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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Parent gone AWOL

36 replies

weakmum · 30/05/2008 11:09

The child was supposed to be in monday to fri. she hasnt turned and have called and texted no response. called her mum only to be told that she is off work this whole week. so come monday next week how is she goin to face me. pays in arrears and thinkin when she comes new rules. pls help. its not the first time it has happened.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BoysAreLikeDogs · 30/05/2008 11:23

I think you need to consider terminating the contract as the business relationship has broken down.

Alternatively, if you cannot afford to lose the child, review the contract with the parent and change your payment arrangements, payment in full, in advance or you cannot accept the child.
You are a professional worker, and cannot work for nothing.

If she turns up on Monday without the payment turn her away. This might sound harsh but you are not a charity.

HTH

3725Hayley · 30/05/2008 11:35

Do you have an arrangment in place for payment when the child is on holiday / ill etc?

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 11:39

We agreed that if she goes on holiday i will charge her half the fees. if she had told me that she was off work for the whole week then i cd have asked her to pay half the fees. what really annoys me is the idea of not turning up and not calling. will definetly ask for the full fees.

OP posts:

3725Hayley · 30/05/2008 11:48

Yes, it's really unreasonable for her not to of told you about the holiday, and I would have been annoyed about that. Can you imagine a CM doing that to a parent!

I think you are well within your rights to ask for full fee as there was no notice. Also you could put it in writing that you require a minimum of 4 weeks notice for holidays in the future, or it will be full fee rather than half.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 30/05/2008 11:55

And change your name !

You are a strong, confident businesswoman.

Weakmum does not reflect that.

Hope you don't mind me saying so.

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 12:04

All this is in the contract she is just ignoring what we agreed on.

OP posts:

controlfreakyagain · 30/05/2008 12:09

then you need to swish your cape and transforn into strongandrathercrossmum sharpish.

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 12:13

i will definetly change my name. thanks fo the advice.

OP posts:

imananny · 30/05/2008 12:14

how rude of the mum not to contact you!!

hope you manage to sort it out - assume child and parent will def turn up next monday?

BoysAreLikeDogs · 30/05/2008 12:14

Good luck, be strong.

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 12:35

will give u all an update on monday. thanks

OP posts:

AtheneNoctua · 30/05/2008 12:51

SHe is ou of line. Aside from the financial/business side, it's just plain inconsiderate to not tell you she is not showing up. What if you were on the phone to the police because you were worried something terrible had happened to them (say a car crash)?

I can't stand people who don't have enough common courtesy to take 20 secondds to communicate communicate.

AtheneNoctua · 30/05/2008 12:51

Ok, they only need to communicate once.

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 13:07

i think its the same if your child wont be going to school you call them to say they r not coming in rather than just keep quiet. the idea of not piking up the phone or replyin to text really sucks.

OP posts:

PinkChick · 30/05/2008 13:14

Hi...do you know she's just on hol, or could something ahve happend and shes taken emergency hol(ie something ahppend in family?), careful not to jump in if you dont know for certain, but if you do, then bill her for this past week, send in it a copy of contract with hol notice highlighted and tell her the amount for this week should be received by you in cash no later than x day, also say that until you hear otherwise you will continue to send invoices and alert her to her contracted termination terms(ie notice period) good luck..been there, done that..won!

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 13:50

I spoke to her mother who told me that she had taken this week off work and said she will speak to her. called the mother again yesterday and was even surprised she hasnt been in touch and apologised on her behalf.

OP posts:

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 15:00

You are not goin to believe this. as i was goin out to put the rubish out saw her pasing by and stopped her. asked what the problem was and said i've been very busy. was on the phone and i wonder how come she doesnt pik up my calls. said do me a favour and pay the fees cos they r overdue. said will go to the bank and come back. hopefully she will be back. am furious.

OP posts:

gillybean2 · 30/05/2008 16:44

So did she come back yet?

Original poster

weakmum · 30/05/2008 17:29

Not yet am still waitin dont think she will come back because she doesnt live local anyway. has changed jobs now she will be working two mins away from me so will see what i can do if she doesnt turn up.

OP posts:

dmo · 30/05/2008 19:29

two weeks ago i had the friday morning off work cause mondee was sick so i nipped to the doctors then to town rushed back threw a butty down my neck and rushed to music class where i meet 2 mindees (they come 1pm till 6pm mondays and fridays) i waited and waited and got really worried after half an hour so ran home and phoned their home (no answer) so phoned their works (was told dad was not at his desk) decided their must have been an accident and was quite worried
at 5pm mum phoned (after seeing missed calls on the mobile) to say she was so sorry she forgot to tell me they had gone away for a long weekend
was so cross but monday afternoon a bunch of flowers and chocs arrived with the children along with a list of hols they were takin

PinkChick · 30/05/2008 20:17

guess shes not been back then..why take the P**s..so annoying for you

Original poster

weakmum · 01/06/2008 11:20

Oh lucky yu dmo. tried calling on saturday but no answer have decided to write to her cos she seems to be doing this on purpose. any advice of letter contents. am willing to cancel the contract.

OP posts:

cheekychaps · 01/06/2008 17:57

Hi, if it makes you feel a little better i'm in a similar situation. I have 2 mindees 2yr old and 6yr old, Mon-Thurs. Thursday before half term week mum told me that she wouldn't need me on Tuesday & Wednesday, so because she didn't give me any notice I charged her full price. When she dropped the mindees off this Thursday she told me that she didn't think this was fair and thought that she would only be charged before/after school hours for 6yr old. I explained that in the contract we never agreed term time only or adhoc days during holidays. Then she told me that she will be sending 6yr old to a club 1/2 days week during summer holidays (Do I charge for these days?). To add to that she only gave me 3 days notice of a holiday during the last easter break, so out of good will I only charged half fees. I'm wondering whether to stick to my guns on the latest headache or find a compromise, any advice?

Ps. I did also point out to her (in a fairly nice way) that I can't afford to be messed about like this, I have bills to pay aswell.

KaySamuels · 01/06/2008 20:11

I am also in the same position, and it is no comfort that I am not alone, in fact it makes me really . Why do people do this?

cheekychaps · 01/06/2008 20:16

Because they think we sit on our backsides all day. The fact is that I only got into childminding because then I can look after my disabled son.

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