Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are they being Cf's?

40 replies

mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 07:44

I have had my son in Creche since he was 1-5.5 (Ireland so kids go to school later), second son 1-3.5. With school starting in September I am moving them both to the school site. No complaint or issue with the Creche, purely logistics.

I have always had a good relationship with the Creche, I actually paid them in the lockdown even though my sons weren't there. The government bailed them out in the end so they refunded me all but 1 month. They have 45 parents and only 2/45 paid them this month, the other parents were key workers so they actually had the childcare I didn't.

When I cancelled my places I was giving 5 weeks notice, the contract states 8 weeks. The co-owner said not to worry she can make an exception, she has a waiting list etc. I messaged her twice saying I could help her fill the 2 slots she said, "don't worry it is fine". She sent a Creche wide message saying it is 8 weeks notice, a separate note to me saying "not to worry about my boys, it is just they do need the 8 weeks from most people". I said fine, confirmed again that she doesn't need help filling the spots.

Stupidly I didn't amend my monthly direct debit and it went to them. I met the other owner outside and said apologies the direct debit went... could I have a refund for the 2 weeks when she gets the chance. She is now saying I have to give the full 8 weeks. I said that isn't what I agreed with other co-owner and she said she doubted it but she would check. Later that day she sent me an email confirming I was mistaken.

AIBU to be seriously annoyed by this? I have treated them with such respect and kindness.

OP posts:
Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 07:48

DH thinks that I should say to them I am going to keep both kids in until the 30th June then at the last minute change my mind. He is annoyed they are billing the same slots twice. I don't believe in that, I want the kids to have a nice exit and fond memories not ambiguity.

I would rather talk to the other co-owner and say that is not what we agreed and negotiate that way.

OP posts:
Still1nLove · 27/05/2021 07:49

If you have it in writing that they agreed to allow you less than 8 weeks notice, then you should be fine. If it was just a conversation with no written confirmation, then you will have to pay the full 8 weeks.

EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2021 07:50

Unfortunately I think YABU.

The contact was clear about 8 weeks notice, and why on Earth didn't you amend the DD?

They sound quite disorganised which isn't great for you, but ultimately, the details are clear here.

Still1nLove · 27/05/2021 07:51

If they are insisting that you pay the 8 weeks, and you have nothing in writing, then you are entitled to have those spaces. It’s up to you to send the children or not, they cannot fill spaces that you have paid for.

Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 07:52

@Still1nLove

I'm with kbc and you had to call the contact centre to amend the direct debit you can't do it from the app

OP posts:
Overthebow · 27/05/2021 07:53

Yes if you don’t have it writing then you’re going to have to pay. Definitely do what your DH suggests though.

LittleOwl153 · 27/05/2021 07:53

I would definately say you plan to use the space until the end of the notice period and see if that illicit a change of plan - which it will if they've filled the slots as they'll be over number!

Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 07:57

This is what I have in writing

Are they being Cf's?
OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2021 08:00

That doesn't unfortunately say definitively that you don't have to give 8 weeks notice.

It's badly organised but you have been too, I'm afraid. I'm also in Ireland, and would have put any changes in writing (a letter) so that it was all clear.

Hoppinggreen · 27/05/2021 08:01

Unfortunately that message is very vague and proves nothing.

Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 08:04

@EarringsandLipstick

I know you are right in my paid employment I would have done but I know the team there so well. I trusted her on her word. I trusted she had the authority to make that decision.

I said to her if she ends up down money eg if ecce won't allow the replacement I would pay that money. I said if she couldn't find a replacement I wouldn't see her out of pocket. She said that she wouldn't have a problem.

I did give them notice as soon as I got confirmation of the other place (3 year waiting list for the place I got).

OP posts:
JustJoinedRightNow · 27/05/2021 08:05

I agree with you OP that it’s not on, but that written proof doesn’t actually definitely prove anything I’m afraid. I would be having a word with the co owner and saying you had a verbal agreement and you asked twice and was reassured you didn’t need to go through with the full 8 weeks notice.
Keep asking for your refund.

honeygirlz · 27/05/2021 08:07

She sent you a separate note saying it didn’t apply to you, so send that to both owners and ask when refund will come through.

Also ask them to refund the 1 month they should have refunded after govt bailed them out.

If they can’t honour their promises then don’t reward them.

EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2021 08:09

I know @mumtoallbhoys it's a pain. Hopefully if you raise it again they'll be more flexible.

I used an excellent creche for my 3 kids - but the owners were so disorganised. The manager was great but I learned to be extremely clear, and have a paper trail for anything I was doing regarding hours, places and fees.

Hopefully it works out.

Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 08:14

@honeygirlz

This is the note she told me to ignore. For context I was made redundant... that is what she means peoples situations are changing at the moment. I don't have the 2 in one thread (1 is to the whole Creche and the second one is to me only 2 mins later).

If this the only comma I would say it was vague. She spoke to me on the phone for 35 mins (just check the length) was asking about the redundancy and plans for the summer etc. So it was all consistent with this message. I didn't think she would go back on her word.

Are they being Cf's?
OP posts:
honeygirlz · 27/05/2021 08:16

Sorry, I meant the separate note she sent you saying ignore the message as it didn’t apply to you. Do you no longer have that?

Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 08:20

So these are the 2 notes she sent 2 mins apart

The first one she sent to to whole creche begins "similarly"

The second one was just to me saying ignore.

They are not in the same thread and you can only print screen from the app.

Are they being Cf's?
Are they being Cf's?
OP posts:
honeygirlz · 27/05/2021 08:22

I would send a new email, sending these screenshots with a caption under each one noting date and time, and explaining what was agreed.

They can’t deny they sent these.

Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 08:25

Do people think these messages are too vague though?

The co-owner who agreed this with me surely won't have the audacity to look me in the eye and say that I made the whole thing up?

I think the other co-owner is generally a rude person. Not a bad person, but rude.

OP posts:
m0therofdragons · 27/05/2021 08:28

I guess the issue now is, they were letting you off, you made a mistake and now expect them to spend time rectifying that for you. That’s not on and will complicate their books. If you’d paid correctly then they tried to bill the extra then I’d argue it but that’s not the case.

honeygirlz · 27/05/2021 08:30

@mumtoallbhoys

Do people think these messages are too vague though?

The co-owner who agreed this with me surely won't have the audacity to look me in the eye and say that I made the whole thing up?

I think the other co-owner is generally a rude person. Not a bad person, but rude.

It explicitly says ignore the 2 months notice, so not vague.

I wouldn't take them to a small claims court or anything, but you have enough grounds to email with the screenshots and ask when refund will be issued.

You will never them again I assume? No harm in trying.

honeygirlz · 27/05/2021 08:31

*see them again

Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 08:31

@m0therofdragons

I know, that wasn't ideal. To be fair I have complicated their books by willingly paying a whole months childcare without actually getting the child care. Funny they didn't mind that?

OP posts:
Original poster
mumtoallbhoys · 27/05/2021 08:35

@honeygirlz

I would potentially never have to deal with them again but Irish towns are small. To be fair I think the co-owner who agreed something abs went back on her word has a lot more to be embarrassed about then me. If I was her I couldn't face me in Tesco's

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2021 08:35

Do people think these messages are too vague though?

Yes.

I think you should just follow up with them, explaining all you've said here.

If they are any way decent, they'll accommodate you. And mention the other month's payment.

Beyond that, while it's a pain, you can't do any more.

I don't see them as CFs, just a disorganised business.