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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

at having to pay for nursery fees when they were closed for 2 days last week - I work on a contract basis so dont get paid :(

44 replies

webchick · 09/02/2009 17:55

I work from home on a contract basis so was peeved at having to pay for 2 days worth of nursery fees whilst the centre was closed......days in lieue (sp?) weren't offered, just a request to pay.

Legally where do I stand if I don't pay - I walked there with my DS both days to find them shut?

OP posts:

BonsoirAnna · 09/02/2009 17:56

Sounds outrageous - what does it say in the contract?

dilemma456 · 09/02/2009 17:57

Message withdrawn

compo · 09/02/2009 17:58

do you mean because it was snowing?
yes yabu
what if you worked there, couldn't get into work because of the snow and then were told you wouldn't be getting paid otot when it wasn't your fault?

Original poster

webchick · 09/02/2009 17:59

I'll need to ask them for a copy of the contract. Am wondering if there is a law of some sort which stops them from demanding payment for service offered yet they didn't provide.

If I had booked flights they would have been refunded or re-scheduled by the airline. So annoying.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 09/02/2009 17:59

A lot of people were told they wouldn't get paid for the snowy days, Compo.

Twims · 09/02/2009 17:59

YABU for the reasons Compo said

Original poster

webchick · 09/02/2009 18:01

So Compo what would you have done if you had booked flights then told you had to pay for them again due to bad weather?

As for employees being paid or not, that's not my affair that's the Nursery managers responsibility. Thats the risk they take as employers and their decision alone.

OP posts:

BalloonSlayer · 09/02/2009 18:02

Yes compo, quite a few people have to take leave if they couldn't get in because of the snow.

The thinking is usually "you choose to live where you do, and if you live so far away from work you can't get there in adverse weather conditions, that is your problem."

Not saying it's fair or anything.

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 09/02/2009 18:03

I don't understand why it's unreasonable. I had my tesco delivery cancelled because they couldn't deliver due to the snow. I'd have been fucked off if they'd debited my card for it, on the grounds that not delivering was beyond their control. - no goods or service = no charge, imo.

smudgethepuppydog · 09/02/2009 18:16

I don't understand why the clients should pay for a service that wasn't provided. I'd ask to see a copy of your contract if you don't have one to hand.

tiredandwornoutmum · 09/02/2009 18:19

I don't think you're being unreasonable either. Fair enough they had to close for the snow...but not fair at all to still charge you.

dilemma456 · 09/02/2009 18:20

Message withdrawn

daftpunk · 09/02/2009 18:21

op; yabu;

it's not the nurseries fault that we had snow....our school was shut for 2 day's, my rubbish still hasn't been collected (was supposed to be collected last wednesday).. my local library was closed, will i get a rebate on my council tax..??

pavlovthecat · 09/02/2009 18:21

It is not ok to charge for a service not provided.

Whether the staff get paid or not is not your concern. You pay for a place at the nursery, and if that place is not available through no fault of your own, then you should not be charged.

samja · 09/02/2009 18:22

The staff at nursery are not doing contract work, therefore they should not be penalised for having worked less hours. Would you prefer it if your nursery employed staff freelance? I'm guessing you enjoy the continuity of care your dc gets.

lunavix · 09/02/2009 18:24

I don't think a nursery is the same as the library.

At the end of the day if the OP had not brought dc in because of the snow and they were open, they would not have let her off fees.

lunavix · 09/02/2009 18:24

I don't think a nursery is the same as the library.

At the end of the day if the OP had not brought dc in because of the snow and they were open, they would not have let her off fees.

lunavix · 09/02/2009 18:24

I don't think a nursery is the same as the library.

At the end of the day if the OP had not brought dc in because of the snow and they were open, they would not have let her off fees.

lunavix · 09/02/2009 18:24

I don't think a nursery is the same as the library.

At the end of the day if the OP had not brought dc in because of the snow and they were open, they would not have let her off fees.

LadyOfWaffle · 09/02/2009 18:25

Normally it's in the contract about weather etc. DSs preschool was closed, just one of those things.

nannynick · 09/02/2009 18:29

Expect it boils down to the contract... it's like Bank Holidays. If you child usually attends that day, then you pay, even though they are shut.

It's probably worth having a chat with the management about it though. And yes you should have a copy of any contract which you have signed, so if you haven't got that, then get that.

I don't think you can refuse to pay it... but you can give notice under the terms of contract and find another childcare provider - if you so wish.

daftpunk · 09/02/2009 18:30

tbh, the nurserie probably didn't expect many parents to go out in those dangerous weather conditions....i wouldn't have gone out in it.

op; check your contract.

LesbianMummy1 · 09/02/2009 18:35

as a childminder i don't charge if i don't work as parents have to find emergency childcare whether act of god or illness i took in a child who should have been at school last week as mum was stuck and she paid me even though she should have been at school if it was not closed. My daughter should have attended breakfast club already paid for but they just credited it for another day

Twims · 09/02/2009 18:35

I used to work at a nursery and so do quite a few of my friends.

Had I still been working at the nursery I would expect to be paid - I would have attempted to go to work as did several of my friends but with the conditions it wasn't safe for many to get to work - most people live within a 15-20 minute car trip.

Most children would not have been there and with OFSTED it would be easier to shut. I have as have friends been at work until VVVV late when it has snowed heavily causing disruption to routes to the nursery meaning several children were there until past 8pm - with the nursery shutting at 6pm.

In a bussines where most people are young and eager to be at work if only to play in the snow with the children etc and where pay is NMW - a day off which is unpaid can cause us who have to budget, repercussions

pavlovthecat · 09/02/2009 18:36

I do not pay for bank holidays if they are shut for my DD. Do some nurseries do that?

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