Problems with summer hol mindee

[stacie1985]

Hello well i have recently taken on a 7 year old boy contract agreed for every monday and every other tuesay. so mon just gone was waiting for mindee and no show so phoned parents and they said completly 4got to phone and that would not be coming as someone was at home to care for him so i said ok and explained that he would still need to pay for the day next week. so get a call this evening from the girl that actually drops him off in mornings to say he wouldnt be coming for the nxt 2 weeks either as she has two wks holiday at work. so i told her the contracted days would still need to b paid as taking up space etc and they are contracted days. so she said she would get the dad who to phone me so i can sort out with him. I only just started childminding so am really annoyed got problems already i dont mind if they dont send him but surely i should still get paid as there choice not mine. Any suggestions on how i should handle this coz i am completly expecting him not to be happy about paying me when child not here. he pays weekly in advance so mon gone havent recieved yet as he told me he would be back next wk i said pay me that when he returns so when he phone to i ask him to pay me the total due before he will be returning to me so i know he is going to pay up and not just disapeer. i also use ncma contracts and am a member so i know they can help with money issues. not sure what my next step is and also what do i do if he wont agree to pay not really sure where i stand with all this argh!! what a nightmare xxxx

[mel]

How annoying! Of course you are due your money as the family have signed a contract and that child is taking up a space. I'm not sure what you would do re the next step but try to talk to the father and I'm sure someone else will come up with more advice.

Mel x

[susan]

Hi

Yes you shoul get paid if you have stated in your contract that fees are required weather or not mindee attends unless...etc etc

Prepare him an invoice maybe to give to him, I think you've done really well with it so far, have faith in yourself honey. It is all very daunting, I'm kind new to it all to still but the parent I have is wonderful she has even offered to pay me my weeks holiday as I let her off a retainer fee as she has requested 5 days a week now from end of month, was only gonna be a few weeks to go and I've had no enquiries so thought i'd let her off now shes paying me my holiday week as she thinks I've done her a favour...lol

Sorry cant help much i am fairly new too like I said


xxxx

[stacie1985]

well i used a short term contract ncma one and it doesnt say in there occaional days off it says sickness days off thats all but my policies have been read and signed and that states when i am to be even if days not used and has been signed by parent. i think im going to phone him after 9 coz when i spoke to him last time he just said ok about paying me but im going to phone him and tell him the amount due and say needs to be paid this week latest saturday and then we are straight from when he returns and if he returns lol

[angeldelight]

Stacie

What a shame you are being messed about already but at least you are well prepared and you are doing everything right by the sounds of things - well done

I would take your own advice and give him a call - I too would only give him till Saturday and explain that if it is not paid then childminding will be suspended until you do receive your money

Honestly I am sure parents think they can treat us how they like sometimes and a lot of the time despite explaining everything to them and them signing a contract they still feel that they can make their own rules up

Let us know what he says when you call him

You are dealing with this brilliant though

Good luck

Angel xx

[stacie1985]

hello well have spoken to him and he wants to come round 2nite to discuss the contract and he said he will bring his cheque book whatever that means fist thing he said when told him he would have to pay was can they just cancel contract and i told him even that way would still need notice and payment. i really dont want to say though coz contract doesnt say anything about paying when not here apart from sickness as used summer hols contract only thing i have is my policie which he has signed and states that full payment required etc: i just cant be bothered with this hassle only new to this anway lol

[charleyfarley]

Totally agree with whats been said but stand your ground, you are entitled to be paid. If you did lose the child because of this would it really be so bad? A new child could be round the corner.
It is difficult I know I still hate asking for payment and I've been minding for 8 years.
You never know the dad might be ok about it when he comes.
Sometimes I think parents think we are only here for them when they want us, more like a babysitter than a childminder. They don't seem to realise it's our profession.
Sorry can't be of any help just stay strong. Let us know what happens.


Carol

[angeldelight]

Wonder why we all hate asking for payment ?

It is our money parents know the rules - we do the work - all parties sign contracts etc

Why then do we hate to ask for OUR money

Good luck Stacie let us know how it goes

Angel xx

[stacie1985]

well spoke to ncma and they said coz of short contract i can only charge for days he missed so far so if he wants to end contract today will only be owed for monday I explained it to him a MIN ago and ensured him if we cancelled would not care for child again so told him cud pay for time off and continue arranment when needed or cancel tonite wriiten notice and pay mondays and i said is that what you want and he said he dunno can he phone me later he busy!! how rude

[charleyfarley]

Some parents are so rude. I had one once that because I hadn't got any vacancies and he couldn't find a childminder willing to travel his child wouldn't beable to go to school and it sounded like he was blaming me.
I can assure you though you do get some lovely parents also so don't dispair

carol

[vik3000]

You get some parents who are great and really appreciative of what you do and then you get others who treat you as a babysitter at their beck and call.

Stand your ground. Us minders really need to stand together and make sure these type of parents know they cannot mess us around.

good luck

[allykidz]

Hi Stacie, how did you get on with this?? Did you get your money?? Some parents have just got no idea have they - hope it is all done and dusted now hun

Alison
x

[stacie1985]

well he was supposed to turn up but has not so dunno what to do now as he said he wanted to canelt contract so told him to come round at 6.30 and he never showed up but i dont think he realises the if he doesnt end contract he still owes me the money.

[mel]

sorry to hear its still not resolved stacie. What are you planning to do next?

Mel x

[angela234]

SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TROUBLE YOUR HAVING

THANK GOODNESS MOST PARENTS ARE NOT LIKE THIS IF THEY CAN BE THIS UNRELIABLE YOUR BETTER OF WITHOUT THEM

LET US KNOW WHAT HAPPENS

ANGELA

[stacie1985]

well guys heres an update

finally resolved!!

they phoned yesterday to come over so they came this evening and paid me for last week and today as mindee neva came and they were very apoligetic and did have a valid reason for the change in plans so felt bit sorry for them but stuck to my guns and asked for payment. suprisinly they asked me if i would be able to have mindee in the future for odd days and i said as they terminating contract . if they did need me again would have to be contracted but said we can do it as occasionally minding but i did say no guarntee on space would have to just find out when they ask etc: and they were fine with that but i thought might as well do it as least that way we both know where we stand etc and payment is normally always in advance anyway so i said yes i just see it as bit extra on the odd days if i can do it and the mindee is so well behaved and such a nice boy to have around would have been a shame to turn them down hope i done right thing haha

[banana]

Good for you Stacie!! Glad you were brave enough to stand up for yourself!!

Start as you mean to go on!!

Just put this experience behind you, we all get start up glitches
( aka.. odd parents) and now you have had yours you can get on with running your business!

x