Nursery have ripped me off?

analew · 2023-05-05T18:04:42+00:00

Hi my baby’s first week at nursery. He is planning to do 3 full days per week. However this week because he is settling in, the first day I stayed with him for half an hour then both went home. Second & third day I left him for 3 hours then collected him. They have charged me 3 full days on the invoice for this week 9am-5pm rate despite him barely being there. Am I being unreasonable to bring this up and ask for the price to be reduced for this week? i.e. I don’t think I should be charged for day 1 as I never left him. And for the other 2 days I should perhaps be charged a half-day rate. what do you all think?

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justwantobeamum · 05/05/2023 19:06

our settling in sessions were all free.

TeenDivided · 05/05/2023 19:07

I think that you had blocked the space so they couldn't use it for other children, and they would have had staff to pay on the prescribed ratios.
So no I don't think they ripped you off.

Disclaimer I have never used a nursery and they seem to operate weirdly. For example I don't understand why they charge Monday parents for Monday bank holidays rather than generally increasing their hourly rate and then not charging on days they are closed.

Mazza7412 · 05/05/2023 19:08

I’m surprised they have charged to be honest. I run a childminder setting and don’t charge for settling in. Maybe they work differently 🤷🏻‍♀️

Maybe it’s an error

Original poster

analew · 05/05/2023 19:09

TeenDivided · 05/05/2023 19:07

I think that you had blocked the space so they couldn't use it for other children, and they would have had staff to pay on the prescribed ratios.
So no I don't think they ripped you off.

Disclaimer I have never used a nursery and they seem to operate weirdly. For example I don't understand why they charge Monday parents for Monday bank holidays rather than generally increasing their hourly rate and then not charging on days they are closed.

The annoying thing is that my son was super happy at the nursery and I could easily have left him until much later in the day and he would’ve been just fine. They contacted me themselves a couple of hours after I dropped him off and said to collect him early because he is “new” even though I’d been charged the full day. 🤔

OP posts:

Speedweed · 05/05/2023 19:10

Whether you're there or not, it would be fair to only charge you for the hours he was there, rather than full days if he wasn't there for a full day.

Did the nursery say anything about how they charge for settling in days? It's a bit mean of them to charge for a full day if he was only there for an hour, so worth asking but don't be surprised if they say no so you might have to swallow it.

You being there doesn't affect anything, so if you're saying he was there for a full day but you were there for an hour and so the hour should be knocked off the charge, then no, you should pay the full day.

HauntedPencil · 05/05/2023 19:11

Our nursery was owned by a greedy bloke who would charge you for anything abs everything, and ours were free. I'd bring that up for sure.

WheelsUp · 05/05/2023 19:12

I'm surprised that all 3 sessions were charged- half sessions would have been more appropriate on day 2 and 3.

Playing devil's advocate, they couldn't have another child use the hours that you didn't use because they are yours but I think that charging you full fees especially on day 1 is a piss take.

Bibbitybobbitty · 05/05/2023 19:13

Settling sessions are generally free, even if charging it should be hourly rate especially as they wouldn't let him stay longer.

Original poster

analew · 05/05/2023 19:14

Speedweed · 05/05/2023 19:10

Whether you're there or not, it would be fair to only charge you for the hours he was there, rather than full days if he wasn't there for a full day.

Did the nursery say anything about how they charge for settling in days? It's a bit mean of them to charge for a full day if he was only there for an hour, so worth asking but don't be surprised if they say no so you might have to swallow it.

You being there doesn't affect anything, so if you're saying he was there for a full day but you were there for an hour and so the hour should be knocked off the charge, then no, you should pay the full day.

No they didn’t mention the charge for settling in. They just sent me the invoice. I did query it and they said because I’ve booked him in for 3 full days and that’s what they’ll charge even if I collect him early. However it was their decision to have him collected early. I was happy to leave him for a couple more hours as he was settling in fine. They said to take him home as he is “new” surrounding even though he was settled

OP posts:

Smartiepants79 · 05/05/2023 19:17

What terms did you agree to? Have you got a contract? Surely this should set out whether these sessions are free or charged for?
I’ve never used a nursery but it sounds like it’s possible that settling in sessions are often free. However, I would have expected any hours/days that your child is stopping other children from using would have to be paid for.
Your child being there stops them from taking another child.

