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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To forward all bank charges to my bosses when they pay me late?

50 replies

nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:21

Have worked in current nanny job for 15 months

Have been paid on time once (last month) after having a pretty seriouse converstaion about it, and me making it quite clear its not fair and im NOT happy... and that they HAVE to pay me the RIGHT amount, which should = the amount on my pay slip on my pay day.

Well last month i was paid on time . (the previouse 14 months i was apid a total of 146 fays late )

Anyway today its the last day of the month... I have not been paid...

and im seriosuly considering moving every penny out of the account and charging them all assoiated bank charges just cause im really pissed off about it now.

Is this fair?

Also do i tell them i plan to bill them my charges?

Or just have another coloumn in the nanny diary
Expenses / mileage / bank charges.

OP posts:
FlameNFurter · 31/12/2007 11:22

That's not on

Can you not insist a standing order is set up?

madamez · 31/12/2007 11:24

Tell them that if you are paid late again and get hit with bank charges as a result, then you will be claiming your bank charges from them. As it is their fault you got charged. (My son's father has had to do this to his employer who paid him 3 weeks late and the bank charges were something like £200...)

Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:25

well actually yes it did!...

in 'the conversation' and apperantly it was definitley going to be set up....

OP posts:
Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:26

I was paid 27 days late once ... but i just moved saving £ into current account but on principle i refuse to do this anymore!

OP posts:
Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:27

(should i have said yes I did insist standing order was set up)

OP posts:
alarkaspree · 31/12/2007 11:31

That is appalling.

I would not suggest incurring the bank charges on purpose though - I think that is what you are considering? - because I'm not sure how you could make your employers pay them. I think you will have to warn them that from next month you will be charging them your bank charges, or some outrageous interest, or not turning up to work until you are paid, and put something in your contract about penalties for late payment.

glaskham · 31/12/2007 11:34

i'd not work for someone who obviously didn't apreciate my work enough to see i was paid on time!!

but YANBU to make them pay your bank charges, they cant expect you to make a months worth of wages last a month and a half through their incompetence!!

Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:44

alkarspree...

not making charges on purpose as such... just bringing my current account down to £1, which straight after Xmas (when im also owed £200 expenses) doesnt to me seem unreasonable or unusual.

oh there is more than £1 in there at the moment but i can move it instantly to an accoun that pays much betetr interest and why shouldnt i?

OP posts:
GrumpYULEhorsewoman · 31/12/2007 11:44

Are you PAYE or self-employed?

If you are SE, I would say it's an unfortunate consequence that most businesses have to contend with.
If you are PAYE, then it really is not on - they are your sole source of income and you are not free to immediately seek an alternative. DH was once on the receiving end of poor payers (for a whole year) and it wiped out all our savings and caused our (previously excellent) credit rating to suffer. Between mid-October and christmas 2005 he received only 3 weeks wages, and it got worse from then on - it was the hardest year we have ever had and even after he left it took us almost another year to stabilise our finances. Don't allow yourself to get into that position. Be straight with them, and consider looking for another job (and tell them that, and why)

Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:45

also quite a bit of the £ in there is my chritsmas money (gifts) and i dont see why i should use that to pay my mortgage and all other associated living expenses! just cause they cant pay me on time

OP posts:
Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:47

Grumpyulehorsewoman im not self employed... am employed PAYE and they are my employer

(its actually illegal for a nanny to be selfemployed in this country (except for unusual circumstances such as maternitiy nannies who just work in a position for a few weeks at a time))

OP posts:
pollypumpkin · 31/12/2007 11:52

I feel sorry for you - I have been in similar situation with more than one employer. It is awkward but It really is not acceptable - I don't know why people think they can just get away with that sort of thing. You are their NANNY for heaven's sake, looking after their DC. They should prioritise budgeting to pay you before any other bills. Ask them what happened about setting up that standing order. you could say something like, 'if you set up the standing order you will avoid me incurring bank charges again and I'm sure you don't want to have to keep paying me for those, do you!' and make sure you get all bank charges incurred so far paid back to you.(by them).Good luck

Blu · 31/12/2007 11:53

In my organisation we pay any charges employees unavoidably occur if there is a glitch and wages are paid after the date specified in the contract. (It has happened once...lest I mark myself out as a lax employer!!).

