Is my childminder incredibly cheeky or is it me

[Debbiethemum]

My children started with our childminder last November when I went back to work after maternity. During the initial chats I mentioned that I may occasionaly be sent on a weeks course and would need a later collection time and would it be a problem, childminder said OK.
Since then I have been on 3 courses (having not had any for years) and agreed a pick-up of 1 hour later. Yesterday, when she gave me the invoice for the last week which had three late pickups (needed to clain for expenses) she had upped her charges by £2 per hour per child. This is in spite of the fact that dh was ended up working from home last week & collected at the normal time.
Far enough to pay her for the extra hours as we had booked if not used them, but I think its is very cheeky to put up her prices after the event without any warning.
Anyway I said I had no problem paying the higher rate the next time for the "unsociable hours" - till 6 instead of 5, but could she redo the invoce for last week at the standard rate, which I would then pay.
Am I too demanding as a parent or is what I said I would do fair.
Honest opinions please - though don't be too hard on me.

def cheeky to charge the extra £2, as you said fair enough £3 for the hour that you had agreed.

i would count myself lucky if i was her and extra hours pay for not ahving the children. i used to be a childminder but gave up because i was fed up with parents trying to drop them off early, pick up late (without prior arrangement) and not paying the proper amount! so to have got an extra hour for no work i would have been more than happy!

I would deffo tell the parents of any price rises before putting them on an invoice, I think thats a bit cheeky especially before 6.

If she wanted to change the prices, she should get together with you and re-do the contract so it covers things like courses and extra hours.

I look after a 4 yr old and the parents pay me even when he is only here 1 day as he is taking a full-time place, the baby I mind pays for the days I mind him (usually 3 contracted days) at £25.00 per day which is easier for me.

Have a word and see if she can maybe change the contract on hours you need her to have your child/ren.

This thread is TWO YEARS old!!!!

Nothing like bumping on old thread

... but TWO YEARS!!

I wondered why I didn't recognise any of the childminders from the staff room!

hello mo! i got the key thank you! i just haven't been on mn for aaaaages

Well helloo! D'ya reckon this ones been sorted? The cm has probably put her charges up at least a dozen times by now!

Look forward to seeing you in the staff room some time. I've got a busy one tomorrow, 13mth, 18mth & 3 yr old, so I'll probably only be in for a quick coffee in the morning. Start at 6.15am too, so I ought to go to bed soon.

ooh that's early. my cm doesn't start until 8.15 in hols time and 7.45 in school time.

haven't yet started up due to pnd relapse but thought i may start at half 7 for breakfasts - is this about right?

go to bed!!!!

shall talk to you 2moro!

7.30 is quite good actually, because then everyone fits in with your family routine. I have them coming in drib and drabs until 8.15. Don't do what I did though. I used to offer bacon sarnies on a Friday and one ex-mindee, who is now 14, still tries to blag her way in for a buttie!

no probs with that, am veggie tho used tolove them now don't.

GO TO BED

I can't!! I'm too active. I will however collapse in a heap tomorrow night. When I finish minding at 4 tomorrow, I then do my bit as a Rainbow Guider til 5.30, then have a meeting until 10!

Perhaps she thinks that YOU are cheeky saying this would be an occasional thing and then doing it every other month.
If you initially agreed hours with her, which presumably fit round her family and commitments also, then keep expecting her to work an extra hour a day a lot more often than initially implied, I think I'd be a bit cheesed off and perhaps she is trying to make a point.
I'm not a childminder btw, and we use a nursery and, after reading all the 'AIBU' threads under the heading of childminders, I am convinced that nurseries are better for knowing exactly where you stand.

o m g . . . . why would someone restart a 2 yr old thread ?

Oh! Ha ha, it came up in my 'last 15 minutes!'
Will check in future!

With a good childminder you would know where you stood! I think this is a problem with communication, why not have a quick chat with her, or suggest you review your contract? (If she wants to change your fees she should put them ina renewed contract.)She shouldn't just add charges on with no notice or change of contract and as a parent I wouldn't pay it. As a cm I wouldn't charge it!

You need to talk to your cm about this and clear the air. Let her know you appreciate her covering these extra hours, and that hopefully there shouldn't be many more. Does she have commitments (own family) perhaps which she has to cancel when you are on a course? Just a thought. If she cancelled things, then didn't have kids I would be annoyed with that as a cm whether I was being paid or not.

I love the way people are answering the OP!

Well in order to update those who are still interested.

I never went on another course after that one. Though as I do every year requested some in my annual appraisal.
CM has since moved to a different town and no longer minds my children.

But thank you for your concern.

Thanks for the update Debbie.

Does this make a record for the longest running thread?