fair way to charge update

[tomy12]

i had new ones start today and mum is questioing bill already.
so week 1 i have a boy and girl 1.30-4.30 on tues & weds
week2 have boy and girl 12.30-2.30 weds only.
so i charged like this
week1 hrly rate for both tues & weds no probs
week 2 tues half fee for both 12.30-4.30
weds full fee 12.30-2.30 as they are here and half fee 2.30-4.30
mum thinks she should not have to pay half fees.but i cant fill the days they are not here but still have to keep the space for when they are.
what would you suggest as a fair way to charge for this.
need some advice before tommorrow when she is ment to pay me.
thank you all claie

[angeldelight]

What do you mean " tomorrow when she is meant to pay me ??"

Do you think she is not going to pay you?

When did you sign contract - did you make your rules clear about payment ?
Why did she not question you before you had her children ?

Stick to your guns of what you want for payment it is up to you at the end of the day - your business and your rules

Good luck

Angel xx

[tomy12]

hi angel
they came to see me on sunday she is someone i know.
i had her kids today, ans we signed contracts on sunday and i explained i charged half fees.
she was ment to pay me today for this week and next week as i kie to be paid in advance and said she could pay me today.
now has a probem with her bill and said she did not want to pay the half fees and for me to revise bill and she will pay me tommorrow.
so what is fair charge half fee's to keep place whan not using or not have any payment at all?

[kelly]

Like Angel says stick to your guns it is your business, you need to sit down with the mum and explain what your fees are remind her you did go through it with her before she signed the contract. if I was you I would make sure I was paid before the children are left tomorrow. I was in a situation once where I looked after the children for two days (parent late paying) then the mother started questioning contracts etc I told her she would have to make payment the following day, she never turned up again!!! I didn't pursue it, as it didn't seem worth all the hassle.

oh by the way, I think you should charge half fee, I know you said you know her but you need to explain you have bills to pay as well.

Good luck

Kelly

[angeldelight]

Hope this parent paid you today and hope she did not make you feel guilty just because she knows you

Let us know what happened

Angel xx

[tomy12]

hi all yes i was paid today.
we came to a comprimise that i would charge half fee for the tues to keep place for them but not charge half fee on the weds from 2.30-4.30.
mum said she does not want to pay the half fee's after xmas as i will then only have daughther 3-4.30 2 day a week every other week.
as i said the week i don't have daughter she would have to pay half fee to keep place.
which works out to be 4.50 on that week for the 2 days.
i can understand why she does not want to pay me but i can't keep place and not get anything for it.
what does everyone else do?
do you just charge for what they use or different.
would love to hear your veiws on this.
thanks for the replys.
any more welcome
claire

[hazel2]

definitely half fee to keep the place, no question about that whether you know them or not.

hazelx

[tasha]

You are charging correctly this parent wants her cake & to eat it...you cannot be expected to keep a place open for when she feels like using it! Bottom line she pays the fee for the space...otherwise you will fill it with someone else & she won't have that time/day available to her...you have a limited amount of spaces & run a business not a charity....she agreed & signed...now changing her mind? I know you know her, but don't let her take liberties....! This is precisely why most of us won't work with friends & family! Keep us posted.
Tasha

[tomy12]

hi all
i seen mum at school today and we were talking.
she said that she has visited before comming to me 10 out of the 18 in my area.as i did not have vacancies at the time she needed care.
and she said she was not very impressed with any of them.
she said that i do alot more for the kids than the last childminder,adn i replyed saying that is why i charge more as i think i am worth it.
she is going to talk to hubby tonight and let me know on friday wheather she will require me after xmas.
as she does not want to pay half fee for the daughther who i have every other week for 1hr 30 on tues and weds.
i am happy with the amount of children i have at present so not really bothered either way.
i am not going to keep a space for anyone and not charge anything for it.as i loose out else.
any more opions welcome
thank you all who has replyed already claire

[tasha]

Good for you for sticking to your guns!
Tasha

[angeldelight]

Well done Claire

Hope it all works out for you

Whatever happens think of her as a mom / parent - and not as a friend or someone you know
So no favours !!!

