Delayed pick up due to snow......

**Millenium** · 19-12-2010, 03:33 PM

Just wanted to know what others do in the situation when the mindee's pick up from me is delayed because the parent(s) have been held up getting to me because of the atrocious weather. On Friday, one parent took nearly 90 minutes to get to me on what would have normally been a 10 minute journey.

So, the question is, would you make a charge for those extra 90 minutes?

**Bear23** · 19-12-2010, 03:36 PM

I personally wouldn't as it was completely unavoidable.

**DIPPY DOUGHNUT** · 19-12-2010, 03:40 PM

I had a perent who was late by 1 hour and another by 30 minutes last week becasue of road works and didnt charge for the extra time as it wasnt their fault they were late.

**miffy** · 19-12-2010, 03:42 PM

Not under those circumstances no but I would make it clear that I had decided not to charge this time.

Miffy xx

**sillysausage** · 19-12-2010, 03:44 PM

If the parents are normally on time and were apologetic and contacted you etc etc I wouldn't charge for such exceptional circumstances. However if the family was one that often messed you around then I would charge.

**snufflepuff** · 19-12-2010, 04:03 PM

It's difficult isn't it- it's not their fault the roads are bad but it's not your fault either. I don't think i'd charge if it was the first time they had been late.

**Gizmo** · 19-12-2010, 04:18 PM

I wouldnt charge any extra, I had a parent really late due to snow but then they couldnt get to work for the next 2 days and I had the days off with full pay,

**brightstar** · 19-12-2010, 04:22 PM

I don't charge for late pickups, as long as its a rare occurance, the reason is genuine and the parent lets me know and apoligises. Otherwise I charge extra.

**juejue** · 19-12-2010, 05:00 PM

I wouldn't charge. I have had one parent who has been late about twice now by 90 minutes and has not got in touch at all......but it was because he was still in the operating room and couldn't get out to ring me. So I had to for give them. they are always on time other days

**AliceK** · 19-12-2010, 05:20 PM

It depends on their job. If they are a nurse / teacher or something then as long as they contacted me I wouldn't mind as it's not like they can just leave work early but if they were in the position of being able to get away from work early in order to add a bit of extra time on to their journey then I would. Sorry if I sound harsh but when I was a parent using a childminder I would always make sure I left work a bit early if I thought the weather meant it would take me longer to get to pick-up. It's called having some respect for your childminder and using a bit of common sense in my book

xxxx

**happytotschildminding** · 19-12-2010, 06:07 PM

What about dropping off early?? although coming back through snow late is unavoidable, how would you feel about parents coming, ten minutes/half an hour early to get through the snow to work??
xx

**SYLVIA** · 19-12-2010, 06:18 PM

I would charge if they came early as that would be pre-planned. I don't charge for unavoidable lateness. Usually most of the parents tend to offer payment, must be lucky

**Joannechildmind** · 19-12-2010, 06:23 PM

In last years snow i had a child collected 1 hour and 40 mins late ended up i finished work at 8pm from working from 7.30am.
She apoligised and said taxis were a nightmare and were running late i didnt charge her even though she was usually late, anyway the following week my friend ( of other mindee) told me she was in tesco that evening up until 8pm doing her shopping with her mum (who drives)

I was fuming she had took the ****

**flowerpots** · 19-12-2010, 07:23 PM

i had a parent who was 40mins late on friday due to the snow, i didnt charge because it was totally unavoidable and mum was very apologetic.

**wendywu** · 19-12-2010, 07:25 PM

I have not charged and one night 2 were 4 hours late, then another night they were 2 hours late.

It pays to have some brownie points in the bank

**Goatgirl** · 19-12-2010, 08:37 PM

Hi

,
Unless there were some very extenuating circumstances, I'd charge: either normal hourly rate, if they let me know in good time that they'd be late

or, if they didn't ask first, with late fees added (penalty amount for being late, then double hourly rate for time used...)

If there's extreme weather its the parents' responsibility to make sure they can get somewhere to collect their children on time, and make alternative arrangements if needed.

I'd let them off late fees if there was some reason they really couldn't let me know, totally beyond their control, such as being in an accident etc...
If I'm working I get paid. I know its not their fault but its not mine either

**AliceK** · 19-12-2010, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by florabird

Hi

,
Unless there were some very extenuating circumstances, I'd charge: either normal hourly rate, if they let me know in good time that they'd be late

or, if they didn't ask first, with late fees added (penalty amount for being late, then double hourly rate for time used...)

If there's extreme weather its the parents' responsibility to make sure they can get somewhere to collect their children on time, and make alternative arrangements if needed.

I'd let them off late fees if there was some reason they really couldn't let me know, totally beyond their control, such as being in an accident etc...
If I'm working I get paid. I know its not their fault but its not mine either

Thank goodness. I was beginning to think it was just me being mean

xxxx

**FussyElmo** · 19-12-2010, 09:28 PM

No I wouldnt if it was due to adverse weather conditions etc.

In fact I have told all parents just to concentrate on getting to me safely. If possible a text or call would be nice but if they are stuck on icy roads I would sooner them concentrate on the driving. If they are not here by the usual time I will assume they are going to be late.

**wendywu** · 19-12-2010, 10:16 PM

[

QUOTE=If there's extreme weather its the parents' responsibility to make sure they can get somewhere to collect their children on time, and make alternative arrangements if needed.

With the weather we have had recently with all trains out of victoria being cancelled and the roads being grid locked and one of my parents taking 11 hours to do a 45min journey, then no one was going no where and that includes the emergency contacts.

I know its that time of year but i dont expect them to work miracles. The only way the children would have been collected was if grandparents lived in the next street.

It came on so suddenly the first time this year. They were having heavy snow in Kent and London but i was driving around quite content in just a few inches in surrey.

In fact last dec i ended up sleeping two children in this same situation. Now then the parents insisted on paying me. So you see it is give and take.

But to me a good working parent relationship is worth more than a few pounds.

**Goatgirl** · 19-12-2010, 10:29 PM

Hi wendywu

,
Yes I do take your point: I guess my comment is aimed in general and to cover a wide range of situations. If parents had not known the delays were possible, of course they couldn't avoid them. However, some would just stay at work till the normal time and expect me to 'absorb' the extra tavel time though

... or struggle to understand this was a one off favour.

I may be mean... but I'd still charge in the situation you illustrate, but only my hourly rate.

Putting myself in the parents shoes I'd be very glad to pay £3.75 an hour to know my children were safe and warm, and being cared for somewhere whilst I struggled to get to them.

bws,
Wendy