ARGGGHHH!!! Just need a rant!

[surfandturf]

I'm a CM and in just 3 days being back at work I've had one parent ask if they can pay me late as they are struggling due to Christmas finances ( I agreed they could pay half now and half at the end of the month) only to find they have just bought their child a brand new designer winter coat??? Feel like a right mug.
Yesterday I turned away a potential customer as I am due another new starter in a couple of months and won't have space for both only to recieve a call today from the first family to say they no longer need me. Can't go back to the second family as I referred them to another childminder who is a friend of mine and she's been struggling for work. So now have a full time space available for 4 full days :(

I love my job but sometimes it's sooooo frustrating!!!!

Thanks for listening - just needed to get that off my chest!

No one should be paying you late. Image if her boss said to her, oh sorry finances tight due to Christmas, can we just pay you a bit late this month?

I would never, ever even ask my cm this! I would pay her before other bills of tight because that is her income and I know if someone unexpectedly made my income late it would cause huge problems!

I'm ranting with you now and I'm not even a cm

But... As an aside Are you SURE they bought the designer coat? We get loads of really nice clothes lots are even unworn passed down to us from a generous family and I'm sure it looks like I've spent a fortune dressing ds when I've never even spent a penny on clothes for him. Just wanted to put that thought out there
BUT it doesn't excuse late payment. Death or hospitalisation to the point that she could not access her bank to pay would be the only excuse.

Hi - Yes I'm sure they bought the coat because they had the gall to tell me they did!!!!
Most of my parents are just like you and are great payers - love your name by the way!

Thanks. I'm a teacher - it's my mantra and how I make it through the day
Wow. So, they essentially said "we bought this expensive coat, but money is tight so can we pay you late this month?"

You could have said in a sarcastic tone "ah why don't I just take the coat as collateral?" kidding that never helps but honestly what about something like "oh sorry, I really wish I could help you but money is really tight for me after Christmas, too and I rely on my income to pay my bills on time and eat"

First asked if they could pay late (big sob story) a day later mum collected child and said 'why have you got that coat on today - it's too small. I bought you a new one' Roll on next day, child arrives in beautiful designer coat which probably cost the amount of money that they now owe me! Hey-ho. I won't fall for that again. I won't be agreeing to anymore late payments from now on. No money - no care! In fact I'm considering increasing my rates come April!

As for cancelled contract that's just the nature of the job I suppose but very frustrating.

What age of children do you teach HP?

That's terrible. I was in a situation once where the company I was working for were late paying me (complicated invoice system). I had to pay my CM a day late and I was absolutely mortified. I know how annoyed I was at getting paid late, so must've been the same for her.

Were the parents due to start in a few months paying a retainer? I find that this makes them take your care seriously - as otherwise they have nothing to stop them signing up at a few places and then dropping out at the last minute (like you do with nurseries). If nothing else, I hope you took a big deposit from them!

Can i join in your rant?

Also been back to work for 3 days and i am exhausted.. the child i look after routine has just gone to pot over the christmas period and he seems to be sleeping fine at night and then teething really badly during the day..

I am pulling my hair out today as i know its a few hours till the weekend and i need another break

Can I join in? Am not registered yet. Applied in September. All checks finished by November. Still waiting for pre reg visit. Ofsted told me completion by jan 3rd so when I was asked in dec for child to start jan I said yes. Still no visit. Transition visits started. Child due to start next week. Have now got to take on child for free or risk losing child and causing a lot of probs for mum. Ofsted say fine to start looking after child but for no reward and reckon visit could take another four weeks. I need to start earning. No proba taking child for free but paying bills gonna be tricky!

feel for you so much, used to have a mum who turned up saying she hadnt got the cash to pay me and had obviouslty had her bloody nails done!!!

get tough and say no, if she cant afford the service then she should fuck off, simple as, shes trying it on and taking advantage.

the other problem is of course par for the job but yes very very frustrating and annoying.

Surfandturf - early primary :)
I agree with others, be tough. Unless like prev poster their work pays them late, there is no excuse really

Don't ever accept late payment. She knows when she is due to pay,so she should have been more organised. It can become a habit. Draw the line to this type of he things. It's business and you need your money. How about you say to her o well,don't have money so didn't provide food/lunch/snack for her dc. It doesn't make sense.
Request money or you can't take the child in...Simple as that,so next time she will know that care of the child is one of the priorities and she should be respectful of that...
Grrrrrr,this type of people make me mad.....My df is cm and she is now very clever about money -so no problems in that area....at least for now...

Hi again all, Feel free to join in the rant - it's nice to know it's not just me!

Yesterday was the icing on the cake as collected same child from school and she had a bag of clothes to change into as she was going to a birthday party - again all brand new from zara! My response 'have you got lots of new clothes lately X?' response was 'Yes, mum has got me lots of new clothes from zara, monsoon and next'. Ok so she may have been shopping in the sales BUT if I was in the position they have told me they are re money I'd be shopping the Matalan / Primani sales! I like my children to have nice things but sometimes something has to give doesn't it?

I had a child scream from 8am till pick up at 4pm yesterday which is really testing when you have 2 others to care for. She has bad nappy rash and I'm pretty sure teething too - poor thing. I fell asleep watching corrie last night and slept till 7 am this morning!

Mary I know just what you mean about routines going to pot - all our hard work undone and we have to start all over again.

Bonkerz That's so frustrating for you. In this area Ofsted seem to be really on the ball with timings of visits. The local council on the other hand are not. Hope you manage financially untill you can start earning. Despite my rantings it will be worth it in the long run - just make sure they pay you up front and on time!!!!!!

Just picked up on ur Rant... Hope you feel better now... lol... I'm a cm... i get my contract signed that i get paid on the Monday of childcare commencing.. Extra hours get added on to the next wk,... Also with a late payment clause Extra £20 per day late... Funny i never have a problem with my parents paying.... :)... But it's amazing what you get!!!!

You need to tighten up your contractual arrangements and be more assertive. people wanting to retain you in advance should pay a hefty deposit, with detailed terms etc, so if they change their minds at short notice lose the deposit.

and if they don't pay in full they should not get your services!

Hi
I was so attached to one child, (and we were not at the bread line so it was not so urgent for us) that I let the parent get away with loads of lateness. I was a fool as they now still owe me. During that time they had holidays, studio portrait photography sessions, 2 new cars and still I was a mug. I just liked the kid so much.
Sympathy to you

Hi again all,

Maggi - I am totally in the same position that you were (don't necessarily need the money back) but I am very attached to the little one mainly because she has changed soooo much in the time that she has been with me. Anyway I had a rage moment last week and decided enough is enough. I have sent letters to parents that owe me anything saying I need all accounts to be paid in full before the start of the new financial year or I will be unable to provide care from 1st April. Phew! From then on I will not allow myself to get into this situation again!

Dozer, I have stated on my paperwork that I charge £15 per week late fee but I have always waived it as I agreed payment terms with the parents.

Felt a bit bad at first but now I've done it I feel in control again. How is everyone else settling back into things so far this year?