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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

CM-Why are my parents complaining!

31 replies

gardenpixies32 · 24/03/2011 18:54

Hi, I am a relatively new CM. I have 5 children at the moment. Most the parents are lovely and just get on with things, however, 2 parents are starting to irritate me with their complaining!

Parent 1 has now threatened to withdraw her son if I start charging her the hours he is at playgroup! I collect him in the morning, bring him home, give him breakfast, wait for my other mindees to arrive. Take all three of them in the car to drop the little boy at school. I also collect him at 3pm. This is three days a week. Obviously, I cannot fill the morning space and I have told his mother I need to start charging for his space while he is at playgroup. She has now threatened to withdraw him from my care. It is not worth my while for 3.75 an hour! By the time I take off my petrol cost I am making the grand sum of about 1.25 for that morning hour! I explained that if she wasnt happy to pay for the time he was at school, I wouldn't be able to drop him at playgroup in the mornings and I would advertise the morning vacancy.

Parent 1 has also moaned about her April bill as it is almost 100 pounds more than normal. I explained to her that if she wants me to care for him (additional hours) over the Easter holidays while playgroup is closed, it will cost more! I cant see why she doesnt understand this!

Parent 2 has now moaned to me about the fact that I want to charge her for the settling in period. I have offered her 2 free hours of settling in and the rest of the hours will be charged for. She said that nurseries don't charge a settling in fee. She has chosen to have 24 hours of settling in, surely she doesnt expect me to work for free for 24 hours!? I presume that when she goes back to work after maternity leave, her employers are going to pay her for the first 24 hours she is back at work!

I am starting to get fed up of some parents thinking I am some sort of Mary Poppins free babysitting service! I am trying to make a living like any other person out there!

What do other childminders out there think?

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onepieceoflollipop · 24/03/2011 18:59

I'm not a cm but I am a nosy parent which is why I read your post. (also I had a cm for 18 months and we had a great relationship)

Afaik (locally anyway to me) all cms charge the hours that a preschooler attends playgroup. That's just the way it is and most parents accept this.
Parent 1 is being unreasonable about being charged more for the Easter holiday imo.

Parent 2 (imo) has a bit of a point. 2 hours settling in isn't much, however (again imo) 24 hours free is a bit much to expect.

My cm gave us 2 hours free (initial session) then I think 3 hours to include lunch. Then a half day free. So all in all about 9 hours free.

I felt that 9 hours was reasonable but would have paid for the half day (and I think I offered). :)

PrincessConsuelaBananaHamok · 24/03/2011 19:06

parent 1, how much notice have you given her that you want to start charging for time at other settings?

parent 2, if you have changed your tack partway into the arrangement then yes, she might well be peed off as prev thought the settling in would be free

have a look at your policies, redo them if they don't make your practices clear to new parents

RitaMorgan · 24/03/2011 19:08

I can see why Parent 1 is complaining if you didn't charge at first and now you are changing the terms - what is in your contract/policies? It's unfair to sign her up then later change your charges.

Original poster

gardenpixies32 · 24/03/2011 19:10

Thanks for the advice Princess. I will draw up a Settling in Policy.

I gave parent 1 10 weeks notice that I will start charging her.
Parent 2 - I never gave her the indication that settling in was free. Surely she doesnt think that 24 hours of childcare will be free? I dont know many people who would work that long for nothing!

OP posts:

Original poster

gardenpixies32 · 24/03/2011 19:11

Rita, parent 1 was always aware that we would review her contract with regards to payment when in another setting.

OP posts:

PrincessConsuelaBananaHamok · 24/03/2011 19:14

ah right, 10 weeks is plenty of notice for change

pollywollyhadadollycalledmolly · 24/03/2011 19:34

Right, so what hours do you have parent 1's child for? Is it like 8-9 then 12 till 6 say? If so then you are completely within your right to charge for those hours. Every oher cm will charge for them as it is probably impossible to find another child that wants 9.30 till 11.30! PLus if you did that then you would not be able to care for parent 1's child when pre school is closed cos you would be full!!! lol

Parent 2 is taking the mick! lol Did you explain for the go what your settling in policy is?

If either parents dont like it then quite simply tough shit!! lol You set your own terms as you are self employed, but of course you need customers so you can bring home the bacon. If they dont like it then i would be quite happy to say to them to see if they can find anyone else that will do all of that for free and they will shit themselves when they see that everyone else charges (in both of your scenarios).

Original poster

gardenpixies32 · 24/03/2011 19:41

Thanks for you response Polly! I do appreciate it.

