Paying the childminder/nanny................................................

[ssd]

This is to all parents who use a childminder or a nanny.

Do you pay her or him on time ALWAYS?

Please be honest.

I don't know if I'm just unlucky with my employers or if this is "usual" in childcare to often be paid late.

TIA

I used to CM and was always paid monthly in advance.

I'm a childminder with 5 mindees and 2 out of the 5 pay on time, others average 2-5 days late. I just accept it now as part of the job!!!

Always pay our nanny on time - normally early as it is done by bank transfer and we like to leave extra days to allow for weekends/bank hols.

Pay our childminder by direct debit to allow for weekends. Calculated yearly total and divided equally. Can't understand why anyone would want the faff of cheque writing or getting the cash each month

Pay in cash each week, in arrears. But the hours vary slightly each week, too.

As a nanny im ALWAYS paid on time.... as ANY person should be...

it happens by direct debit and some how the person who sorts out paying the people at my bosses company also sorts out MY wages.

As a nanny i ALWAYS expect to be paid on time.... i have a mortgage and bills to pay too, and given how easy direct debits are to set up i think there is NO excuse at all!

Huh i wish i got paid on time!! One of my parents paid on the dot each week.One of the parents i have had to invoice 3 times before i got the money 2.5 wks late.

One parent i'm in the middle of taking to court over unpaid fees.

Now im on maternity leave and i know i'll get paid on time for my maternity allowance,will make a change.

As a childminder it's the one thing that i bloody hate about this job. The thing i hate even more is when they are late paying and i have to hear about the fab family weekend/piss up at the pub etc,and then oh can you wait till next week for your money as im skint.

Anyway i won't have to worry about it for a few months

All my parents pay me by standing order at the beginning of the month.

I have always paid nursery and CM on time. Never once been late in 5 years. Now I pay by electronic vouchers which is in effect bank transfer so probably gets money quicker than when I wrote a cheque.

As a nanny, I get paid monthly in arrears, by standing order, so both I and my employer know when it hits bank accounts. Any additional (the odd pennies due to tax/ni rates changing a bit) are put in with the payslip.

A good friend of mine who is a childminder however does have one parent who is a late payer. Invoices get issues, but excuse after excuse is given for why they can't pay. Strange though, when they are told that no more childminding can take place, the money turns up.

If you are having trouble with an unreliable payer, my advice would be to look elsewhere for the income. Failure to pay, would be breach of contract usually, so you could refuse to provide childcare until debt is settled... then give them notice. If you are a nanny, then it's time to job hunt, you don't want an unreliable employer.

I have to say I don't always pay our childminder on time . We are supposed to pay weekly in advance, but yesterday I wrote her a cheque for the last three weeks. That's the worst ever, though, and she's never had to invoice me.

It's partly because my wages are not high enough to cover her pay, so I often have to ask dp for a cheque. I also often ask for extra hours if my work is piling up. But we decided last night that we would set up a standing order so we know the basic amount is going out of his account, and into hers, regularly. Then if I need any extra hours I shall pay it out of my account.

I followed advice from other childminders and introduced a late payment fee (£5 per child per day) if payment is not made on the agreed day.

No one has forgotten to go to the cashpoint or left their chequebook at home since!

ayla99.... that sounds liek a very good idea

I am invoiced every month but that is because the amount to be paid varies - dependent on whether it is a 4 or 5 week month, whether she or I have booked hols and whether DS is at school or not.

we pay by bank transfer every week in arrears - i think a late payment fee is more than reasonable.

I transfer the money online from my account to nanny's account on the last working day of the month (which is when I get paid). When we used a childminder, she asked for cash payment at the start of the week. I was not so good about this. It was usually Wed. or Thurs. by the time I remember/had time to get the cash. She had another parent who was the same. She didn't seem to mind too much. She always got paid by the end of the week.

SSD, how late are they? Are we talking days or weeks? Are you still nannying?

I am invoiced each month as the amount varies. I give my cm a cheque the next time dd goes (so could be next day, or next week).

I always pay on time. My cm provides a fantastic service and I feel it would be disrespectful if I paid her late.

always paid late thats the joy of being a childminder!

I think I have paid a day late once or twice in five years. I used to pay two weeks in advance just in case something caused a problem.

My childminder has made it clear what she thinks of people who don't pay on time....

my nanny is paid by direct debit. once (with a different nanny)it bounced which meant she was charged for going overdrawn. I reimbursed her the charges. Although she was horrible and undiplomatic about it (as, it turned out she was about most things) that I somehow felt annpyed with her instead of feeling horrified and embarrassed and covered in repentence had she been nice about it.

I have worked for more than one family who were always late with payment. Don't be fooled into thinking your nanny or CM doesn't mind - of course she does. Would you like it if your employer "forgot" to pay you, with no prior warning, or would it really mess up your life? Nannies are people with bills and mortgages and food to buy as well. It's very hard to convey this to an employer without unpleasantness, and much easier to just say "Oh well, ok then" and mentally curse them. Paying your chidcarer late is taking advantage of the good relationship you have with them.

thanks for all replies!

it seems working in childcare and being paid late is usual. I wonder why?

yes Uwila I'm still nannying and I really like the job, but I'm always paid late and it's something that bugs me, but not to the point I want to leave, I'm too attatched to the kids now........

I so agree with FrannyandZooey about not being fooled that your childcarer doesn't mind being paid late.

I get the "forgot my cheque book", "cash machine didn't work" or "is it OK to pay next week because ..." and I dutifully smile and say, "no problem." But it is!! As a family, we don't rely on my income to pay bills etc., but that doesn't mean I don't mind waiting. It's not the end of the world, just a bit irritating that I'm just not assertive enough!

All my contracts get renewed in September, and I think I will reword them a little better!