Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

being offered more money ofr doing nothing...feels a bit wrong, what would you do?

47 replies

woahthere · 22/04/2010 10:24

I look after a little one for 1 1/2 days a week. The Father has told me that his company has a scheme that pays for childcare up to a certain large amount. He said to me that I could up my fees so that I could use all the money. What would you say, I feel a bit funny about it, Im not sure why ...would you?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Danthe4th · 22/04/2010 10:29

doesn't seem right really but why not book the child in for more hours up to the amount and then they don't have to use them if they don't want to.
It may backfire otherwise unless you are very cheap in which case I would up it, if a child is doing less than 10 hours I always charge more anyway, I would charge £6 per hour, it depends by how much he wants to up it by.

Original poster

woahthere · 22/04/2010 10:52

I havent got any more hours to book him in, Im up to my numbers every other day as it is so even if they wanted to use me more they cant...they know that though.

OP posts:

LisaD1 · 22/04/2010 11:18

I wouldn't do it tbh, it's fraud basically and it wouldn't sit comfortably on my shoulders.

Original poster

woahthere · 22/04/2010 11:20

is it fraud, im entitled to charge what i want arent i so i could put the contracted rate up for them...it is at their request after all.

OP posts:

AvadaKedavra · 22/04/2010 11:25

I wonder if he is maybe getting confused with the £243 vouchers thing and misunderstanding the whole point/useage of?

LisaD1 · 22/04/2010 11:27

The parent would be defrauding their employer by requesting you charge an inflated rate to basically obtain money by deception, surely your rate is your rate? Why would you inflate it for no reason other than to obtain extra money from the parents employer?

At the end of the day, you can do what you want as your self employed, I was just giving my opinion and it wouldn't sit comfortably with me.

Original poster

woahthere · 22/04/2010 11:36

no thats fine lisa, i wasnt being funny, as i said i feel strange about it too but not sure why. But thinking about, it is the fact that I am self employed that means I can charge what i want isnt it. I dont have one rate anyway. My rate depends on circumstances...how many hours they do, how regular the work is. I did ask if he was getting confused with the 243 thing but he said not.

OP posts:

plantsitter · 22/04/2010 11:39

I don't think it's fraud is it? You could put your general rates up and discount your other mindees' parents.

I would do it and not feel guilty. No, I wouldn't charge a parent more for no reason, but this parent is telling you that you could earn more at no cost to him and his company has obviously budgeted that amount.

Disclaimer: I am neither self-employed nor a childminder!

Laquitar · 22/04/2010 12:58

Can you put the fees up for the specific child and provide something extra? I.e homemade organic meals, extra art/craft materials or even the occasional drop off at his home once in a while.

potplant · 22/04/2010 13:07

How is it fraud?

As far as I'm aware there isn't a standard rate for CM so you can charge what you like including charging different rates for different children. Lots of nurseries charge higher rates for babies as it costs more to look after them.

Unless he is suggesting that you charge the full amount and then give some/all of the money to him then I don't see that he is doing anything wrong either. (I wouldn't touch this scenario with a bargepole btw)

Is he trying to do you favour?

potplant · 22/04/2010 13:08

Also meant to say that if you feel uncomfortable about it then don't do it.

Original poster

woahthere · 22/04/2010 13:16

Oh he is absolutely trying to do us a favour...hes not asking for it back, id never do that. i suppose the only thing i feel a bit unsure about is feeling like i owe them, in reality i cant do anything nin return for them as im at full whack as it is. i wouldnt offer drop offs usually as its too disruptive to the others and a pita! I'll let you know if anything comes of it!

OP posts:

foureleven · 22/04/2010 13:23

Bad Karma alert, for you and him. Big beleiver in karma. Dont do it.

But by the way... where does he work??!! I'll work there if they really do pay a large sum for childcare!

(please don not ake that literally, pretty sure he wouldnt want his employer on here heehee)

leeloo1 · 22/04/2010 13:31

What a lovely parent - nice when they're willing to do something that benefits you.

How much of an increase would it be? doubling your fees? tripling them? You could always put them up by a reasonable amount that is still less than the total figure his work would pay if you feel more comfortable with it, or, as others have said, add a surcharge for something extra for this child.

I don't think its bad karma - surely its good karma coming your way, esp if you put the extra money into updating/adding to your resources, then it benefits you and the children!

thebody · 22/04/2010 13:34

well I would take the money and give the same care to that child as all the others which I am sure is excellent.

Its not fraud, you can set your fees at any rate you wish, its up to others if they want to pay them.

I couldnt afford to be as high minded as some I guess.. I expect the parents just wants to keep you and help you out as well.. how nice...(if they give notice can I have them) lol

Original poster

woahthere · 22/04/2010 13:50

its about double leeloo, I think I will accept it if it comes about...seems too good to be true!

OP posts:

leeloo1 · 22/04/2010 14:30

Well double not too much extra! Lucky you.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 22/04/2010 14:36

It wouldn't sit right with me and I wouldn't do it.

TBH it was apparent fairly early on you were going to take the money so I guess you were looking for people saying you were doing the right thing.

To me he is defrauding the company he works for as he is asking you to put your prices up so he can claim money from his work. Very odd.

StarExpat · 22/04/2010 14:41

Maybe you could say to him, your rate remains the same amount, but he is welcome to give cash bonus at any time... Then the extra money is a gift, not part of your rate. Parents give bonuses to carers. Not unusual.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 22/04/2010 14:44

SE has the best idea.

StarExpat · 22/04/2010 17:42

HarrietTheSpy · 22/04/2010 18:48

If he is investigated for fiddling his expenses (and expect that it's likely he could be) you will probably have to answer questions too since it will be your invoices they are looking at. Who knows what's really on his agenda here. But I would gambling on there being something in it for him too. Steer clear is my advice unless you have quite a high risk appetite.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 22/04/2010 19:22

Original poster

woahthere · 22/04/2010 20:33

Im not sure its like that, I think he just found out that hes entitled to a certain amount of money for childcare and therefore thought he may as well pass it on to me if it were there in the kitty anyway.

OP posts:

xoxcherylxox · 22/04/2010 20:59

its not defraud as long as the money goes to the childcarer as thats what its for then i dont see anything wrong with it a childminder can charge whatever fee they want and if the parent agrees to pay it then they can. as long as the childminder watchs the child and has the proper papers ie contracts and invoices/reciepts to prove that is the fee and the parent is paying it then theres nothing wrong with that

Flip

1 2