...fed up at having to pay childminder full

[Tinkerbellone]

My child minder stopped working two weeks ago because of worries about corona virus.
She or her partner have no health conditions.
I am a key worker.
She always charges half rate over school holidays even though she doesn't have my children.
She is still charging me Full Rate even though she not working or having my children at all.
I know she has a business to run, but this doesn't seem fair to me; I could understand half pay.
As a single parent I'm struggling to get my children to and from school now. I'm relying on friends and/or my children walking on their own after I've left for work in the morning they are 11 & 8.
Has anyone else experienced this?

She will be self employed. She's clearly been in business for long enough to be eligible for self employed help. This is 80% of her average income calculated by taking an average over the past 3 years of tax returns.

So providing shes been declaring her income fully she will be given 80% of what she usually makes.

Please OP do not feel pressured into paying for a service that you are not receiving, especially as she has chosen to close when she could remain open for key workers children.

they should find a new line of work

Are you saying nobody should be a childcare professional because the pay is so low? How exactly would that work?

@WombOfOnesOwn

Most make just enough to live on but by no means raking it in and are not in the situation of the one person you’ve described. So descending.

This thread has made me sick.

@RedRedScab

Most childminders won’t agree with OP charging 100% but truly shocking to see people’s attitudes to childminders.

She has probably realised if she has filed as self employed she can claim decent money without the risk factor, so it’s downright cheek expecting parents to pay up and she is relying on you all not wanting to disturb your DC. Personally I wouldn’t pay, your oldest is ‘borderline childminder needed’ age anyway, and your other child— after school club/breakfast club possible?? Would maybe be cheaper to actually just sort out care in holiday periods.

Sorrelli, I had an amazing childminder, loved her to bits , she had my son 1 on 1 when he was little mixed in with a teachers 2 children aged 6 and 8 before and after school and I paid very happily, however although I realise it’s s business I am not keen on it when it starts to get either like puppy farming/how many can I cram in- OR if it’s so all about terms and conditions it’s like renting an office- and yes I have known parents who have been stuck with those kind of set ups. Mine felt more like a nanny share to be honest , she was in her early 40s and Spanish with teenagers and treated my son like her own

@sorelli

It's really horrible.

A lot of us have still been working remotely to make sure the kids we would normally be looking after have some fun things to do (I'm currently making them an Easter egg hunt game), and to ensure they still have a kind of continuity.

I've had some great chats with the kids on Facetime, so I can see their 'home schooling' projects and things they've been making.

However other people feel about my choice of job, I know it's worthwhile.

@tarasmalatarocks

Most parents are absolutely excellent and so fair, it needs to work both ways. Glad to hear you appreciated yours, especially seeing the general consensus on this thread.

The terms and conditions always need to be properly discussed and are usually to protect both parties so there’s no surprises for either.

Most CM’s are professional and do their best to be flexible and genuinely care for their children.

Why does everyone assume she can claim the 80%? She could- but then submits her taxes and will get found out. This is for people who have no income. The government are probably relying on people lying but being too stupid and getting caught out- then making their money back in tax fines.

@RedRedScab

As long as the children know we do our best by them then it is worthwhile! We do make a huge difference to them whether it’s appreciated or not, you’re completely right.

@sorelli

ignorant.

Indeed, yes you are! You know NOTHING about me or my personal circumstances or my health.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Who THE FUCK do you think you are!!???
A judgemental keyboard warrior who has JUMPED on my post about my feelings on the matter while knowing NOTHING about me or my personal circumstances. I was not attacking the Cm directly, or all CMs. The facts as the op stated were that she was being charged extras over and about childcare which TAX RULES ARE DEDUCTABLE so don't you dare attack me.

And yes, don’t assume you’re the only hardworking childminder who’s knackered, please you are ridiculous. How would you feel if I come on here and accuse you of fiddling books?

Wow. You're a real delight aren't you, you sound so sanctimonious. I didn't say I was the only knackered person at Christmas did I?!! YOU assumed I felt like this?

Being tired over Christmas was not directly linked to me being childminder but I'm not surprised you used my grumble to ASSUME that was the case. I have every right to add my feelings on MY business into this PUBLIC FORUM just as much as you remember. And I wouldn't give two shits if you thought I was fiddling my books as I'm completely above board and work with honesty and integrity!!

I do actually think that HMRC will target childminders more after the income support packages have gone out in June so any that are fiddling their books had perhaps better stop.

Anyone who is charging parents extras for food,
Outings and holiday closures shouldn't then be adding them as expenses into their tax return. It's called tax fraud.

