thinking of finishing being a childminder

[Mum2Luke]

I am getting increasingly peed off with the minority of parents who get help with Tax credits but don't want to pay us cms and say the Tax credits aren't paying them, think up a sob story when they are and pocket the money themselves.

I am having this at the moment, have suspended minding until am paid but its not fair that I cannot prove she isn't paid. I think TCs should be paid direct to us cms, this is OUR money and some parents think its quite ok to tell us lie after lie. Have a good mind to inform Benefit hotline on this, I might frighten her into sorting things out but it might make things tons worse.

HELP!!!!

this isnt new.
My old childminder had a mindee whose mother was receiving Family Credit (pre CTC). She just didnt pay.
When CM pressed her for the money the mother accused CM of assaulting the child and it went all the way to court.
I was a character witness for her.

It was bloody awful and she never CMd again.

I make it quite clear to parents that their financial affairs are up to them and I expect payment on time regardless. One of my friends was not paid for December and the parents said it was so they could afford presents.Never mind that the CMs children had to wait another month for their presents! Not to.mention the mortgage!

My contract specifies payment in advance by the last day of the preceding month. If it's even a day late I will not take the child, full stop.

Tax credits aren't your money it's a contribution towards their childcare costs, they are responsible for paying you not tax credits. Lots of parents get barely any help do it won't cover the cost. If it went straight to cm's we would be more responsible for the accuracy of the claim but it still wouldn't cover their percentage.

You need to make it clear that where they find it from us not your problem but that late charges etc will be applied of not paid by x date each week/month.

2 weeks Payment in advance always. Not my problem where the money comes from but tax credits will check and it does catch up with the parents.

How can they pay two weeks in advance when the have to work a week in had in the first place? Its easier said than done.

All I can say is that Tax credits could have a form where the childcare providers filled in what they charged per child and gave the HMRC their bank account details so it goes straight to the childcare providers and NOT into the parent's pocket. I think some parents (and it happened to my friend) use the OFSTED Reg no, say they lose their job and go to another cm/nursery and the cm doesn't get paid.

I have a late payment policy but try getting the original payment plus late payment is like squeezing blood from a stone with a minority.

My parents all pay a month in advance. I like to get my money from the parents, so there is only one.person to deal with about non payment.

Mum2Luke, it's not your problem if they have to work a week in hand - you are entitled to be paid when you want to be paid and if that's two weeks or a month in advance then they do it or they find someone else.

Mum2Luke, I agree with Octaviapink. It's the parent's problem to find the first payment even if they are not working. They will have to borrow it or delay paying a different bill or whatever they need to do but if they want to go back to work they will need to find the money.

Not sure if it was on MN, but I recently read a post saying that people who receive benifits of one kind or another, should be given to them as specific vouchers, instead of paying 'money' in to bank/building society Ie milk/electric/gas/council tax/other benefits etc etc
so as they cant spend the money on say ciggarettes/alchohol/drugs etc etc, only on what the vouchers are for, IYSWIM.

Think Mum2luke has a good idea, voucher company paying the CM direct rather than parent.