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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
cherish123 · 27/08/2017 18:13

I would speak to her in case it is a mistake.

Helendee · 27/08/2017 18:14

I'm a childminder and I say definitely don't pay as we can only charge if the place is kept open for use if needed. She really is taking the whatsit.

Babbitywabbit · 27/08/2017 18:16

Gravitsap- that's exactly what we did when we used a cm over 20 years ago. I was then teaching so needed term time only care, but we paid half fees during school holidays as a retainer to ensure dd kept her place. If the cm had wanted full rates during holidays I would have expected to be able to use her for childcare during that time. I can't see any reasonable situation where a parent pays the full rate but doesn't have the place guaranteed. What the hell would be the point?

Questioningeverything · 27/08/2017 18:20

I hate when the op doesn't come back!

Bobbybobbins · 27/08/2017 18:22

I agree that she should refund. Come back OP!!!

Tanith · 27/08/2017 18:25

"Look we have everyone who can see that OP is blatantly in the right, then we have a couple of chippy childminders. "

Actually, no you don't have that at all.

You have some childminders and nursery managers who have advised that this may well be an error, to query it calmly with the childminder, and to check her contract.

We've then got the usual hysterical nonsense about how the childminder is being cheeky, ripping the Op off and trying to nitpick and discredit every childminder who disagrees with them.

Some of you must be having a really boring bank holiday Grin

We also have an Op who hasn't come back to the thread to update since saying she was going to check with her childminder. Wouldn't it be better to wait for her to do so before we start howling for the childminder's blood and demanding legal advice and court action?!

Cassamama · 27/08/2017 18:27

I'm a childminder - YANBU. How cheeky!! I would charge to keep the space open but if I filled it and you suddenly needed it I would be pretty embarrassed and apologise and ensure that you were not charged for those days.

It happened to me on a bank holiday once. I work them and charge if a parent doesn't need me. But one holiday nobody needed me so I made plans, then suddenly somebody did need me and I couldn't cancel my plans. So I refunded them!

If she doesn't budge I would call PACEY just to find out where you stand - yes your contract says to pay if you don't use her but she chose not to have your child - what does it say about that?

Babbitywabbit · 27/08/2017 18:35

I would worry about the efficiency of someone who books in another child, turns the OPs child down for 4 full paid for days because she's reached her quota, and then invoices the parent for those 4 days. She might be great with children but a cm needs a business head as well and that just sounds crap.

And even if the cm turns round and says oh gosh, my mistake, I should have knocked that off the bill, it doesn't alter the fact she may have been doing other childminding during those weeks unbeknown to the OP. At the end of the day, the cm sold the place to another child- that is the core of the issue, it wasn't a vacancy but a place already paid for in full.

And finally, even if the cm turns round and refunds the OP, it seems highly likely she was trying to just pull a fast one and double her takings. If she had always intended to take those days off the OPs bill, why on earth take on a high needs child rather than just take the money for doing literally nothing, which is usually the case during the 2 weeks the child goes to dad? It just doesn't add up.

I think far from people having a boring bank holiday weekend Hmm it's more the case that most of us can see this cm is being unfair

Babbitywabbit · 27/08/2017 18:43

In other words Tanith, your suggestion of a 'mistake' only holds water if the cm has never ever taken on another child in place of the OPs dd. Just on this one occasion someone with a high needs child wanted 4 days care, the cm thought 'oh I can do that because OP doesn't need me; obviously I'll need to repay her because I'm now over my quota with a high needs child (rather than my usual money for nothing.) ' And then after all that, ended up being surprised by the OP needing care, turned her down as she was using the place for high needs child AND on top of all that, then forgot to knock the days off the bill.

I think any reasonable person can see that it's far more likely she just thought she could make a quick buck!

user1476641978 · 27/08/2017 18:50

YANBU that is very cheeky

Figgygal · 27/08/2017 18:52

Please don't pay cheeky fecker

Clairelouise91 · 27/08/2017 18:53

It sounds like shes tried to get double the money thinking she wont get caught out and now she has shes trying to make it look like shes allowed to do that...she shouldnt have filled the space if she is claiming you had to pay originally as the space would be kept available your not being unresonable threaten to see your solicitor shell probably back down but if read the contract first to see if it states the space will be kept available or wether it actually says she can fill the space and you still have to pay

KatieHaslam22 · 27/08/2017 18:54

I would ask her where in the contract it states another child can have your allotted and paid for space! Cheeky if you ask me!

Helliday · 27/08/2017 18:54

I don't think the CM is being UR.

If you tell them "Molly won't be with you all next week" The CM can then take on another child that day if requested.

You've forfeited the place and agreed to pay for it.

The CM can't then tell another customer, 'X wants the place back now, sorry!' just because you've changed your mind. Confused

cheval · 27/08/2017 18:56

If child is happy with her, and you are, apart from this, I would grit my teeth and pay up. Childcare is such a nightmare, probably not worth losing someone good over this. But I would have a word with her and state your opinion.

grandOlejukeofYork · 27/08/2017 18:59

If you tell them "Molly won't be with you all next week" The CM can then take on another child that day if requested

They can, but they can't charge BOTH parents. How can anyone not see that?

Babbitywabbit · 27/08/2017 19:01

She hasn't forfeited the place. She is paying in full for it.

smilingontheinside · 27/08/2017 19:01

Yes you are paying for the space but you also "booked" holiday and I would imagine you need to give her notice (4 wks is usual) for any changes to that. I would expect to continue paying and suck up the fact that the holiday period booked was not used (plus your oh paid so you personally are not out of pocket). If you have a good cm then it's worth hanging on to her and your contract, which I assume you read signed and agreed to, should state what/when payment is due. My cm charged for my hols (child's) but not hers so imo yabu

jayne1976 · 27/08/2017 19:04

It's your space, you've paid for it. Your choice as to whether to use of not, but it should be there for you!
Find an alternative - she's taking the biscuit!
I pay for holiday clubs, if I then decide to take the day off and not send the kids that's my choice but I don't expect them to sell the space again - 1 child equals 1 pay cheque 1 child doesn't equal 2 pay cheques - cheek! There will be someone T the council to speak to - sorry but she's taking you for a mug!

grandOlejukeofYork · 27/08/2017 19:05

If you have a good cm then it's worth hanging on to her

A good cm does not cheat her clients and charge two people for one spot.

Helliday · 27/08/2017 19:12

Because to me they're separate contracts.

For example a few weeks ago I cancelled, I wasn't working that day and my DC would have been the only two with the CM. CM said now she was now off that day and could take her DD to X place.

If I'd been clever I should have called her up that morning saying I'd changed my mind and demanded a refund as she was now busy and unable to take them.

It just doesn't seem right to me. If you choose to cancel, then tough CM can do what she likes.

SunshineLollipopsRainbows25 · 27/08/2017 19:15

I would definitely NOT pay

totolouise · 27/08/2017 19:15

£4.20 an hour for a childminder & you live down South, that is super cheap!!! Mine is more than double than in the South!

smithmm · 27/08/2017 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Helliday · 27/08/2017 19:29

Thinking about this more.

If you book a hotel, cancel and lose your money and hotel can then give your room away. You can't call the night before saying you've changed your mind and demand a refund because they've resold the room.

People on here live on another planet.

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