Due Nov 2008 - PMA - our tums & bums are growing but we get an excuse to wear big knickers - now that's a stroke of luck!!! x x x

[ChocOrange05]

Hope you like the thread - minds not working so well at the moment!

here is a document that we got sent at work which outlines the situation aswell - I know it is just repeating the other documents but the more information we all have the better eh?

Ladybuzz - well done to your DS aswell - I guess you can put yourself in the 'mad bint' category as defined by Oblomov aswell but probably easier to do it now and then only have 1 lot of nappies to change.....am still waiting till Spring though unless DS suddenly decides otherwise

Vbab - let us know what the woman from Busy Bees says when she rings you back. I would definitely say it is worth keeping your DS in nursery if work are going to pay for it - you don't get many 'free' perks these days do you??

Not at all vbab, that one is written for the employEE to understand whereas the others are for employERS/accountants! It is far easier to understand.

I thought of the implications too... but reckon if I don't say then someone else will by which time I would have lost out on my entitlement during mat leave AND may lose the vouchers altogether. So figured best to say something now. Anyway that link you found also details reasons employers should consider for KEEPING them as a benefit so will now be armed with this knowledge too! So thank you!

Definately the more info the better Ceebs!! Stick together girls and we may just fight this one successfully!

Yes well done to Ladybuzz DS, we are also waiting til spring to start with ours... It was his 2nd birthday on Tuesday, can't believe he is 2 already it has flown by... Will try to get some pics on profile soon... honest!

Oh belated Happy Birthday to baby boy Sparks Hope you all had a fantastic day and watch the 'terrible twos' start now! It is amazing how many people I know who said it was like a switch was turned on in their DC the minute they turned 2 and became so much harder to deal with - it certainly did with DS! Literally the day he turned 2, he started wanting to choose what he was wearing (fgs!) and it has to have Thomas/James/Percy on it unless I use super negotiating skills at something else (which I can't be bothered most of the time ) If I force him into something, it is major meltdown time - just not worth the hassle!!

They started already [sad)!! Can not bear taking him to shops anymore it is a bloody nightmare. Even just one shop is enough to make him turn into the child from hell. Then when as soon as we are out of the place he turns to me and innocently asks 'What's the matter mummy?"!!

DS is mad on Boogie Beebies at minute but it will no doubt change again next week! At least the naps are still on tho

sparkle - congrats on DS birthday. My DS loves boogies beebies too. Anything with music or dance really. Sorry to hear about your troubles with DS in shops. My DS hates shopping I think it is being restricted he doesnt like. Normally have to distract him some how and try to limit the time and also allow him to roam free a little.

spoken to lovely lady from daycare trust and she explained it all to me. Thing is it may be tricky for me to start up vouchers again now after stopping them on busybees advice. My employer would be within their rights to tell me to get lost. But she did say that stopping and starting the vouchers should be a contractual thing that is done not just something I change so maybe because I haven't done anything contractually I might get away with it.

Trouble is the guy who is in charge of payroll, no real HR here, is on holiday all week and maybe next week. I finish on FRIDAY!

BLOODY BUSYBEES. I RECKON THEY HAVE MESSED IT UP FOR ME.

Vbab. That is not fair, you stopped on BusyBees (ill informed) advice so surely that will count for something?? I would contact Citizens Advice, you can email them via website (we used them once and they were really helpful). Not sure how clued up their lawyers will be at moment on such a new law but u definately need to seek advice here I think... and quickly.

Vbab - grrrr [angery] on your behalf if Busy Bees have messed it up for you - that does seem really unfair! I have to say I am a bit confused about the stopping and starting bit as I read that elsewhere but our scheme is flexible in that it lets you stop and start it as and when you need/want to which doesn't really fit in with it being a permanent contract change. I did stop mine in July and August so my maternity pay would be at my full pay, not my 'sacrificed' pay iyswim, but am restarting them in September which when I spoke to our voucher provider, they were perfectly happy with (but I have kept this quiet from my managers in case they see a loophole )

Re shopping - DS is pretty good when we go out but he does seem to enjoy being in his pram so will quite happily sit in it for an hour or so while I wander round the shops. However, he can spot Thomas from a 100 yards and then get completely stroppy when he can't have it etc - so we do have to be very careful which shops we take him in and which aisles we take him down

Do you think everyone has deserted this thread today cos they are bored of the childcare voucher talk??

