Childminders club: Signed a Contract for childcare and not turned up

[Tan1959]

Hi All - sorry a bit of a long one & need to have a serious rant .

Briefly, at the end of Feb, a parent visited with child, decided she would like to place child, signed Contract for four full days per week starting 14 March (13 March was when my other little mindee left - mum taking maternity leave) - having told her that I only take fee payments in advance, it emerged that she was not able to do this as she was in receipt of JSA & Job Centre had arranged for her to attend a Training placement. She explained that childcare was to be funded by the Training company and showed me a form whereby it asked for Registered Childminders Registration Number - I gave her this but did not sign the form.

Decided to call her the day before child about to attend to find out whether she had received the letter of confirmation that fees would be paid - she had not, said child would start following week. Following week she called second day after child supposed to have started and left msge to say Job Centre stated that they would be sending the money any day now so child would start following week. In the meantime, I had tried to contact her several times on both phone numbers but no reply as I was now confused about who in actual fact were going to pay the fees. Tried all last weekend to call her, no reply, child did not turn up Monday, tried phoning again, no reply. Wrote to her on Wednesday & nothing.

I am bl**dy furious as I had another enquiry for a full time place not long after she signed the Contract but only had part-time vacancies left. As far as I am concerned she owes me fees from 14/03 to 27/03 totalling £450.00 which is when I wrote to her asking for an update & if it is her intention that child will attend.

I contacted Job Centre on Friday but it was the wrong one so am contacting the correct one on Monday.

Apart from the fact that I am now out of pocket by £450.00, child was being cared for by her friend prior to her visit to me so I am concerned that she has used my Registration Number under false pretences.

I have had 3 parents in the past who have either been at University, College or needing to claim Child Tax Credits but not had funding in place prior to child starting but I did get sight of confirmation letters which enabled the child to start - not that I don't trust people but have learned that people are not always as honest as moi! so for me, this type of situation is not that unusual.

What would you do in the circumstances re the monies outstanding? (even though I did not care for the said child, we did have a Contract)

I have in my mind terminated the Contract but would you write to her again making it official & ask for the fees outstanding? or threaten to take legal action?

or would you just put it down to one of those bad experiences?

This is the part of the job that I really dislike.

Apart from all that I have picked up this awful D&V bug that started Friday night just after I had dropped my little mindee off to her home - the only consolation is that I have not fallen ill on a working day!

Hi Tan - I'm not sure what to suggest.....but wanted you to know you were supported, acknowledged and sympathised with

Not much use...sorry

You dont live in Leeds do you by any chance?
Exactly same happened to me and it was the straw that broke the camels back and I resigned. The lady in question knew her rights she said it would cost to take her to court and they would make her pay at a pound a week.I know she has done this same again to another childminder I am sorry if it turns ouut to be you it is awful.

That's awful, poor you! Makes me want to ask for deposits when I hear stories like this!

Maybe phone NCMA. I'd be tempted to write and mention fees due - that's me personally as it doesn't matter that you didn't work, you turned others away and are now out of pocket

Hope you manage to sort this!!

Thanks for all your support ladies - I am so angry just needed to rant a bit

Joanna4 - no not in Leeds, N London. Yes it's very hard when things like this happen isn't it, especially if there are no reserves to fall back on - what did you go onto do career wise?

Yes, Hellybelly, I may well write to her and mention the fees. Maybe in future, I will need to start asking for a deposit if I am faced with a similar situation.

Have a good rest of the day all

I too have worked for the job centre on a similar scheme. I got the name of the person at the job centre whilst the mum was here and phoned them to make sure they were going to pay me as its a bugger trying to get monies from a third party payer, as I have found out to my cost in the past. Even so I still did not get paid by the job centre for 6 weeks after the short term contract had finished as they would only pay if the mum actually went on the course and then actually fifished it and then the money had to come through differnet departments before it actually came to me. I now charge extra per child if a third party is paying.

Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that you will get any money. As she has your registration number, I would contact whoever you can (Job Centre?) to ensure that they know she has conned you, just in case she has been in receipt of any money.

Good luck with finding someone nice instead.

can anyone else use your registration number to gain tax credits? This is what puts me off expecting vouchers.

