CM Deposits + extra £ - is this the norm?

[albertababy]

Hi there, some advice from you CM's please...!
Our new CM is requesting a holding fee to keep a place open for our baby for 7 weeks in addition to paying for 3 of the weeks before minding actually starts...
What is a normal holding fee? And is it normal to ask parents to pay before starting??

do you mean pay in advance, this is normal i charge 4 weeks in advance, and to hold the childs place then there is sometimes a hlding fee, as during that time the cm may have to turn work away, and if you change your mind work would have been lost, but not all charge a holding fee.

No paying in advance is on top. And to clarify the start date is approx 7 weeks away.

yes so pay in advance as well as holding is normal, but not all do this

i only charge holding if someone else asks for the same space.

If she's keeping the place open for 7 weeks (so no other child is using the space during that time) then I think some kind of retainer fee is usual.

I'm not clear what you mean about paying before minding starts - is she saying the place is available in 4 weeks, so you must start paying then whether you use the space or not?

She is saying I must start paying at the beginning of May for and end of May start...

So can you use the place from the beginning of May?

Or does she want the payment for the week at the end of May paid at the beginning of the month?

any weeks your paying for should be actual spaces for your child, you cant be expected to pay for weeks if you cant use them!

I'm a bit lost with this one

Are you saying that your CM has asked for..

1. Holding fee (eh?)

1. 3 wks fees before minding starts - when is your contract start date?

1. Payment in advance

1. I think by holding fee you mean a retainer to keep the space for your DC. This is pretty normal IME, nurseries operate the same system, the cost is decided by the CM, but some use the weekly / monthly fees to base it on.

1. If you are paying fees before minding starts then the place should be open and available for you to use, or is this 3 wks for settling in sessions maybee?

1. Payment in advance is normal too. I do invoicing mid month for the next, I expect payments to reach my account by the 1st.

The main thing with CM's is we are all different, no set fees / charges. But your contract should be clear what the charges are for and what they include, if you are a bit speak to your CM as you may come accross other issues later, like sick fees, paid holidays / time off etc.

Are any of the charges refundable?

Normally a retainer is a proportion (usually half fee) charged per week to keep a place open. This is not refundable because the place is available and the childminder is holding it open for you (perhaps the holding fee?).

A deposit is a set fee that is paid if a place is not available, but the childminder anticipates that it will be available when you need it. It lets her know that you're serious about wanting the place and discourages you from blocking up lots of places while you make up your mind which childminder/nursery you want to use. The deposit is usually refundable against your first invoice, unless you don't take the place.
Alternatively, deposits covering the notice period can be requested and kept until the end of the contract to encourage parents to give adequate notice. It's refunded at the end of the contract, or used to pay the notice period.

And yes, perfectly normal to ask fees in advance. This is so the childminder isn't owed fees if a parent removes their child without notice.