Childminder terminating contract

[hoolahoolay]

Surely I'm not being unreasonable. So my son is due to start with a childminder next week when I go back to work after maternity leave. We have settling in sessions this week

So she sent the invoice for January out early December and she said to let her know if there were any errors, the due date on the invoice was 1st January. For one reason or another we haven't paid it and instead of reminding us she has messaged this morning to say she's terminated contract as invoice is 5 days late.
Surely she could have sent a payment reminder.

WTF can I do now?

Ex childminder here - I would take late/non payment of first invoice as a very negative sign. Ie that you would likely pay late every month. I never sent reminders - usually parents prioritise the care of their children above most things, especially if they have a CM that they like and trust (given they are gold dust) and pay pretty sharpish. They know that you need to be able to meet monthly payments (car, utility, food) in order to actually care for their children safely in your own home.

You can either go back and offer two month’s fees (and ask her to keep the additional month’s as security) or you find another CM and do better next time.

We really don’t need to see the contract!

On the one hand, we’ve got OP who hasn’t paid an invoice on time despite ample opportunity and has dismissed this as “one thing or another”.

On the other hand, we’ve got the childminder who knows her business and her contractual terms and has terminated her relationship with OP. The odds the childminder has got this wrong are slim to none.

For one reason or another we haven't paid it

YABU, you get a bill you pay it. Imagine how much work that would cause the childminder if every single parent needed a reminder email! The responsibility to remember to pay is on you

I used to think this. And then I worked with a lady who at the time would have been in her early 60's and her rule was - no exceptions, ever. Because the ones you make an exception for at the beginning and bend the rules for are trouble all the way through and never worth it.

And you know what? She was right.

Maybe the childminder has learnt the same the hard way?

OP had nearly an entire month to pay her!

@hoolahoolay have you replied to today’s message? The only thing you can do is ask her if she still has space while apologising profusely. She may have decided you’re going to be a problem customer but you won’t know until you talk to her.

I didn't know 'being a new parent' was an excuse either.

I'm self-employed. I take 50 percent of the payment before I even look at the work after the initial quote. Then the rest 8 days after submitting it. This policy has sifted out time-wasters.

Good on the childminder.

You couldn’t even pay the first payment so they probably suspected you’d be the same each month. Is it not stated in the contract?

Yes, you are absolutely being unreasonable and have no doubt already wasted a lot of her time.

Find another provider, treat them with respect this time.

I had a months fees as a down payment if I remember right- it might have been two weeks. This was returned when I ended the contract. I paid after an invoice at the end of each month. Do you not have a down payment to make? Perhaps this explains the upfront bill.

This. Childminding is notoriously low paid. I find the idea that the child minder should just have to accept the OP’s disorganisation and slowness and show her pity instead to be completely wrong. Perhaps the OP never pays on time and has a history of defaults? Why should the childminder take that risk.

A lesson in life. The best the OP can do is grovel, suggest she pays some kind of penalty fee and set up a standing order. She had at least three weeks to pay, and one would assume that it should have been a priority.

You were given the invoice in good time with a clear date when payment was due.

You didn't pay by that time thus not upholding your side of your contract with her.

It was poor form on your part to think that a self employed childminder could just go without her pay for almost a week and be okay with that.

Would you tolerate that from an employer if you had bills and payments due?

All you can do is apologise. You had a month in which to pay and you didn't bother. Find another childminder and pay on time.

Yes, I found there tends to be a correlation between late payers and those that arrived late for collection expecting the extra time to be free…

Honestly this is why we have a childcare shortage and why I have a waiting list. Endless "understanding" being demanded for very little in return.

The invoice normally stipulates a shortish period for payment though. I imagine this was set and the OP broke that contract term.

You haven't prioritised her, so she's not prioritising you.

She'd have had people messaging begging about cancellations.

Early December meant you could pay with your November paycheck, but if not had a whole month to budget.
December paycheck should have gone in and straight out for her.

Lesson learnt OP. No one likes to wait around for payment as much as you wouldn't either.

Ain't that the truth ... also between those who "needed reminding" the very first time and then just assume they'll be reminded every time so don't need to think about it

Most of us who've run businesses have come across this and most of us would have done the same - and with good reason

Good for your childminder! I can't think of any reason or excuse that would justify you not paying the invoice by the due date in the month that you've had it. The childminder has even given you five days grace if she didn't cancel the contract until today. Don't you realise that self employed people in jobs like this need to be paid on time to be able to meet their outgoings and don't have the luxury of Mumsnet six figure salaries to tide them over? I'm self employed and wouldn't have any hesitation in terminating the contract with any of my clients who didn't pay me on time and caused me a cash flow problem.

Quite. It doesn't matter in the slightest whether other people sack/have been sacked in this situation, nor who else sends reminders.

I don't understand why you think the contract would demand the place be retained with no payment? Why would a childminders own contract require them to work for free?

Obviously payment terms would be in the contract. Why do you think that the CM was going to work for free?

The OP hasn't come back to confirm what the contract says so it's all pointless speculation until then.

but its not her reponsibility to chase customers for payment....maybe send a reminder to a longstanding customer with a good payment history but its not a great start is it?