Childminder wanting to still be paid 70%!!!!

[BusyBeeMummy1]

Hi all,

I am a keyworker and so is my husband. My Childminder has remained open for Keyworkers children but I am lucky enough I am able to wfh until things go back to normal.

I told my childminder that DS won’t be going back For April atleast. She told me she was advised by PACEY (A childminder body) that she can charge on a child by child basis and as she’s open for keyworkers its our choice to keep him home and she wants 70% of her usual monthly pay.

I pointed out to her that as she charges monthly she has also been paid in full for the week coming and that the childcare vouchers I pay her with had already automatically been paid to her (inadvertently) and FURTHERMORE the govt are meant to be paying self employed 80% aren’t they!

Please can any childminders or other parents using a childminder advise me on this because I don’t think it’s right.

Thankyouuuu

I’m a cihildminder.
The 80% I will get from the government is quite a lot less than I would have earned last year (and I’ve got to wait for it). Im annoyed he has given those who are late filing last years accounts extra time as I’m all ready to send in this years self assessment and have earned significantly more this year than last. (Higher hourly rate and also more dc each day). So I’m going to miss out a lot.

Your childminder won’t be paying out many expenses at the moment, no food, no outings, no need to buy resources or activities as there are no dc there. So, yes the 80% should be only on profits, why would you be investing in your business And buying books when you are closed?

I also think she is being quite unfair in charging you 70% (and not non key worker parents) because you are a key worker. Government advice has been clear, if children can stay at home, that’s where they should be, so you are doing the right thing. I’ve heard other cms being quite stroppy about this to all parents, with the attitude if they don’t pay me full, they aren’t coming back. Tbh, I’m not sure I’d want that person looking after my child anyway. I suspect after all this, there will childcare places being advertised with less money grabbing settings, so I wouldn’t worry too much (entire industries Have been closed down, I doubt all their businesses will go straight back to normal once the ban is lifted, so don’t worry about getting a space and there are always places in September when childcare settings loose dc to reception, so please don’t worry you will be left with no childcare).

Even some of my close childminding friends have shown their true money grabbing colours over this and it isn’t a side I like in them tbh.

To clarify, I have asked parents to pay what they can afford to pay during this time as I have several self employed families. However I know some are being paid in full, even though they are off. If I feel some have paid over the odds, I will look at knocking some off their fees when we start back and the grant has come in, to try to keep it fair to all of us.

She's open and willing to have your children. You are still being paid for your job.its no skin off your nose Your choice not to send them but you need to pay her. This is her income.

It's your choice not to send your child. She's being generous giving you a discount as it is. Don't expect her to save your place.

I'm been SE since October 2018 and will get nothing from UC or the scheme, wouldn't assume she will get 80%.

I’m not using my childminder and paid her 70% for April. Because I still want her there.

If it carries into May etc she’s going to think about a retainer fee - but I paid her because I don’t want her to close and she has a family to feed and for now I’m getting paid but actually I do get furloughed next week.

So you need to pay her

Yes, you have to pay. You are choosing not to send your child - would you normally expect not to pay if you decided not to send your child in?

I think when the chancellor announced his support packages and he finished his speech by reminding people to be kind to each other, this is exactly what he had in mind. You lose no income and so you can afford to pay what you would have expected your childminder to receive had they been caring for your child. Be kind. Be fair. Don't try to keep money in your pocket to someone else's disadvantage.

We pay our childminder fully although they don‘t work. I entrust her with my child. Given that i‘m still paid normally, i would considering not paying my childminder to be profiteering, and morally very, very wrong. I would stop a friendship with people who do this.
Obviously, things Are different if somebody looses their job etc!

Op

Sorry but your decision not to use the services that you have contracted to. You are lucky she is willing to accept anything less than 100%

If you want to keep her, and also not risk receiving a county court summons for the contracted amount I suggest that you pay up. It is very easy for her to apply via the small claims court for a summons and she will most likely have legal cover via her professional body.

