To have asked for £160 from a single mum on income support

[lucindia]

I'm a childminder. I looked after a child for a single mum on income support. She was doing the 15 hours free hours. She phoned to tell me she would be sending her daughter to the local school in 4 weeks time.

So I contacted the funding department to explain that I would no longer be having the child and the date that would start.

They got back to me and said they would only be able to pay the first week of the notice period and the rest would have to be paid for by the parent.

Even though the mum had given me a months notice, I didn't actually have her child at all during that month. The day she text to say she would be going to school in a months time, was the day she stopped coming to me as the Mum was visiting family for a month.

But I was still entitled to be paid for that month. It was also a compulsory notice period.

So I sent a very polite message to the Mum explaining that she would have a balance of £160 to pay as the funding department could only pay 1 weeks notice.

She said that was fine but would need to wait until her income support payment came in the next day and would then send me that. She would send the £60 the following week from her child tax credit.

I thought nothing of it.

I mentioned it in passing to my mother in law (who I get on very well with) and she said she couldn't believe I made her pay £160 when I never even looked after her child for that notice period month and that seeing as my husband and I have a joint income of 40k we could have easily afford to let her off with the £160 which was a lot for a single mum on income support.

I never considered I was doing anything wrong. I'm entitled to be paid for that month and there's a notice period for a reason.

I really like the girls mum and we always had a great relationship when her daughter was with me. She's been with me from before she was 1 as her mum was finishing university.

What do you think. Was I unreasonable to ask for the money?

She's on benefits but qualified in a professional job and job hunting. So does have options.

tomato so if the childminder was only earning 20k and struggling to make ends meet herself then she could have asked for the money she was owed with a clear conscience?

Or if she was a single parent?

You are being ridiculous.

I am an employer. We had a few cashflow issues this week, which meant I did not pay a member of staff. That's ok isn't it? After all, her husband has a good job so she does not need the money.

Can someone please explain how she didn't lose business? I feel like I need it spelling out because to me that's exactly what happened

Of couse cat. Maybe she could pay you for a few months, just till you get back on your feet.
madness!

Mycat - sorry, I think calling someone mean (which multiple other posters have done) is trying to make OP feel bad. What possible other intent would calling someone mean have?

StealthPolarBear: Genuine question, do other self employed people let clients off bills?

Yes, I sometimes do, depending upon the circumstances of the client and, to be totally honest, our own personal finances at the time.

For example, I very recently worked for many hours on a regular customer's virus infected PC. She's not someone who frequently gets malware (i.e. not careless - was just unlucky) and she is currently dealing with aggressive cancer treatment. She cannot work right now (so is having a bad time financially, as well as health wise) and her computer is very important to her. She was shocked when I refused to bill her, but I couldn't do it.

I don't believe the OP is unreasonable to charge the notice period at all. She's running a business, not a charity. But, if it was me, unless I really couldn't afford not to at the time, I'd have told that parent to forget it. That doesn't mean that's what I think anyone else should do - it's just what I'd have done.

That's lovely lazy

I would have waived it. I don't think being in business precludes being open-eyed and empathetic to the situation of others. You can be commercially astute AND have a heart. Success doesn't have to come at the expense of others, not everything is dog eat dog, me and mine first. Capitalism is fine until it comes without a conscience or thought for others.

I wouldn't have asked for the money, but I would be terrible at running a business.

"StealthPolarBear: Genuine question, do other self employed people let clients off bills?"

Yes. I'm Director of a small business (10 people) and I frequently do pro-bono work for people that otherwise couldn't afford my services.

I think that's slightly different. Do you ever enter into an agreement to be paid and then waive the payment later?

This is a contract that she should fulfil. If any of us failed to pay on any other financial contract we would soon be taken to court for payment.

You're technically right, but not very kind.

It depends if she is liable for the money in spite of the funding being withdrawn. But I see you didn't actually mind the child for that period so I think it's a bit harsh to charge her the full amount as you haven't actually earned the money. I agree with charge half the amount.

Surely she'll be getting the 80% ish back of her childcare fees through her tax credits.....

I suppose a parallel would be a landlord letting their tenant off with rent for a month if they were out of work.

Only if they'd already moved out.

The OP didn't actually have the child to care for during the notice period.

Yes she was right to have charged legally, but if she was able to have done a kindness, then why not?

So if they did a moonlight flit do you thinm it's fair the landlord should be out of pocket for the notice period

It has to be decided on its own merit and circumstance.

one of our business is letting out houses, we have took a (smallish) hit several times because the tenants were skint and there was no point in chasing people when they didn't have a pot to piss in.

Our financial buisness we could do that with as there are large amounts of money - saying that we only pay and get paid for services rendered

That contract isnt worth the paper it's written on. I hope the girl in questions sees sense and doesn't pay the rest.

@Costalot1 the child was on a 2yo placement which is funded by Govt for those who qualify/ low earners and those on benefits.
Otherwise you only get childcare tax credits if you are working ft.

This isn't childcare for a working parent, but childcare the Govt pays for as they think it is of benefit to the children.

Even tho op didn't have the child, if she usually brings home £1000 this time she will have brought home £840.
That's why I don't understand how come people are saying she's not out of pocket. Most people opening their payslip and seeing a reduction would want it sorting.

There's a saying, something about prioritising being kind over being right, and you'll be right every time. I really think this is something the OP could have done out of kindness and empathy for the woman's situation. Paying it forward (as someone else pointed out earlier in the thread) is always a nice, decent thing to do if you are in a position to.

" there was no point in chasing people when they didn't have a pot to piss in."
Implying you would have done had you thought you'd have received the money