Refund from Childminder

[Schmoochypoos]

My childminder unexpectedly cancelled two days of my childcare a couple of months ago due to a family bereavement. I run my own business so luckily I was able to juggle things around so I wasn't too stuck.

I did however ask for a refund for those two days; I had to pay for cover to cover me.

She said she would sort it but needed to get organised as paperwork etc had slipped since the bereavement. This was over a month ago now.

But now I'm beginning to think I did the wrong thing? Should I have just sucked up the cost? Have I made a huge faux pas?

Is it covered in your contract at all? Can you afford it?

I would just message a gentle reminder, or suggest you pay two days less this month as you are in credit.

Yeah, I would expect money off the next bill rather than an actual refund.

I'm a childminder, I'd knock out off your next month's invoice or ask of you wanted 2 additional days another time.
Don't be embarrassed to question your invoice if she hasn't.

Like others, a gentle suggestion of paying two days less next time sounds like the way to go.

Ok thanks all. Was starting to think I shouldn't have said anything.

Contract definitely states if she cancels I am entitled to refund.

I had an urgent family situation (an accident resulting in a close family emmber being in ICU and us not knowing if they will even make it through the night) and I had to take two weeks off as I work on the other side of the country. Work allowed me two weeks of paid leave- which I realise was extremely generous and I never expected it. I think it depends on the circumstances, if it was a parent or a sibling, I would not ask for money maybe as it's a bit sensitive...

It's in your contract so yes, ask her to knock it off the next bill.

Yes, take it off this month's payment . I'd put it in writing with slip so that her's & your books are square (if she's behind on paperwork) "Refund £x due from X dates as overpayment month Z1 , and bill of £y due month Z2 = balance due £y-x"

The childminder is self employed though @MonaLisaDoesntSmile
Self employed people don't get paid leave unless stated & negotiated in their contractwgich they write. There are many benefits to C/M of being SE but this isn't one of them. If OP had directly employed someone, she would have set her contract in what happens in case like this as her decision.
I'm directly employed & I didn't get 2 days paid leave for my sister's funeral (I had to travel/stay over and I'd organised most of funeral and wake!) nor paid leave to sit at Dsis's death bed in hospice, I made up time later /took owed toil/AL except 1 day for funeral as that is all my contract allows me unless I wanted to take it unpaid.

Depending on her relationship with the deceased, she may have been affected financially and be struggling a bit. Would it work better if she didn’t charge you for the next two childcare days? Maybe just explain to her that you can deduct the money from her next payment?