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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Helendee · 28/03/2020 22:28

Well that’s £34 more than we have coming in.
I’m not sure why you seem to have a problem with me, stress maybe?

Helendee · 28/03/2020 22:29

Yes I was staying a fact. What’s rocked your cage about that?

Theresnobslikeshowb · 28/03/2020 22:31

I think that we do have to take a deep breath sometimes and remember that people may come over a little unreasonable at the moment because they are scared, afraid, worried about paying their own bills etc, and wondering if they are going to have a business to come back too at the end of this.

I’m not saying that’s excusable behaviour, just that the panic they are experiencing maybe clouding their judgment. Yes they can wait until June (but with no money in the mean time), and yes they can sign on for UC (once they’ve spent hours trying to get through on the phone and then a 5 week wait until the first payment). But that doesn’t help people who have nothing right now.

Helendee · 28/03/2020 22:34

Stating not staying.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 28/03/2020 22:36

Well that’s £34 more than we have coming in.

Really? So 20% of your fees from all your clients totals £0.40?

I merely requested a retainer of 20 percent to hold a space for three months and all parents agreed without exception.

Not a very successful business to support two adults, is it?

I’m not sure why you seem to have a problem with me, stress maybe?

Yes you are, you know that the problem is you coming on a thread and scaring people into paying whatever their childminder has requested or face losing their childcare place. Which is pretty low.

Yes I was staying a fact. What’s rocked your cage about that?

No, you weren’t stating a fact.

Original poster
Ideasplease123 · 28/03/2020 22:41

It is sad they have nothing right now and I think June is a long wait with no money, it really is soo hard for self employed people, I don't mind paying a retainer and if universal credits are happy to still pay me the money to give to her even though she is 'closed' then all is fine but if universal don't pay then I would pull the children out of the childminder because I am no way paying full fees because someone isn't getting paid from the government in time especially when eventually she will get back dated so I don't think you should get full pay and furlough money, I'd love to throw money at people in tough times but not at the expense of my own wage suffering and for what zero service. We are all out to look after ourselves and alot of people's wages are affected but I do feel by her saying universal credits doesn't allow me to run my business for me to then provide a service on your return or whatever it was I'd need to check again, is manipulating. Would a builder expect you to pay them through all of this and have nothing built at the end of it just because universal credits is low or because they have to wait til June? I see where she's coming from, I get about keeping the space open but this is where the gov money comes into it

OP posts:
Original poster
Ideasplease123 · 28/03/2020 22:42

Hope you're ok JuanSheetIsPlenty and business picks up for you

OP posts:
Haveitheright · 28/03/2020 22:47

She can’t have very high costs to pay while closer other than her insurance? Which is, i think, paid annually so she should already be covered for this period unless her insurance is due soon. if It is due to be paid soon she can ask all clients who wish to retain her services to pay and equal split of that cost to be deducted from the first months childcare bill when she reopens. Any who don’t pay can be considered off her books and not be given a place when she opens.

Whilst she may only have insurance to pay you need to be aware she doesn’t look after other peoples kids out of the goodness of her heart. It’s her actual job, her earnings, it helps pay her mortgage, utility bills, food shopping. Could you manage if your whole monthly income vanished overnight? After all, it’s just home/car insurance you have to pay...right?

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 28/03/2020 22:54

Could you manage if your whole monthly income vanished overnight?

Keep reading the thread.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 28/03/2020 22:55

If it helps mine vanished on the 13th of March.

Helendee · 28/03/2020 23:33

Juan

My parents pay in arrears so won’t be paying until end of April so yes nothing coming in this month until then.
I hope you have a nicer day tomorrow !

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 28/03/2020 23:45

So you earnt nothing in March?

Helendee · 29/03/2020 00:23

One week as we had two weeks holiday and were closed down on Friday. Not enough to pay all bills and food for a month.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 29/03/2020 00:27

So not nothing- a weeks income and you’ll have had (or should have!!) savings to cover your own holiday. So 3 weeks bills should be covered. If you didn’t have savings to cover your own holidays after 30 years in business you shouldn’t call yourself a business woman.

Helendee · 29/03/2020 00:57

Are you always so bullying? My personal finances are none of your business, you really don’t need to know my circumstances unless you’re offering to become my accountant?
What I have or haven’t earned this month is irrelevant as the fact remains we won’t be earning any money for who knows how long.
Luckily we are being paid retainers or we would have to take on new children.
Thank you for your unhealthy interest in my affairs though.

Yes my business has always done really well but owing to circumstances which I have no intention of revealing to you we have had to cut it back a little recently with its ensuing drop in income.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 29/03/2020 02:03

You made certain contradictory claims about your income. So yeah, I asked questions. Not sure why- can’t be sure the answer is the truth either way.

R2519 · 29/03/2020 10:09

I posted a question about paying childminders the other day. New info on the PACEY site states that CM's should NOT be charging customers. Its actually incredibly clear. What they do say is they can ask for a voluntary payment, sort of a placeholder, if parents can afford it. I would suggest 25/30% is probably fair tbh. We have just had out bill from our CM and she has charged full amount for last week even though she was closed and the government has put these measures in place.

Now we have seen this guidance from PACEY We are currently deciding how to broach this subject with our CM and telling her we are not paying full amount but will pay a place holder.

Everyone is losing out at the moment including us so the loss should be shared equally amongst us all. Have CM's paid full fees whilst not working is very unfair.

NailsNeedDoing · 29/03/2020 10:28

What she’s saying is not manipulative if it’s the truth. It’s her being open and honest with you about the situation. I expect she’s telling the truth that she can’t both stay open to key worker children and claim the government money.

Helendee · 29/03/2020 13:09

Juan
Not sure it’s any of your business.
Hope you’re not as nosy in your clients’ homes. 😁

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 29/03/2020 13:17

Actually helendee you Are the one who first inquired about my income,

I assume you are in the fortunate position of having other income to fall back on?

And then in response to my answer- which still didn’t ask anything about your income- you referenced your own income by stating you had none. Which seemed odd to me after hearing you’d been in the business 30 years. It’s these discrepancies that created the interest.

Bouncebacker · 29/03/2020 13:17

What about the Dads? Did the childminder not ask them too?

Zombiemum1946 · 29/03/2020 13:32

Presumably she's classed as self employed and can apply for assistance ? You're in a very difficult position in terms of actually being able to afford to pay. I imagine you're not the only one in this position. Would you be able to discuss that option with her ? I would hope she's not applying for assistance and asking you for payment.

Zombiemum1946 · 29/03/2020 13:41

@Helendee as you're self employed and have filed tax returns, surely you'll be entitled to support as well ?

Zombiemum1946 · 29/03/2020 13:47

As for mortgages, most lenders are offering a 3 month payment holiday.

hoolahoolahoop · 29/03/2020 13:49

If you and others are paying her the full fee and she then claims for the help offered by gov too she'd actually be taking more money home than usual which is unfair to change you and plain wrong. Deceitful.