Sorry this has happened to you, unfortunately I've heard of it happening before

happy mum- I am given a seperate reg number for vouchers, my cm doesn't give me her registration number.

but did your cm give you her registration number in the beginning?

I would be tempted to fill in contracts etc and then send off form myself rather than parent seeing my number.......

Babydales< I do wish I had done that, just didn't think of it

I think you are right TP, I very much doubt I will get the money

Happymumof2: As I understand it, a parent has to obtain your Registration Number for the purpose of claiming Tax Credits but if Tax Credits do not contact you to check that you are in receipt of the monies, then who would know if parent has cancelled childcare placement & keeps money! does this make sense?

So my worry is that the parent in question has obtained my Reg No with a view to naming me as the childminder caring for her child, she is in receipt of monies paid by Job Centre for childcare but does not honour our Contract - who will know unless I inform the Job Centre!

Happymumof2 & lexiemum - the childminders Registration Number should be on the Contract so parent will have a note of it anyway! also on childminders Registration Cert & if on display will be seen by parents

When I gave up I became a teaching assistant Tan I was qualified and it was a job I did before childminding.I am loving it and learning lots of new skills along the way.

I had a similar situation. Was contacted by a young single mum, and she signed the contract for me to have her child 7.30 am till5.15pm, five days a week. She was going to pay me weekly, however all that first week she kept making excuses for not having the money. Halfway through the second week she phoned and said he was ill, but she still wanted the place, she did the same for three weeks then nothing.

can you get legal advice from the NCMA ( i did with the SCMA).
I also contacted the Tax credits people and explained the situation, as i knew she was in receipt of tax credits.

I was lucky though as she was in the military, and i got her wages arrested, and after a 6 month battle and loads of help and advice from the CAB and RAF i got my money,
I can totally sypmathsise (sp?) with you.

I would write to het threatning legal action.

Glad it's working out for you Joanna4

Good for you Saltire, I may well write a letter threatening Legal Action but going to contact Job Centre first tomorrow

How did it go today Tan?

Hi Katymac - I telephoned Job Centre & have been told that Job Centre will issue a cheque to parent for 6 weeks monies end this week or early next. I spoke to parent this evening, she still wants place to be kept open but seems a bit reluctant to actually send child as she says she doesn't think money will end up coming through mmmmm! not sur4e what I should think about that. I have asked her to call the Job Centre tomorrow to confirm what I have been told - I have reiterated that I need to be paid from the date that our Contract ran from irrespective of whether child has attended; she has agreed but we will wait & see; I will keep in touch with Job Centre if no money received. I don't really want to keep place open as she hasn't even got a job lined up when her training finishes but is 'guaranteed' one at end of the course & quite honestly, I really don't think that she can afford me with the type of employment that she will be seeking even when she does apply for Working families Tax Credits. I did suggest to her that perhaps it would benefit her if she found someone cheaper, she said she had, £1ph cheaper but wanted me so what to do I just do not know. I am concerned that I will end up keeping place open & not get paid - after all we all have bills to pay.

On a good note, I am taking on a 4 year old for 25 hrs pw soon so things looking up again although similar situation with the money side but a bit more straight forward this time.

By the way, thought that I should just clarify in case I get shouted at that when I say 'the type of employment she will be seeking' that I do not mean that in a demeaning way but just that the salary scale is low for the particular type of employment

I knew what you ment

So mixed news - you might get some money - maybe

this may have already been said but 'some people' get your reg number and pretend theyre using childcare to claim money..but dont..id get onto jobcentre or somewhere to see if your reg number is being used unlawfully!

Update: I received most of the money owed to me today minus £155 - although I am peeved about the loss, I have decided to waiver the remainder as I just do not have time for this hassle.

Thanks for all your comments ladies

agalch; I hope you have some luck getting what is owed to you

Glad you got most of the money Tan1959
I have sent my registered post letter to the mum and she has till Monday to pay up in full.Not heard from her so will be phoning SCMA on Monday to set the legal stuff in motion.I go away on my hols on Tuesday and the money was meant for that but i'm determined to take this all the way now.Will let you know how i get on.