JuneWind · 05/05/2023 19:17

Weren’t your settling in sessions booked for a specific time? I’ve literally today booked my settling in session for DS starting nursery in 6 weeks. The nursery have specified first is 2 hours with me present. Second is 3 hours without me. Neither are charged for.

Bunnichick · 05/05/2023 19:19

We weren't charged for settling in but what was agreed? We're the settling in sessions after his official start date at nursery or before?

transformandriseup · 05/05/2023 19:21

I would query it. We had to pay for settling in but it was just for the hours DD was there.

purpleme12 · 05/05/2023 19:21

Really it depends if he has officially started at the nursery already. Or if these were actual settling in sessions before he truly starts the nursery.
If they were actual settling in sessions then no I wouldn't want to pay unless it had been discussed beforehand.
If he has truly started already ie your contact is from that date, then it's right to charge you. (Because they all say they charge you to book those days for your child)
But I also wouldn't be happy with called to collect early when you're being charged the whole day

Muddydogpawprints · 05/05/2023 19:27

What was agreed beforehand for the settling sessions? Ours were free too. We picked up early one day as she was so little, they said she was doing really well and wanted her to leave on a high rather than get tired and upset. Maybe that was their thought too?
Re the PP and bank holiday Mondays. Mine don't charge for them so just ask them about that.

purpleme12 · 05/05/2023 19:37

Any bank holiday charges and terms will be in the contract you've been given.

muuummypig · 05/05/2023 19:42

Ours were free too - definitely bring this up

Original poster

analew · 05/05/2023 19:50

Smartiepants79 · 05/05/2023 19:17

What terms did you agree to? Have you got a contract? Surely this should set out whether these sessions are free or charged for?
I’ve never used a nursery but it sounds like it’s possible that settling in sessions are often free. However, I would have expected any hours/days that your child is stopping other children from using would have to be paid for.
Your child being there stops them from taking another child.

No contract. Nothing was explained apart from show up to the settling in session for the first day and I was charged a full day for it.
I do understand being charged for a full day as it stops another child attending. However what I don’t understand is why they asked me to take him home early because he is “new” I asked on the phone if he is settled and they said he’s been absolutely fine. So I didn’t get why they made me reduce his hours instead of making use of the full day I paid for

OP posts:

purpleme12 · 05/05/2023 19:52

So he's not actually started the nursery yet then?
I would not be happy then if this is the case and nothing had been discussed about being charged for what's happened.
It doesn't bode well

Original poster

analew · 05/05/2023 19:56

purpleme12 · 05/05/2023 19:21

Really it depends if he has officially started at the nursery already. Or if these were actual settling in sessions before he truly starts the nursery.
If they were actual settling in sessions then no I wouldn't want to pay unless it had been discussed beforehand.
If he has truly started already ie your contact is from that date, then it's right to charge you. (Because they all say they charge you to book those days for your child)
But I also wouldn't be happy with called to collect early when you're being charged the whole day

His settling in session was his start date. But it literally was a settling in appointment. We attended for 10am and left within the hour. I will probably query it

OP posts:

purpleme12 · 05/05/2023 19:59

To be honest it's a bit confusing from this.
If it was his start date as well as his settling in date then I wouldn't dispute being charged no.
The picking up early is annoying but probably not something to bring up at this point, it's happened.

Original poster

analew · 05/05/2023 19:59

Muddydogpawprints · 05/05/2023 19:27

What was agreed beforehand for the settling sessions? Ours were free too. We picked up early one day as she was so little, they said she was doing really well and wanted her to leave on a high rather than get tired and upset. Maybe that was their thought too?
Re the PP and bank holiday Mondays. Mine don't charge for them so just ask them about that.

I understand if they wanted me to collect him early to keep him happy instead of getting unsettled later. Although he’s not that little as he is 6 months now. But I do understand that. I guess I’m annoyed they didn’t make that clear on drop off instead of calling me
midday to collect him like it was an emergency but he was perfectly fine

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BubblinTrouble · 05/05/2023 20:10

Our settling sessions were free. Then DS will go in part time for 2 weeks, then full time. The fees will reflect this so we’re only paying for what we use (except settling sessions are free and we get loads of them thrown in).

Moosethroat · 05/05/2023 20:25

My settling sessions were also free for two different nurseries. Shocking that they have charged you full day rate for these, especially since they asked you to collect

putalidonit · 05/05/2023 20:28

Do they offer half days or only full days. If they offer half days then the most they could charge is half a day. That 1hour day shouldn't be charged at all