stalemate with childminder

[domesticgoodness]

hoping for some advice. My childminder gave me a bill the other day that included an 8 day late payment fee. I am happy to admit that I paid late (the voucher was submitted on day 4), but had not received an invoice for this month. I had informed her on day 4 that I hadn't received and invoice and she informed me verbally of the amount i needed to pay. She maintains that she has given me an invoice, I maintain that I haven't received it, I can guarantee that it wasn't given to me personally, but perhaps put into my 3 year olds bag, the date on the copy she has sent me implies that she only saw me once after the invoice was ready. Anyway, I felt that I was happy to pay for 4 days late payment as I should have realised that I had not been invoiced (though before this had not seen her for 9 days due to half term and her sickness), but feel that as I paid as soon as I had been told an amount that this should count. I understand that it is her business, but I am also self employed and know that in this situation that I would accept this and then change my invoicing procedure, only ever handing the invoice to the parent in person. afterall she sees me every drop off. Anyway, we seem to have reached a stalemate on this and tbh I am now looking for a new childminder. Am I being completely unreasonable? Really not sure how to deal with this, the invoice she presented me with was inaccurate anyway, so it casts even more doubts in my mind as to who is in the right or not.

IMO you were both in the wrong, in some ways, you should expect / be ready to pay your bill when you know it is due - in other ways, her billing system is seriously floored - putting them in children's bags doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

Why can't she email you the invoice a several days in advance of the day it is due, as do phone companies etc? Seems to me if she wants to operate like a 'real business' imposing late fees etc - her billing practises should match procedures of companies like that.

I'm a bit in 2 minds about this.

You should have asked for a copy of the invoice when it was clear you hadn't received it on the due date.

She cannot expect you to pay until she has issued an accurate invoice.

This is why I email my invoices out about a week before they are due to be paid, so they can be checked and paid on time.

it all seems very petty to me from both of you to be quite honest.

sad that your child will be moved, surely you could both sit down and discuss this, why dont you pay what you owe with the late fee included and then ask her for the future to always invoice you by hand and not in the bag...

i wouldnt trat one of my parents like this but then again I dont like late payers..

How often have you paid late??

Not all childminders give an invoice, my old childminder would just tell me the amount and I would check the dates tally and are correct then pay her, although it is good practice to have a paper trail.

I am now a childminder myself and give invoices a few days before it is due to be paid but all my parents know when payment is due.

I do think you a being a little unreasonable as you would be aware the payment is due at that time so should of paid on time, however I think your cm has messed up a bit as her procedure is to give an invoice so she should maintain that agreement.

i think you are both being ridiculous!

sit down with her in front of this thread....

perhaps pay 4 days of late fees as a compromise.... and be sure to never pay late again.

What a shame that your child is suffering for a sake of a few £

hear hear above.

I dont know why you didnt just pay her or why dont you set up a reglar payment from your voucher scheme to avoid this happening.

I pay my childminder on last thurs of the mth as thats when I get paid and sometimes its 4 wks and sometimes 5 wks worth, this is what we agreed.

I have never had an invoice and fees have gone up once but I always pay on time I count how many days he has been since last paid, use my calculator tot it up and go onto my voucher company and pay - I never forget I have been paid so why would I forget to pay her and I dont need an invoice I am able to work it out for myself.