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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Extra Childcare cost - Universal credit won't help pay

16 replies

summer2403 · 25/04/2025 14:53

I'm a single 21 year old mum with a 9 month old, I have to work bank holidays (I work in hospitality) and my nursery- that was the only one with enough days open to have my son -add a supplement charge to the invoice when there's a bank holidays.

This is for his childcare, it's not for his food so I can't understand why they won't support me. No where does it say they can't pay for it, I kinda understand the food aspect that they won't pay for but I'm having to pay his childcare with credit cards just so I can even keep him in there.

I have to work not just for us to live but because I'm not interested on sitting on my arse. I can't keep still and I love my job.

I mean I'm gonna fight them on it but are they in the right? I can't just not work bank holidays and family are too busy with there own lives to be able to take him on those days but I still have to pay for it with the nursery because that's his days each week. Idk what to do :/

OP posts:
PeloMom · 25/04/2025 14:58

aren’t places paying their employees 1.5-2x hourly wage on BH? This must be the extra pay the nursery has to pay their employees for showing up on BH. If you need childcare on BH why should you be exempt of the higher fees?

rainbowunicorn · 25/04/2025 15:02

PeloMom · 25/04/2025 14:58

aren’t places paying their employees 1.5-2x hourly wage on BH? This must be the extra pay the nursery has to pay their employees for showing up on BH. If you need childcare on BH why should you be exempt of the higher fees?

I've never worked anywhere that paid more than normal hourly rate for bank holidays.and I've been working for 35+ years. None of my family or friends get extra pay on bank holidays. If I work a bank Holiday it just means an extra days annual leave is added to my allocation to be used at another time.

SUPerSaver721 · 25/04/2025 15:03

How is universal credit not paying? You send an invoice in every month and they pay 85% off it.

PeloMom · 25/04/2025 15:05

@rainbowunicorn when I was a manager of hourly wage employees in the UK, they were paid 1.5x more on BH. Time in leu wasn’t a thing at that company.

Pigsears · 25/04/2025 15:10

My nursery was shut on bank holidays. I'm surprised they are even open... What does the contract with your nursery say for charges?

Pigsears · 25/04/2025 15:12

SUPerSaver721 · 25/04/2025 15:03

How is universal credit not paying? You send an invoice in every month and they pay 85% off it.

And this.... Is it invoiced the same or are you worried that the invoice has a separate line item saying 'additional charge ' that they won't cover (like food?)

CoffeeCup14 · 25/04/2025 17:16

If it could be a problem with the invoice saying 'supplementary charge' or similar, can you ask them to amend the wording so it's clearly for care on a bank holiday?

Original poster
summer2403 · 27/04/2025 17:29

For those that wonder, no I don't get extra pay on bank holidays, sadly. As much as I wish I did, I don't. And I can't just take it off as holiday because then I'll just get paid less which doesn't help my case.

OP posts:
Original poster
summer2403 · 27/04/2025 17:30

Pigsears · 25/04/2025 15:10

My nursery was shut on bank holidays. I'm surprised they are even open... What does the contract with your nursery say for charges?

It just says a surplus charge and then states bank holiday extra charge

OP posts:
Original poster
summer2403 · 27/04/2025 17:31

CoffeeCup14 · 25/04/2025 17:16

If it could be a problem with the invoice saying 'supplementary charge' or similar, can you ask them to amend the wording so it's clearly for care on a bank holiday?

Thank you, I might try this.

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 27/04/2025 17:32

Nursery shouldn’t be saying that bank holiday is a surplus charge on your invoice. Ideally the invoice should just show the hours and dates of childcare paid for.

how much extra do they charge?

Original poster
summer2403 · 27/04/2025 17:36

PeloMom · 25/04/2025 14:58

aren’t places paying their employees 1.5-2x hourly wage on BH? This must be the extra pay the nursery has to pay their employees for showing up on BH. If you need childcare on BH why should you be exempt of the higher fees?

It's not about being exempt from the fee, I'm happy to pay but when the invoice is over £800 for 2 days a week and that's removing food. I would hope universal credit would help, I'm sure I'm not the only one with a nursery open on BH and on UC struggling. Please try your best to be kind in your messages, as this isn't helpful. And for reference, no, I don't get the extra pay each bank holiday. I think yes nursery do deserve extra pay on Bank holidays as working in a nursery is not an easy job.

OP posts:
Original poster
summer2403 · 27/04/2025 17:41

Danikm151 · 27/04/2025 17:32

Nursery shouldn’t be saying that bank holiday is a surplus charge on your invoice. Ideally the invoice should just show the hours and dates of childcare paid for.

how much extra do they charge?

It's £40 for two bank holidays, which has made the bill over £800 for 2 days a week. I know it might not seem like much, but when you considered other important bills it gets hard. If you get what I mean?

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 27/04/2025 17:44

It’s how the nursery are outlining the invoice that’s the issue. They need to be clearer and then UC will pay.

Nonametonight · 27/04/2025 17:49

As pp have said, get an invoice from the nursery which shows clearly what the extra charge is and resubmit it
And challenge UC if they refuse it again - go down both mandatory reconsideration and complaints routes

Danikm151 · 27/04/2025 19:48

Yeah they should put the dates and the daily charge- rather than naming it surplus/extra etc
UC should accept it then.

My son’s nursery didn’t open bank holidays but I still had to pay for them- the invoice stated childcare from x date to y date. £x per day- funded hours= charge for the month.
uc accepted this.
If they expect parents to work they should know that will include bank holidays.

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