Private nursery threatening with court

PinkKiwi

PinkKiwi wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. We were never given a copy of any contract, I certainly didn't sign anything apart from the other forms for my sons needs and what I allow them to do. I'm not sure if my partner signed the contract as my work hours meant I wasn't able to take my son to school in the beginning. I'm looking forward to seeing the contract though.

There you go, on the first page. I was in work before the nursery opened if this makes more sense to you?? I cudn't sign anything while I was at work, the forms I signed regarding my preferences where given to my partner to sign at home which we both did.

the_barretts

When you arranged care did you choose an hourly, daily or weekly rate. It is much cheaper to choose a weekly rate rather than to specify which days/hours you want and much easier for the nursery to plan staffing levels and make sure rooms are not over ratio. So if you chose a Friday or Monday as one of the days your child was at nursery then you would lose out because most BH's fall on those days.

We looked at several nurseries, my husband worked a changing shift pattern so we did not need the same days each week - at one nursery they could accomodate us, at another they wanted us to pay a daily rate which was 1/3 more expensive than having set days.

Unfortunately you have to choose what works for you and with all documents, especially those concerning your childs welfare you have to read and understand what service is being offered - even if you didnt sign it, surely you wanted to see a copy of what you and your partner had agreed to?

Did you pay any deposit? Often the deposit is used as the last months fees, that way the nursery does not get people up and leave without paying?

Do you agree now that you do owe them the money (regardless of any other issues?)? Not being able to pay and not believing you should pay are two completely different things, if you do owe them it then agree a payment plan. You did not remove your child because of a failure in care, you did it because you were not earning any more. It takes time for a nursery to fill a vacant place, overheads and staff still have to be paid, why should the business suffer because you lost your job? I don't mean that to sound harsh or unkind but you accepted a service and you have to pay for it.

I hope you can come to a good arrangement with them, they wont want the hassle of court dates and costs but they cannot let customers off without payment otherwise more people would not pay! And if you need to put your child into another nursery then you do not want your reputation to preceed you.... not that I think there is a blacklist list! Good luck!

PinkKiwi

the_barretts wrote: »

When you arranged care did you choose an hourly, daily or weekly rate. It is much cheaper to choose a weekly rate rather than to specify which days/hours you want and much easier for the nursery to plan staffing levels and make sure rooms are not over ratio. So if you chose a Friday or Monday as one of the days your child was at nursery then you would lose out because most BH's fall on those days.

We looked at several nurseries, my husband worked a changing shift pattern so we did not need the same days each week - at one nursery they could accomodate us, at another they wanted us to pay a daily rate which was 1/3 more expensive than having set days.

Unfortunately you have to choose what works for you and with all documents, especially those concerning your childs welfare you have to read and understand what service is being offered - even if you didnt sign it, surely you wanted to see a copy of what you and your partner had agreed to?

Did you pay any deposit? Often the deposit is used as the last months fees, that way the nursery does not get people up and leave without paying?

Do you agree now that you do owe them the money (regardless of any other issues?)? Not being able to pay and not believing you should pay are two completely different things, if you do owe them it then agree a payment plan. You did not remove your child because of a failure in care, you did it because you were not earning any more. It takes time for a nursery to fill a vacant place, overheads and staff still have to be paid, why should the business suffer because you lost your job? I don't mean that to sound harsh or unkind but you accepted a service and you have to pay for it.

I hope you can come to a good arrangement with them, they wont want the hassle of court dates and costs but they cannot let customers off without payment otherwise more people would not pay! And if you need to put your child into another nursery then you do not want your reputation to preceed you.... not that I think there is a blacklist list! Good luck!

I have never said at all that I don't think I owe them money. The bill has now been settled in full because to be quite honest I don't care anymore. I just wanted this over with. I was given a handbook thats about it.

flg_2

probably a bit late as this discussion was in august/sept but regarding the milkcrates my 2 year old daughter had a bad accident on them whilst in nursery resulting in stitches and plastic surgery to her face. when i moved to a different nursery not only did they not allow children to play on milk crates they also did not charge for bank holidays. although my daughter is scared for life she is now 4 years old and doing well .:)