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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Childminder Cheeky or??

88 replies

Ideasplease123 · 27/03/2020 14:26

So childminder has informed all the mums who use her several weeks ago that she would expect full pay should the schools close to keep our chikdrens spaces open, obviously the schools have closed which means she has to also 'close' apart from looking after keyworkers children.

I am trying to speak to universal credits who pay 85% towards the childcare bill but I imagine they won't pay me for childcare to give to the childminder as she isn't allowed to look after children at the moment so why would they pay for no service being given?!

I've been waiting for the childminder to message us to actually say ''no problem, as I cannot look after your children I am entitled to sick pay or as since been updated 80%'' but no she messaged today to say that as she can't get any payments until June from the government and universal credits would not pay her enough to continue her business for when we would eventually want her again??

AIBU that while it is rubbish for her it's not actually my fault and if universal credits don't pay me to pass the payment onto her seeing as she is not supposed to be working then I would have to pay her out of my own 80% wage to keep a space open that can't even be taken as she cannot look after children anyway.

Thoughts?

OP posts:

Original poster

Ideasplease123 · 27/03/2020 14:27

**sorry edit that was supposed to say she is still expecting full payment from us as the government are not paying her yet

OP posts:

chocolatepudandchocolatesauce · 27/03/2020 14:36

Don't pay her. There will be plenty of childminders or nurseries with spaces after all of this.

Merryoldgoat · 27/03/2020 15:05

I’m paying mine gladly. I think YABU.

cyantist · 27/03/2020 15:11

I am paying mine 50% (though I'm hoping that will drop now because of them being able to get some help) but she asked really nicely, said she understood completely if we couldn't because our income was affected etc.

No way could/would we pay full fees.

What happens if you pay full fees and in 3 months she decides she's just going to shut down? Also what does your contract say about payment if she is unable to take your child

DamnYouAutoCarrot · 27/03/2020 15:35

@merryoldgoat it's a bit mean to say you're paying it gladly to the op. I presume you're in the position to do so, she obviously is not. Your 'I'm alright Jack' attitude isn't helpful.

Why are nurseries charging so much when there is government assistance out there? Surely their only costs at this point is Furloughed staff payments of 20%?

Merryoldgoat · 27/03/2020 17:13

@DamnYouAutoCarrot

You’re right - I genuinely didn’t mean it like that. I meant more that I didn’t think the CM was a CF.

Apologies OP - I didn’t mean to sound like a twat. I just understand why she’s asking and she’s probably in dire straits herself.

Wattagoose90 · 27/03/2020 17:41

I'm a key worker and so is DH.

My childminder decided on Tuesday to close to all, including key workers children. Still expects full payment. I've found another childminder, can't afford to pay 2 sets of childcare when she's made the decision to close.

It's the way it's all been communicated that's got to me, really.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 27/03/2020 17:57

Neither of you in wrong. If you are in a position to pay as normal, ie, if you were receiving your normal income, then morally I think it’s good to support one another in these crazy, unprecedented times. But if you can’t pay you can’t pay- explain - legally she can’t make you pay.

MintyMabel · 27/03/2020 17:58

I’m paying mine gladly. I think YABU

If universal credit pay 85% of her fees and won’t pay her if the minder isn’t giving a service, how do you expect OP to pay?

Not everyone is in your situation.

Irial · 27/03/2020 18:00

My childminder decided on Tuesday to close to all, including key workers children. Still expects full payment.

If you are a key worker, then you should be able to send your child. Shes the one closing, so you shouldn't pay

Irial · 27/03/2020 18:01

I’m paying mine gladly. I think YABU.

If she cant work due to the current situation, then she can claim as self employed

DamnYouAutoCarrot · 27/03/2020 18:35

@merryoldgoat well done you for taking it on the chin. The written word doesn't come across well sometimes :)

Dreaming69 · 27/03/2020 18:35

My sister is a CM. She's charging 30% of fees. She has a couple of funded children and will receive payment from the council for those. Once the government pay the '80%' just remember it doesnt mean the CM gets 80% of fees but of net profit which is not a huge amount. My sister will get about a third of normal income through this scheme. She has spoken to me in detail about what to charge her parents and felt that even charging 50% would have been a bit much so definitely 100% is unnecessary in her opinion. But I've asked her about UC and tax credits and she thinks they will still pay the childcare element of it. For those parents who don't pay anything when she knows both parents are on full pay, she isn't guaranteeing a space when this is all over...

Glenthebattleostrich · 27/03/2020 18:43

Tax credits are paying for 2 months. One of my clients claims and is paying me the 85%.

Musereader · 27/03/2020 18:49

Uc will still pay, if you pay and provide the receipt. The system is too stupid to know that it shouldn't pay childcare, and if you speak to your case manager they are the ones that accept the receipts. Case managers can refer for excessive usage to a DM and have been told to for anyone who reports new ccc right now, but they won't refer if an explanation is given.

MintyMabel · 27/03/2020 22:46

My sister is a CM.

My sister runs a business too. Her clients aren’t paying her for services she isn’t providing.

motheroreily · 28/03/2020 08:32

I was charged in full to the end of March. But my childminder hasn't said what she plans to charge from April. I'm assuming full fees. I need to ask her.

I read on the pacey website that the government doesn't expect providers to still charge parents while their closed. But to be reasonable. But I'm not sure what that means or how the latest announcement for the self employed fits in. Can they claim that and charge some form of fees too?

Whatafustercluck · 28/03/2020 08:42

Paying ours a 50% retainer, which is what we would pay for holiday periods (our holidays, for hers we pay nothing). I think that's fair. We have a fantastic relationship with her of 9 years standing and it's a small price to pay to continue that.

Original poster

Ideasplease123 · 28/03/2020 20:19

I agree we could have met in the middle but to 'keep a space open' that can't be taken as she can't look after any children and for her to say universal credits doesn't pay enough and on top of that she will be claiming from the goverenment I don't think it's right to still be paid in full by us and then get the 80% money from the government which is actually meant for employees that can no longer do their job, its greedy and I actually don't think its allowed to be paid for a job and get 80% this is the whole point of furlough

OP posts:

Marieo · 28/03/2020 20:21

Offer to pay 20% if you can afford it? If she refuses then oh well, she is in the same boat as a lot of self employed people. There are things to help, like council tax payments being moved to the end of the year, the mortgage holidays etc.

cansu · 28/03/2020 20:24

I think a lot depends on your circumstances. I am still being paid so I pay her. If my income was affected I wouldn't. If she can claim, then she should. You really need to consider
a what you can afford
b what can she claim

cansu · 28/03/2020 20:26

if she claims the 80% then no you shouldn't pay. Could you bridge the gap until she receives this?

CaryStoppins · 28/03/2020 20:28

Universal credit & tax credits will still pay.

dragonmummy17 · 28/03/2020 20:35

In your situation I wouldn't pay.
Our childminder asked for 50% for this month. We paid in full as we are both key workers on full pay although I'm pregnant so staying at home with DS...

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 28/03/2020 20:44

I don’t see why she shouldn’t be in the same boat as the rest of us self employed people who have had to close? why can’t she claim universal credit like the rest of us are having to? My clients aren’t paying me while I’m shut. I hope to be able to pick them all back up again when it’s over but if I can’t then I just have to suck it up. Why does she think she won’t be able to open again after it’s safe? And why does she think that’s your responsibility go pay for?

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