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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Have I massively f**ked up? - Childcare

28 replies

dustyflipflop · 28/07/2021 08:04

Was due to reconfirm 30 hour eligibility. I've moved onto a different diary since I last did it an somehow lost my note about reconfirming date cue mad dash to the computer.

I confirmed on the 27th when the email said it needed reconfirming ''by the 27th'' . I had a message saying it's being reviewed but I'm terrified it's now going to skip a term and make me eligible for the term after this upcoming one and I will be completely stuck financially and screwed for this term.

Can anyone shed a light on this? Have I royally fucked up?

OP posts:
SwanShaped · 28/07/2021 08:06

I’d say that on and by are the same. So hopefully you’ll be ok!

Rolypolybabies · 28/07/2021 08:09

Don't worry. I have been a week late before and it was fine.

dustyflipflop · 28/07/2021 08:11

@Rolypolybabies really? My friend forgot a couple of years ago and due to the dates it was all due by it didn't apply to the upcoming term but the term after and she was in an awful position with it as her DD attended 4 days a week. The nursery couldn't do anything and neither could the childcare people on the phone. I'm completely terrified I've done the same.

OP posts:
Clarkey86 · 28/07/2021 08:14

It’ll be fine. “By this day” means “By the end of this day”

Does it not email to remind you? You can’t set that up.

Clarkey86 · 28/07/2021 08:14

*can

THATbasicSNOWFLAKE · 28/07/2021 08:15

I did this recently. I had to speak to them on the phone but it was fine

ProfSprout · 28/07/2021 08:25

It will be fine. I’ve definitely done it late before and no issues.

The whole thing drives me insane anyway -why do we need to reconfirm so regularly information they already know through hmrc. It’s totally set up to put people off or con them out of hours because they are ‘late’.

You can get email reminders - well worth setting those up.

JustMarriedBecca · 28/07/2021 08:26

I did it late every time. It was always fine.

Sapnupuas · 28/07/2021 08:29

I've done this before. A quick phone call sorted it. Don't panic.

Pinotwoman82 · 28/07/2021 08:34

I’d say by and on are the same?

Katiebee008 · 28/07/2021 08:37

I've done mine about a month late before, wasn't an issue (although I'm sure it was an inconvenience for the setting so I'm not recommending it!). It'll be fine.

KineticSand · 28/07/2021 08:56

I've done the tax free one late a few times and possibly the 30 hrs late as well at least once. I just do it when I remember and it approves it within 48hrs or so.

Maybe your friend was really really late like weeks? I think I have been a free days or a week or so late but not more.

KineticSand · 28/07/2021 08:57

*few days

HoppingPavlova · 28/07/2021 09:02

‘By the’ always means by the end of that day, not the day before.

Starcar · 28/07/2021 09:05

The ordinary meaning of “by the 27th” is up to and including the 27th. If they were not accepting responses on the 27th then they should have asked for them by 26th or before the 27th. It may have been clearer of them by stating a time - by 5pm on X date. But you have complied with what they specified.

oneofthose · 28/07/2021 09:18

When I reconfirmed mine it said ‘we will consider it’ and then I got a text message about 8 hours later saying all was fine.
That hadn’t happened to me before so it worried me also that I’d done something wrong but it was all ok, it must just be the system at the moment.

You will be ok I’m sure!

CantChatNow · 28/07/2021 09:22

I did this once and I was so stressed for a few days and nursery were literally like “if it’s not sorted there’s nothing we can do”

Then a few days later it was all sorted. So so stressful. It’s a fucking horrendous system clearly designed to catch people out imo.

dustyflipflop · 28/07/2021 09:29

I agree the system is pretty crap, my friend literally did it the day after. It was some sort of cut off time for the terms or something I think (April time?)
I remember she was in tears as she relied on childcare to work and her wages would barely cover the unfunded childcare.

I got a response within 20mins saying they are reviewing and will get back to me within 7 days so I am on eggshells and super tense.

I really hope it's all ok.

OP posts:
Jenala · 28/07/2021 09:31

I've done it really late before. I called and they sorted it.

egglette · 28/07/2021 09:32

Whenever we have "by X date" deadlines at work (lawyer) it means do it that day at the latest. I would have thought you'd be fine Flowers

AtLeastPretendToCare · 28/07/2021 09:33

@Starcar

The ordinary meaning of “by the 27th” is up to and including the 27th. If they were not accepting responses on the 27th then they should have asked for them by 26th or before the 27th. It may have been clearer of them by stating a time - by 5pm on X date. But you have complied with what they specified.
Agree with this
wheresmyhairytoe · 28/07/2021 09:34

It's when it goes over into the next term it's a problem. Your friend will have been supposed to do it in March as April will be new funding term.

MerryMarigold · 28/07/2021 09:44

You are not late according to their instructions

gotalottolose · 28/07/2021 09:48

I’ve missed the deadline before and ended up just reconfirming when I remembered. It was about a week late. A few hours later it was all confirmed on their end and I didn’t have to do anything. I think you’ll be OK. Their customer service seems to be a lot more helpful now than a few years ago.

Marmitemarinaded · 28/07/2021 10:01

Ring them up and blame covid

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