My CM has just told me I've been underpaying her for babysitting

[ToddlerYears]

We use her for occasional babysitting in evenings and have been paying her the normal rate £6.50 we pay for the day.
DH asked her about babysitting this weekend and she said that she checked our contract and that we should actually be paying £8.50 for out of hours.

I don't have a problem with this, but just wondering what the fairest thing to do about back payment as I have no idea how many times we've used her for babysitting in the past, how many hours, etc.

Any thoughts?

I don't think you need to pay back payment as it was a genuine mistake on your part and she should have checked the contract. Just pay the higher rate from now on.

I agree, no need for back payment. She should have told you at the time if you owed her more. Has she asked for back payments?

Surely the out of hours rate is if she is childminding in her own home, not babysitting? If she is babysitting in your home she has less overheads and presumably spends most of the time watching tv, etc while your dcs sleep rather than entertaining/educating them as she would be in the daytime?

Decorhate - if she is cm in her own home she can look after more than one child. To babysit in someone else's house you only have the one hourly payment and you don't have the comforts of your own home around you. It is quite usual for a cm to charge a higher hourly rate for babysitting to make it worth being out of your own home for the evening.

DH doesn't think we should make back payments either, so I don't think I'll mention it unless she asks (hasn't yet).
Not sure what I'd say if she does ask ...

DecorHate - I don't mind a higher out of hours rate as I count evening babysitting as working anti-social hours (ie evenings and weekends) when she could be spending time with her family.

Yes but she doesn't have to babysit.

You sound lovely, I'd babysit for you for £6.50 an hour!

Why did your cm not know how much she charges for babysitting without looking in the contract? This seems a little odd to me. Also, do you pay her seperately for babysit or is it added on to your monthly bill? I'm just trying to figure out how she didn't know that she wasn't being paid enough.

babysit ting duh

I pay her separately for babysitting and just transfer the money straight into her account. Babysitting is adhoc - just whenever DH and I fancy a night out or have an evening-do to go to.

I've no idea why she didn't check contract for babysitting rates. I know that I didn't check because I just assumed it was the same rate (never used a childminder before her).

I really wouldn't worry then toddler, she is rather daft if she doesn't know how much she charges for babysitting and then doesn't check how much she's been paid.

No, I wouldn't back pay. i think £8.50 is too expensive for babysitting, especially if the children are in bed when she gets there. If you're in london just use sitters agency, they're about £6.50/hour and always been fine x

i wouldnt back pay, it is the cm fault for not saying something at the time

That does seem a bit steep. Agencies charge less than that an hour. Although as you know and trust her that goes a long way.

i dont think £8.50 is steep,i charge £10

Childminders fault - perhaps she'll be a little more careful next time! And yes I am a childminder, and have done similar mistakes on invoices but that's life! We're not inland rev!

I'm a CM and have different rates for childminding but my babysitting rate is not on the contract as this is NOT childminding, it's 'babysitting'. This is a totally seperate arrangement between me and whoever and the contract doesn't come into it at all as it's in THEIR home. I do have an overnight care charge and that's in MY house. Personally I charge £10ph for babysitting and the family I've done lots for were very happy to pay that. Otherwise, I don't mind if I don't get babysitting work. I feel I work hard enough in the day and my time is very precious so it has to be very worth my while to do this. And I may have the tv but I never feel the same at when I'm at home, don't relax the same.

Anyway, that aside, no you don't have to pay backpay and if she mentions it, you can tell her that actually her contract has nothing to do with it if it's an NCMA one as that's for childminding and not babysitting. I'm sure she won't expect you to pay though

Definitely don't back pay her, if she asks then she is being extremely unreasonable and I would tell her (in the nicest possible way) that you're not willing to pay as she's a dappy mare, who really doesn't know what they charge!?

As for babysitting rates - I charge £7p/h, for 1 kid that might seem a little harsh but they don't have to use me and when I'm babysitting for a family of four I think they get a very good deal !!