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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'retainer' for services during lockdown

86 replies

ughseniorschool · 30/04/2020 14:04

Looking for reasonable thoughts ... we regularly use a pet daycare service to help during the week while husband and I both work full time and have 2 busy children. The service is great - I love knowing dog is having a good day while we cant be with him. The people that work for the service are super friendly and dog seems to really like them. We pay a set amount each month - we agreed to send dog x days per week and we pay even when dog cant go because of sickness, holiday, etc. (I appreciate anyone that will say this is an indulgence - and it is. we are not wealthy but having a happy dog is very important to us so we manage the expense each month.) last month the service sent an email stating they would no longer be providing the service until further notice --- but they would be charging a 25% retainer fee to cover their costs. I am really conflicted about the fee being charged. I understand they have costs to cover - but am also not feeling great about paying indefinitely for a service that we might not use for months and we have our own expenses to manage. I love the service and want them to succeed of course ... just hard to swallow an invoice for essentially nothing.

OP posts:
HeffalumpsCantDance · 30/04/2020 14:08

How else will they survive to be there for you when lockdown ends?
It’s going to be a few months, not indefinitely. Or you can face the challenge of finding another business to look after your dog when lockdown ends, but as many will have gone out of business, the competition for places might be tough.

ChrissieKeller61 · 30/04/2020 14:09

It’s not for nothing you are paying to retain their services. The number of puppies being sold on pets4homes at outrageous prices, £2000 for a Labrador tells me these people will be busy when their new owners have to go back to work

HollyBollyBooBoo · 30/04/2020 14:10

It's a dilemma isn't it.

Personally I'm still earning so I'm still paying my dog walker but essentially for no service. She's lovely and goes out of her way for us and a single parent, I'm hoping if I was in the same situation someone would do that for me.

MatildaTheCat · 30/04/2020 14:13

My dogminder has fallen between the cracks in the government schemes and will be getting precisely nothing from them. I had already said I would be paying her a retainer of 50% of my average monthly spend and I suggested the same to her other clients in a group email. Almost everyone agreed.

I actually feel bad that it’s not more than this but she’s like one of our family in that she makes our lives work.

Pay up if you can.

NaomiFromMilkShake · 30/04/2020 14:31

I am paying my cleaner minus 20%, she is delighted and I know that when all this is over, we will still have a cleaner. Worth it, imo, ditto your doggy day care.

NaomiFromMilkShake · 30/04/2020 14:32

Sorry of clarity I have been furloughed so therefore I am minus 20%

Elouera · 30/04/2020 14:38

Wouldn't the dog walker/daycare staff be getting furlough pay? Depending on the companies circumstances, they might be able to claim the self employment fee also. I'd like a break down of what costs the 25% is paying for? Maybe its to top up the furloughed staff so they are getting 100%, but IF this is the case, I'd want to know exactly where the cash is going?

steppemum · 30/04/2020 14:57

There has just been a court ruling on this, literally reported on news this morning.

If you don't use the service because it is shut, you are entitled to a full refund.

It is illegal for anyone to charge for a service that they don't actually provide, this is going to apply to nurseries, childminders, holiday cottages etc etc.

So, no, she can't charge.

BUT my mum is paying her cleaner 50% in order to help her tide over to the end. If your dogwalker has a properly set up business that has been going for long enough, she can get help. But if she has only been going for a few months, she will not be eligible and she will be really struggling.

ChrissieKeller61 · 30/04/2020 15:11

It’s illegal for them to send you a bill, it’s not illegal for you to not be a cunt and pay

Haggisfish · 30/04/2020 15:14

I’m still getting paid so anyone who relies on me is getting paid full amount. Child minder, riding stable, window cleaner, cleaner.

Biker47 · 30/04/2020 15:48

Only way I'd pay someone to do nothing would be if it counts towards when they are back to working, i.e. pay 50% now, but only pay 50% for the same period of time when working.

I wouldn't be strong-armed into paying a retainer fee, especially if it was worded as a demand and not a request.

Lochnessgiraffe · 30/04/2020 15:49

I'm paying my cleaner 50% I hope she comes back after lockdown

MumW · 30/04/2020 16:22

I think the big question is whether or not they have been able to furlough. If they've furloughed, then I'd be pretty miffed that they are supplementing their benefit in this way.
If they don't qualify for the furlough scheme then I don't think it is unreasonable although I think I'd want to negotiate the amount.

