The Increbible Increasing Nursery Fee

Mabboo

Can anybody offer me some advice around my Son's nursery and their belief that parents are bottomless moneypits (which is surely my sons perogative)?

My son has been going to nursery 1 day a week since he was around 6 months old. Back then it was owned and run by a couple who set it up as a retirement business.

The old couple realised that the popularity of the nursery meant the workload was a little too much for them and they sold it. It was bought by someone who runs a nursery in another part of the country and was looking to expand.

So far, so good.

However, since the nursery was taken over (less than 12 months ago) the nursery fees have risen twice, the first time without warning, the second was advertised by a note stuck to the nursery door.

On Friday, bless them, they sent a letter home with DS that had a re-registration form attached. We've not had to re-register with them since they took over, so it was something of a surprise! And some of the terms of re-registration?

1. A non refundable £50 registration fee.
2. We will now be charged a 10% late fee if the nursery dues aren't paid by the designated day (23rd for cheque and 27th for cash)

and finally

3. A £15 per quarter hour charge for late collection of your child.

Is it just me or do these sudden charges seem slightly out of order?

We would change nurseries but there really isn't a lot available in our area and all the registered child minders are fully booked.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

MarkyMarkD

If you didn't have any long-term contract with the nursery providers, then they can change their charges when they like, and charge what they like.

The fact that there is little competition in the area gives you enough clue as to whether they will "get away with" this or not.

Janepig

Well, I'm not sure of your position legally, but the nursery we use charged us £1 to register. The re-registration fee sounds like a licence to print money to me - "how can we rake in a bit of cash? Hmm I know, lets get everyone to re-register and charge them £50 to do it". