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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

Think childminder may be ripping me off? HELP

98 replies

allgonebellyup · 19/08/2009 12:18

Our childminder insists that, even though i only work term time, that i should pay her all through the holidays so that equals 13weeks per year at full price.

She then went on a holiday with her mates for a week during term time (ie when i needed her) and insisted that i still paid her for the whole week, as she is still "entitled to holiday". So i paid for this week as well as the 13 other weeks.

Is this right??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

madusa · 19/08/2009 21:30

you could try to find a nanny share and get one that is ofsted registered

Your CM is taking the pee. I used to work in a school as an LSA so I know only too well what the pay is like

MaggieBeauLeo · 19/08/2009 21:32

I'd say one or the other!

Either she can go on holiday and still get paid, OR, she doesn't receive payment when she's not working.

She seems to have landed on her feet a bit getting it both ways iykwim.

TeamEdward · 19/08/2009 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pinkmagic1 · 19/08/2009 21:41

I think nurseries are a better option personally, unless you work extremely odd hours. You know where you stand and there are no grey areas.
I had to use a childminder for a couple of months once and although I really couldn't fault her standard of care she was always calling sick and tried to charge me a full day for boxing day as it fell on a day when DS was meant to go. I questioned that it was a bank holiday and there was nothing in my contract about bank holidays, but she insisted I pay in full and sadly I left on bad terms. I mean, who would honestly send their child on boxing day and what child minder would except them?

Scotia · 19/08/2009 22:06

Allgone, is there a breakfast/after school club your dcs can go to? I'd definitely give her notice. Ok, so you signed the contract, but she's definitely bleeding you dry. Get rid.

Does your local authority not keep a list of childcare providers? I think there must be somebody better for you nearby.

nannynick · 19/08/2009 22:26

I do not feel that it is unreasonable for a CM to charge a per-session fee for Before School and After-School care. The fact that your children only attend for 30 minutes per session makes no difference as if they are aged under 8 years old, they are in ratio and thus are using a childcare place.

Charging you extra because you work at a school isn't on in my view. It's just not morally right. You should be charged the same as everyone else.
However the amount you agreed to pay on the contract is the amount you agreed to pay... a CM can charge different clients different rates.

Obtain the vacancy list from your local Families Information Service and contact other childminders to see how much they would charge you. That way you will see if the amount you are being charged is the norm in your area, or if other CM's would bill you differently.

Can I ask a possibly related question (parents and CM's both feel free to give your view on this) - Is the writing on the NCMA standard contract form too small? Does any CM give parents a contact in larger print?

Katymac · 19/08/2009 22:35

It is quite small Nick

I go through the last page of quite small print line by line with my parents & I make sure they understand they are signing a contract that is binding

tbh quite a lot take little notice of this & ask all sorts of questions as we start to work together - I know underline bits as they only seem to read the bits in my pen rather than the printed stuff

Penthesileia · 19/08/2009 22:40

£7.50 per child per hour? She's having a laugh, surely??

ConnieComplaint · 19/08/2009 22:50

AGBU - get rid of her.

Sometimes I get a bit annoyed with my CM when she tells me she is taking holidays (which means I don't pay her & I arrange for my niece to have my kids) then she will call me & say oh, by the way, I am available to work X Y &Z, but if you have childcare sorted that's fine.... ie: I'm available so I need paid. But the children seem happy there so I say nothing.

She told me she & I were both entitled to 1 week in summer (unpaid) and at Christmas (unpaid) - but at Christmas she text me & said, by the way, I can't afford to take any holidays this year so will be available for mind every day except Xmas day.... therefore she needed paid because she was available.

Anyway, my youngest starts school soon so I won't need her anymore as family can help out.

Good luck , but if I were you I would give her notice & find someone else.

MollieO · 19/08/2009 23:01

Our CM charged a fixed hourly rate whatever your occupation (not sure what relevance what you do for a living has to what the CM should charge). I paid her half pay for her holidays (3 weeks a year), full pay for bank holidays and full pay for when I took holidays (unless that coincided with her holidays). Some CMs ime don't charge when they are on holiday. I would be looking for another CM and sorting out a term time only contract.

AvadaKedavra · 20/08/2009 07:10

It's not really per hour though is it, it's a session fee. I charge session fees for before/after school, it's common practise around my area.

Original poster

allgonebellyup · 20/08/2009 10:46

Whilst i was thinking hard about what to do last night, she rang me and said she wasnt happy to have my children any more if i am going to be so "rude" to her about her fees - and she gave me MY notice!!!

i am meeting with a new cm today but she can only cover mornings and not not all the days i need..

