Can I be forced to pay by direct debit?

juice_terry

My children's nursery have sent a letter home saying they want all families to now pay by direct debit only. No cheques, cash or standing orders.

We currently use a childcare voucher for part of the bill and a cheque each month for the difference. We've paid this way for over two years now and the only time we've had a problem was when the nursery messed up.

I'm assuming that what they are proposing constitutes a change in contract and cannot therefore be implemented without consent.
But does anyone know if I'm right here or does the nursery hold all the cards?

ANy advice anyone?

geordie_joe

juice_terry wrote: »

I'm assuming that what they are proposing constitutes a change in contract and cannot therefore be implemented without consent.
But does anyone know if I'm right here or does the nursery hold all the cards?

ANy advice anyone?

That depends on the contract.

I think ultimately the nursery does hold all the cards, in the sense that they can refuse to renew the contract when it runs out.

I would speak to them and explain the situation. It may just be that some accountant has told them it is easier and cheaper to collect payments that way, and you don't have the bother of people paying late.

Of course it may also be that they have decided anyone using vouchers can't afford to pay their intended price increases so they want rid of them. Get rid of the low paid parents and make way for more affluent parents/kids, then hike up the prices.

Sorry if you are not low paid, I was just thinking that they may have picked vouchers as a way of determining the people they think won't pay higher prices.

Basically it will come down to why they are doing this, how many pay with vouchers and how big their waiting list is.

Clive_Woody

If your childcare vouchers are Busy Bees, Leap Frog or something similar you can arrange to have these paid electronically so you won't lose out. Give your voucher provider a call and ask them to sort it out. You may have to give the voucher people a reference number from the nursery to ensure the vouchers are credited to the correct child when they are sent to the nursery.

I suspect the nursery can amend the contract whenever they see fit. If you decline to sign the new contract then I imagine they will give you notice and you will have to find a new nursery that will accept cheques. Sorry to be blunt, but they are offering a service and if they wish to change the T&Cs then I think they can do so as they wish, it is then up to you to either accept them or go elsewhere.

juice_terry

Thanks to both of you but I've got it sorted.

The vouchers are Busy Bees and are bought (tax free) rather than given as a benefit by the way.

I spoke to one of the directors and told him I knew why he wanted to implement DD's across the board but explained that I'd rather carry on as we were and he was fine with it.
He's more bothered about people paying by Standing Order as the details are harder to amend if required.