I think it’s really important that people realise that folks cannot claim this 80% if self employed, what you will get is 80% on your income based on taxable profits up to £2500 monthly. Anyone self employed can deduct lots of expenses if they work from home, and actually end up on paper with very little taxable profit, and to be honest most people with a brain deduct as much as they legally can get away with . The government aren’t daft, they realise this and that whilst it looks generous it really isn’t going to cost as much as many think. It’s the self employed to a large extent who will be stuffed if they can’t work. The people on here who childminder from what you have said go above and beyond!! (You sounds amazing all of you) but it’s important to know not all childminders are like yourselves, and some do indeed make good profit and may well have quite high tax returns, so probably don’t want to take the risk if they are going to get a decent lump sum, so in those cases asking for full payment is a real cheek when not providing a service at all.

Going by my last 3 tax returns, having worked a 3 day week, based on my profits, the Government will be paying me £30 a week to live on. Certainly not enough for food, rent, bills etc

Well if you've overstated your costs to minimise tax bills then it's coming back to bite you isn't it.

@tarasmalatarocks - you have just described tax evasion. No most self employed people don’t put down as many expenses as they can get away with. They can LEGALLY only deduct what they incur or a reasonable estimate when it comes to household expenses if they work from home. Those that choose to push the definition of reasonable, they have to accept what the government is giving frankly.

This is for people who have no income.

From what I have read, if you're self-employed the 80% grant can be claimed if your income has dropped due to coronavirus, not just if your income has stopped altogether.

Might be wrong though as I haven't been sent any details yet by HMRC and I have no idea when we can apply.

@LucieLucie

Oh dear calm down

You are an absolute disgrace and I wouldn’t trust children with you if you can’t rationally discuss something.

1. You accused someone you didn’t know of fiddling their taxes, furthering the bad judgement of childminders on this thread which is ignorant because you do not know her and you are a childminder.

1. You complained of your parents dropping their children off to you when they had paid for those days because you’d rather have a break.

You need to calm down seriously!

@snappycamper I think that’s a bit unfair, as that’s not always the case!
I’m not a childminder but I’m self employed and due to the nature of my work I can’t see clients. Due to my setup costs for my business (loss in the first year after offsetting costs) gain in second year but only just after offsetting costs of first year, I’ll have barely anything if I applied for a grant.

That’s just the way it goes and I’m lucky that my husband can support us both but not all self employed people are fiddling

Quite a few of you on here don't seem to realise that affected self employed people do not have to stop working/earning to be able claim the government grant. It is simply too much of a grey area. For example, Sally might lose some of her work but not all, and may have some work one month, but not another so when claiming needs to think of the worst-case scenario. Sally still needs to keep her business afloat after all this blows over. Therefore, the government cannot deny all eligible claimants the same treatment regardless of circumstancesas, as it would be far too difficult to sort out. That means that she the CM is more than within her rights to continue her business as usual and claim the 3 month lump sum of 80% of net profit average over 3 tax years.

Not to say that charging 100% for an unrendered service is a fair thing to do - I would be questioning it too!

Screenshot from Martin Lewis for reference.

@LucieLucie

Your point about me not knowing you is hypocritical. I don’t know you I’ve just taken issue with what you’ve said.

Meanwhile you’ve accused someone you don’t know of fiddling their taxes. Honestly are you for real

*circumstances, clumsy thumbs!

She's playing you like a fiddle.
She knows you well enough to know you'll take it.
Either keep paying her for f all, or stop paying her your choice.

@LucieLucie

Take your angry, swearing backside elsewhere and don’t @ me again. You can’t argue with stupid.

I don't really understand the childminders saying their expenses are high so it doesn't represent their true profits?
Indeed, it makes no sense. In the end, you'll get 80% of what you had before. If that is little, it's nothing to do with the client.

Of course the reality is that much more can be declared in expenses that was is really attributed to looking after the children. Rental deduction, gas and electricity, petrol, food etc... that's comes to much more allowable expenses than the reality of what is truly spent just on the children. Annual fees etc... don't come to much at all.

I 4hink like many other self employed, maximising expenses to the limits of what is legal us coming to bit back. Charging full costs on the premises of keeping a place to parents who are desperate to ensure they don't end up without childcare is close to blackmail. I wouldn't rise to it and take my chances.

After all, there will be people who will have lost their job and looking at new options and where there's demand...

@sorrelli

You should feel very glad I don't know you. You're like a dog with a bone here. I've obviously hit a raw nerve with you somewhat.

'Probably' is not the same as saying someone is 'definitely' fiddling the books.

I'm sorry I have to explain that to you.

I do not know the childminder being complained about within this thread.

I do know that charging FULL FEES while closed despite being eligible to claim back 80% of her expenses is completely unprofessional and immoral.

I'm going to leave you now to think over why you've reacted so badly to the mere suggestion that one Cm may not be entirely honest with her tax returns then tell you TO GET A GRIP!!!!

Excuse typo 80% of her profits - not expenses