Confused about fees & parents taking the p***

**breezer** · 06-02-2008, 05:02 PM

Hi I am new to childminding and am currently minding 2 eight year olds. I charge £3.60 per hour which I wanted to split into 15 minute blocks. So a child arriving at 7.40am would pay from 7.30am and when I leave them at school at 8.50am I charge till 9am as this time falls within the last 15mins of care? Does this sound reasonable?

One of the parents has complained about this and says that I should be able to walk home by 3.45pm after school instead of 3.50pm. We walk as quickly as we can and her mum is always there having arrived at 3.45pm straight from work. I charge her till 4pm under the afore mentioned rules.

She now wants to collect her whilst we are walking back to prevent her from paying an extra 15 mins @ 90p! I don't like this arrangement as it means forms won't get signed at my house and we will always have to walk the same route home so she can find us.

Do you think I am being unreasonable? My problem is that I am not very assertive and wouls like to end our arrangement completely due to a string of other problems but don't feel strong enough to stand up to her.

**Trouble** · 06-02-2008, 05:07 PM

i charge by the hour if their there on the hour fine if not they pay for the next hour, they know this from the start so its up to them

no one would work for 1.50 per half hour so why should i

**Cheeky Chops** · 06-02-2008, 05:08 PM

to be honest it sounds a little confusing splitting it down too much! I have hourly rates, half days/full days. If the parent goes over these then they pay, but it they go under these times it is their choice to pick up early for instance so I dont give them a refund. maybe you are giving parents too much leeway by splitting it into 15min slots!! I am unsure other than that what advice to give you x x

**berkschick** · 06-02-2008, 05:08 PM

You do more than me, I only break down to 30 mins!

I think picking up on the way home from school presents a danger to the other mindees as what if you are distracted talking to Mum and one of them runs off? Also, if it is anything like the roads around here at school collection time, it will be a nightmare for her to park up!

I would suggest that she either collects them from you at the school before you walk home or she waits at your house for you and suffers the 90p!

Surely she knew all this before she signed up with you?

**katickles** · 06-02-2008, 05:08 PM

She sounds hard work!!!

Does she not realise that you care for more children then just hers?

i don't think you are being un-reasonable at all. There was another thread on here recently about a letter of termination, if you want to terminate your contract, this would be a good letter to take guidence from.

Don't let her get you down, think of yourself, the other children & the fact this is your business

**LittleAcorns** · 06-02-2008, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by breezer

Do you think I am being unreasonable? .

No not at all, I always round it up, I drop kids off in the morning at 8.40 and 8.45 sometimes 8.50 by the time Ive got round after dropping 4 kids off, but I charge til 9am, its only a few minutes after all, stick to your guns, and tell her it would be inappropriate to collect the child whilst on your journey home as you have other children to supervise and it is paramount that you keep the journey uniterupted!!!!!!

What other problems have you got with her

Oh and sorry, welcome

**bestmum2have** · 06-02-2008, 05:11 PM

This is your business, your rules, you set the rules and if the parent doesn't like what they are then
bye bye
There are many other parents who will want your services.
Stand firm
You charge what you want for giving that service.
I'm sorry I sound really bossy its just that I've been minding along time and it infuriates me when parents start to dictate our service.

**LittleAcorns** · 06-02-2008, 05:13 PM

Look guys will you slow down, there were no replies when I started mine, I posted it, looked and theres about 20!!!!!!!!!! I dont know, go see to the tea or something and give us part timers a chance..............................

Only kidding

**ajs** · 06-02-2008, 05:14 PM

i don't do increments either i only charge by the hour so tough she could pay the whole £3.60 if she was mine
if they dropped at 7.40 and drop at school at 8.50 means they would pay for 2 hours, it does mean they may leave them here from 7 though but that's the chance i have to take

i collect one child at 3.30 and her mum comes any time between 4 and 5 .30 so that's what she pays for every day

why don't you suggest that she picks her child up from school herself if the 90p is causing the problem

**Trouble** · 06-02-2008, 05:14 PM

i think parents try to set the rules when your new to see how far they can push you, but like some of these ladies have said your rules dont like it bye bye

**LittleMissSparkles** · 06-02-2008, 05:20 PM

I dont think you are been unreasonable at all, tell her to go else where if shes not happy with paying the 90p !!! for gods sake some parents !!!

xxx

**tulip0803** · 06-02-2008, 05:32 PM

Hi I have a set minimum of 2 hours care whether they are there for those 2 hours is up to the parent but the parent is charged. I do split to 1/2 hours as I have had some that came for 2 1/2 hours.

This is your business and some do take the

. Once you say no to the first it becomes easier. I had one parent ask me to drive her and her family to Heathrow airport from Essex on Christmas Eve as it was in their contracted hours!!! 1

Strangely enough I did say no. I had other children coming so perhaps they may have liked to see the planes

It is dangerous to do a handover away from home. I agree with the others tell her it is a safety issue and if she doesn't like it she can always find another c/m. Some are not worth the hassle.

Julia XX

**LittleMissSparkles** · 06-02-2008, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by tulip0803

I had one parent ask me to drive her and her family to Heathrow airport from Essex on Christmas Eve as it was in their contracted hours!!!

Julia XX

OMG thats unbelieveable !!!!

**breezer** · 06-02-2008, 05:40 PM

Splitting into half hours sounds more reasonable. Thanks for all your help. I think I will end our arrangement because if we resolve this one there will always be something else later on. She doesn't wait for her invoice to be issued she just writes the hours and amounts on an envelope and hands it to me so SHE tells ME how much it is! We don't have a contract as she is over eight and I was minding her before I was fully registered.

So should I be charging for the total amount of time per session or rounding it off to the next 15mins on the clock. i.e 8.30, 8.45, 9am etc?

**tulip0803** · 06-02-2008, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Susan

OMG thats unbelieveable !!!!

I found it easy to say no to that one !!!

They then asked if my husband would do it instead! Strange family but always paid on time.

Julia XX

**LittleMissSparkles** · 06-02-2008, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by breezer

Splitting into half hours sounds more reasonable. Thanks for all your help. I think I will end our arrangement because if we resolve this one there will always be something else later on. She doesn't wait for her invoice to be issued she just writes the hours and amounts on an envelope and hands it to me so SHE tells ME how much it is! We don't have a contract as she is over eight and I was minding her before I was fully registered.

So should I be charging for the total amount of time per session or rounding it off to the next 15mins on the clock. i.e 8.30, 8.45, 9am etc?

thats dangerous not having a contract with her ....

**tulip0803** · 06-02-2008, 05:46 PM

[QUOTE=breezer;47106] She doesn't wait for her invoice to be issued she just writes the hours and amounts on an envelope and hands it to me so SHE tells ME how much it is! We don't have a contract as she is over eight and I was minding her before I was fully registered.

I always had contracts for my over 8s. Make sure you have a contract for everyone it makes life a lot easier. I use the same contracts as I do for everyone else and the same child record forms.

JuliaXX

Pipsqueak · 06-02-2008, 05:49 PM

You SHOULD have a contract for every child regardless of age - it's for every ones protection and benefit.

It sounds like this mum is trying to tell you how she wants things to be but as has been said before - your business your rules.