Late/early fines

[collpat]

My daughteris being charged £15 for bringing my grandson to nursery early. However, although they did arrive early, they stood at the shelter and a nursery worker called him and took him in. I feel that this is very unfair?

I’m not quite clear what your argument is. Are the fees not clear in the nursery’s schedule of charges/contract?

If they are caring for the child early, and they charge early care fees, then the parent is liable for the fee.

If the nursery worker called them in, when they were quite happy waiting for the correct time, I would bring this up with the nursery manager.

They were quite happy to wait until he was taken in at the right time, but the worker called him and said "come on ....., let's go. And to answer your question as to what my argument is, it is not an argument, just wanting to know what others think as I do not think this is a valid reason for chargin £15 when he was called in. Was she supposed to say "no"? x

Yes. She should have asked if she would be charged.

Thank you for your clarification.

She was invited in early, knowing that the nursery has early arrival charges. The nursery is entitled to charge the fee. She should have said "no, we’re just waiting here for his proper start time" if she didn’t want to pay the early arrival fee.

I would raise it with then that she was happy to wait, but was called in. However if the nursery worker asked "do you want to come in now?", she could have said no.

The nursery worker might have thought she wanted to drop off early and she didn't confirm that she was happy to wait.

I would also check what their definition of "arrival" is. They may count waiting outside as having arrived.

Why doesn't she just speak to the nursery and explain the misunderstanding?

The nursery nurse assumed your daughter was dropping off, your daughter assumed they nursery were accepting GC early in good faith.

I'm sure they won't really want to fall out over £15 and they can mention it to the staff to avoid confusion with anyone else in future.

She might have to suck it up and pay the fine this time but inform them that next time she’ll be happy to wait until the correct start time.

It does sound like a misunderstanding- how much earlier was she? I guess she knows now to say 'no thank you, we are waiting until 8am' in future. Thats quite an expensive early riser mine. When i was looking at nurseries (admittedly it was 10 years ago) the early riser was £3.50 - i think it was for 30 mins - might have been an hour.

She might find the manager will waive the fe3 if she asks. The problem might be, if they make an exception it can open the floodgates for every other parent who believes they have an even better reason for an exception.

Early/late fees in my area are more likely to be £20 +£1 a minute. OTOH childminders will often accept early/lateness so long as parents don’t start to take the mick.

@christmasathome ours is £5 for every 5 mins which is presumably the same as OP

@GiveHerHellFromUs but surely that is a fine for being late? That i get. How can they fine you for being early? Surely they have a choice in not letting a parent go and leave a child if they are early but they don't have the same choice in a parent not collecting a child on time.

An agreed charge for a set time which is what I assumed op was meaning. The nursery we looked at years ago had standard hrs of 8-5.30 and had a set rate but also had an early and late club - think it was open 30 mins either side of their standard opening times and charged £3.50 per session.

I guess the child could be going half day so could get there before the session starts and So i could understand a fee - accept as i said, surely they tell the parent they cant leave yet as afternoon session hasn't started yet.

No that’s unfair saying she should of been aware of the charge. In my nursery we open at 8 but if parents are there at 7.50 ish and there are enough staff in the room we take the child in. If they arrived at 7.30 however for the early session, it would be explained to them they would be paying an extra fee.

@Thefaceofboe

That's what they do at your nursery. There’s absolutely no reason why your nursery’s policies apply to every childcare provider in the U.K.

If the charge is shown in the contract, or the nursery’s schedule of charges, then it’s fair to say the mum was aware.