CM Club: advice needed...long sorry!

[KaySamuels]

I look after two siblings aged 10 and 14, early mornings and evenings term time only. In the school holidays or if mum has the week off they pay a retainer of £35.

Last week was a 'typical' week (some are less busy, mum works a shift pattern) of
Tuesday 6.30-8am, 3-6.30pm
Wednesday 6.30-8am, 3-8.30pm
Thursday 6.30-8am, 3.6.30pm
The total bill for last week was £83.50 (I charge £2.50p.h, p.child and £1 for each tea). Also although I have put finishes at half past the hour (eg 6 or 8 pm) I am only ever paid to the hour.

Anyway next week the older sibling is going away with school for a few days so my hours are:
Monday both siblings 6.30-8am
Wednesday youngest sibling only 6.30-8am
Friday youngest sibling only 6.30-8am, 3-6.30pm

This adds up to £23.50 for the week! Also the younger sibling is very hard work, he has behaviour problems, and I find the presence of his older sister has a great calming influence on him. The reason I don't charge for unsociable hours is because there are two of them ifswim.

My contract states that absence is charged at full fee now (changed it few months back), so should I also charge for when sister should be here but will be away with school? Or not? This is the parent that pays me late (but just escapes late fee), picks up late (and doesn't pay me difference), etc. I am going to need to invoice her if I'm charging for older sibling because I know if I don' she wil just pay me the minimum she can. Probably should have invoiced already really, only just realised it's next week she is away!

Also I am nervous of rocking the boat as they are moving soon and may decide to change cms if she has a grievance (has said will stay with me - not moving far). Although on the other hand older sibling will probably stop coming soon so what will I do then? Won't be as pallatble to work those hours when I'm just getting up for one (very difficult) child!

This is very long I know but any advice greatly appreciated! I've put as much info on as I can because I will be out most of the day.
If I do charge full fee for both will be £39.50 btw.

I think you should DEFINITELY charge for sister on school trip - you're still available to work and I always charge if they are not here through there own choice!!!

I personally would think about knocking this family on the head - certainly don't worry about charging what you should just so you don't rock the boat - madness.

Reasons not to keep them:

Mum pays late
Mum collects late
Difficult child
Not great hours
Not getting paid for extra hours!

IF you decide to stick with them, I would seriously make sure your T&C's are tweaked to make it clear that any extra hours worked will be invoiced seperately. I have in my contracts that if they drop off early/collect late, without previously being arranged, they are charged £5 per 15 mins, going up to £10 per 15 mins after 7pm. I have never charged this and have had late parents but it's there for piss takers and to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Charge what it says in contract, you are not obliged to give discounts. She needs to pay you in advance not late!

She is clearly taking the p* and i wouldn't have it. How much do you need this customer? Sometimes you have to weigh it all up.

Sounds like more hassle that its worth tbh.

tbh lt I don't think I will have them much longer anyway as although the mum has said she will still need me when they move the level headed older child has already been asked by mum if she will sort out younger sibling in a morning! (sibling told me) She said no and I don't blame her! He is really difficult (esp in a morning) and often lashes out at sis!

If oldest were to stop coming youngest would kick up a fuss, this is the main reason I still have older one at 14. If this were to happen tbh I wouldn't want to childmind youngest on his own, it wouldn't be worth it. I know that sounds terrible (I do like these kids and they love coming to mine) but it just wouldn't! Mum would just assume I would charge single reguar fee for him I know it!

That's the trouble lmg - at the moment I would realy miss the cash! I wouldn't be destitute but it would hit me. I have no littlies at the mo (only one four yr old two afternoons, going full time at school in sept). If I could get a littly or two wouldn't be as fussed.

Bugger, just looked at my amendment to contract and it says..

'if children are absent when booked to be in childcare - full fee charged'

This may cause a problem, as she never 'booked' me to have older sibling. When she wrote me her hours down she put 'x only' on wednesday and friday. Damn it!

So does this mean I have no leg to stand on??

Looks like it hun, I always say they pay for a min number of hours per week regardless of if they come or not, only exceptions are if im ill/ my kids are ill (no fee) or im on hols (half fee).

I would go on a mad advertising splurge and see if you can get some little's I know it is very hard though and may take time but you need to do it i think?

Yes I ordered some free fliers and brochures off vistaprint on friday and wrote a huge list of where to take them (local shops, services, companies etc). Soon as they come goona do a massive sweep of the area!

My contracts for this parent are slightly different to others due to her unusual shift pattern, she books me for when she needs me, in advance, and these are the hours I do, usually plenty of hours although the amount varies from week to week, it is usually about the same amount over each month if that makes sense. As I said, I don't think I will have them for much longer, and until I get some new mindees I really need to hang onto them.

As with most cms I love having the kids (even the extremely draining younger one), it is the usual parent problems that are stressing me out!

Oh dear, agree it looks like you can't charge then

I've never had this situation as I've always had all dayers that don't change week by week.

I think you need to change your contracts in future but for now, agree with LMG's and get out there advertising like mad and see what you can do about getting more littlies.

Are you listed near the top on Childcarelink?

When doing leaflets drops, don't forget Estate Agents and building sites!!

Your CIS looks really good. Just get out there hit everywhere with flyers, leaflets, business cards, websites, yellow pages, ask all your friends and family to have your flyer up in their cars. Talk to anyone who will listen that you spaces.

Thanks! Thank you all for your help, think will have to chalk this week up to experience!

Am off out to a funfair at the park with puppet shows and noddy! DS is gonna love it! See you all later. Gonna have this thread deleted this evening when I get back.

Thanks again x

Make sure you put flyers in your car at the fair at the least!

AN UPDATE:

Was discussing last night whether mum would send me the £23.50 or do the decent thing and round it up to our usual retainer fee (which I would do), anyway, told dp was expecting the lowest amount....
Money came with mindee this morning and it was the max amount - payment for both kids all week.
Yippee I'm shocked and happy!

Woohoo!! Excellent. Glad that it was all right in the end