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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Parents that won't pay

27 replies

Saz73 · 02/06/2006 14:48

Hi, I have a parent that is not paying me. They gave me notice and deceided to keep child at home with mum, now the father phoned me over a week ago and said how unfair I was being in asking to be them to pay for the notice period !!!

I am going to send a letter but need help in wording it ...........Help!!!

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FeelingOld · 02/06/2006 15:08

If you use NCMA contracts state that they are legally binding, therefore whatever was agreed when they signed the contract they will have to pay for.
Having said that ,if you are a member of NCMA I would give them a ring before writing a letter to ask their advice.

alison222 · 02/06/2006 15:58

Agree with Feeling Old you should get paid through your notice period. sp if your contract states it then the parents ought to pay up. I agree with calling NCMA if you are using thier contracts. they will probably give good advice.
I would send a letter with a final bill asking for it to be paid ASAp with a photocopy of the relevant bit of the contract and the final page with their signature on it so at they can't deny they didn't know about it. ( If they didn't read it then that is their problem not yours).
Good luck

jellyjelly · 02/06/2006 16:15

Have had this with a prent who didnt want to pay the last 2 days which was £50, i told them you booked it youpay for it. She did, i dont think they know that it really is legially binding and you can reclaim through ncma by going to court.

munchkinsmummy · 02/06/2006 17:59

I have had a similar situation and am currently in the process of going to court. Call the NCMA legal advice line they are so helpful and will give you all the info you need about writing the first letter.

Original poster

Saz73 · 02/06/2006 18:06

Thanks munchkinsmummy I will phone them on Monday morning. Keep hoping they might pay be then as I hate this sort of things. I've used CM's for 6 yrs and would never dream of not paying.

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Original poster

Saz73 · 05/06/2006 11:03

Spoke to parents again and they don't want to pay as they have some issues over the way I provided care. It's taken over a week to tell me this. Spoken to NCMA and told to listen and ask for these concerns/complaints in writing and offer them a copy of the Ofsted complaints procedure.

Parent suppose to be coming at lunch time to discuss. Got to be strong and not to give in.

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looneytune · 05/06/2006 11:09

Oh mate, that's not fair. Isn't this the one who cried every time anyone talked to them? Isn't this why they removed them from your care? If so, sounds to me like they are inventing reasons not to pay!

Good luck. I'll watch out for you at school in the morning! :)

Original poster

Saz73 · 05/06/2006 11:26

Thanks Looneytune and yes it was the one that cried. HOpe to see you at school.

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agalch · 05/06/2006 13:08

hi saz73

I am in Scotland so may be different with the care commission up here.A parent refused to pay me my 4 weeks notice period and because i have legal cover the soliciters are in the process of handling it atm.It probs will end up going to court now as she has been sent a letter and hasn't paid up.I am fed up with parents doing this and that's why i have decided to pursue it this time. Go for it and be brave

Original poster

Saz73 · 05/06/2006 13:18

Thanks I will, but i makes me wonder if I should start asking for payment in advance to cover situations like this. What do other CM's do?

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Katymac · 05/06/2006 13:19

Always have money in advance

no money = no minding

looneytune · 05/06/2006 13:20

Oh Saz, get it upfront!!! I get paid in advance, on 1st of each month direct in my bank account.

Really, most childminders ask for it in advance these days. I say it's because I've been messed about before and also, I need it in order to buy food & drink etc.

HTH :)

agalch · 05/06/2006 13:22

Saz73
I used to take payment whenever the parent decided to let me have it.I now ask for the fees up front.However that means nothing if they are determined to fraudulantly(sp) claim working families tax credits etc as they come for a month and then bugger off and don't pay the notice anyway.This is whats happened to me as i know she is still working and claiming tax credits and has a family member providing care.Rubbish eh?

Original poster

Saz73 · 05/06/2006 13:34

Thanks for the replies def payment up front from now on. One mindee still owes me approx £30-40 do you think it would be fair to change to payment in advance?

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looneytune · 05/06/2006 13:37

I think so! :)

looneytune · 05/06/2006 13:38

by the way Saz, have you seen my thread about the mindee falling over at school? just wondered if you know whether or not the school usually does an accident/incident form?

Original poster

Saz73 · 05/06/2006 13:41

I saw your thread and I know at the infant school they do accident/infant forms (DD have come home many atime with cuts ), I would of thought the nursey would too. Ask them/phone them as they may have been abit hectic to of thought about giving them to you.

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Katymac · 05/06/2006 15:54

If you are changing from in arrears to in advance you need to give them plenty of notice

ie
wk 1 due £100 Pay £120
wk 2 due £100 Pay £120
wk 3 due £100 Pay £120
wk 4 due £100 Pay £120
wk 5 due £100 Pay £120
wk 6 pay £100 for week 7

Does that make sence? (or have I worked it out wrong)

munchkinsmummy · 07/06/2006 17:00

This sounds like the problem I had, once i started persuing for the money the parents wrote to Ofsted and Ncma and made complaints about the care i provided. It can all get a bit scary when the paperwork starts flying about but you need to go for it and get what you are owed. NCMA have been a great help to me. How did the meeting with the parents go?

Original poster

Saz73 · 07/06/2006 18:18

Hi He didn't show up but phoned me last night instead. Think he's just trying to bully me. He's offered to pay me half of what he owes but if I persue the full amount he said he will write to Ofsted and all organisations, but if I accept the lower amount he won't complain ..... sounds abit like blackmail to me!!

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Expectantmum · 07/06/2006 18:36

I think you should pursue the mattter for full payment. He sounds like he is trying to bully you and obviously they have never mentioned before any issues they might have had with your care. If they employed you on the basis that they have to pay the notice period, then so be it. My DS goes to a nursery two afternoons a week and I have to pay a month in advance, plus if I take him out I have to give a months notice for which I would have to pay.

agalch · 07/06/2006 20:03

Hi again Saz73

If i were you i would document all phone calls ie exactly what is said by you and the parent.I would also phone NCMA and keep them up to date re the father threatning you with making a complaint against you.

My parent still hasn't paid so soliciter taking next steps as we speak.I would go ahead and pursue them for the fees owed,it's your money and you are entitled to it.
Good luck

munchkinsmummy · 07/06/2006 20:12

Saz73 that sounds like blackmail to me, I would definately get in touch with the NCMA they will be really helpful and tell you what to do. They might ask you to write again but they will tell you what to write.

As for writing to all the organisations I would call OFSTED and tell them what is happening. When the parents of the child i was looking after threaten to call OFSTED/ NCMA etc I called ofsted and told them what was going on and gave them all the details in writing. When the parent made a complaint OFSTED was expecting it. NCMA wrote to me and said that they had recieved a complaint but OFSTED would deal with it. I was also threatened with Social services but OFSTED said that they couldn't do anything. I have been trying to get my money over 350 pound for over 5 months now (not giving up though). Will keep an eye on this thread to see how u are getting on.

munchkinsmummy · 12/06/2006 19:04

Hi again Saz73 how are things going?

Original poster

Saz73 · 13/06/2006 07:12

Hi, just to let you know I finally got paid on Sunday. Spoke to NCMA and I sent another letter giving a deadline of sunday for payment to be received or legal action will be taken and they also suggested that I speak to the Army Welfare Officer (parent in the army), which I also did.

I wrote to OFSTED informing them of a possbile complaint and they emailed me back saying they would not get involved in any money matters.

Hopefully now I've recieved payment that everything is ok.

Learnt a few lessons from this - payment in advance and think carefully about doing business with anyone from the Army Garrison again (when I first started I had trouble getting money from a parent as well!!)

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