Personally I would be wary of going into overdraft, incurring charges etc as it will give you added admin and may possibly blot your reference with your bank.

alarkaspree · 31/12/2007 11:53

I wasn't suggesting that it's unreasonable to incur charges. Just that it's best avoided if you can, unless you are absolutely certain your employers will pay them.

alarkaspree · 31/12/2007 11:54

Sorry, just to clarify, your employers are appalling. Not you.

PeachyHasAFiggyPudInTheOven · 31/12/2007 11:54

Dh ahs been paid late in previous jobs and I was severely underpaid maternity pay once, both times we claimed the bank charges back- they weren't our fault and can build up hugely. We would ahve used present money etc had it been there and then replaced it when we were paid, but it wasn't there, we were charged to employers were told to pay. Simple.

ACAS might be worth a bell- useful helpline on these issues.

Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 11:59

have called ACAS about all this etc before... and i am most definitley perfectly entitield to claim all bank charges back from them

hadnt whough about blotting my bank reference so to speak, perhaps i should

I have a huge authorised over draft though so assume will only be paying interest, rather than 'unpaid direct debit' fees etc which mount up relaly quickly I think i have quite a bit of interest free overdraft so may well not incur any fees?

OP posts:
Original poster
nannyL · 31/12/2007 12:07

well i ahve texted them to tell them i have not been paid

they can always go into their bank and do a CHAPS transaction today (and it will cost them £30)... if not they can pay me my bank charges (which due to huge authorised overdraft wont be that much anyway)

OP posts:
Crunchie · 31/12/2007 12:15

nannyL I would refuse to go to work until you have been paid. AND I would do this each month until they get teh idea ha it is NOT acceptable.

Seriously I would also look for another job if you can, they obviously have little respect for you rigt now

BTW I had a nanny and I was mortified when we paid her late once, and I offerd to pay bank charges straight away. Luckily she explained to her bank and they let her off

motherinferior · 31/12/2007 12:17

I am self employed. I throw an almighty wobbly if I'm not paid within 30 days - which means lots of wobblies, frequently. In your position I utterly agree with Crunchie. (I often do.)

Crunchie · 31/12/2007 12:44

hello MI!!

Weegle · 31/12/2007 14:21

They are in breach of contract not to pay you your wages. It's appalling behaviour. I would present them with a new contract to be signed by both parties (new year etc) saying that they will incur an additional charge of £20 per day for late payment. You owuld not be in breach of contract if you didn't turn up for work until paid as this is a fundamental of the employment relationship.

Are they in other ways good emplyers because if not I would be looking to get out of there sharpish. Point out to them how they would feel if they weren't paid on time.

27 days late... that's disgusting. I'm outraged on your behalf.

jura · 31/12/2007 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rosiejay · 31/12/2007 14:43

I think if you have a contract specifying when you should be paid it's illegal for them to pay you late and if they do then you are allowed to pass on the costs of bank charges etc. Might be worth getting a bit of info from Citizens Advice or somewhere?

dilbertina · 31/12/2007 14:54

just a thought...is it possible they HAVE set up a Standing order to go from them on say the 28th of the month. If there is no w/e or bank holidays this money would be in your a/c 31st of month BUT with W/E and B/H will often be delayed. They should take this into account when setting up the Standing Order. However you can only set up the S/O to say what day you pay the money not when recipient is to get it.

Is your agreement definitely that you GET money by 31st or that they pay it 28th or something?

Must say they do sound crap not to be making absolutely sure there is no problem given the history.