Payment Advice Please

[caroline]

Morning all

Hope you can help me with a bit of a problem please?

I have a child who is on two contracts, one that the parent pays and one that the local education dept of the council are paying, as mum attends a college course and therefore her childcare fees are covered.

I have invoiced the council for both November and December. Their payment terms are 28 days from receiving invoice. Therefore I would say this is 35 days!

As yet I have received no payment from them for either of them and have chased these up, being told that they will be paid in the next couple of weeks.

The 35 day terms would mean that the Nov invoice was due on 1st Jan and Decembers was due on 22nd Jan.

I have a policy of charging a late payment of £6.00 per day. I'm waiting for the payment to be made then invoice them the late charges.

Do you think this is acceptable, or should I go through the 'late payment' legislation and charge them 13% interest.

Your views would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

Caroline x

[angeldelight]

Hi Caroline,

Well I am not sure about this one maybe someone else can help you

I looked after 2 sisters a few years back when I was also paid some of my fees by her college but it was sheer hell they were always late with payments , would never pay late fees , and if the child /ren did not turn up I would not get paid even though my contract made it clear that I charged when children were ill

I am therefore unsure of what advice to give you

It will be interesting to find out what others say because it could help us all in the future I would certainly like to know just incase I'm ever in that situation again

I think maybe though you should contact the person whom is in charge of making your payments after all it is your money and I am sure they would kick up a fuss if their wages were not paid on time.Make yourself heard , make a pest of yourself if the need be

Let us know how you get on

Good luck

Angel
xx

[Pauline]

Hi Caroline,

I agree with Angel, you should make a fuss as this is really unacceptable.

You ought to be able to charge for the late payment but whether you get it is another thing as I suppose they could say the contract is with the parent not them. Unless of course they have signed anything with you.

I had a parent once who's fees were paid by the college but she paid me and the college paid her, all I had to do is fill in forms saying how much she was paying me.

I would certainly try to get hold of the person in charge of authorising payments and tell them that this is unacceptable as the payment is your wage and you can't afford to have it late.

Not really sure what else to advise. Let us know what they say.

[caroline]

Thanks for the replies Angel and Pauline.

I received the payment today, so at the minute i'm trying to word a letter to go along with the invoice.

Fingers crossed i'll get payment.

Will keep you informed as to how it goes.

Thanks again.

Caroline

[caroline]

;D

Yay, good news for a change ladies!!!

I sent the council late payment invoices and following a further letter to them I have received in the post today a nice fat cheque for late payment fees.

So, be strong and stick to your guns, sometimes it can work out in our favour.

x

[angeldelight]

That is great news Caroline

You are going to have a good weekend spending all that money then ?

Seems like good news all around , Shirl got her money and I have 2 news children starting in May

Go treat yourself and have a good weekend

Angel x

[Pauline]

Well done Caroline, just shows that it's worth being assertive.

At least you know that if it happens again you will get your money.

[caroline]

Well was quite a good weekend for good news, as I passed by Introduction to Childminding exam too ;D

Went away for the weekend to my other halfs, but havent been on a spending spree....... yet

[angeldelight]

Congratulations on passing your introduction to childminding exam

Angel x

[Pauline]

Well done Caroline that's great news.

Are you planning to continue and do the rest of the course?