CM Club - THAT'S IT, I'VE HAD IT!****LONG******

[fruitloop79]

I'm so cross I'm shaking.

Right, I (stupidly) pick up and drop off one of my mindees to and from their house. I realise I'm the only one in my area to offer this service and I'm never doing it again.

My car has been playing up recently so for a few days mindees parents have had to drive/taxi to/from my house. I obviously have taken car fees off the invoice for these days. On one particular day they couldnt get mindee to me or pick him up. Fair enough I've put on the contract that I will do the runs but you cant predict if car has problems.
I have charged the parents for half fees for this day as it was no ones fault the car wasnt working and also my CMing services were available (I was gonna charge full fees)

They are point blank refusing to pay me for this day.
Am I wrong to charge half fees? I thought I was being kind!

They are also being VERY funny about having to do the runs: "had to get taxi in pouring rain at cost to us of £16" FFS! My other mindee's mum offered to take him home that eve! but oh no "the car seat might not fit"!!!!!

What I'm asking is, am I wrong in charging them for this day? even half fees?

I've bent over backwards for these ungrateful people. I'm giving notice in mid Jan as I might have another lined up for March and want to give them enough notice (not that hey deserve it)

They just make me feel so angry. I wish I could hand in notice NOW!

I've gotta go over to there's tomorrow evening all sweetness and light to discuss mindees discipline and other things.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

If I have got this right, the car caused a problem so you couldn't collect but you still had their child the usual amount of hours? And as a gesture of goodwill you have charged them half a days fees instead of a full day and they are complaining? Unbelievable.

Oh Fruity, there's no easy answer I'm afraid. I understand your frustration totally, and you'd think that under the circumstances they'd meet you half way, which is exactly what you're trying to do. Thing is, if your contract says that you are going to collect, what can you do? You see to have made a very grey area, because you are costing them money, that was never intended in the terms of the contract. It would be the 'nice' thing for them to pay you half, but I don't think you can force them to. Why are you going there to discuss mindees problems. Can they not see you at your house or do it on the telephone. It really isn't your job to do this on your time and your petrol money. Can you really not end the contract 4 weeks from today? They sound like a complete PITA.

I think that when this contract ends, you make a point of never, ever agreeing to something like this again.

So sorry I can't be more positive, but I wanted to post to let you know someone's around to load off on.

Thanks Mo and NAB, No Mindee didnt come to me on that day but as my services were available and they dont live very far (10 min car journey)I felt I should charge half.

Sorry, I've calmed down now. It's just that it was the last straw ages ago!
Unfortunately I cant give notice now as I need the money. Got possible full-timer starting March and it's ideal so would like to wait for that. So gonna wait to tell them.

I was just ranting feel a little better now

Going there because they kind of made it sound like an invitation and they were in my good books at the time they asked

You live and learn dont you!!

You sure do! We've all been there. I foolishly didn't take a retainer for someone a few years back, because she was a friend and definately needed me for a couple of weeks during the summer holiday. I arranged all my holiays around her, because she kept saying she needed me. Narly £400 worth of business and she changed her mind on a txt 2 weeks before she was due!

You learn by your mistakes and it makes you and your business stronger.