OP posts:

AtheneNoctua · 20/08/2009 11:17

You should ask her to put it in writing. I have a friend whose childnimder did something similar, and when the friend ready to leave the childminder said she hadn't given her notice and took her to court for the fees for the contractual notice period... and won!

There were no bad feeling or nasty texts. Just a miscommunication on when the contract was ending.

Scotia · 20/08/2009 11:31

I think you are well rid of her. But I agree with Athene, tell her you want it in writing.

Maybe this other childminder will be able to point you in the direction of someone else who can offer you the sessions you need.

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 20/08/2009 19:36

OMG!

Definitely get it in writing.

Go round there and do not leave until you have it.

minderjinx · 21/08/2009 08:12

I think it's probably a good thing that you are parting company as there's obviously not mutual respect or good communication. It rather sounds as though the rates were a reflection that she wasn't really happy with the arrangement anyway (and I can also see why not many would find them attractive). Hope you find someone else, but I think you need to bear in mind that it's not just a question of hourly rates, but how many places you are taking up and who else might want those places for longer or more convenient hours.

minderjinx · 21/08/2009 08:14

I've just read back a bit and think I'm basically agreeing with Nanny Nick, only he put it better!

PinkChick · 21/08/2009 08:34

FWIW as you have now seemingly 'sorted' out what you are doing with this CM, i would keep your contract out and store the texts she has been sending you...put in writing to her (as im guessing she prob WONT send you in writing the fact SHE is cancelling your contract) that you accept her termination of contract which she gave you on x dte over the phone, however due to the nature of her texts and the fact you have now discovered she was OVER charging you (time and a half!!??THEN hols as well..she knew what she was doing here and has been rumbled!), you will not be returning nor paying any more fees (if you have paid in advance tell her you require a refund within x days or will take this info to OFSTED/NCMA/Council).
Send it recorded delivery and keep a copy with your contract.

I KNOW being a cm that some parents DO NOT read or claim to have not read certain parts of the contracts then try it on when it suits and parents should always discuss what they want and whats written , not just sign then dispute later, this is what causes probs, but yours HAS taken advantage and needs to be aware she cant do this..hope you find someone much better before kids go back

maggi · 22/08/2009 22:54

childminders can make up any rules they want regarding payment but these MUST be detailed in the signed contract. If you dont have a contract listing these, then you dont pay.

If you want to stay with this cm, then insist that she provides you with a proper contract (Ncma do bril ones) and you both need to agree the conditions BEFORE YOU SIGN. Once you have signed you are legally bound to the conditions and she can go to court to enforce them as can you.

CarGirl · 22/08/2009 23:00

Is there no breakfast or after school club at the school, can you try and get one set up? Fairly soon schools will HAVE to provide this it is big thing that the government are pushing to happen.

Advertise for a part time nanny? Perhaps one who has her own pre-school children so would be happy for so few hours and term time only? They can register so you can still claim the childcare element of CTC for employling them?

shaninemb · 23/08/2009 19:59

I am a CM and wouldn't charge full fees but maybe 1/2 when you were not working as I wouldn't have expenses for that child. I do charge full price for 4 weeks (2in term time and 2 in the hols). (for now). I think parents forget that just becuse your off doesn't mean the childminder is. They usually have children from more than one family.
I give my parents lots of notice of my main holidays so that they can book those same weeks off. This works out really well as they don't have to pay for alternative care.

shaninemb · 23/08/2009 20:02

and I have only had I think its 2 sick days in6 years.

jonesy3108 · 01/09/2009 10:54

On a similiar point can someone help me with this. I am looking to return to work and finances are tight. My husband and I were talking about talking our own holiday entitlement separately so that the childrne would only need to be with a CM for a total of 5 weeks school holiday time (out of the usual 13). How likely is it that a CM would be happy not to charge for the 8 weeks we didn't need her/him or charge only half? I'm not sure if it would make a difference but we have 3 children (including one baby which we would need full time childcare for) - my point being that the CM would have a good income from us alone. Is there some kind of discount for bulk 'buying' in the childcare world???

twinkletoescare · 01/09/2009 11:05

Your contract doesnt state fees? rates? holiday? holiday notice period? notice required to end contract?

Is your CM registered with OFSTED and a member of the NCMA?

i dont think its unreasonable of her to take holidays during term time as i always take mine during term time BUT do state this t all prospective parents and ALWAYS give more than enough notice but i do think insisting you pay full rate is a bot out of order (unless this is in your signed contract)

you say she insisted, how so?

If i were you i would put my feelers out for another CM in your area and find out what they charge etc...

twinkletoescare · 01/09/2009 11:08

Jonesy how do you know your CM would have a good income from you alone?

Do you have access to her expenditure? how much tax and NI she pays?

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