Good luck

Angel xx

[sarsar3nch]

You must charge for keeping space, like it was said before, we have limited spaces available to us so we can't hold spaces open for free we need to fill them with other children.

It is not up to her to decide what she will or won't pay for, she either accepts the service you are offering and all the terms and conditions that go along with it or she goes elsewhere!

Sarah

[linda]

Good on you i totally agree with you for sticking to your guns if she doesnot like it she can go elsewhere i am sure you will have no problems filling the places.
Lindax

[tomy12]

thanks for all the replys.
well mum got back to me and has decided to still used me.
and now last week and this week i am having the kids extra hrs as her mum inlaw keeps letting her down with childcare.
so they have been comming earlier than contracted but i am free so said i can do it.
but she has not paid to keep these hrs for them so i cannot gaurntee i will always be free.
the extra money before xmas is handy though.
speak soon claire

[angeldelight]

Hi Claire

Seems like you worked things out in the end to how you wanted

Good luck

Angel xx

[tomy12]

i have been just looking at what i get paid.
i have a 4yrold mon,weds,thurs & fri 12-5pm termtime
and hols have 4yrold & sister 5yrs weds,thurs 9.30-5pm & fri 9=5pm
but i currently donot chrage a retainer for 5yr old to keep place in hols.
would you?
as 4yr old hrs going down 1hr a day after xmas?
also have a 5 yrol after school shoul i charge a retainer to keep place during hols as she is firends with the other mum who is paying to keep a place open.
just didn't know if its different if they are at school or not.
just want to get this sorted in my head so i can give notice for changes to happen after xmas.
thank you all
claire

[tasha]

I've Pm'd you!
Tasha

[tomy12]

well i have been in undated with enquiries today but can't do them all.
but iw ill be still be keeping places and getting nothing for it.
thank you tash for letting me phone you.
I think i am thick as i am still confused.
any one else with some advice welcome
claire

[thesmarts]

Hi - Ive had a scenario like yours and rather than saying pay me here there and everywhere I said to the mum that she could pay me for x amount of hours. She could use whatever days/hoursshe wanted (within a certain timeframe) - as little or as much as she wanted. (in my case it was £80 for 21 hours per week over a four day limit. )

It works because then you know what "spaces" you have, you know what income you're getting and she has the reassurance of knowing that you are there for her child, no matter what the circumstances.

I would always do the same sort of thing, if presented with a similar situation. Obvioudly the prices will differ but thats for you to negotiate!

Hope this helps!

[helen1980]

To tomy 12 - this mum is moaning about paying half fees yet many childminders charge a minimum of say 8 hours per week per child whether the child is there or not. She doesn't know how lucky she is lol

[vik3000]

Been there and done that too - so you are not alone.

Some parents think we should be there at their beck and call and they can do whatever they like - regardless that we are a business offering a professional (equivelent) service to a nursery. Would these people mess a nursery around in the same manner - no of course not because they view them completly different to us and also a Nursery would not allow them to either - period.
We all need to start thinking of ourselves as a business offering a professional service that parents can take or leave - their choice but once they have signed that contract they are legally bound to it. We owe it to ourselves and our colleagues to make sure that we stick to our guns (regardless if our clients are friends or not although I am not keen on working with friends).

I hope you get it sorted or have done already.

I shall step down of my soap box (again)

[smartimartie]

Vik3000 - do you read minds. My thoughts exactly!!

Your confidence grows over time... At the start of my business I was too worried about getting work. I now value what I do and have more self confidence... I now bill them!!

[deeb66]

I agree with what everyone has said.

Over the years I have learned to stick to my guns and they either pay what I asked for or we don't end up working together.

Having said that I will compromise if I can and if I am happy with the compromise but will not back down if I am not happy.

Dee

[tomy12]

hi all.

thank you for the replys.
i have issued all my [parents with notice of changes to fees for which come into effect in january.
i have not heard anything form any of them as of yet.
claire