My DS is usually fine when I take him to shops quickly in his buggy and on my own. As soon as this is changed i.e. longer visit to shops, let him walk and/or my DH also comes... then it is a disaster. I tend to keep a small bag of white choc buttons as back up if I have a few shops to visit!

Yes they probably have deserted us, sorry everyone else! However this is important and likely to come up again and again as we get the various excuses back from our employers! Shall we get our own thread?? "We are entitled to our childcare vouchers and are damn well gonna fight for them, what a stroke of luck...!!"

Please come back everyone

bloody busy bees - they have just phoned me back ... all the advisor would say is "I need to speak to my employer" and "our advice is correct for how things are at the moment".

I even offered nicely to help them get up to date to send them the web links so they dont advise more people from the old way of things. But "no thank you our team leaders are looking into it".

I think I may just send my work rep an email, he will read on Monday after holiday, saying I want to start vouchers again of (the max) £243 and see what happens. Thought I would put the vouchers back to the max, even though DS hours cut, to build up a sort of childcare voucher bank to use when if possible I return to work.

If he says I can't do it because on SMP or for whatever other reason I will tell him about the new legislation and if he is funny then explain it is my right.

What you think?

REALLY SORRY EVERYONE FOR ALL THIS VOUCHER TALK. JUST NEED THE £.

vbab hope you get a good result re:vouchers. It's v. frustrating when you're up against people who are being evasive!!

chocolategal thanks for info on carpet cleaners. Am defo going to look into it. Nesting starting to kick in I think!!

Right - am really now!! My colleague has just had a conversation with our childcare co-ordinator and have just found out that what Vbab has been told is correct (I think) that if you stop the vouchers at 17 weeks to ensure your mat pay is not affected by the salary sacrifice, you can't then restart them and get the 'free' vouchers - apparently this is getting the best of both worlds! I am really annoyed because I have done what I thought was best and have now discovered that I have probably shot myself in the foot - apparently they are going to issue advice about this but obviously it is too late for me now!! It may have to be the CAB for me too - need to sit down and work out the figures as it may be that I am actually better off this way as I would have been paying twice for the vouchers for 6 months whilst off but still bloody annoying

ceebee - how you mean you would have been paying twice?

PAIN ISNT IT. Will try and catch up with you all later. Going to get DS from nursery now.

Hello - I haven't been hiding - was having a bikini wax
This Childcare voucher thing sounds like a legislative nightmare. No wonder you're all so about it!!

Hello

I haven't been hiding either, just at the hospital having a blood test. Mmm nice!

I don't understand any of it. I'm not sure what I am or am not entitled to. I work for DH and am a director, will I get anything???????????????????? All far too complicated for me.

P.s. Monkey - i'm desperate for one (bikini wax that it), because it wasn't until I past a mirror naked (jsut about to get in shower) that I realised things had got totally out of control down that end. The perils of not being able to actually see it due to bump!! I was going to get DH to do it. However, am slightly concerned he may bring a spirit level into it and a protractor (he's quite a perfectionist).

Oh pinkali - LOL! I wouldn't let my DH attempt such a delicate and potentially painful procedure! The lady who had the pleasure (?!) of waxing me, asked how low I wanted the top bit done, and I literally couldn't see down due to bump in the way. So I've ended up with very little left...!

Pinkali your DH must be quite a man for you to consider that - I would not trust mine with such a task!!

Oh he's a gem. He's helped me before when the pain has got too much and your hand says do it but your mind says it will hurt. I just fear that because i can't see it that it will end up having our business logo on it or something silly like that. YIKES... i will check out his skills on some cress first

My DH has been painting the nursery! Finally getting bums in gear as I am now 28+ weeks! Pinkali I have to say I would also NEVER trust my DH with the delicate procedure you did well done!

Ceebs & Vbab - I hope that stopping vouchers hasn't messed things up for you. My employers ONLY offer stat mat so it wasn't worth my while stopping them. I don't understand the paying twice thing tho Ceebs as I asked my employers about this and they confirmed I wouldn't be charged 2x??!! Doesn't make sense tho.