Advice please - what hours should I charge for??

[becksmummy]

Hi, you may have read some of my questions before and realised I am still new to this, I have another question for all those experienced minders out there please -

1 of my mindees is on a contract where I agreed a minimum number of hours rather than set hours with the mum as she is a student nurse so her hours vary each week.

We had agreed the hours for this week but she has text this morning to say dd ill and wont be bringing her. I still charge for childs illness but do I charge the hours I should have had her today or just for the minimum hours for the week??

Sorry its a bit long but needed to explain, thanks.

I feel that you should certainly charge the minimum number of hours, as that has already been agreed to by the parent in the contract.

I take it that this particular week hours you had agreed with the parent are more than the minimum hours.

As you have already agreed the hours for this week, I would try to charge for those hours - given the late notice that the child will not be attending. If you are feeling nice, perhaps charge for the hours booked for today, and then minimum hours for the rest of the week (if parent has told you at this point that their child will not be attending all week).

Tricky one... with luck you will get comments from others on here and no doubt all our views will differ a bit.

Have you agreed a minimum notice period for changing the hours? For example, say on Friday the hours for the following week are agreed. If this is not part of your contract, I think you should charge the minimum hours. (and then I think you should put this into your contract and charge according in the future).

Am I right in thinking that this week her hours go over the minimum amount if you include today's hours? If that's the case then I would charge for hours used as she has booked them with you and then cancelled.

Yes you could be kind and let her off but you will regret it afterwards as it will be expected again in the future. Unfortunately some parents do take advantage of their childminders and if they think they can knock some money off their bill they will try it every time! Not saying this parent is like this but better to err on the side of caution I think and start as you mean to go on.

If you will find it hard to tell her maybe print her an invoice for hours booked. I have a parent with a similar situation contract wise and as soon as I know her hours I invoice her for the hours she has booked, and these are paid even if kids are ill.

hth

i would charge her the agreed hours for today and any other day the child is not with you, as you already had your working week planned, not her minimum.good luck

Thanks everyone, I thought I should charge for the hours booked as we agreed them last week but needed someone to agree with me as I felt mean charging when havent got her!!

I will do the invoice as you suggest I always give an invoice at end of each week anyway so will just state the hours agreed and fingers crossed this will be accepted without question!

Thanks again

as a new cm myself, it may help you if future mindees pay in advance to you?..ive found this very helpful and any extra hours are added to following week?.x

I now have another problem with this same mindee, on a thursday and friday I only have her for an hour and half as I collect her from nursery at 5pm and I charge a minimum rate as would be difficult to find another mindee that would always be collected before I leave for nursery.

The mum has just text me to say she has finished early today so will be collecting dd herself and is now at uni tomorrow instead of the hospital so doesnt need me to collect tomorrow either!

My question is do I still charge for these 2 days as they were booked? What a complicted week this has become!!

I would say definately yes its very short notice to cancel, I hate this part of the job, and I am rubbish at it!! Am planning to re-write my t&c and give to parents to read and sign again, especially hours booked and charged etc, good luck with it

anyone else??

I have had similar problems with one of my mindees. I ended up out of pocket because i was always letting the parents off with payment when their child didn't attend

In the end i had to sit down with them and explain that i couldn't keep doing this and made it clear what notice should be given and what would be charged etc.
They were fine about it once i explained that i couldn't fill that space at such short notice etc, and i've never 'let anyone off' since. .

Thanks both of you, so it looks like charge as I would have as cancellation such short notice and hope that they are ok with this! - I feel bad but like you say if I let it go this time they will expect the same every time and I will be out of pocket!!

agree you should charge as you were bascially ready to go and pick the child up

i get paid on a monday for each child and every day that payment is late £5 is added to the bill

child was off today because mum decided to take day off as it was sunny but i still get paid as parent has already paid me

you need things like this in your t&c..IN BOLD..then you can always refer to the part that says ALL child absences when pre arranged are charged at normal rate

Think I do need to update my terms and conditions, must try and do this weekend!

As for being paid in advance, that would be the best solution but had already agreed to be paid at the end of the week - is it possible to change now its in the contract?

yes, just give them notice of doing it.i can email you some of my T&C over if you like?

that would be great my address is [email protected] thanks

no prob, ill have to do it at weekend as im working today and tonight, is that ok?am flapping about ofsted's visit today, so cant think of much else