what made you choose mm over ncma?

[aly]

this is obviously for those that are with mm....following the other thread about the deposit :angry::angry::angry: and I am also seriously thinking of moving over {not til feb though :(}

1) What did mm offer over NCMA?
2) If you are with MM who is your libility insurance with?

x

[Minstrel]

I thought MM WAS the insurance company? :confused:

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I went from MM to NCMA because they didn't cover 8 year old playing independently outside the front of my house. Apart from that they are comparable but NCMA act in the interests of childcarers where MM are a company and do nothing for us that I can see.

[Winnie]

MM is an insurance company :p I was with the NCMA for 18 years, i changed to MM because i couldnt afford to renew with NCMA after suffering a flat (broke) year in 2008 & I didnt see why i should lose the majority of a months profit when i could get the cover for half the price :( iyswim

[aly]

oh...i thought mm was the equivelant to ncma....so what do you actually get with mm then? with ncma you had to get insurance which wasnt included but extra....or am i just completely ditzy?

[rickysmiths]

I don't think in a way you can compare MM with NCMA. Its a bit like comparing Apples and Pears.

MM is purely an insurance company in business to make money with no interest in childminders, just their money.

NCMA is a Charity, non-profit making organisation who does have an interest in all childminders and does do a lot for us all.

Actually the last time I looked their Insurance was cheaper than MM. However you have to be a Member of NCMA to be able to take advantage of their cheaper insurance and to be able to do this you have to pay an annual membership fee as you do to belong to any other club.

NCMA Insurance is £23pa and they give you the choice if you want to pay an extra £5pa for Employees Cover. i believe you pay for this with MM even if you don't need it?

Membership is £50 pa

[Mouse]

I have NCMA membership, but MM insurance.
It costs more to do it that way, but after the horror stories I've heard about NCMA insurance, I felt it was worth spending the extra.

I still wanted to be an NCMA member as they do represent cm's etc, but the insurance company they use seems very much biased against cm's.

Someone said about MM being a profit making organisation & NCMA being a charity. That's true, but the insurance company who NCMA use is a profit making organisation, so no different to MM. The insurance part doesn't represent cms.

[David]

I will be with MM their insurance is actually £41
the cover also gives Five dedicated helplines - Legal, medical, tax and VAT, household emergencies and a confidential counselling line. These have specialists on hand to give confidential and practical advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, anywhere in the UK.
sounds good to me:laughing:
also their pack is quite comprehensive

[manjay]

I have NCMA membership, but MM insurance.
It costs more to do it that way, but after the horror stories I've heard about NCMA insurance, I felt it was worth spending the extra.

I still wanted to be an NCMA member as they do represent cm's etc, but the insurance company they use seems very much biased against cm's.

Someone said about MM being a profit making organisation & NCMA being a charity. That's true, but the insurance company who NCMA use is a profit making organisation, so no different to MM. The insurance part doesn't represent cms.

You're right. I think it is about time NCMA changed who underwrites their PLI as the company they use now are causing NCMA to lose business. Obviously you do understand the difference between the two companies Mouse, and what they do but my worry is that some people just do not understand, they hear some of the horror stories and decide to move. Unfortunately if everyone does this there will be no more NCMA membership and IMHO we will find it much tougher as childminders than we do now.

[Winnie]

I will be with MM their insurance is actually £41
the cover also gives Five dedicated helplines - Legal, medical, tax and VAT, household emergencies and a confidential counselling line. These have specialists on hand to give confidential and practical advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, anywhere in the UK.
sounds good to me:laughing:
also their pack is quite comprehensive

Yes and you also get an online ChildCarer monthly newsletter and Creative Minds which is an arts & crafts magazine and comes out 4 times a year (i think) with MM. I'm not knocking the NCMA, i just think they've lost their way and have been too cosy with the government.

[manjay]

Yes and you also get an online ChildCarer monthly newsletter and Creative Minds which is an arts & crafts magazine and comes out 4 times a year (i think) with MM. I'm not knocking the NCMA, i just think they've lost their way and have been too cosy with the government.

All the more reason for everyone to help them find their way again;)

[miffy]

MM is an insurance company :p I was with the NCMA for 18 years, i changed to MM because i couldnt afford to renew with NCMA after suffering a flat (broke) year in 2008 & I didnt see why i should lose the majority of a months profit when i could get the cover for half the price :( iyswim

I thought MM public liability insurance was more expensive than NCMA public liability insurance

Overall though NCMA costs more because there is also the membership fee included

Miffy xx

[gigglinggoblin]

I would have liked to stay with ncma as I know we would be worse off without them but after hearing how much better mm are at getting money back for you, plus the fact that its half the price I went with mm this year. I am really impressed, they have lots of courses you can do online and the digital magazines are fab, cant see me going back to ncma unless they improve

[sweets]

ive been with NCMA for the 2 years ive been minding, have been really happy with all the paperwork etc but ive just got my renewal letter and ive decided to give MM a try, partly because of all the posts on here saying MM are better in a crisis.

i can understand that we should support NCMA as they do and have done a lot for childminders but when push comes to shove i am afraid this time i am going for the cheapest option as there service is supposed to be better.