MoaningMinniee · 30/04/2020 16:30

I'm a dog walker. I hope I will receive a taxable grant in mid June which will be 80% of the average of the past three year's profits. Unfortunately two of those three years were very weak financially as I was having both my knees rebuilt. So I am very grateful to the clients who have continued to use my service, now that we have finally received guidance about what we can do and how we can do it as safely as possible, and also to the clients who prefer not to take any risks at all but are still paying either partially or in full. I didn't ask anyone to do this btw, it's just that several of them offered, or even just sent money even though I'd not invoiced them - including at least one person who I'm pretty certain has taken a financial hit herself!

Carolduckingbaskin · 30/04/2020 16:35

@steppemum can you link please? Haven’t seen this

steppemum · 30/04/2020 16:51

sorry, can't link, it was on radio 4. Whether news, or one of the many, many commentary programmes giving advice on current situation.

They said that the case had been brought by a group who were frustrated at not getting refunds for services that they coudl not access. Mainly holiday/flights etc.

the ruling was that they had to refund. They can offer credit, but you don;t have to accept. If you don't receive the service, you don't have to pay.

I suppose though that the only other comment is that if your dog walking has loads of requests from new clients when lockdown is over, there is no guarantee that they will offer you your palce back.

vanillandhoney · 30/04/2020 16:54

I'm a dog walker and haven't been offered any payment while I've been closed. Most of my clients have been furloughed or made redundant so I absolutely don't expect anything from them.

The law is they can't charge for services not rendered, but you can of course offer to pay if you wish.

Tessaraqt · 30/04/2020 16:58

I'm still paying for all services - my kids sports/dance classes, childminder, cleaner, even the lady that does my nails every three weeks I'm transferring my usual £25. I'm still getting paid, and I value these services. It doesn't make sense to me that I should be £££ better off now from this, so I pay them regardless.

MarieG10 · 30/04/2020 17:00

I am staggered that people think you should pay a retainer for a service that they are not providing...incredible.

Why can't they provide it anyway...won't breach any social distancing guidance at all. If they provided and you declined well that is a different situation.

Sorry but I would suggest you tell them no. I bet they don't decline your business after.

Friend pays for a very expensive gym with virtually personal training...£250 a month. They have closed apart from offering some online exercise sessions and had the fucking cheek to advise that full fees remain payable.

I get that people businesses face ruin but I presume they stopped providing the business so they could go furloughed but that is taking the utter mick

steppemum · 30/04/2020 17:03

Can I just say that it is actually relaly lovely to see all the people saying that they continue to pay people because they are being paid?

Every morning I meet a lady when I walk my dog. She started a small business about 6 months ago, so it hasn't been going long enough for her to be able to access the financial suport for small businesses. She is shut and siad realistically she thinks it will take 6-12 months after lockdown to re build. She seriously expects to lose her house.

Very sad. If you can pay, it is so lovely, just wonderful moment of human nature that people do pay, to people in her position.

Glitteryone · 30/04/2020 17:04

I’m still paying £500 a month for my kids hobbies. The classes will be made up when they reopen apparently.

Sciurus83 · 30/04/2020 17:09

Still paying 50%nursery fees despite having toddler home and both of us still working full time

puffinandkoala · 30/04/2020 17:10

It’s illegal for them to send you a bill, it’s not illegal for you to not be a cunt and pay

Can you NOT use that horribly offensive and misogynistic word!

No you're not horrible for not paying. Why should people pay for a service they didn't receive.

There wasn't a court ruling on this this morning, but the Competition and Markets Authority have issued guidance. See here: www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies

Also interesting point about "double charging" eg nurseries demanding full fees and then claiming furlough pay and the free hours.

The simple principle is you don't pay for a service you don't receive. If you feel that you are in a better financial place than a service provider and want to subsidise them that is fine. But you are not horrible (and definitely not that nasty expression) for not doing so.

puffinandkoala · 30/04/2020 17:10

As for dog walkers, why can't they continue to work? Genuine question.

Marellaspirit · 30/04/2020 17:11

I'm a Childminder, currently not working due to coronavirus. As I can't provide a service, technically, I can't charge my families for the duration. I do see where companies who charge a retainer are coming from and I did think about doing this myself, but I felt that my families would be more likely to come back to me if I gave them that leeway now. If I'd asked for payment, some would have given notice. A handful of families have offered to pay which is really appreciated but not expected.