Sign up to a child minder with your eyes wide open!

[BathJ]

Hi, I've never blogged before but I'm so fed up and angry that I have been spurred on to do so! We were recommended a childminder who ofsted rated as 'good' and who had glowing references, she seemed nice and we provisionally signed up when I was pregnant. We agreed that I would call when my baby was born which I did and we signed contracts. At this point my childminder said that she would hold the space for my son for a holding fee, £500, which would go towards the childcare fees that we accrued during the settle in period and over the first few months. We felt that was fair enough and that we were led to believe that this was the done thing? Anyway, all was fine until the settling in period when my son really didn't settle in very well and the childminder really didn't look very happy with the situation either, she was obviously stressed out. She looked after him at home and took him for a drive on the school run

I hope you get the money back. It sounds like you will because she ticked the deposit box.

You should get a refund as it was to be used for childcare fees. That is appalling. Very for you.

Most childminders are not like this at all. I think you should get your money back and find a new cm, asap. She sounds horrible.

Do ring ncma first yourself before speaking to her so that you have that to back you up. She's wrong and she's basically stolen £500 from you. If she wants to be paid for her time with your ds, that's fair. So her hourly rate X 6 hours = what she gets to keep.
6 hours for £500 = a rate of £83.33 per hour.

So you paid a deposit of £500 9 months ahead of the time when you needed her?
A deposit would be used against the time that the child was minded.
The ONLY time the deposit is not given back is when the parent changes his/her mind.
She should refund you the money minus the fee for the 6 hours.

as opposed to when i sign up to anything blindfolded or perhaps with my hands tied behind my back

I take a deposit for future bookings, which is refunded against the first invoice(s). The first month the child is with me is based on a zero notice period, and then 4 weeks notice after that. If I really felt I could not look after a child after 6 hours (it has NEVER happened), then I would refund the balance of the deposit paid. The deposit is (for me) to ensure that the parents are going to turn up with their child and meet their end of the contract.

Write her a letter quoting the contract and stating that the fee was for childcare services in advance.
add that she did not give the child a chance after merely 6 hours and 1 day notice is not acceptable.
Check your contract and see if it says you were still in settling in period, see if she has put that either party can leave without notice within this time scale, then bring that up too if she has said notice is required.
Then finish stating how much time you have used (6 hours=price) and that she now owes you x amount and if that amount is not fully refunded within 14 days you will take court proceedings against her.
Id give ofsted a bell too!
good luck