Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

Original poster

CMS - what's the longest...

20 replies

nervatious · 10/03/2011 14:16

...parents have paid a retainer for before taking up a space - and how much? I had several enquiries for sept / aug but these were put right off by the recommended 50% retainer fee as it's so long and expensive for them.
Should I charge less and just swallow the loss to gain from the future work?
ta for your opining!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

crw1234 · 10/03/2011 15:07

Hi - I have used a couple of childminders and have never paid a retainer for them - 50% sounds quite alot -

StarExpat · 10/03/2011 15:26

I didn't pay a retainer, but was taking the space within a few months. I explained that I simply could not afford it (I just didn't have the money at all) and she said it was ok, no retainer was fine. I just pay in advance each month for the month.

If she required a retainer I would have just had to go with someone else or a nursery. SO glad she was flexible because she's great and we've been with her over a year now and still so happy! Never a single problem. :)

Original poster

nervatious · 10/03/2011 15:42

Well if we promised the space for august then had someone who wanted to start tomorrow it would be a bit of a disaster if we had decided to charge nothing at all as its a loss of 6 months pay... really no one has ever paid a retainer? I thought it was standard practice

OP posts:

leeloo1 · 10/03/2011 15:44

I had 1 parent pay for 6 months (for 2 days pw) and 1 for 4 months (for 3 days pw) - both 50%. Yes it was expensive for them, but they had the security of the place reserved. If people are starting within a month or so then I wouldn't usually charge anything.

I have had people say they'd like to pay the retainer and have a place with me but it'd mean they'd have to go back to work earlier, which I say I completely understand and that if they contact me closer to the time I'll let them know if I have space - sadly I never have, as places usually fill pretty quickly.

StarExpat · 10/03/2011 21:13

I understand why cm's need a retainer. However, A few of my colleagues have decided against using cm and to use nursery instead as no retainer was charged and didn't have to worry about cm's sick days...etc. But retainer was a big one.

I got really lucky! :)

littleducks · 10/03/2011 21:18

I would never pay a retainer for 6 months what kind of notice (for CM to parent) is in this kind of contract, i though 6 weeks was standard...in theory a parent could pay a retainer for 6 mos then get given a few weeks notice

minderjinx · 10/03/2011 21:19

Nurseries around here charge a retainer too.

StarExpat · 10/03/2011 21:23

Ah, minderjinx not here. Thankfully for those who needed it

stomp · 10/03/2011 21:43

I was paid a retainer for 2 months recently, lovely lady didnt mind a bit and understood i just couldnt keep a place without any pay for that long. However, i 'lost' a couple the other week, they "loved" me and my os & were so pleased to have "found me"....until i mentioned a retainer and they couldnt get out the door quick enough

chitchatingagain · 10/03/2011 21:50

You could tell them you would list their DC down as a possibility, and let them know if you have any further enquiries re the space. If someone else asks to take the space then you can contact them and they then have the option of paying a retainer.

leeloo1 · 10/03/2011 21:52

littleducks if your query was to me, I usually suggest 8 weeks notice in my contracts, although thats after a 2 week settling in period (effective on both sides).

I need to earn a living and couldn't reserve a place for 6 months without a fee, parents who can afford to pay the retainer do, parents who can't don't - but they have to take a chance there may not be a space for them... so I guess they pay for the peace of mind.

Original poster

nervatious · 10/03/2011 22:01

Wow there's quite a difference of opinion on retainers then. I would love to say to this family, yes you can have a space in august but I would be soooo poor til then I just can't do it, as I need to sell it now...

OP posts:

StarExpat · 10/03/2011 22:08

Then just say, sorry I need the income now. So if another family comes along I will have to give them the space if they can fill it immediately.

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 11/03/2011 12:08

I was expecting to pay a retainer for a childminder if the space was available now after reading many threads on here however all 3 I visited didnt charge retainers and 2 had spaces available now,one didnt even charge a deposit other charge £50 deposit.

The one have gone with has space from mid april and we dont need it til end may however she wasnt actively looking for an extra mindee but as I contacted her then she was happy to have him and has charged uss a £100 deposit for place and thats deducted off our first mths fee.

I would have had to hold on really if had to pay retainer as could have only afford 6-8wks of 50% retainer for a place and this may have forced me to use a nursery.

I completly understand why childminders have to charge a retainer though

Booh · 11/03/2011 12:42

I was paid 100% retainer for 6 months as they really wanted the space and I couldn't afford to just wait to earn any money until they started.

So for me, they either pay or take their luck and see if I have the space when they need it. But I have had a few people who have phoned me and been surprised that I am full after not wanting to pay a retainer.

Nurseries charge around here too

StarExpat · 11/03/2011 13:02

I guess the thing to do then as a parent, is not look too far in advance for childcare. If you look closer to the time, then you'll only see what is available and can choose from that, rather than having to pay to hold a space. If you want a cm... and if nurseries charge a retainer, too.

I only know of one nursery in my area who does charge a nominal fee as a retainer but it's a deposit that can be used against fees once in the nursery, not a 50% of full fees rate.

littleducks · 11/03/2011 14:53

I agree with starexpat

That is what i did, though for different reasons, i have never paid a retainer or deposit to nursery or CM who does school run.

I could understand a deposit but there is no way I could afford to pay for a CM to not have my child for 6 mos then run the risk that they would only have my child for a minimum of 8/10 weeks

Maybe if i was super rich...but then i suppose i would have a nanny

Original poster

nervatious · 11/03/2011 16:03

Hmm you're not really paying for a cm to not have your child, you are paying for a place which you are not using which would otherwise be taken by someone else either for future or immediate use. It's difficult because of the limits placed on childcare providers and they only have a certain amount of space. You are lucky to have either got your childcare at exactly the right time or found a cm who didn't really need the money at the time.
Nurserys tend to know when they will have space in the future (children turning 3 or 5 etc, or moving to toddler room) so wouldn't need to charge a retainer I guess?

OP posts:

looneytune · 11/03/2011 18:44

If I had a space now and someone didn't want it for 6 months, I'd have no choice but to charge 100% as I know I could fill it with someone paying now and I simply can't afford to not be working to full capacity, especially if I know I can fill my spaces. In the past I've agreed to no retainer until I get an enquiry for that same space and then I contact them to see if they want to pay a retainer before offering it to someone else. I never expect a parent to be able to afford to pay it in the same way I expect a parent to understand why I can't afford to just save it for free and loose 6 months income for that space! I hate having to mention it but it's the way it is I'm afraid, I'm running a business with limited spaces.

I've not had spaces for a long time but I do have a space 3 days a week from September. I've got people contacting me about it and I wouldn't charge a retainer as the space isn't available now but I'd charge a deposit instead. This amount knocked off the first month's invoice (and if they don't come as planned, they loose it).

I don't think ANY of us 'expect' a parent to pay these large sums but I do hope most understand why we have to if there are other people who would take the space sooner.

stomp · 12/03/2011 17:37

Of course the parent can use the 'retained' place whenever they want to- it is their place to use, they are paying to keep it 'empty' or rather they are paying to hold the place. Anyone wanting to use the place they have 'retained' will have to top up the fee to full fee when they use it and give a certain amount of notice they want to use it (because cm have to plan ahead what they are doing on certain days). So a retainer is not 'money for nothing'.

Flip