Question for childminders regarding additional hours

[confusedperson]

Dear childminders. I am a parent. I had a contract with a childminder for basic hours 8am-4pm, and a different rate for additional hours as and when needed. Usually we were on basic hours only, but for short period I asked if she could do 4pm-6pm additionally. In the end we used less because my children where ill. I paid for the basic hours when we were sick, but she is requesting to pay for all additional hours that we had agreed. I thought these were not obligatory, and the contract does not specify that I have to pay for these. I wonder who is right?

I would say if you booked them they need paying for, I have a parent whose hours change from day to day so i never know when I'm finishing but she pays for all that she books so she's told me it'll be 6pm for the next 3 weeks, basic hours are til 5pm so she'll pay til 6 for the 3 weeks.

Depends if you pay of she's/her children are sick, I don't charge if I'm sick but it depends what's in your contract.

south345 I understand your point, sounds about fair.. although NatashaBee also has a point.

I think if you say you are going to use X hours then you pay for X hours. It's common courtesy as you have asked this person to be available then.

I am a parent, not a childminder.

Thanks, happy to have it clarified "officially" :)

I'd definitely want paying too. I may have turned down someone else wanting those adhoc hours and therefore loose out financially if you didn't pay.

Unfortunately I learnt the hard way when I didn't use to charge my regulars upfront and then their change of mind or no longing needing me meant I'd lost income from someone else I'd turned down. I now have a policy to make this very clear!