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Original poster

Payment for bank holidays over Christmas - advice please

30 replies

MissIngaFewmarbles · 29/11/2011 18:10

I've been given the bill for December by my CM today and I am a bit Hmm that she's charged me for the 26th and 27th which are both BHs. DS goes during term time only and we pay 1/3 to CM for school holidays. The bill charges me 1/3 fees for these 2 days. Is this right?

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nbee84 · 29/11/2011 18:13

Yes, if she normally charges for bank holidays.

Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 29/11/2011 18:15

I don't know, DS only started with her in September so there hasn't been one yet.

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AvadaKedavra · 29/11/2011 18:16

What does your contract say?

Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 29/11/2011 18:18

She hasn't given me one yet. We agreed that she would give me a contract when I paid the deposit (a months fees) which I did last month.

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AvadaKedavra · 29/11/2011 18:26

She hasn't given you one? Shock

Are you sure she is Registered?

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 29/11/2011 18:29

Did either of you talk about BHols during your contract negotiation / discussion? Some CMs do charge for BH and some don't. It all depends on what you two agreed.

AvadaKedavra · 29/11/2011 18:30

OP doesn;t have a contract with the CM AllIwant

Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 29/11/2011 18:30

Yes I checked on Ofsted, both her and her husband are registered CMs.

TBH I was a little surprised that they asked for a months deposit, I'd never paid one before and neither had any of my friends who use CMs. Also I don't see her DH much at picking up time. I know when I drop DS off in the morning he is on the school run, but he doesn't seem to be there when I collect, at least not in the room with the kids.

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Carlitawantsababy · 29/11/2011 18:31

Tell her it was an unexpected cost as you hadn't had a contract yet and ask her to meet you half way on this occasion, I.e charge you for only one of the bank holidays. I think that is fair enough, she should have sent the contract so you could budget properly!

Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 29/11/2011 18:33

I'm just getting a bit uneasy, the BH thing isn't the end of the world, but with the other stuff I'm having a bit of a wobble. They don't go out much and DS is usually watching tv when I collect him, but perhaps it is because it's snack time?

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Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 29/11/2011 18:35

oFF OUT FOR SUPPER, BACK LATER

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Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 29/11/2011 18:35

Oops sorry for shouting

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south345 · 29/11/2011 19:40

I would never look after a child without a contract in place, did you fill in contact details medical info etc? I would ask for a copy of your contract and did you sign permission forms etc for all sorts of things?

Some childminders go out a lot some don't, personally we usually do an outing a day but all of mine need a sleep so it's usually a group or soft play or park for 1/2 day. I know some who are never at home but I think that's a bit much for little ones.

south345 · 29/11/2011 19:41

Also I don't charge for bhs because I don't want to work but if someone needed me to I would charge double time.

HSMM · 29/11/2011 21:18

I don't want to work bank holidays and don't charge, but CMs are all different. I would not let anyone walk through the door on their first day without a signed contract in place, so everyone knows what to expect.

I would have thought, without a contract, you wouldn't be charged ??????

Ask for your contract today (tomorrow) and go from there maybe?

Or .... say you'll be dropping them off at normal time on 26th and 27th Grin

Rollergirl1 · 29/11/2011 21:49

If she's charging you a retainer for these days does this mean that she is available to work? If you haven't had a conversation about bank holidays and you don't have a contract in place yet then I would say she should definitely meet you half way at the very least!

anewyear · 30/11/2011 09:25

I also wont work BH's, therefore I dont charge because Im not available.

Grin @ HSMM 'say you'll be dropping them off at normal time on 26th and 27th'

NJE · 30/11/2011 17:02

I worked a while as a self-employed nanny (worked for three families on a regular basis + ad-hoc for other families as well as night nannying etc.) and I didn't charge for bank holidays + didn't have any paid holiday. I thought CM are self-employed as well.

ChitChattingElf · 30/11/2011 19:27

But those BH are during the school holidays, so even if she was charging, shouldn't it be 1/3 of the cost???

Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 01/12/2011 10:00

sorry, been a busy couple of days. Yes I filled out all the permissions and contact forms but she wouldn't give me a contract until we had given her the deposit.

they have dc of their own so I very much doubt they are available on the BHs.

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Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 01/12/2011 10:00

sorry, been a busy couple of days. Yes I filled out all the permissions and contact forms but she wouldn't give me a contract until we had given her the deposit.

they have dc of their own so I very much doubt they are available on the BHs.

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Original poster
MissIngaFewmarbles · 01/12/2011 10:01

why chitchat? We pay 1/3 for school holidays when DS isn't there.

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ChitChattingElf · 01/12/2011 10:28

Sorry, I didn't read properly, she HAS charged you 1/3, and not the full working rate. Most CMs that charge for BH charge their usual working rate, and not holiday rates. As these were in the holiday week they should be charged at the holiday rate, not the full time rate, therefore cheaper, IYSWIM.

But you don't know yet if she is going to be charging for BH, anyway. She may well be charging 1/3 for BH anyway. You'd better get this sorted out, there's a lot of BH in the first half of the year!

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 01/12/2011 11:04

Even if the agreement is not in writing, there is still a contract. Contracts can be verbal or written. The problem with having a verbal contract, as is the case in point, is that it is sometimes impossible to clearly state what the terms and conditions of the contract are.

There must have been some initial discussion about the agreement to childmind. During that discussion, if nothing was agreed upon about BHs I would argue that the OP cannot be expected to pay for them.

MissIngaFewbaubles · 05/12/2011 18:06

OK I've collected DS from CM, he was in a filthy nappy. I jokingly said to CM, blimey he stinks, has he just pooed. CM replied that he had pooed half an hour before but as I had not sent enough nappies I would have to change him when we got home.

He went to the CM with 4 nappies, but had more changes than normal today.

I am just furious and very upset, surely she could have spare nappies just in case?