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?

I'm sorry OP. Mistakes happen and that was a harsh policy. Wishing you the best of luck finding a new nursery/placement.

Well you should have paid her on time!

You've no one to blame but yourself.

Was it not in the contract that this would happen if invoices weren't paid on time? It was in mine for our childminder, a whole section on what happens in the event of non payment.

Mistakes happen and that was a harsh policy.

It isn't a harsh policy, not at all.

Also just shows how in demand so good she is. She filled your space within hours of you failing to meet your end of the contract.

If you need child care in order to work, I'd have thought it would take priority over pretty much anything, including Christmas.

It was a £10 fee I think and end of contract by day five of late. Today was day five.

Opinion. Not fact.

Well, for one reason or another she decided she’s better off.

You were warned, in the contract
A problem made by you. Completely your fault, you fucked around and found out 🤷‍♀️

You read and agreed to the contract though and it's very clearly outlined.

Hopefully when you find alternative childcare you don't underestimate the need to prioritise paying for it.

@Oxforddictionary12 well yes, that is my opinion - where did I claim otherwise? 🙄

My OPINION is that the policy is fucking spot on and fair enough as it gets rids of the piss takers early doors. The CM is clearly in very high demand to have filled that spot already by someone who has actually made it a PRIORITY to pay her - good for her!

At least you know where you are now but I think she has acted harshly.
She easily could have sent a reminder, particularly with a new parent and a payment over the Christmas period. Everything gets a little crazy over that time - particularly with what day it is.
Wonder if she's done this for some convenience of her own. (ie you only wanted PT and someone else is wanting FT)
FWIW, I have an appointment this week that I need to pay a deposit for (& return paperwork). I had the original email and then a firm but polite reminder to pay the deposit. I have done so and apologised for the delay.
Really hope you get something sorted in time.

So you prioritised buying plastic tat for your child over their care. Well done childminder, this is totally on you. Try to treat the next one, if you find one and the word hasn't spread, with more respect.

yep!

Ah, so you're a stupid TTM. That makes it much better.

“……..but also said she should have reminded me……”

Really? Do you not think childminders already have extremely long days. Add to that extra admin chasing up potential clients who can’t demonstrate their commitment.

She probably has a wait list with parents prepared to pay the moment they register to secure great childcare seeing as it’s difficult to secure.

If you were that desperate you should have apologised. Sincerely. And advised it would not happen again and you appreciate the importance of paying on time without being chased.

As opposed to telling her that she should have reminded you.

You realise the vast majority of the posts on Mumsnet are opinions rather than facts, yes? It's not Encarta (showing my age there...).

Your priorities were all wrong.

Just as an aside, do you remind your work to pay you or do you just expect to be paid as that’s what’s in your contract?

Not RTFT, just OP posts but to put a point view from CM - DC's CM once said to me she had a couple of people with ongoing unpaid bills and when she confronted them, they said something along the line of she had enough money and didn't need it urgently but they did?!!! Funny how they never took the same attitude with getting food from the supermarkets. She was the most wonderful and caring woman, genuinely enjoyed looking after children but ofc deserved to be paid according to the contract signed.

I can see from the audacity of some parents why CM would have policies like this and nurseries have such high charges for late pick ups - there is always someone who takes the piss. She had no way of knowing you wouldn't and is clearly in high demand so took someone who will pay immediately

This is also an opinion, incidentally. Not a fact.

It's completely bonkers that the OP had a go at the CM about it!!!!

And now is moaning about having no childcare.

The entitlement and lack of self awareness is astounding.

By the sound of it, the OP's employer won't be paying her soon.....

Things happen OP and you obviously haven’t employed a childminder before so it might not have occurred to you that she may well have been relying on the money being in her account by the first to pay her bills. She can’t afford to give you a second chance and it’s awkward and unpleasant chasing people for money so why the hell should she?

I don’t know what childcare is like in your area but in ours childminders are in hot demand. You might be best to phone round local nurseries