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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not pay this childminding bill

546 replies

Ellie6578 · 26/08/2017 11:49

My one year old goes to a childminder 4 days a week whilst I'm working since October last year, I've had no issues so far.

My dd visits her dad for 2 weeks every 6 weeks, so she doesn't go to the childminder during these times (he lives up north and I'm down south) however I understand that I still have to pay for her missed days in order to secure her place (her dad pays for these 2 weeks of missed time) and that's fine as my contract states I have to pay for 4 days a week even if my dd doesn't attend.

She came back this week after only 4 days of being with her dad unlike the normal 14 days. This was because her dad had to go to Germany for a few days for work and my little girl really would not settle with his mum.

I messaged my childminder and said my dd had come home early and would she be able to have her tomorrow as normal. My childminder stated she could not have her for another 4 days as she had taken in another child for childcare which took up my daughters space. Ok I thought, my mum took time off work to look after her.

I got the invoice yesterday and I've been charged for those 4 days even though I was told my daughter couldn't go in because she had filled her space! So if I paid for it, the Childminder's earning double for half the work. Aibu not to pay for those 4 days?!

OP posts:

Notreallyarsed · 26/08/2017 11:51

I wouldn't be happy paying it. It's one thing if you have to pay to keep the space, that's reasonable. But to refuse to take the child despite being paid for it is

Framboise18 · 26/08/2017 11:51

Get a refund that's not on!

Ameliablue · 26/08/2017 11:52

It's annoying but I would expect to still have to pay as it's probably in the contract that notice needs to be given for changes.

saveusername · 26/08/2017 11:53

I agree you shouldn't have to pay for that, she should have taken her. But I would check what your contract says first

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 26/08/2017 11:53

No that's not acceptable. If you're paying for the space,then the space needs to be available for you to use.

Mushroomburger17 · 26/08/2017 11:54

No she's been cheeky and she knows it. She can't have it both ways. If your dd is available but the child minder can't have her then she can't charge you.

BorderChick · 26/08/2017 11:54

Yeah if the childminder can't or won't have your child, they should not be charging you. Check with the council who monitor them. (Also check the contract.)

abbsisspartacus · 26/08/2017 11:54

You pay to hold the space no space no pay

amazonEcho · 26/08/2017 11:55

First, she isn't earning double for half the work.

I think you need to pay as it's what the contract stated. It's literally, a black and white situation.

Babbitywabbit · 26/08/2017 11:58

YANBU!

If you are paying full price to keep the place available, then you should be able to use it if necessary.

It's not the same as a reduced price retainer... e.g. When we used a cm for a while before switching to nursery, our cm charged half fees for my eldest while I was on ML leave with dc2, on the understanding this kept her place open. The agreement was that she would mind other children on an ad hoc basis during this period but my children had priority once I needed full time care again. If I wanted my eldest to go to the cm for the odd day during my ML, I just topped up to the full amount. As you're paying the full amount already there's no way she can refuse to have your child but then charge you- that's ridiculous

SpiritedLondon · 26/08/2017 11:58

I pay for a childminder 4 days a week for breakfast club but my DD frequently doesn't go because my DH works shifts and can take her to school on certain days. If I was paying for a place I would expect it to be available if I needed it. Your CM is having her cake and eating it as far as I can see.

Original poster

Ellie6578 · 26/08/2017 11:58

@amazonEcho
How is she not earning double for half the work?

I'm paying 4.20 an hour, so is this child's parents who she has taken my child's space with.

So she's earning from two children but only caring for one

OP posts:

Flywheel · 26/08/2017 12:00

You are paying for 4 days a week so your dd is entitled to 4 days a week. If your paying for the place, I can't see how any reasonable contract would say she can give that place away, and still charge you for it. I would not pay.

DiscoDiva70 · 26/08/2017 12:01

You shouldn't have to pay if the childminder can't take your dd!

You basically pay for a space to be kept open for your child, so if the childminder decides to fill that space by taking in another child then she is using your space up and therefore you aren't obliged to pay for it.

As someone else said. She would be being paid twice!
Also, if she can only legally look after so many children, considering she's 'doubling up' on payments, is she declaring this?

StillDrivingMeBonkers · 26/08/2017 12:01

How much do you value your childminder? She sounds popular if she can fill a space that quickly.

I'm in the 'you pay' camp I'm afraid. Whether she filled the space or not is utterly irrelevant.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 26/08/2017 12:03

Shes greedy and she's cheeky. Not of a sufficient good character to look after my children. I'd be looking elsewhere.

Appraiser · 26/08/2017 12:03

@amazonEcho it isn't black and white though. Op hasn't put dd in because CM has refused and given away her space. The space should be kept open. CM is being greedy by giving the space away and receiving money for 2x children (OP's and one other).

coriliavijvaad · 26/08/2017 12:04

I came on here expecting to say yabu but YANBU!

But your contract is enforceable. So I think my advice would be to pay the invoice in full, but along with a note saying that she has been unfairly paid twice for those 4 days, once by you and once by the other child's family - and that you fully expect her to have the honour and integrity to refund those 4 days. If she does then her reputation as a reasonable and reliable childminder will be undamaged by this incident but if she doesn't you will be honest about this unreliability in your future conversations when asked whether her services can be recommended (and seek out alternative childcare if you can).

If you have to pay full price for an untaken day then that day ought to be reliably yours if needed.

Cupoteap · 26/08/2017 12:04

She's been caught out

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 26/08/2017 12:04

YANBU - you were paying to keep your child's place, and since she filled it, you should not have to pay for it and she has a right cheek to expect you to.

But she's not "charging double for half the work" - she's charging double for the same work. One child = same whichever child it is - but she's expecting to be paid for 2.

amazonEcho · 26/08/2017 12:07

I'm not sure how to explain it any better than you did just below your question.

She usually earns £x for one child. She's earning £2x for one child. Where is the work halved? (unless your daughter's extremely hard work)

You know that you need to pay to keep the space free. You told her your daughter wouldn't be attending on certain days. As far as I'm concerned, you can't then change your mind.

Would you be annoyed if everyone had cancelled and she'd gone on holiday? Do you feel that because you're paying for her time she should sit waiting?

DiscoDiva Declaring what? Income? Are you seriously suggesting the OP contact HMRC?

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/08/2017 12:07

I would talk to her and see what she says. Non confrontationally. Or send her a text that you weren't expecting to be charged for those days as she wasn't able to take your child despite being her in good health. What does the contract say?

grandOlejukeofYork · 26/08/2017 12:08

I'm in the 'you pay' camp I'm afraid. Whether she filled the space or not is utterly irrelevant

If you think that you don't understand how this works.

OP pays for 4 days a week for her child, every week, whether she attends or not. If childminder then uses her paid for space for another child, she is double charging and taking the piss. That space is OP's, she pays for it to stay empty while she is not using it. If childminder sells the space again, she can't then also charge OP.

The whole point of OP paying is to reserve that space.

Biker47 · 26/08/2017 12:08

I wouldn't pay.

StillDrivingMeBonkers · 26/08/2017 12:10

If you think that you don't understand how this works.

I do understand how it work, thanks love. Back in your box

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