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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

How can I make sure that the mindees parents pay their fees on time without hurting any feelings ???

33 replies

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:20

Another part of the business in which I'm not good at...I'm paid monthly, payment every 4 weeks, I send them detailed bills before the payment is due but still it's so late... the pretexte is that the vouchers they use are late...Should I accept this excuse or should I say something...we are talking about 1 week - 2 weeks late..Part payment then the rest coming later sometimes they forget...How shall I put it so the problem is sorted once for good ?? Thank you !!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

EachPeachPearMum · 26/04/2009 10:22

Make it part of their contract that they pay on expected day each month.
There is no excuse- its downright rude of them.

KatyMac · 26/04/2009 10:23

Never going to happen Summerfruit

Unless parents have the innate courtesy and honesty to realise that paying on time is 'the right thing to do' the only way to ensure it is to introduce a late payment fee - which will hurt feelings

Once is acceptable - regularly & it's just a lack of respect & concern

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 26/04/2009 10:26

Can you tell them that you now accept payments as standing orders?

Tell them that it is your preferred method of payment and really encourage them to set one up?

Every time they pay late say, "oh I've been looking out for your standing order coming into my account - have you not set it up yet?!"

Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:28

Thank you...The thing is I think is that I'm too nice and put myself in 4 for them so I guess it's my fault if they take the mic, I'll never be able to charge for late fees..I mean I heard the excuse was from the vouchers, I know it takes 4 working days to come in but a week or 2...They forget ? Want to wait to pay as much as they can until I embarass myself and ask them ?? It's on the contract...Thanks each and Katy for your answers..Man, it's not a pocket money, it's my living..we were in the red this week cause on the parents forgot to pay me and it was reminded to them the previous week..

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Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:29

They use vouchers Iwish! So they can easily blame it on the vouchers no ?

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Poledra · 26/04/2009 10:30

I don't have any useful to add but just to be that people are so rude. I once lost my bill from my CM and so forgot to pay it. I was mortified when she politely enquired about it a week or so later. She said it was OK as I am almost always the first one to pay so she knew it would be a mistake. I would be livid if my employer didn't pay me on time, why would I not extend this courtesy to my CM??

Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:30

We have got no money this week end I have been waiting a payment of 200 pounds for a week and half..seems so unfair..got a text on thursday saying, got finally round to pay you the rest of money I owe you. Nice

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MuffinBaker · 26/04/2009 10:32

Change to charging in advance?

Send out a note saying if payment is late no child care woul dbe provided.

Ask them how they would feel if they didn't get paid when due.

Sadly some parents think CM just work for pin money.

Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:33

Thanks Poledra..when I was using a cm, I have never, never payed late my CM..I wouldn't have dared and she looked after dd for 3 years..She was looking after the more important person in my life I wouldn't never have dared taking the mic out of her.

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Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:34

Muffin, I'm charging in advance !

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spicemonster · 26/04/2009 10:35

My vouchers go direct to my CM and I pay at the start of each month in advance. I'd say you should change the system. It's very unfair on you otherwise

Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:39

The vouchers are going straight to my bank well when they decide it's time to pay..then I have to wait 4 working days..let's say one of the parents paid on thursday, I have got to wait friday, the week end, monday and then maybe I'll get the money on tuesday if I'm lucky or wednesday..yes 2 weeks late..I have got to change this system, have I been stupid to accept vouchers, I start wondering.

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 26/04/2009 10:41

I still think you could go for the standing order option. Why should you have to go into the red and not them? They are still receiving the service that you provide for their dc.

I'm not sure how the vouchers work (still waiting for dh's company to register so we can use them) but does the money go to the parents? If so they could set up the SO for a few days after the money is supposed to bewith them.

Shoshe · 26/04/2009 10:42

When new parents start (and existing ones when vouchers came in) I ask them o hold back the first months vouchers, and pay me in full, then use the first months vouchers to pay second month and so on.

If not I could be paid by voucher systems (depending on which one) as late as the 10th of the month.)

