do i charge or not

[clare78]

i pick up two lots of children one brother and sister and two other children
i leave home at 7.15am and get back about 8.30am

my problem is i called this morning after spending 30mins trying to get my car out, with no luck. i rang the parents to let them no i could not get there, but if they could get to me great as i was still open.

the dad with the brother and sister is off work and he drives,

the other two children one school is closed and the others mam is taking her to school.

do i charge normal rate as i am still open or do i not charge as i phoned them first to say i couldnt get there (i dont want to risk four children on these roads)

not sure what to do

[Penny1959]

Is it part of the contract that you pick up or just something that has evolved?

A difficult point but I would say as open you charge - but if picking up is part of the contract personally I would not charge for the time they would normally be in the car - but would charge for the time normally at my home.

Would be interested in what others think as I also collect children and so this may happen to me in the future.

Penny

[candy cat]

Agree with penny if this is part of your contract you were unavaible so just charge for when they were dropped off

[clare78]

i charge them the contract times only 8-6.

i dont charge extra time from my house and back i charge for petrol (which i wont be charging of course).

[candy cat]

You have to careful charging for petrol as you then should be classed as a taxi.... If you do this in your hourly fee then fine,but not is seperate.

[gigglinggoblin]

If the agreement is that you collect then I dont think you can charge.

[clare78]

its not wrote on the contract that i pick up and drop off, i just said i would do it to save them time on travelling.

and we said we were still open if they could get to us.

we werent able to pick up today either hoping to get there tomorrow, and if they ask what they need to pay at the end of the week i didnt no what to tell them

whether i didnt charge, charged full fee or charged half

[miffy]

If the pick up and drop off isn't part of the contract then the onus is on the parents to get the children to you.

If you were open for business then I would say you can charge full fees whether the children were with you or not

Miffy xx

[glitzygal]

You have started something, that may be difficult to stop, if you really dont mind picking up, and dropping off then thats ok, but i wouldnt pick up or drop off, i would charge if i did it, but if i couldnt then you cant charge,

if its not on the contract then they have to get to you, if they choose not to, you still charge as you are open for business.

good luck

[Polly2]

I would charge