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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not pay childminder for Xmas day

278 replies

emmagreen481 · 17/12/2018 13:51

My DS’s childminder wants me to pay her for Xmas day & Boxing Day when she’s not even open?? Is this normal

OP posts:

user1474140141 · 18/12/2018 17:39

Don’t usually comment but I’ve been inspired!

My CM is amazing, I pay around £57 a day for 10 hours (Herts), she has breakfast at home, I send her with lunch and she has dinner at CM and I pay £2 for that. I also think it is a difficult job that I personally don’t think I could do.

She doesn’t charge for BH or her holidays. If I can’t send little one because she’s ill then I pay. If I have to collect early then I pay full day.

If little one can’t go to her because one of hers is ill then I don’t pay.

I think this is fair and I’m more than happy with the arrangement.

HauntedPencil · 18/12/2018 17:44

It's swings and roundabouts, I pay for bank holidays so I will be paying next week, other places don't but often their day rate is higher.

If you have in your contract you pay for bank holidays yes you ought to pay, and you are obliged to.

supersop60 · 18/12/2018 17:46

I don't understand how any self-employed person can charge for days when they're not working.
If I was asked to work on a BH I would charge double. I think that would cover all eventualities.

TeenTimesTwo · 18/12/2018 17:47

I've never used formal childcare, but personally I think the daily charge should be high enough to cover non working days such as bank holidays.

I don't see why a parent who happens to use Mondays (when there are more bank holidays) should have to pay for them over and above a parent who uses Tuesdays.

If a childminder is open for business then they should charge, if not open for business, don't charge. If that means that everyone's daily rate goes up by £1 or £5 or £10 then so be it.

Galdos · 18/12/2018 17:49

(Sigh) It happens. Our childminders decided to shut up shop - permanently - one Xmas, but the contract said they'd be paid for Xmas because X days' notice required on either side (we never imagined it would be them giving notice...). As my partner had been diagnosed with (what turned out to be terminal) cancer a few weeks prior, and I was double booked every day what with work & all the other shit, we weren't right chuffed and several years on the thought still makes my gorge rise. Nice people, but appearances can be very very deceptive. Fortunately we were highish earners, and the practical solution was to pay the f*ers and move on ...

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 18/12/2018 17:51

The stark contrast between this thread and the same one about a nursery. Staggering. I hope none of you ever enquire about my service, that way you talk about childminders.

Incidentally I don’t charge for my holidays, sick days or bank holidays but my parents are very respectful towards me and my fees and I would be really disappointed if they ever called me a ‘cheeky fucker’. I go over and above for all my families and earn very little. I don’t expect to be abused just because I’m a childminder and some of you begrudge paying the agreed fees.

HauntedPencil · 18/12/2018 17:51

It's just one of those things. Otherwise they would charge more throughout the year to earn the exact same amount.

Bunnyfuller · 18/12/2018 17:52

Tell her you’ll bring the DC at usual time then! If she’s not prepared to have them she shouldn’t charge. If you want a career where your holidays are paid, don’t choose self employed!

PersianCatLady · 18/12/2018 17:56

I might have missed it but is your CM / relative registered with OFSTED and does she look after any other children as well as your DC?

Merryoldgoat · 18/12/2018 17:57

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

I had to comment because lots of us don’t feel the same.

My CM doesn’t charge for Christmas or her holidays/sick days but she’s more expensive per hour than others - she’s structured her charge that way and I’d not object if she charged for BH and holidays.

The single biggest factor is she’s kind to my children and they are safe with her. She is very highly valued and is worth every penny I pay her.

HauntedPencil · 18/12/2018 17:58

They set charges accordingly. I'm not sure why there is all this outrage. If they expect an unpaid week then the costs would be increased throughout the year.

Self employed people still deserve a break, we would get a paid holiday and when they set charges they need to account for earnings through the year.

I don't see the big deal.

HauntedPencil · 18/12/2018 18:00

Telling her you are bringing your kids on Christmas Day is pretty pathetic whoever is suggesting that about it.

