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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

should i refund??

11 replies

leonifay · 03/02/2009 16:13

i live at teh top of a very steep hill, which the gritters didnt visit. my car, which is a 4x4 has struggled to get up it the last 2 days.
my mindees dad said he didnt want to drive up the hill in the dark at pick up time, as it is very silpery, so he took 2 days unpaid leave from work, this may turn in to 3 if the ice hasnt melted by tomorrow.
technically i am open for business, but as she has been my only mindee for the week, i havnt been working. in normal cercumstances i wouldnt refund, as i am open and parent decided not to send mindee, but as its because of my location, and parent physically couldnt pick her up, should i refund?? i want to say no, it was there decision, but i know they had no real choice.
what do i do, please help

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Original poster

leonifay · 03/02/2009 16:14

(please ignore my spelling mistakes!)

OP posts:

littleducks · 03/02/2009 16:16

it might be a bit late now but couldnt you just drive to bottom of the hill and pick mindee up, drop her at the bottom of the hill? is it just the car that is the issue?

lou031205 · 03/02/2009 16:17

I am not a minder, but I would say yes - you provide a service and that service was indirectly unavailable.

BlameItOnTheBogey · 03/02/2009 16:19

Offer to refund half? I personally think they should pay in full as you were open (I wouldn't expect DS' nursery to reimburse me because I couldn't take him in) but if they are asking for a refund offering half would be a nice gesture.

Original poster

leonifay · 03/02/2009 16:21

the parent hasnt seen the hill, i didnt mention that i was finding it difficult to drive up, he decided he didnt want to drive in the snow.

OP posts:

ramonaquimby · 03/02/2009 16:21

yes you should refund - how was he to get there? would have been dangerous

MrsWeasley · 03/02/2009 16:34

Could they not walk up and down the hill?

They should really pay you as you are open. If you give a refund you may be setting an expensive precedent for the future. Whenever they don?t want to pay as much child care they could just take some time off work.

I took on a friends children and agreed (because I was soft) to only charge for the days I actually had them! I was assured I would have them at least 3 days a week mostly 5 days. It was all working out well last year but now they have a new car to pay for I've only have them once in the last 4 months.

Just be very careful.

MrsWeasley · 03/02/2009 16:37

Also: I assume you lived on the hill when they started using you so its not a new thing.

also I know lots of people who have taken the day off today and used the snow as an excuse, we have very little snow infact we has all gone now!!

ramonaquimby · 03/02/2009 16:40

a little goodwill goes a long way, I'd still refund or at least 1/2.

ayla99 · 03/02/2009 16:57

He couldn't park at the bottom of the hill and walk up? Is it miles long with no path? Have you had no postal/delivery services? Have you been trapped in your home?

You have no control over the weather and the safety in your street outside your property boundary is no more your responsibility than the rest of your neighbourhood. Technically, your service was available. It was not a holiday as you were ready and available to work had they knocked on your door. Besides, childminding fees are not just for the work you do on the day with that child but a payment for reserving the place for that day and all the planning and paperwork etc that goes on out of childminding hours.

However, I have waived my fee once when I had no other mindees, it enabled me to visit my mum that day). But if you do make a refund or reduction, you should make absolutely clear to the parent that you are within your rights to charge in full, but felt it appropriate to make a one-off, goodwill gesture in view of the exceptional circumstances. You're not setting a precedent for whenever they decide not to come in future.

Original poster

leonifay · 03/02/2009 17:10

ayla99, i guess your right, my husband has driven to work, bith monday and tuesday, there have been kids out playing in the street, and the pub has been really busy. and our postman usually drives to us, which he has done. so taking all that in, there was no need for him to take the unpaid days off work. and yes, i've been doing paperwork, and getting ready for a local authority inspection.
plus he didnt ring me i had to ring him, as i knew the school was closed and cant pick up a child from a closed school!
im gonna charge full fees i think. thankyou so much

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