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?

Have you tried grovelling?

It’s the first bill, given in plenty of time and you didn’t bother to pay it! Why would she bother with you? That’s her first impression of you; too much trouble and too unreliable.

Why didn’t you pay? Why do you think it is acceptable to withhold someone’s salary and then complain that they didn’t remind you?

I'm self employed and people not paying me is the bane of my life.

I personally don't agree with a lot of ways that child minders operate as they seem to think as a group they are special and different from all the other self-employed people out there. They demand payment a month in advance of doing any work, whereas most of us do the work and then invoice, or take a deposit and invoice on completion. They demand clients pay when they are closed or taking a holiday.

However, if you are told that those are the terms and conditions, and agree to them then you have no leg to stand on. She invoiced you and you didn't pay the bill.

Sounds like a completely different business though. In Wales you can only have 3 preschoolers as a childminder - those 3 spaces bring in the vast majority of your income. You have one of those spaces not being paid for when they should and a third of your income is fucked. Most childminders are going to be pretty risk averse when it comes to allowing a brand new client to pay late.

Late payers are horrible to budget for. I mean would you like to chase up your employer to be paid every month? Honestly if I got a what with one thing and another we haven’t got found to it I’d go job hunting too.

I think she should have checked whether you received it, but may do this as a way of getting rid of unreliable payers. I ran a small business & cashflow was the bane of my life. Her mortgage or rent probably went out on the 2nd of the month - late payment is a nightmare when you are using the money to pay bills etc.

I agree.

Why the passive aggressive ‘It’s an opinion forum 😙’
No one is denying you your opinion, just disagreeing with it.

Yabu

'For one reason or another we haven't paid it .....'

Why didn't you pay? How rude are you? It's not the child minder's job to chase you for money.

Stop being a snowflake and get with the real world.

Whilst I am sorry that you now have an issue with childcare, this is entirely your own doing. She sent the invoice, she said when it was due and despite that, 5 days into the month it remained unpaid. Being paid on time - and she even gave you five days grace on that - is important and being self-employed is challenging (as well as often great as, it means that if someone does not pay, you can act unilaterally). As rotten as this must feel, use it as a learning experience and pay bills on time as ultimately, not doing so in the future would directly affect your child.

All the 'power' yet not getting paid for her work? Don't be daft.

This is this woman's livelihood and she has all her own bills to pay. You do understand that, right?

Going back to work after maternity leave after what sounds like a first child is a huge deal for most mothers.
There is no way that your child's childcare just "slips your mind".

It's also telling that OP's first response is not to send back a text grovelling and promising immediate payment, but to complain that she wasn't sent a reminder.

Although, if OP does this, I suspect the childminder might reconsider, and consider it a lesson well taught in making prompt payments.

I am also a small business (just me!) and HAVE to tolerate the wait otherwise I would have no clients.

No sympathy for this OP but I would ordinarily expect someone to send a reminder before terminating the relationship with a client. Childminder must have a waiting list so can afford not to tolerate twattery at the outset. Hurray for her.

Apologise, stating you will pay today and hopefully she changes her mind.

I can understand why she is annoyed 5 days late when you have had the invoice since early December, especially first payment does make you look like you are going to be a problem payer. And if she is in demand i can understand why she doesnt want the hassle.

The "one reason or another" matters here. You don't "forget" to pay for childcare.

Your only option is to apologise and beg, or find alternative childcare.

Compassion and empathy do not pay the bills or put food on the table.
This childminder will have a waiting list. She will have turned down paying clients for the OP to have this spot, and she has not been paid. The first month with them and they haven’t paid.
She needs to guaranteed income, not new client who do not even pay their first bill.
”Understanding” doesn’t put money in the childminder’s bank account when she needs it.

No, not expecting to be paid on time 🙄 Having a little understanding for those occasions when things don't go to plan.

Here's a thought. When you fuck up, wouldn't you appreciate a little help to resolve things?

I guess it depends what your contract says - if it says no reminders are sent, contract will be terminated etc then there's nothing you can do.

But what were you paying for before he's even started? If he's not had settling in sessions yet? Were you having to pay for months before you even used the childcare?

In what world is the CM unreasonable? None of the reasons for your not paying are her business - month one and you don't pay, why would she keep you as a client?

YABU. This is her income and she’s got her own bills to pay! She doesn’t know you and may be concerned that you’ll do this every month. Better to cut you loose now in her opinion.

You’re a grown adult, why should another adult have to remind you? Use an Alexa reminder/phone reminder/write it on your calendar in the future 🙄

It may feel harsh but childminder has a point. You didn't pay. You knew your little one was starting which should have been a reminder enough in itself. I would contact and apologise. For the childminder this isn't a late payment - it's non payment as you've still not paid. Explain and see if she will give you another chance and in the meantime look for alternatives.

It's a tough lesson OP but one you'll be unlikely to make again. Moving forward pay the invoice as soon as you receive it or set a reminder on your phone/calander. Hope you get sorted

Also the poster seems to have zero compassion and empathy for the childminder here. Compassion and empathy only going one way it seems.

Well there you go. A simple text message and this would have been sorted. Bills paid. Food on table. Sorted.

Well done to the childminder for not putting up with it.

My stepsister was a childminder for a while and late payers were common and difficult to deal with.

It's one of the main reasons she gave it up.