All my existing contracts are NCMA tho and ive quite a few left, can i continue to use these? or do i have to swap them to MM's.

[The Juggler]

I will be moving my insurance to MM when I renew this year. I may keep my membership but i may not. I want to support them but I just don't feel they are listening to members about how upset/unsupported they feel over contractual disputes. It's crazy. They'll have no members and no money to do their lobbying and larger projects with:(

[sarah707]

There are 3 things to think about here....

1. Morton Michel - insurance company

2. NCMA - registered charity

3. Bluefin - insurance company

If you want to buy insurance from Morton Michel you ring them up and buy it. With the insurance you get a package of benefits.

If you want to buy insurance from Bluefin you have to be a member of the NCMA first.

NCMA give you a package of benefits.

Bluefin are exactly the same as MM - they are a profit making insurance company.

You can be a member of NCMA without buying insurance through them with Bluefin!

to those who keep knocking MM as 'just an insurance company'... so are Bluefin!

But in the case of Morton Michel they give you a range of benefits as well as insurance, they listen to their customers and they make changes when mistakes are pointed out.

They ring you back when they say they will and they have, as far as members on here have found, always been supportive in times of crisis.

I do not know the comparative insurance costs but when I rang NCMA to ask about being a member I was quoted at over £60.

:D

[Mrs Book]

MM cost me £41 at the beginning of the year and only reason why I went with them was because I couldn't aford the £86 for NCMA. From what I can remember they covered the same sort of things.

This is what you get with MM

01 Public Liability £5,000,000
02 Employers Liability £10,000,000
03 3rd Party Property * £1,000
04 Legal Expenses £50,000

You also get a mag Childcarer every month a creative mag once a quarter I think. You also get half price into a few attractions.

[It's a small world]

Now i really know what to do sooo confused . Go with mm or stck with ncma and keep membership etc . This month so expensive already - renew Ofsted reg , mot on car , renew insurance and lost a weeks fees as had a weeks holiday and don't charge for my hols.

Need to do alot of thinking

[aly]

MM cost me £41 at the beginning of the year and only reason why I went with them was because I couldn't aford the £86 for NCMA. From what I can remember they covered the same sort of things.

This is what you get with MM

01 Public Liability £5,000,000
02 Employers Liability £10,000,000
03 3rd Party Property * £1,000
04 Legal Expenses £50,000

You also get a mag Childcarer every month a creative mag once a quarter I think. You also get half price into a few attractions.

I paid £71 in feb...what is the difference between 2 amounts then?

[ORKSIE]

When i started 16 years ago...my under 8's adviser (SS then) told me to go with MM. Never looked back and NCMA were always more expensive:)

[Minstrel]

I paid £86 last year (my first) so maybe it is lower for a re-newal?

[Mrs Book]

I paid £71 in feb...what is the difference between 2 amounts then?

Did you have extra bits like contracts etc? Think mine came to about that much once I'd had my Organiser box.

[wendywu]

I think Pips recent thread and situation have swung it for me NO MORE NCMA. It seems like they do not want to upset the parents at any cost. :angry:

Hello over here NCMA i am the childminder, you should be batting for my team.:(

[green puppy]

I have just changed to mm from ncma, my pack arrived today. For those of you that are with mm do you use their contracts?

[wendywu]

Do MM do accident and also account books :rolleyes:

[green puppy]

They do a financial records pack, medication/accidents pack, obs pack, policies and procedures packs etc..... in the shop you get a members discount on products too. Also a free on line magazine, discounts off other magazines, and a whole selection of on line courses free to members.

[wendywu]

Thank you, it all sounds good to me :)

[aly]

Did you have extra bits like contracts etc? Think mine came to about that much once I'd had my Organiser box.
this is a renewal...had all my box etc last year.

[Pipsqueak]

can i suggest to everyone -
TELL NCMA why you are unhappy with them:


NCMA Statement: http://www.*************/about_ncma/contact_us/feedback/compliments_and_complaints.aspx

FEEDBACK POLICY STATEMENT

NCMA’s core purpose is to promote quality home-based childcare for the benefit of children, families and communities. We support and encourage our members to work towards the NCMA Quality Standards and develop professional childcare practices.

We aim to provide a high quality, efficient service to all our stakeholders. We welcome feedback and use it to improve our services, and the way those services are provided.

Scope of the policy
The policy covers feedback regarding the quality of services, how NCMA services are provided, and issues relating to membership.

The policy does not cover contract disputes or employment queries. For support and advice on these, or any childcare issues, please ring the Information Line on 0800 169 4486.

Child protection issues, breaches of national standards including the Early Years Foundation Stage standards for learning, development and care for children in England, or the Early Years Foundation Phase standards for children in Wales will be referred to the appropriate agency.

