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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not to pay childminders travel expenses

310 replies

AdviceNeeded367 · 04/03/2022 16:22

Last summer, Childminder asked for an extra £10 per week to help pay for activities while she has DS.

In December, she demanded a 27% payrise.

Today she has demanded a 45p per mile travel expense.

AIBU to tell her a flat No?

OP posts:
Simonjt · 04/03/2022 17:19

@AdviceNeeded367

I don’t agree that she’s got a shit deal as she’s always set the rate and the terms. The pay increase that she had in December, she explained, was a realistic hourly rate that she needed and wanted. Now that she’s asking for more money again only a couple of months later, I think is too much.
You think the national minimum wage is too much?

How much do you earn an hour, if its over the national minimum wage you’re clearly earning too much using your logic.

GoogleWhacked · 04/03/2022 17:19

@AdviceNeeded367

She collects him on Friday evening and brings him home lunch time on Sunday.
Every weekend?
betwixtlives · 04/03/2022 17:19

Don’t pay it then. No one’s forcing you to. You’re taking the absolute piss and I suspect she’s wised up to you now

RedWingBoots · 04/03/2022 17:19

OP she is asking for the 0.45p per mile because petrol has one up loads in the last week let alone the last month.

Either pay it or find someone else. And good luck with the last option.

Lwren · 04/03/2022 17:20

Are you entitled to direct payments from your LA for your son, op?
Look into it, it may help you :)

lockdownalli · 04/03/2022 17:20

I am really confused. You say you employ her, but you are paying her below legal minimum wage. Assuming she collects him at 6pm Friday and returns him at midday Sunday, that's 42 hours at £8.91 = £374.22. The NMW goes up to £9.50 from 1 April so that would be £399.

Then she has to feed him, take him out places, plus she has the added time and cost of collecting him and dropping him back.

Are you paying her NI and does she have access to a pension? This sounds like bogus employment to me...

Jamnation · 04/03/2022 17:20

I know why you're reacting against 2 price increases. Rather than thinking she is squeezing you, it might be a sign that she is unhappy with the arrangement. If you want to keep it, keep talking with her to make sure it's still working for her. I think she'll be hard to replace.

I just spent £75 filling up my tank. It doesn't seem like that long since it cost me £50. It doesn't seem unreasonable to charge standard travel costs especially when she is only earning around NMW.

Original poster
AdviceNeeded367 · 04/03/2022 17:21

@cultkid

It's too much of a price increase in fuel for her to cover

You need to pay for the fuel or drop him
Off yourself

Is 45p per mile seriously how much more petrol costs now??
OP posts:
alltheapples · 04/03/2022 17:22

@Whatisforthebest but she also provides heat and light in her home, a car and petrol, food and activities for the child. And in return will not be getting paid annual leave, NI or pension contributions.
OP is just seeing a large rise and judging it from that point of view, and not seeing that the wages were too low to start with.
But as it started with babysitting I can see how it happened. Babysitting is usually much more informal with the only real job to keep the child safe. So it does tend to be informally paid.

Sirzy · 04/03/2022 17:23

I got paid mileage for a role 10 years ago and it was 45p a mile then!

Original poster
AdviceNeeded367 · 04/03/2022 17:23

She is only “an employee” as she does not want the faff of being self employed. I use a nanny tax service for wages slips, tax calcs, NICs etc

Which is another expense on top of everything else.

OP posts:
RedWingBoots · 04/03/2022 17:24

@AdviceNeeded367 45p per mile covers not only petrol but wear and tear of the car.

AskingforaBaskin · 04/03/2022 17:24

@AdviceNeeded367

She is only “an employee” as she does not want the faff of being self employed. I use a nanny tax service for wages slips, tax calcs, NICs etc

Which is another expense on top of everything else.

You do know you have two choices right?

So what is plan B if she walks?

Rickrollme · 04/03/2022 17:24

OP you said you “agreed to pay her as an employee.” This is a good example of what you are misunderstanding. This woman is your employee. It’s not a choice, it is based on the duties and terms of the job. You are legally obligated to pay her as your employee and that includes mileage.

You are very caught up in the fact that she asked for a certain rate but that’s irrelevant. Look at the total amount she wants now, including mileage and anything else you are legally obligated to pay, and ask yourself: can you find someone else to do this job to your standards for the price you are willing to pay? It seems to me it would be difficult to find someone who will be as good to your son and take him for the whole weekend for such low pay but if you can then go ahead and tell her no.

Jamnation · 04/03/2022 17:25

45p is standard business rate, has been for years. It covers a contribution towards wear and tear, be wise the journey contributes towards wear and tear.

Sirzy · 04/03/2022 17:25

www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-business-travel-mileage/rules-for-tax

45p a mile is standard rate

Original poster
AdviceNeeded367 · 04/03/2022 17:25

I think it’s a valid point re the evolution of the role. When it first started she had a FT job and so it was just pocket money. Now she does not and only has a low income, I think things are different.

OP posts:
QforCucumber · 04/03/2022 17:26

45p a mile is the allowable expenses claim for employees who travel for work purposes. She is employed and is able to claim mileage at this rate, by law.

lockdownalli · 04/03/2022 17:27

So when you submit her hours to the nanny service, are you reducing them in order to hide the fact you are paying her less than minimum wage? I am still really confused.

betwixtlives · 04/03/2022 17:27

@AdviceNeeded367

She is only “an employee” as she does not want the faff of being self employed. I use a nanny tax service for wages slips, tax calcs, NICs etc

Which is another expense on top of everything else.

oh fgs are you for real? you’re complaining about ‘another expense’ when you’re paying this woman less than minimum wage? You can’t HONESTLY think you’re being reasonable here
SuperSocks · 04/03/2022 17:28

@AdviceNeeded367

She lives about 20 miles away and takes DS to her house. It’s regular but not frequent.

She is employed by me on the basis like as a Nanny.

That's illegal, assuming she has him for more than 2 hours at a time. She needs to register with OFSTED and have her home approved as a suitable setting and start u a childminding business, or come to work for you at your house as a nanny.
CoastalWave · 04/03/2022 17:29

[quote RedWingBoots]@CoastalWave nothing is stopping you becoming an overnight baby sitter. You would get more than £6.50 per hour for NT children but the work is unlikely to be regular.[/quote]
But putting it another way - she's working 4 weekends and getting over £1200 a month. For working 2 days a week.

That's not low.

MyOtherProfile · 04/03/2022 17:29

I get paid 48p a mile for my job as an advisory teacher so her rate seems fair.

Also, she is coming and collecting him and bringing him home again after a weekend of childminding him. I would think it's fair for you to pay her petrol for this. Perhaps you need to look again at the charge for a weekend. Keep it separate from the petrol charge.

RedWingBoots · 04/03/2022 17:29

OP when she walks because she can find another family who can pay her more, what are you going to do?

cultkid · 04/03/2022 17:29

It's not just the petrol it's the insurance the wear and tear and the road tax

I don't think you'll find anyone to do this for less then her

You need to pay the money.