Sorry can't pay deposit ?

[jadavi]

What do you do if a mum who is clearly struggling financially tells you she hasn't got a months deposit up front as she is reliant on tax credit. Will tax credit pay 70 per cent of a deposit?

[marnieb]

it's your decision - do you think she'll turn out to be a 'good' client, one that pays on time every week due to the help from TC's???? I might be wrong, but I dont think tc will give her any help towards a deposit.

[muffins]

I would ask for payment in advance, even its it only a week at a time!

[sweets]

I would ask for payment in advance, even its it only a week at a time!

thats what i'd do too

[The Juggler]

it depends when she is starting hon and if you think she is really struggling. I'd probably ask her for a weeks money at least and then offset this against 1st weeks payment when she starts.

[Eddisonsmum]

I have a mum who didn't have a deposit but pays me a week in advance every week. We have a deal in the summer holidays that she pays me weekly her 70% tc money then on the last Friday of the month she pays me the balance. The work I get from her is a huge chunk of my income. Yes it's based on a lot of trust but it works for us x

[lulubelle]

i have a mum who couldnt afford deposit but signed contract a couple of months ago for sep start and she has been paying me a little at a time to make up the deposit!

[jane5]

I have a single mum who started work, she told TC that I needed 1 weeks fees in advance and they gave it her as a back to work grant. They paid it straight into my bank, not through her.

She now pays me £10 a week extra in her fees until the 4 week deposit is paid.
I also charge no fee for my holidays,and when I was on holiday she gave me my normal weekly fees to put towards the deposit.

I will not work without the deposit under any circumstances but have allowed her to pay in instalments because there was no way she would have found it in advance.

[jane5]

Sorry I just reread your question and TC told her they would not pay 70% of the deposit but gave her the back to work grant instead but only for 1 weeks fees not a 4 week deposit.

[kindredspirits]

i no longer take a full deposit - i take the first weeks fees in advance upon signing contracts - all my contracts come with a fortnights settling in period anyway where i'd have to return the deposit if the parent decided to pull out so it seems a pointless excersize.
BUT I do insist on all my fee's being paid in advance at least weekly so i'm not left having worked and not paid.

[mummyMia]

I normally take a 4 week deposit but I let one of my mums pay me a two week deposit instead because it was a lot of money for her. I regretted it slightly afterwards because it is unfair on the other parents who have paid the full 4 weeks but I felt bad asking her for so much

[jadavi]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

[marleymoo]

i never take deposits because if a parent ever decided they didn't want to start afterall then i would just take the next one from my waiting list. thankfully it's never happened....yet, but there's a first time for everything isn't there?