Standards of service
Where appropriate, NCMA will respond to all feedback within 20 working days of receipt. We will aim to answer all points raised accurately and use plain English (defined by the Plain English Campaign as “something that the intended audience can read, understand, and act upon the first time they read it”). If it is not possible to reply within 20 days we will send you an interim reply explaining the delay and advising when you can expect a full reply.

If you have made a complaint and are not happy with the way it has been dealt with, you can ask for it to be reviewed by a director or manager from another department.

With the exception of information that indicates that a child may be “at risk”, any information provided to us will be treated in confidence and will not be passed on to a third party without your permission. NCMA will keep records of all feedback for a maximum of two years.

How to contact us
Comments, compliments or suggestions can be made by telephone, email or in writing. Complaints should be made in writing. A feedback form can be downloaded from our website www.************* under “Downloads” or obtained from any member of staff, regional office or Head Office. A bi-lingual (English/ Welsh) version is also available on the website. A member of staff will be happy to help you complete the form but you should sign it yourself. Staff can also access a language helpline via Membership Services to support anyone with English as a second language.

Completed feedback forms should be sent for the attention of the Information Officer to:

FREEPOST RLYS-HCZY-HGBL
NCMA
Royal Court
81 Tweedy Road
Bromley, Kent
BR1 1TG

Tel: Switchboard - 0845 880 0044
Direct dial - 020 8290 2523
Fax - 0845 880 0043
E mail - sue.bishop@*************
Website - www.*************

[huggableshelly]

I am all confused too like others and decided to stick with NCMA again this year.

Think I will keep watching and seeing over the next 10 months and seriously think about next years renewal.

I did like gaining 6% discount with my holiday this year with NCMA, doesnt sound like much but it was a very expensive trip so was worth having.

[aly]

I am all confused too like others and decided to stick with NCMA again this year.

Think I will keep watching and seeing over the next 10 months and seriously think about next years renewal.

I did like gaining 6% discount with my holiday this year with NCMA, doesnt sound like much but it was a very expensive trip so was worth having.
me too...im due renewal in feb.

how do you get the discounts?

[huggableshelly]

log into NCMA online, under childminders you will see NCMAsaver

there you will find discounts for quite a lot of things BUT you have to buy them in advance, wait for delivery then go and spend.

[rickysmiths]

There are 3 things to think about here....

1. Morton Michel - insurance company

2. NCMA - registered charity

3. Bluefin - insurance company

If you want to buy insurance from Morton Michel you ring them up and buy it. With the insurance you get a package of benefits.

If you want to buy insurance from Bluefin you have to be a member of the NCMA first.

NCMA give you a package of benefits.

Bluefin are exactly the same as MM - they are a profit making insurance company.

You can be a member of NCMA without buying insurance through them with Bluefin!

to those who keep knocking MM as 'just an insurance company'... so are Bluefin!

But in the case of Morton Michel they give you a range of benefits as well as insurance, they listen to their customers and they make changes when mistakes are pointed out.

They ring you back when they say they will and they have, as far as members on here have found, always been supportive in times of crisis.

I do not know the comparative insurance costs but when I rang NCMA to ask about being a member I was quoted at over £60.

:D

One point- Blue Fin don't do the Public Liability Insurance for NCMA. Thank goodness because if they did I would have run from NCMA years ago!

The Public Liability and Employers Insurance is Under Written by Royal Sun Alliance Insurance plc and all the paperwork comes from NCMA, nothing to do with Blu Fin. Of course RSA are a profit making company as MM are.

[rickysmiths]

MM cost me £41 at the beginning of the year and only reason why I went with them was because I couldn't aford the £86 for NCMA. From what I can remember they covered the same sort of things.

This is what you get with MM

01 Public Liability £5,000,000
02 Employers Liability £10,000,000
03 3rd Party Property * £1,000
04 Legal Expenses £50,000

You also get a mag Childcarer every month a creative mag once a quarter I think. You also get half price into a few attractions.

I'm not sure why you are paying £86. Membership is £50 and Insurance £23.60 plus £5 if you want Employers Cover so a max of £78.60 for membership and Ins.

[sarah707]

One point- Blue Fin don't do the Public Liability Insurance for NCMA. Thank goodness because if they did I would have run from NCMA years ago!

The Public Liability and Employers Insurance is Under Written by Royal Sun Alliance Insurance plc and all the paperwork comes from NCMA, nothing to do with Blu Fin. Of course RSA are a profit making company as MM are.

Thank you for clarifying.

The point I am trying to make is that ALL insurance companies are profit making businesses.

This is true regardless of whether they are allied to NCMA or not!

:D

[Minstrel]

I'm not sure why you are paying £86. Membership is £50 and Insurance £23.60 plus £5 if you want Employers Cover so a max of £78.60 for membership and Ins.

New membership is £63 plus insurance of £23

I believe it's the re-newal of membership that is cheaper rate.