Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

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

Original poster

I am so so annoyed with my childminder

31 replies

flutterbee · 04/01/2007 08:55

My childminder has DS every Thursday and Friday while I go to college, before the Christmas break I had a chat with them and told them that I returned to college in the first week of the new year (today) and they have a schedule from my college (as they pay the fees) telling them how much they are being paid and what for.

So this morning I was sat here at 8am waiting for them to come and pick DS up
I waited half an hour (they are sometimes 10-20 mins late and I don't mind) and then rang to see if they had forgotten. Turns out that they have it written down that he doesn't go back till next week, no problem its a mistake we are all human, but I then got lots of huffing and puffing at the end of the phone "Oh I don't know what we are going to do then" "I have other children to pick up now" "I'm sure your not back at college till next week". I repeated that no I was back today and reminded them of the print out from college. I was then told "Oh I will see what I can do, I will be down to pick DS up as soon as I can"

I'm still waiting

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 08:59

I would just like to add that they are fantastic with DS, I am just really annoyed with them over this.

Still waiting

OP posts:
Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:06

Obviously no one gives a toss

OP posts:
blossomhill · 04/01/2007 09:07

That's not fair. Lots of people are on school runs at this time of day!

pindy · 04/01/2007 09:08

Has she arrived yet? Hope it all gets sorted - is she usually disorganised?

I started back at college yesterday and was asked by friends "if I was sure" - yes I was sure - like you I had a print out!!!

Good luck - see someone does give a toss

whatkatydidntdo · 04/01/2007 09:10

how frustrating for you.

My mindees parents always give me a quick ring (or an email)just to say "hi everything ok for xxxx this week/tomorrow" etc. Perhaps you could do the same thing next holidays just to prevent it happening again!

shosha · 04/01/2007 09:11

Message withdrawn

Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:11

thank-you Pindy

They are not normally disorganised, if they were I would have moved DS, they are brilliant and there care is second to none, I'm just so angry about this.

Still waiting

OP posts:
Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:13

shosha - they offer the collection/dropping off service to all there mindees and do this from homes and from schools etc

It is a service I pay for and one I need as I don't drive and getting to them would be impossible.

OP posts:
Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:14

Oh and sorry its her partner who is a registered assistant that does the collections so no need to worry about being in 2 mplaces at once.

It is an excellent service.

OP posts:
Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:20

Still waiting and now officially late.

OP posts:
shosha · 04/01/2007 09:20

Message withdrawn

Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:23

DH starts work at 7.30 so he is gone too early to be able to drop DS off, so the pick up/drop off option is an excellent one.

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 04/01/2007 09:24

Flutterbee,

How annoying for you, she is contracted to do a job and she has failed.

shosha · 04/01/2007 09:25

Message withdrawn

Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:28

I was due at college 15 mins ago and still have to walk there yet, looks like I will be getting a taxi

I have just spoken with them and have been assured that they are on there was to collect DS, so they will be here at about 9.40, so only 1hr 40mins late

Really if they weren't the best childminders in the area I would move him.

OP posts:
shosha · 04/01/2007 09:33

Message withdrawn

Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:35

They are generally 10-20 mins late in the morning but we have discussed this and I am fine with it and they are always very very apologetic even though I have told them not to worry.

This is the first time I have ever felt annoyed with them.

OP posts:
Original poster
flutterbee · 04/01/2007 09:37

DS has just gone by the way

I am off to get my stuff together whilst waiting for the taxi.

I suspect DS will be dropped off this afternoon with tales of playing and painting and lots of other things that make me smile and all will be forgiven

OP posts:
S88AHG · 04/01/2007 09:58

As a CM I always make contact a day or 2 before the end of hoildays just to check all ok, ie no-one sick or anything, and also so I feel organised. It is usually only a text message which doesnt interupt anyone, but I think it helps, and everyone says its nice that I do that. Maybe as someone has already said next holidays might be worth giving them a ring, a day or 2 before the end of hols, just for your own piece of mind, hope you have/had a good day

saltire · 04/01/2007 11:14

I've had a sort of reverse of your problem. I finished on 22nd. Gave all my parents a note saying i would be back working on 3rd Jan. Mindee 2 parents let me know he wouldn't be back till 8th (another thread), and mindees 3 &4 said they wouldn't be back till 9th.
Mindee 1's mum picked him up on 22nd, i asked when i would have him again
"I'll let you know". I called on 24th - she didn't know
I called on 27th - no answer
I called on 29th - no answer
I called on 2nd, no answer.
So i got up at 7am yesterday,, not knowing if he was coming or not, he didn't. It's quite annoying isn't it.

shosha · 04/01/2007 12:55

Message withdrawn

StrawberrySnowflakes · 04/01/2007 12:58

thats shcking saltire, so inconsiderate, even if theyre away, they should have let you know beforehand!

StrawberrySnowflakes · 04/01/2007 12:59

hope you're charging them for absence???..full pay!!

nannynick · 04/01/2007 13:18

Being Late, I feel is one of the major moans from both childcare providers and also parents.
Personally I'm known for my timekeeping, I'm usually early when due to arrive anywhere, to such a consistent extent that if I have not arrived on time, people really panic!

Being late, weather you are a parent dropping your child to the childminder, or the childminder collecting your child from you, from nursery or anywhere else, I feel is a problem which often arises.

Only this morning I was chatting with a childminder who moaned that one of her mindees parents is constantly picking up 1/2 hour late. It frustrates her partner no end and disrupts her own children's evening bedtime routine. But what can be done? Adding additional fees for late pickups works for a bit, but for people who are not good timekeepers... it can be hard to change to being reliable.

Has anyone come across any ways of solving the issue of lateness?

saltire · 04/01/2007 13:43

These parents i'm on about are a bit, well, dippy. I am paid from 8am till 6pm. She can turn up any time from 8am onwards, usually when i'm leaving the house to go to school.
She never remebmers anything, and just doesn't listen when i ask her anything or tell her anything!
I've actually quite enjoyed not having him, as i've been able to get the house organised, but it's just so frustrating