If they don't want to do this they don't pay me by vouchers, as simple as.

I have this written in my handbook and on my contracts.

Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:43

I really don't know how it works, I just know it works in their advantage...Its to do with the taxes I think so I don't know if I could ask for a standing order..

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Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:46

Thanks shoshe! A question, if one on my mindee start in the middle of the month, I still have the right to count 4 weeks from the moment he started even if the payment is due let's say the 13 ? Even if it's far from the parent's pay day ? It's not unreasonnable to expect that no ?

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Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:48

I mean it's mad..I have got one parent who has been made redundant in december but they still want to keep the place for their chaild even if the child doesn't come to me..I charge half fee for that and they are ok..so it has been 5 month like that..well whatever their difficulties are, they are always, always paying on time..It's mad.

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Shoshe · 26/04/2009 10:53

I charge by the calendar month and if a mindee starts in the middle of the month I just charge from when they start to the end of the month.

I do detailed invoices of everyday the children are with me, and as stated on my contracts (so that parents know when any holiday must be book by) I issue invoices on the 20th of every month, and holidays booked after that for the invoiced month are charged as normal.

once invoices are printed I do not change them.

Shoshe · 26/04/2009 10:55

Oh I also have in my contract, that £5.00 is charged every day for late payment, up to 3 days, at which time care will be withdrawn until payment is made.

I have only had to do this once.

The majority of parents are brilliant and three families I have now pay early as soon as I give the invoice!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 26/04/2009 10:58

I pay our CM on the 7th. My pay day is 21st so it's not great.

Atthe end of the day that's in her contract and she's providing a service so I go with it. Just needs remembering in our budget that's all.

Your parents need to get themselves more organised. I think you're going to have to bite the bullet and get firm with them

Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 10:59

Shoshe..that's where I have probably done the mistake..compting 4 weeks from the moment they start..I should have done 1 day for everyone..they are more or less all due beguinning of each month apart from one..is it to late to change things ?

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spicemonster · 26/04/2009 11:01

Why should you care about hurting their feelings? You're running a business, not a charity. I would do what shoshe suggests.

Original poster

Summerfruit · 26/04/2009 11:03

Yes I think what Shoshe is saying is the right direction to take...Thank you Shoshe and thank you all...feel better and got solutions !!!!!!!xxxxx

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atworknotworking · 26/04/2009 13:55

Hi summerfruit totally know where u are coming from had similar situations, I decided needed to be a lot firmer and do my monthlys by 20th (month before due - so i did May's last week) and weeklys are given out on Thursday's to be paid on Monday's I don't take cash anymore - too many forgot my bank card's or bank wont let me take any more out today or machine got no money in it etc, all of mine do bank transfers now some of them go in at the end of the week instead of the Monday but I don't mind as long as it's within the week and it's a bit more flexible for parents if they get paid at the end of the week I also put Terms & Conditions on the back of my invoices as the voucher thing was driving me up the wall too seemed to be waiting ages for it, sometimes it was coming through in time for the next one. Sometimes I used to think how come theirs no money anywhere and then have a look at what's owed and would be ok if got paid occasionally - i terminate care now if payment is 2 weeks behind - done this once, lost 3 from same family but like the threads say, we do this as a business we need to get paid just like everyone else, times are tough for most people at the moment and it's important to keep the cash flow going - just a thought but if you are a bit shy of asking why not do a letter - kind of a standard thing for everyone I did and it worked a treat - just said to parents please don't take offence but some of my payments have been late - said with a - some parents kinda face - none took offence as they all thought it was for someone else and since then things have improved 99% and get a week early on a couple now to - some banks offer a service for collecting payemts to if you wanted to be totally out of the loop not sure what it costs though.

Blondeshavemorefun · 26/04/2009 17:23

how rude!!

sure your parents would be the 1st to complain if they didnt get paid on time!!

i wouldnt care about hurting their feelings - you previde a service which they need to pay for!!

i think you should charge £5 per day late payment and also as shoshe said to take away care if late by 3 days

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