CM - How do you pay?

[prettygirls]

Is it more common to pay a childminder a month in arrears or to pay in advance? I pay a different amount each month so currently pay in arrears. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks

I pay in advance which I think is really quite odd as most jobs are paid in arrears.

I used to charge in advance. I was advised to do so by NCMA.

I pay weekly, a week in advance. My understanding is that some form of "in advance" payment would be most common.

I pay at the end of each week, cash, if cheques she wants it in advance.

A month in advance

Often because Parents disappear owing money ans we have no way to claim it back - it's a really sad way of doing it, but having lost the moeny I have over the years it seems essential

Cash in advance every week (although she's fine about us being a bit late - after all she has the DCs as collateral). From what I've heard, advance payments are most common as a surprising number of people fail to pay.

I do think that all parents are tarred with the same brush so to speak. my cm even charges 'travel time' when she goes to pick up dd from preschool . travel time? who else gets paid to travel to work?

She works from home - she travels to get your dd

ahh I still don't get it
and the whole issues of paid holidays
but will leave thread

Thanks all. We had agreed to pay in arrears but it now seems to be causing some problems so i have offered to pay in advance. Hopefully that will sort out the issues

paid in advance into bank direct

Always charge a month in advance, and insist on Vouchers being held back for a month so that you pay the next month with this months IYKWIM as I wasn't receiving voucher money till middle of the month.

I had been caught out to many times, not being paid, and when you think it can be over £600.00 for a full time child, that is a lot of money to lose.

I get paid in advance. I get most payments via childcare vouchers, so these are usually a week or two late anyway. I do not hold a deposit.

I think paying in advance is the safest way for the childminder to be paid, as there are many parents that up and go unfortunately, and places like the NCMA won't even consider looking at a case that's any less than £150.00.

I charge in advance, weekly.

I recently changed to this for new clients as I was ripped off by two parents

Some pay in advance and others in arrears ( tax credits people basically). I'd love it if everyone was monthly in advance but appreciate that not everyone has that to hand immediately, so will take it weekly in advance if asked.

HATE doing monthly in arrears ( do it with only 1 mindee) as it's a huge whack of money to potentially lose.

I ALWAYS get paid in advance. I am not risking not being paid for my services and all parents understand this and have never had a problem.

recently changed my contracts to weekly in advance {cash} - i can't afford to not get my money and as KatyMac said it's very difficult to get it if parent's do a "midnight flit"

hana 'travel time' my solicitor charged me for travelling to court and opening/reading letters!

I pay my lovely CM monthly in arrears. She asked to do it that way, and I pay her by cheque the same day I receive her invoice.