If you aren't happy with her fees why not have a grown up conversation about it?

brizzledrizzle · 18/12/2018 18:03

It's usual to pay for BH and if your contract says you pay her for them then you have to pay her. Perhaps pay her at the same time as you wish her a Happy Xmas! It's worth not arguing the toss with her, she looks after your child and you want to keep a good relationship with her.

SpannerH · 18/12/2018 18:08

I would send DC for a couple of hours whilst you make dinner and then all day boxing day so you can have an adult Christmas get your value for money

Oscarsdaddy · 18/12/2018 18:08

Pay her/him and tell her/him that you’ll be expecting to drop the kids off as usual

HauntedPencil · 18/12/2018 18:12

Yeah hilarious.

busyhonestchildcarer · 18/12/2018 18:12

This really does depend on your contract.People are right in that some will charge for bank holidays,holidays sickness etc..But your contract should clear this up.The fact that a childminder is self employed doesnt matter as you pay to keep a place so it isnt the same as people such as a plumber or builder .Your childminders contract should be very clear.If you havnt done contracts then that is a different matter.With a contract this is legally binding ,you should have a copy and to not follow the contract may result in a visit to a small claims court

theSnuffster · 18/12/2018 18:13

Childminders are self employed and can set their own terms. If that's what the contract states, assuming you've signed that contract, then that's the way it is and you'll have to pay up.

I work in a nursery that closes on all bank holidays but still charges. It very rare that anyone questions it! Interesting that some people think they can ignore the terms and conditions just because it's one self employed person rather than a 'big' business.

bmbonanza · 18/12/2018 18:13

If she is closed then its unreasonable

Willow2017 · 18/12/2018 18:17

Well it would for any other type of self-employed people. But childminders want to have their cake and eat it. their industry association encourages them to tie parents into these sorts of contracts

Bet your self employed window cleaner, gardener, builder, plumber charges more than £3.50 an hour.

This is to cover sick pay, holiday pay, business expenses.

Maybe cms should stsrt charging more and not charge when they are on holiday?
Its not the individuaj bhs that count its what you pay over a year. Some charge higher rates but no bh. Some lower p/h and charge for hols. Its up to the client to decide what to agree to.

Not having a contract is madness. Is she even registered? If so them i would be asking for one pdq. And going through it with a fine tooth comb and disagreeing with anything that's not acceptable. You can always look at other cms for how they set thier terms of budiness.
If not then she is working illegally relative or not. You cant charge for cm.without being registered. If she is illegal and she is reported both of you will be prosecuted.

You need to decide whats best for you and your child and your budget.
You could claim back some childcare costs from tax credits if you use a registered cm not a relative.

HauntedPencil · 18/12/2018 18:18

If there isn't any form of contract then I expect you wouldn't be working on a trust basis and essentially not have to pay

But you'd be looking for a new childminder on the new year I should think

PrincessScarlett · 18/12/2018 18:27

Not having a contract in place is pretty stupid for both you and CM. Is she a registered CM? Lots of posters have asked and I don't think you have answered OP.

Without a contract you are not obliged to pay her anything (foolish on CM part) but if you don't pay her, without a contract, she could just stop caring for your child whenever she liked with no notice and there's nothing you can do about it.

ChocolateWombat · 18/12/2018 18:32

Why is this creating such a fuss. It's clear there are huge variations in contracts between CMs and parents. As long as a CM sticks to the contract which they issued and the parents signed (and of course the parents chose to sign and weren't forced) then the terms should be stuck to. If as a parent you did t like the terms or had no intention to pay them, why did you sign the terms?

As always it's important to have a contract and to have one which clearly lays out all of these kind of things. Parents and CMs who deal with each other without contracts or without all of these kind of things being clarified in writing and signed by both parties are opening themselves up to trouble and likely misunderstanding and conflict.

lampshadelife · 18/12/2018 18:35

Off topic- but so many childminders are stating that they don't earn much etc?! How?

I'm a childminder and earn over 1 thousand a week. I don't know any childminder in rl who isn't earning well. Is this a regional thing?

TulipsInbloom1 · 18/12/2018 18:36

Is she an actual childminder?

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