Childminder not billing me for childcare! What do I do?

[Francesca276]

My daughter attended a childminder in Feb 2024. We were entitled to the 15 then 30 hours government funded hours which I can pay through the tax free government website. Which I used for the nursery we’d gone to previously. Before even starting with the childminder I’d assumed that I’d lpay a bill up front and asked for a bill to pay for the extra hours and meals through the tax free website. However she never provided a bill even after weeks and then months of me asking for one! The childminder was getting the payments from the free government hours but that wouldn’t have covered the full cost of the childcare. So I expected to be paying to cover the extra but I wasn’t sure how much, which is why I needed her to tell me via a bill. I finally revived a bill in the August 2024 and paid it straight away as I’d been putting money aside (guessing how much it might be). Then again kept asking for a bill from the Aug 24 untill daughter left the childminder in Sept 25! Childminder has still never provided a bill for me to pay in all that time even tho I asked / nagged many times and have proof of asking for a bill from her! Now we are 6 months after that date and I’m no longer sure what to do about this situation!! I have the money ready to pay (which is now over £2k!!) but I’m not sure how much I even owe as it’s quite difficult to work out with the free hours and the meals which aren’t included etc. I last asked for a bill in Oct 25 and feel like she’s never going to provide one! I do really value this childminder and I want to pay her but I can’t just guess how much to send her can I 🤷‍♀️ what would you do?! Thank you for reading!

I would tell her to send you the bill by the 31st January or you won’t be paying, this is ridiculous.

Has she said there is anything to be paid? if so then This, give her a deadline in writing and tell her that if you don't receive it by XX then you will assume there is nothing to be paid and will not be paying anything after the date. That's absolutely ridiculous

So you had a years childcare without paying anything

how many hours did your dd do a week - more than 30hrs

seems very weird cm is happy to let £2k go

agree write a letter. Send by registered post - asking if any amount due and if yes you need to be told by 8weeks time (April etc)

I would keep the money owed in a high interest account in case she ever bills you. Very strange. Her affairs must be in a right mess.

I’m a childminder and send a monthly invoice . With the funding the childminder should be sending an invoice even if the payment is zero so you can see funded hours used . This is a local authority requirement.

For example I’m only open 30 hours. A funded family - term time contract, would have zero to pay. My families can pay for lunches or send packed lunch . They all pay in advance so I bill for food monthly in advance . I also detail the funded hours used each month .

Does you childminder provide food or other consumables like nappies ? Maybe you don’t owe any money .

Do you have non funded holiday hours ?

I think she is being very unprofessional and unfair . Email and say you can’t pay any money for previous childcare but will pay going forward if she issues an invoice .

Hi I agree it seems like she isn’t running her business properly! I’ve only had one invoice from her in 2 years and that was for 6 months childcare. She did say the 30 free hours doesn’t cover her 30 hours child care and there would be a little more to pay each day and then meals would also be extra. But even the invoice she sent me it didn’t have a break down so I can even work out how much she would need to cover the last year. I’ve moved the money into premium bonds and given her a final notice letter to provide an invoice by the end of January (sent a few weeks ago) and she hasn’t even read the message! 🙈 it’s a shame as I’d have to liked to carry on using her for school holidays but I can’t book her knowing she won’t charge us, feel like I’m taking advantage of her!

Am I understanding correctly that she is saying that she will charge additional fees for the 30 hours, other than consumables? I’m pretty sure they’re not allowed to do that though others can come along and correct me. That in addition to not providing itemised bills would concern me. If she is this laissez faire about her billing, I would be a little worried about her attitude towards other regulatory requirements - especially those that involve child safety.

Does she definitely receive the funded hours do you know? It makes me wonder if she’s actually registered…. Have you checked by asking for her EY number? I knew a childminder who did not renew her registration with Ofsted and therefore parents were unable to use the tax free account.

I would contact your local authority funding team, they should be able to help.

Yes she is registered on the government tax free account.

Update! She finally provided a bill which was double the amount I was expecting!! The bill was not broken down and seemed to charge for extras that wasn’t agreed so now we have a dispute for over 18 months of childcare charges! 🙈 this could have been resolved if I billed monthly…

4k?? Man she has to be trying it on

Double?!

£4000 for 18 months could be correct, my DC goes to nursery 3 days per week using the 30 hours free childcare and I pay around £250 per month.

She needs to provide a breakdown of costs though.

Yeah she needs to break it down - from January 2026 you are meant to show following on invoices: funded hours (priced at 0 obviously but they still gotta be shown), extra hours, food, non-food consumables, outings etc. it’s got to be so clear so that any person can understand!

I know 🙈