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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

Are any Cms refunding parents for cancelling today?

40 replies

Numberfour · 02/02/2009 16:31

DH suggested I give my parents a credit for today for not sending the children to me. I said that I would not do so because I am open for business, but no children came.

Are you going to offer any refunds? I won't be. All my parents will be paid for today despite none of them being at work.....

And besides I have been doing paperwork on and off today!!!

OP posts:

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Hulababy · 03/02/2009 13:17

Not a CM but I don't think you shold refund parents at all if you are open for business. If they choose not to come, or even can't get to you, that is not your fault.

I wouldn't imagine any parents expecting a refund if you ar open for business.

no1childminder · 03/02/2009 14:57

im still going to charge my mindees as i rang to say im able to have them all day if they want to go to work (i only have them before and after school so was actually prepared to work more hours if the parents need to go to work) but what about lunch/tea fees? i do all the shopping on a sun so everything for the week is bought already but the children arent here to eat it! surely thats not my fault?
i charge to pick up one mindee from her house but not going to charge for this as i havent drove over there, do you think thats ok?

onadietcokebreak · 03/02/2009 15:06

If you were open for business and it wasnt unreasonable for them to walk to you then yes you should charge.

If you live down some remote lane and are inaccessiable you shouldnt.

If you feel bad about charging then maybe do half fees?

DJGemini · 03/02/2009 18:41

My 2 mindees didn't come Monday, We discussed it early in the morning, before we knew about school closures, what the roads might be like etc.. Mum said she wasn't sending them, concern was the driving risks for both of us, her journey to me and hers to work and then my school run for one of hers .. all country lanes.
I was planning to work as normal.. despite thinking the driving may be risky, but I could not afford to make myself unavailable, and end up refunding..
We mutally agreed, that it would be better for the children, and us, to cancel the day. SO I have given a credit for another days care, maybe when she does an extra day at work to make her hours up at work instead of not getting paid, Then we found out the schools were shut, and we both had fun in the snow with our families.

Now.. Do I still pay my DS pre school fees for 2 days closure?! I wasn't expecting to be charged.... but as don't charge if I become unavailable I wouldnt expect them to...
??

no1childminder · 04/02/2009 16:16

anyone think its ok to still charge for lunch and dinner as shopping was bought on sun so if theres no children to eat it surely its not my fault ??

NAB09 · 04/02/2009 16:18

Can you not freeze the food or use it for yourself?

hellywobs · 04/02/2009 16:32

No, if you cancelled, I'd expect you to refund, but not if the parent didn't bring the child. Doing a swap is a good compromise.

It's a bit of a grey area in my view where it's wrap-around care - ie if the school is closed and so you can't reasonably provide care from say 8-8.45 and then ask the parent to come back to collect after 45 minutes. The same for INSET days - in some ways I think a CM should refund that because they can't provide the service, but I can understand why they wouldn't, as they are there and open for business. I tend to get hit with INSET days because I have Mondays and Fridays and INSET days are always Mondays and Fridays, so if I do something with my son I have to pay for the wraparound care regardless so I tend to ask my CM to have him all day (obviously paying more, but it means I don't waste care I can't use).

I know a lot of nurseries and private schools charge if they are closed because of snow etc and I find that reprehensible - if you don't get the service you shouldn't have to pay. They can take out insurance, parents can't and the decision is in their hands whether to close or not.

hellywobs · 04/02/2009 16:33

PS I think you should refund fees for lunch/dinner if you didn't have to cook it and serve it. If I were a CM I'd tend to make sure the food were in the freezer or non-perishable where possible - and the snow was forecast a few days in advance.

ayla99 · 04/02/2009 17:58

I waive the meal charge if I have 24 hours notice or more.

star1976 · 05/02/2009 21:07

Hello, sorry to add on to this late but am in a similar dilema.

School was closed Mon & Tues and therefore didn't have two children after school that I normally have each night. Do I still charge for these days? Their contract states that all term time absenses are to be paid in full. I was still there if the mum needed me to cover for the day (which would have incurred further costs) but didn't need me as she couldn't get to work as all trains and buses were cancelled. Not sure what to do.

thebody · 05/02/2009 21:51

My mindees all turned up as usual, some were a little later in coming, and then again others were later picking up. I would have charged them for not coming, of course, I love my job but thats what it is... a job.. most parents are paid when they dont go to work or are off sick, on that note I was off sick a few weeks ago and didnt get paid as my places werent available.. I dont get paid for my annual leave either but charge them for theirs.. people pay for the offered place.... I need my money,snow or otherwise..

Illhavethisinsize12 · 05/02/2009 22:20

i was open. still got up early and waited for them all. didnt turn up x 2 days. they pay montly in advance. no refunds im affraid. anyone got a snow policy?

star1976 · 06/02/2009 08:39

It's stupid really cause all those that pay monthly in advance that didn't come, there is no question, I won't refund.

But cause this one person pays at the end of each week, feel bad cause I know she will ask 'how much do I owe you'. School was open again on Wed but her friend wasn't at work so he collected them, obviously charging still for that day. Just feel awful having to actually ask her for Mon & Tues money too.

Original poster

Numberfour · 06/02/2009 09:55

i have decided to give one of my mums a part credit for the 3 days I did not have her son. she pays me til 6 every day and very very seldom collects him as late as 5.15. Also, she never quibbles about anything and is very understanding of how difficult childminding can be. Also i give her son breakfast and supper with that saving I thought a part credit would be good PR!

Dh said I must please let you all know that I am doing this now after having said a resounding NO initially

OP posts:

star1976 · 06/02/2009 10:48

Am now thinking that I should charge for just one of the two days that the school was closed, as a gesture of good will. Although if she happens to not ask how much and just gives me full money, then I shall just keep quiet. Fair enough??

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