do you charge by quarter or half hour?

[ManicMum]

Hello

I am just doing a contract for a parent who has been having fees paid by a government agency. I am paid 12.30 til 7.30pm for 2 children.

They drop the child about 12.50pm and I drop the children back in my car. I get a call when she is home and drop them about 7pm. I am normally back home for 7.10-7.15pm.

I don't know whether to charge 12.45 til 7.15pm or keep hours as they are. I don't want to be looking like I am ripping people off for time they aren't using. Parent hasn't said anything and they are on 80% tax credits. I am not currently offering discount for second child as fees were paid 100% until now but parent hasn't mentioned anyway and to be honest, it's double the work! If I say I only charge by half hour then fees will have to stay same. Does anyone think I should charge by quarter hour as often in the workplace it works on quarter hour slots? I am also right in charging until I get back to my house aren't i? I am doing them a favour after all.

many thanks for help.

[Ripeberry]

I charge by the hour or half hour, always in favour of myself :) Parents have always been OK with this as I don't charge holiday retainers and I'm term-time only anyway.
It gets a bit silly messing around with quarter hours.

[The Juggler]

I do a 1/4 hour fee for 2 children mainly because I'd rather finish at 5.15 than 5.30pm or 6.00pm which is what would happen if I charge by the hour or half hour.

I charge by the 1/2 hour for late pick ups/early drops.:)

[clio0602]

I charge by the hour but have the times stated on the contract ie 7.30 til 9am I charge for 2 hours but they are contracted for that time. Late pick ups I charge by the half hour and if I drop off it will be the time I return home x

[Millenium]

I charge by the quarter hour because that suits me as much at the parents and I know that if I rounded up to the next half-hour, they would obviously not come until then - I would rather finish 15 minutes earlier at the end of the day.

I rarely experience early pick-ups - maybe just occasionally with one family - most of mine are bang on time or late and I do charge for late pick ups.

[lisal5632]

I only charge by the hour! apart from 1 child that i have until 9.30pm. mainly because i always find a child gets dropped off early and it also gives the parents a few more minutes to get to pick the child up. In your case though i would keep it as it, you are taking the child back so call it patrol money and especially if they seem happy with the arrangements. :)

[ajs]

i don't do part hours so if it was 12:45 to 7:15 i would be charging from 12:45 to 7:45
never had a problem with that and all of my parents pay their own fees

[Hayley102]

I charge by the half hour as I find it gets too complicated to do less. But it is what suits you. I don't think you are taking advantage at all.

[ManicMum]

thanks folks. that's helpful