I have parent 1's child from 8-9 and then again from 3-6 Mon-Wed and all day Thurs & Fri.

Parent 2 - we discussed the settling in period and how it works etc but we never discussed money. I just presumed that she would relalise 24 hours childcare is not free!

OP posts:

pollywollyhadadollycalledmolly · 24/03/2011 19:56

So does parent 1's child go to school?

Parent 2 - if you didnt discuss fees then she probably did think settling in sessions were free, as nurseries are free for that. So i can understand where she is coming from. I guess you can only just tell her that she needs to pay?

Original poster

gardenpixies32 · 24/03/2011 19:59

No he goes to a play group for 18 hours a week

OP posts:

Ripeberry · 24/03/2011 20:28

Sorry, but most CMs DO NOT give free settling in. The most I offer is 4hrs, the rest of the time is chargeble. Any parent who expects almost a whole day free needs their head testing.
Cms are self-employed and set their own terms.

pollywollyhadadollycalledmolly · 24/03/2011 20:37

I would still charge her. No way for free!! lol As i;ve said, probably unlikely that you would get some to fill tbhat space and then of course if u did the whole thing with hols etc wouldn't work if you did give away her space lol

LoveMyGirls · 24/03/2011 20:42

You are not in the wrong (I am a cm) Be firm and smile. Be prepared to let them walk away, then next time explain your terms clearly before they agree to sign.

HSMM · 24/03/2011 20:45

They are probably upset, because they have signed up to something that seems to be changing (unless I have read it wrong).

You can change your policies and contracts, with sufficient notice (as I see you have planned).

I charge a full day fee, regardless of hours and I charge for settling in.

chabbychic · 24/03/2011 20:48

Stick to your guns, and if they keep complaining get rid.

maidbloke · 25/03/2011 23:04

Both parents are trying it on.

As long as you are giving notice of the change to parent 1 (and it sounds like you are) then just politely explain that's what is going to happen. Let parent 1 leave and try to find a CM who will not charge for those hours - I bet she won't be able to. She'll then be stuck without childcare.

Parent 2 is taking the mickey expecting 24h (3 full days at 8h/day) of free settling in. My CM wife would offer half a day.

As someone else said: It's your business. You decide the rules. If they don't like your rules they have a choice to walk.

Original poster

gardenpixies32 · 26/03/2011 08:55

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the comments and the advice.

I gave parent 1 4 weeks notice yesterday and it would be an understatement to say that she was annoyed! She stormed out the house with her son and not even a goodbye!

It is something I am used to from her, she is often quite rude to me (doing things like not saying hello, goodbye or thanks!), anyway, I really like her little boy but I think I have done the right thing!

OP posts:

eeyore12 · 26/03/2011 09:38

Nurseries do give free settling sessions, and having worked in them for over 8 yrs the norm was a hour with parent, 2 hours without and then another 2 if felt it was needed. Anymore than that and it would be when the child started before the parent went back to work, so they may do half days/shorter hours but all charged for.

LucieLucie · 26/03/2011 13:34

I am a Cm and offer up to 8 hours settling in free, depending on what space I have and amount of days child will be using, ie a full timer will be eligible for more settling time than just 1 day etc.
I also find that inthis line of work you HAVE to have mutual respect with parents, if they are moaning and complaing, showing little care for the hard work you do or your business then its time to show them the door. Listen to your gut, I have learned the hard way and am now more care about who I take on.
Good luck with no 2!

SneakyJamCavern · 26/03/2011 13:43

I wonder if parent 2 is just crossed wires
I have settled DS into a couple of nurseries and the "settling in" sessions they offer are all free - but nowhere near that long - maybe she just couldn't believe her luck when you offered 3 days!

Original poster

gardenpixies32 · 26/03/2011 15:09

Hi Sneaky, I didnt offered three days. I gave here various times and dates to choose from that suited me. She decided she wanted them all! I guess it was crossed wires.

OP posts:

new2cm · 26/03/2011 18:02

I agree with maidbloke.

new2cm · 26/03/2011 18:05

I do not give free settling in periods either. What I do offer is a no commital clause for the 1st month. So, for example, if by week 3 either the parent or myself or both of us are unhappy, they can leave my setting without having to give notice. I always charge upfront so I am never out of pocket.

Dozer · 26/03/2011 21:33

I am a parent and think YANBU.

mrskbpw · 28/03/2011 16:18

I am a parent but I've started a bit of childminder training. I would think if you're the child's emergency contact while he's at playgroup, then of course you should charge. I pay my childminder for the hours when my son is at preschool. I think that's standard isn't it?

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