Charging when in nursery , illegal???

**childmind04** · 04-09-2009, 04:53 PM

If i take a child to nursery and collect i charge normal fee to keep space in holidays or tt days, always stipulated this in contracts never had any probs

My friend also does and has signed a new contract with new parents starting in a few weeks whos dd will go to nursery 1pm-3.10pm, the parents agreed to this after phoning every cm around and got told no one would do it or they also charged more ph etc, as they need flexible care including 9pm finishes and weekends, the parents have since been onto our DW who has rang my friend and said she has told the parents what she is doing is illegal

Anyone have any info on this?

I am so angry for my friend as she has bent over backwards for these parents and they are still trying to get the bill down even though they say their child means everything and money is not an issue, i personnaly wish they would phone me as they would be told how good a deal they are getting, no higher charge for evenings or weekends and 30 hours over 5 days anything between 7am and 9pm weekends too

**sarah707** · 04-09-2009, 04:58 PM

What's the Development worker saying is illegal? Charging for when the child is in nursery??

I haven't heard that one before.

We are self employed and as such we set our own pricing.

Nobody regulates us therefore nobody is in a position to say what we do is wrong.

Someone might turn round and say it is wrong to charge for not looking after a child... but that is their opinion.

No way have I ever read anything to say that it is illegal.

I think you need to contact your DW urgently and find out the facts.

**Alibali** · 04-09-2009, 05:26 PM

Gosh, I'd be interested to hear the outcome of this, sounds a bit bizarre to me.

**Mollymop** · 04-09-2009, 05:28 PM

Never heard of this before! I think the same as Sarah - it is our own business and it is no way illegal! I would be phoning the DW and asking where she got this information from as sometimes they haven't a clue!

TheBTeam · 04-09-2009, 05:53 PM

I too thought that this was accepted practice by childminders, we are available to work and indeed in holidays etc are expected to work, the fact that the parent sends the child to nursery during our contracted hours is up to them! How can it be illegal!

It isn't even the same scenario as charging for a bank holiday and not being available, I too would be very interested on what basis the DW has made this comment.

**christine e** · 04-09-2009, 06:08 PM

Never heard of this. I far as I am concerned I can charge what I like and I do!

Cx

**Twinkles** · 04-09-2009, 06:09 PM

What rot !

DW needs to sort out her facts before she spouts off this nonsense to anyone else.
If I were your friend I'd tell the parents to jog on , they either want her services or they don't simple as...

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 04-09-2009, 06:10 PM

If I was the childminder I would get back on to the DW and ask her to justify her comments immediately and then I would report her to her superiors and whomever funds her

What a lot of tosh - we charge what we want - how dare she say that

**mummyroysof3** · 04-09-2009, 06:14 PM

they advised that on my icp course and isnt it in the NCMA handbook?

charlotte x

**Ripeberry** · 04-09-2009, 06:15 PM

That DW is talking rubbish. If someone wants you to drop off a child at a nursery or pre-school and then collect then YES you do charge as you are the 'stand-in parent' and anyway they are taking up a full-time space.
And also if the child is in receipt of grants then its just the parents kicking up a fuss about having to 'pay' for their free childcare space.
They can't have it both ways.

**margimum** · 04-09-2009, 06:21 PM

I think your friend should say' of course I won't charge if you come take your lo at 12.30, take her to nursery, then pick her up and bring her back to me at 3.30!!Grrrrr

some parents

**Hebs** · 04-09-2009, 06:28 PM

i know 1 way of getting around it

you don't charge for the time they are at nursery but charge a drop off/collection fee at the same rate you would pay for the hours they are at nursery

as not only are you taking them and collecting them, it impacts on the other children who you have to drag out in all weathers

Pipsqueak · 04-09-2009, 06:45 PM

what a crock of poo. we are self employed and can set our own t&c's for a start and its standard practice

**childmind04** · 04-09-2009, 06:47 PM

Thank you all for your replies, i also think its a load of rubbish but just thought i would get some more professional advice

I am going to phone her on monday as i know my friend is a bit wary of her and i am going to say i hear i have been acting illigally for the last 5 years

Good reminder about the handbook as i also think its in there

**Hebs** · 04-09-2009, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by mummyroysof3

they advised that on my icp course and isnt it in the NCMA handbook?

charlotte x

you were advised NOT to charge??

**The Juggler** · 04-09-2009, 06:49 PM

Are you sure the parents are not just trying it on, reading something into what the DW has said? I once had a parent tell me her Health Visitor felt I was wrong to discuss her child's behaviour with her as she was the parent and too emotionally attached!

I am sure that is not what the HV meant to say but obviously she was not the most competent at expressing herself and totally misled parent. Imagine that this DW has said something similar rather than actually saying it's illegal. In either case, she is therefore not great at her/his job!

I would phone the DW straight away and demand to know what she said.

LOL

**mummyroysof3** · 04-09-2009, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Hebs

you were advised NOT to charge??

sorry i ment we was advised to charge while at nursey, i really shouldnt type in a hurry

charlotte x

**childmind04** · 04-09-2009, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by The Juggler

Are you sure the parents are not just trying it on, reading something into what the DW has said? I once had a parent tell me her Health Visitor felt I was wrong to discuss her child's behaviour with her as she was the parent and too emotionally attached!

I am sure that is not what the HV meant to say but obviously she was not the most competent at expressing herself and totally misled parent. Imagine that this DW has said something similar rather than actually saying it's illegal. In either case, she is therefore not great at her/his job!

I would phone the DW straight away and demand to know what she said.

LOL

DW has been on to phone to my friend advising her that she has informed the parents she is acting illegally, cm has not yet spoke to the parents