When you contract for a service you have to pay for it unless the contract has a clause that allows you not to, or unless the contract is unreasonable (which it isn't)

If you are working pay.

If you are not working then I understand not paying.

The point is if you are working support others in the economy, especially those you normally rely on.

I think it really depends on whether you want to retain her services when the virus is over.
If so, I would aim for a compromise, as she is not actually having to do anything, so would probably offer half.
That said, this is a bit of a conundrum, isn't it.
How do you actually pay her?
I assume she is self employed, and if so, does she declare this income to HMRC. They are using the sum declared in the last tax year (I think) to work out a suitable payment, so some people will lose out.

@BusyBeeMummy1 so basically you want to make a profit from the situation. Lovely
If you would have lost your job etc, reasonable.since you haven’t, you ate greedy

Give up your place then. I doubt she’ll fill it under the circumstances. Then send your child back later - or to a different childminder if she’s full. I wouldn’t pay for a service I wasn’t using, especially if I was being discriminated against when she’s not charging other parents.

Childminder still has her bills and expenses. Your income hasn't changed. Why would you profit from corona at someone else's expense?

Pay her!

Omg some people!

BusyBeeMummy1 what do your terms and conditions say, or contract/agreement you signed say? You would have to comply with that, surely.

Some childminders can charge a retainer fee to keep the place open but it would not be 70%.

Sorry can't be more helpful. Hope you can sort it out.

I'm furloughed at the mo, so I'm earning 80% but I am still paying my childminder a reduced rate as she is still open for children of key workers, and from what I've gathered my childminder is being generous to offer me a lower rate as most haven't.

I need to still pay her, as she is a good, in demand childminder and my daughter is happy and settled there and I don't want to give up her place, for the sake of what will be two possibly three months worth of invoices, and the process of finding a childminder is a headache!!

Of course you should pay her. You are still being paid.

Op has not said what the childminder is charging other parents.

We haven't actually seen the detail of the 80% for Self Employed so we don't really know how much it will eventually be. It looks good to me from the announcement so hopefully the actual offer will be honoured.

PPs are right that none of us will see anything until June at the earliest. Op, you don't know if your childminder will be able to claim. If she's a new childminder, her average over the last three years may be quite low, even non-existent.

If she's willing to continue for keyworkers, then I would be paying her whatever she asks if you can afford it. She's putting herself and her family at increased risk to support families that are currently working for us all in trying to deal with this crisis.

Last week, people clapped the NHS. Such an easy thing to do, just step outside your front door and feel good with your neighbours.
Much harder to take in their children, knowing they may bring in the virus and you could go down with it yourself, pass it to your family. Just so they don't have to join the desperate scrabble to find childcare places because theirs has closed down and is refusing to take the risk.

After all, Op, you yourself are keeping your child away to keep him safe, aren't you? Some keyworkers can't do that. She's taking their children, knowing the risks and willingly undertaking the extra work she'll need to do.
Perhaps this is your chance to do more than clap by ensuring she doesn't have that black anxiety over how she'll afford to feed the extra children and keep her premises as clean as she needs to.

I’m going to hijack this thread for opinions.
My Cm isn’t open but still wants full fees.
I have worked 1 week full time from home with 2 toddlers and it was awful. I can do it for a few more before I have a breakdown. I can’t do it for 3-6 months. My boss is ok with me dropping a day a at work but that Sakarya cut will obviously mean finances are tight.

I pay her £1400 a month. I’ve offered to pay a retainer, she’s not replied to me as yet. I feel awful, my boys love her but I can’t do this!

Pay her!

We are not in normal times... People
like you who, even in this moment of crisis, can only think about themselves and “getting what they paid for” frankly disgust me.

She needs paying as her service to you is open ,and you are choosing not to use it! If you dont pay then she is in her rights to close your place and take on another child .This is her business dont forget!

Pay her.

She isn't just getting a blanket 80% - that's not how it works.