2014 05:58

Definitely not standard to be closed between Xmas and New Year - not everyone gets the full week off work and people need childcare.

Sounds like poor communication OP - even if there is something in the contract, nursery should have notices/letters/reminders. In the real world (unlike on MN) not everyone memorises all the small print in the contract. Find out and complain if nursery have been unclear.

FrogIsATwatInASantaHat · 30/12/2014 08:01

Mine was always open between Christmas and New Year. I don't see why you have to pay for it if its not specified in the contract. Complain.

Sleepyfergus · 30/12/2014 09:28

Our nursery shuts down over the hols this year it shut on xmas eve and reopens on Mon 5th Jan. This is standard in most nurseries I know of here (Edinburgh). The fees for the year are based on 50 weeks which is then divided up over the 12 months. This is a known fact when you sign up with the nursery and is communicated several times and by various means (newsletter, email, posters up in the place) in the run up to xmas. We just have to use annual leave if needed or we are (extremely) lucky to have grandparents that can help out for a day here and there.

Seems like a huge miscommunication OP esp if other parents were also caught out. YANBU to complain and ask for clarification re fees and how they are apportioned also.

BackforGood · 30/12/2014 18:52

I can't see why people are so confused about paying. It's pretty normal for the Nursery to work out what you will pay over the year, and divide it into 12 equal monthly payments, just the same as all people who draw a salary or wages - you don't get less pay during the month you take your annual holiday, you get the same pay each month, and can take those holidays when you want. It's the same with Nursery charges - they might close for a week in December, but, for you to 'not pay' for that week, you'd have to pay for it at some other point - either more for a '5 week month', or a bit more on each of the other 11 months. Most people find it easier to budget if it's the same going out each month.
If staff weren't all being made to take their holiday when the Nursery were closed, then they would be paying out extra for holiday cover as staff took that week's equivalant during the year. Most Nurseries are very quiet over the Christmas period, hence why it makes business sense for them to close for a few days. (Although this doesn't take away the fact the communication in THIS case seems to have been very poor).

joanne1947 · 30/12/2014 19:01

Why are they not open, a lot of places are open. I can't understand why nurseries do not stay open every day to help out people who work every day. Nurses, shop staff, loads of people do not get weekends off or bank holidays so why so nurseries not stay open to help these parents.
The nursery should have made sure you knew they were closed and offered help if it caused you problems, they take you money, they should give a good service.

BackforGood · 30/12/2014 19:30

As part of my job, I go into 35+ Nurseries a year.
Approx 2/3 - 3/4 of them close for the days between Christmas and New Year.
It's not economically viable for them to stay open.

A lot of Nurseries take a high % of children on Term time only funding. -- Others know that families are having to make arrangements for school age children anyway, so don't need the Nursery place.
Others know that a lot of their families either have extended family staying,
or are away, staying with extended family.
Some families go away on their holidays over Christmas.

Yes, there are people who still need childcare, but there are a lot more that don't, so, the Nurseries have to look at it from a business point of view, as to whether it makes sense for them to close for a few days (which is attractive to staff of course, as well, so helps them recruit / retain staff) or open to a quiet room and losing money.

Stealthpolarbear · 30/12/2014 19:44

Did you bother trying again today op?

Pilgit · 30/12/2014 19:44

It's quite standard for them to be closed. However of you're new to the whole thing I can see why them being open would be expected. At our nursery you couldn't miss it - info was everywhere including emails in November (because some people won't have realised and will have to organise shift patterns). If there were other parents who didn't know then I would raise the poor communication with them.

Stealthpolarbear · 30/12/2014 19:45

Even if it's considered standard they should still spell it out in the contract

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