CM refusing tax free childcare

[CCS83]

Hi
So my CM who my son goes to full time is refusing to sign up to the tax free childcare account - I have offered to set the payments up so they go out a week to 10 days earlier than how I pay currently but still being refused.
My employer is phasing our vouchers and the tax free account is worth circa £200 a month to me so a massive amount to lose.
I may be wrong but I suspect her objections lie in the fact she doesn’t declare all her childminding income to HMRC. Now I’m not nieve I know it does go on but it is now having a huge effect on our finances?
My employers payroll has said most works will close vouchers soon and move everyone on to the tax free account to close the current loophole
Is threatening to pull my son unless she signs up too extreme?? We pay her more than our mortgage in fees so would be a significant drop in income for her??

CCS83
Ive taken a 50 50 split on the difference with families who wanted to use it because I wont take it until its really up and running. I'm already loosing an income of £15 a week on both children who are now funded and one who last year was 2 year old funding who is very high Sen meaning lots of meetings and paperwork I'm now £30 and hour a week less on than last term but his support is the same and the paperwork to apply for an Educational Care plan is now added. So that's a major loss on my 3 places each month. but I'm sure I'm one of the snotty childminders a pp states they wouldn't work with.
Ive delayed my family holiday in the past to help a parent tell my mindees that mummy has died, I've argued at meetings against health visitors and social workers to get families help whilst not getting paid for the morning as having to place others with back up care to attend the meeting we do an awful lot more than is assumed by some as easy money whilst we does at home, and I guess that's why we can be defensive. My Mindees are like family and I will do whatever is needed but I do need to pay my bills and keep a roof over me too, taking government schemes has a price and it is childcare providers that are saving parents some of the money. When children in need funding came out I trailed it in my borough and was owed £2000 by the council it was only contacting the council leader and explaining I couldn't pay my council Tax and was happy to contact the papers if taken to court that got it paid. I'm letting others trial this one.

I don't understand this at all. As a parent, the tfc site has a section you have to put in a date for the payment to be made. If you select a date that's too early (within 2 days) it tells you you haven't given enough notice and makes you reselect a date.

I've checked with my cm and she's confirmed the dates she receives the payments match the dates I've selected. I think parents must be lying about when they've made the payment if you're not getting it in time!

" Why should I have to use my savings because a parent hasn’t paid me in our contracted date!

but they have, it's the system that hasn't paid you. "

It doesn't work like that. It's the payer's responsibility to ensure that an invoice is paid on time. A childminder's invoice is no different.

The receiver might generously allow time in the event of a problem, but the onus is still on the payer.

M0therofdragons, most of my parents use vouchers, but I had a new starter who wanted to use Tax Free Credits. I've had 3 payments so far, one of which was delayed by 5 days due to a system glitch. I'm told it's not the first time it's happened.

There's usually a few days delay on paying through vouchers: the companies make money on the interest, I believe.

Tfc is 3 days so they don't get a lot of interest. I know initially it was glitchy as vouchers were due to stop last April but they carried them on until October. I only started using childcare after my workplace stopped the vouchers so I don't have a choice but 20% off childcare per month is very helpful with 3 dc.

I'm hoping it isn't a sign of things to come! Still waiting for the 30 hours payment for this term: that won't be paid until later this month.

Vouchers were glitchy when they were first introduced - I had to wait 5 months for one to register - but they're not so much of a problem these days so long as the parents remember to pay in good time.

@Smoggle Incorrect. 30 hours is funded by HMRC as I recently had to appeal to them re: my girl's 30 hours

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat That's awful! I would certainly be refusing care until payment is received in full. Otherwise they'll always be in arrears with you most likely x

Why should I have to use my savings because a parent hasn’t paid me in our contracted date!.....but they have, it's the system that hasn't paid you.

The parents have chosen to use that system. They're responsible until the payment reaches the CM. If there's a problem with the system, it's the parent who should be doing the chasing/pestering etc.

doesn't work like that. It's the payer's responsibility to ensure that an invoice is paid on time. A childminder's invoice is no different

The payer has paid though. What else can they do?

The payer has paid though. What else can they do?

That is the nutshell of the issue isn't it? We are all at the mercy of the system, one which we cannot influence.

If the money has not arrived in the childcarers account then you have not paid. You only have made the promise to pay.
It's like buying petrol with a credit card - there is a promise made that the person paying has the funds and is allocating those funds. The retailer provides the goods in exchange for that promise. The banks do their handshakes and all goes well and the actual money gets paid a day or two later. In the event of the payment bouncing, the retailer has some details about who owes them money (the car reg) so can then chase the debt.

The payer has paid though. What else can they do?

This thread is about CMs who don't accept payment via the system. One of the reasons given is the delays in the system and the possibility of parents lying that they've paid when they havn't, all outside the control of the CM. It just highlights why certain CMs may choose not to take on parents who use the system, which is their right.

Mummy HMRC decide eligibility, but the council pay providers.

Exactly, Kazzy.

It’s the parents responsibility to make sure the childminder is paid on time. They haven’t paid the childminder, they have sent it to a 3rd party to pay the childminder it up to the parent to sort it out.

TBF the CM wouldn't have to fill in your child's place over night as it's likely you've signed a contract with a notice period. Usually 4 weeks. So your CM would have 4 weeks to fill your child's place. Plenty of time.

flamingofridays - Do you think that sky would accept that argument or just suspend your service?

As others have said - cm is quite withibbher rights to say no to the scheme

You as the mum has every right to remove to a childcare setting that does accept

Neither is in the wrong