retainer fee help

[caroline]

morning ladies

i'm in a bit of a confused state ...... nowt new there though!

the children that i care for are on 'term time' only contracts, but at the time I didnt ask for a retainer fee during the holidays.

do you think its ok for me to amend these contracts to ask for a retainer fee, as the mums are still going to be getting childcare through wftc!

any help and suggestions would be gratefully received.

thanks

caroline x

[Pauline]

Hi Caroline

Is the contract due to end before the holidays?

If not then you could only really change them with the agreement of the parents, if they were happy to pay a retainer based on their income from wftc

If they are nice they would probably understand and be happy to pay. Otherwise you will probably have to wait until the next contract review date.

Will be interested to see what everyone else thinks.

[angeldelight]

I can not really help with this one

I have children on term time contracts also and I do not charge for a retainer although I know I should
I am lucky enough to have children who are on school holiday contracts also so it does even it out with my money

I can not believe that in all my years of childminding I have never charged a retainer - I must be mad !!!
It was only after joining this forum that I realised that other childminders did

Oh well , maybe I will in the future ?!!

Angel xx

[caroline]

The contracts are 'open' no dates on them, so really confused as to how I can get out of this to include retainers.

It was due to a mum saying that the two mums in question were goin to look after the kids between them over the holidays "so they dont have to pay me anything", which I guess is true.

[angeldelight]

Do these parents claim tax credits ?

If so ask them do they claim for the holidays too ?

It is surprising how many parents put down extra hours on the form so it is worth checking because then of course they could not refuse to pay you a retainer

In the past I have had problems when I have mentioned a retainer fee because these parents who claim tax credits can not claim for childminding they are not having therefore they have to pay the retainer out of their own pocket
It could be a reason so many parents object to paying it
That is why I end up not asking

Good luck anyway let us know what happens

[Pauline]

caroline said:

The contracts are 'open' no dates on them, so really confused as to how I can get out of this to include retainers.

Well, a lesson for the future there - always add, this contract will be reviewed in....? months.

You need a time limit so that you can put up fees next year etc.

caroline said:

It was due to a mum saying that the two mums in question were goin to look after the kids between them over the holidays "so they dont have to pay me anything", which I guess is true.

I would point out to them that this is illegal childminding if they care for the children for more than two hours per day, and you should report them if they do.Even if they don't pay each other it is 'payment in kind'

[caroline]

Yes definitely a lesson and hopefully it will help others in the future with their wording in contracts

Well i do have it in the contract that there is a weeks notice for a change in contract, hmmm could I get round it that way I wonder lol.

I have lots of other policies that I was about to bring in, so I may see if that can be brought in too

The mums are very good friends, but i'll certainly drop it into conversation at some point soon.

Thanks x

[heldraincloud]

[/quote]Well i do have it in the contract that there is a weeks notice for a change in contract, hmmm could I get round it that way I wonder lol.[/quote]
yep Id say this is a way round the retainer, then add that your contract will be reviewed, say, 2x yearly from now on xxx

[heldraincloud]

HAHA cant figure this quote thingy

[Pauline]

heldraincloud said:

HAHA cant figure this quote thingy

Hee hee

if you want to quote the whole message just hit "quote" and write your reply underneath.

If you want to just quote part of the message hit "quote" but then take out the bit you don't want anywhere between the ] and the [ brackets - leave anything either side those brackets intact and it should work!

[heldraincloud]

If you want to just quote part of the message hit "quote" but then take out the bit you don't want anywhere between the ] and the [ brackets - leave anything either side those brackets intact and it should work!

[heldraincloud]

admin said:

heldraincloud said:

HAHA cant figure this quote thingy

Hee hee

if you want to quote the whole message just hit "quote" and write your reply underneath.

If you want to just quote part of the message hit "quote" but then take out the bit you don't want anywhere between the ] and the [ brackets - leave anything either side those brackets intact and it should work!

[heldraincloud]

hahahaha Thanks Pauline, Im half way there ;D

[heldraincloud]

heldraincloud said:

Thanks Pauline, ;D

wahooooooo I did it lol.......you'd think it wasnt that hard, infact its not its just me ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Pauline]

Hey!! Well done - so easy when you know how isn't it!!

I must say Louise, and I mean this in the nicest possible way! But your user name always makes me imagine you as a red indian squaw sat outside her teepee

It's a lovely name

[angeldelight]

Ha ha that is funny because I have those same thoughts !!

Angel xx

We need a pic of you to prove it is not true !!!

[caroline]

heldraincloud said:

yep Id say this is a way round the retainer, then add that your contract will be reviewed, say, 2x yearly from now on xxx

thanks, that's what I was hoping to do xx

oh and I managed to do the quotey bits too I hope lol

[heldraincloud]

LOL Pauline youve seen me now to put your mind at rest (hopefully) Angel go and check out the piccies, Caroline yay you did it, Im not a technical person its a good job my hubby is a software developer or I wouldnt even know how to switch the pc on LOLOLOLOLOLOL xx