CM Club: Is everyone a member of the NCMA? advice please

[Jackmummy]

Hi,
Since being on maternity leave I have let my membership lapse. Now that I am starting CM again I've looked in to renewing my membership and they want to charge horrific amounts! Are all you childminders members? Is it really the only way to go with your public liability insurance etc?
I just resent spending nearly £100 that I don't have as am not yet CM...
Advice Please...

Jackmummy, I expect that NCMA are unable to offer the renewal price, due to the insurance element having expired. It would be like you are starting over again, and thus the £72.15 charge (see NCMA website for membership pricing, £72.15 is calculated by adding Membership of 52.50 and insurance of 19.65. It is not known if either of these figures include or exclude VAT)

"However what has annoyed me is that the NCMA want to charge me about £75 membership, when I have a renewal form that quotes £57."

If the form also quotes that you need to renew by a specific date, and that date has gone past, then alas looks like you need to become a member all over again. If you have let your membership lapse, then I doubt they can renew at the renewal price.

I find it a little strange that people question the cost really. As a qualified nurse I pay £15 a month to the Royal College of nursing but I consider it money well spent. I receive hardly anything for that. Not on a day to day basis but should the s* hit the fan the advice and backup is priceless. I also pay a substantial fee to the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Now I dont even work alone. Therefore as a childminder working alone who has a group of very young children in her care I will be happy to pay for any support I can get. Its not always comfortable to think what if this or that happened but sometimes you just have to.

teddy - thank you. Yes I do have a site by them but I only use it to link to my own business site. What do you think of the creepy hands gate?!

Before everyone thinks I am awful... I thought I'd post on this thread one last time.
I'll hold my hands up and say that I have never really concidered what the NCMA does and that some of you have helped me see them in a new light.
I guess the lady I spoke to on the phone was having a bad day as she seemed very off with me. Or maybe I was having a bad day and over sensitive! Anyway thats what made me want to explore new options.
Now I'm thinking I may well go with them... if I ever get any mindees!

I've been with the NCMA since becoming a minder in June and I must admit I didn't have a clue what they actually did or that there were any other options.

goosey, creepy hands gate, very sinister, almost hansel and gretel like. Very colourful though.