To be annoyed at nursery charging for days when they're closed?

[BlueJayBear]

My son's been at his nursery for over two years. He goes full-time (yes I know, but needs must), and is incredibly happy there.

I've just received an email to say that they're introducing a new system of payment - Direct Debit - to avoid issues with their accountancy software, and will work up some sport of formula to make it a consistent rate every month (due to the number of days in each month varying, the bill can change by £100 or more month to month).

In order to do this, they will now start charging for Bank Holidays. When they're closed. Which to my mind, equates to over £300 a year.

AIBU to think this is pretty unfair to suddenly introduce this charge now? To my knowledge, they've always paid the staff for bank holidays regardless, so it's not like it's to cover staff costs.

They're saying that they won't add an inflationary rise to the fees this year to mitigate the inevitable rise, but still...?

my dd is just about to finish nursery to go to school in september - woohoo - we have always been charged for BH but we can use these days as a swap as long as they are within the same year and we give advance notice so (for example) my dd is going in an extra 4 days over the summer holiday break before she starts school - this will use up all our bank holiday allowance - our nursery has always done this and it means we pay the same each month rather than varying amounts

We have the same issue but our nursery also charges for weeks when the nursery closes (over 3 weeks in total) and any inset days too. Seems quite common in central London but annoys me no end. Seems there is so much demand they can charge what they like...

Pretty standard I'm afraid. The nursery still has to pay their over heads and wages on the BH. You have been lucky not to have had to pay up until now.

I don't think it's unusual to charge for BHs but I don't see why they need to make the bill the same amount every month? I have tons of direct debits that are different each month - including nursery. Due to there being 8, 9 or 10 charged days in any particular calendar month (DD is in Tues and Weds each week), and the fact we have different amounts of childcare vouchers each month because I always forget to set up a repeating instruction...

I think it's a ridiculous way to do business. They know how many bank holidays are in a year so should factor that into the daily rate. My nursery would let me swap a bank holiday to another day, no use for the full timers though.

I spent several years with a part time place where my days happened to match the Christmas/ New Year bank holidays. It's frustrating paying for a service that's not being provided. Unfortunately they wouldn't let me swap days. Working full-time on a discount weekly rate feels less short changed as I'm getting most of what I've paid for that week.

Actually no, there is no obligation to pay workers for bank holidays which are not worked. It's just that they're often counted in the statutory minimum.

That is right. Technically I am not paid for bank holidays but I have to book a day off my ho!iday allowance.

friend been told she is getting no reduction in fees with 15 free hours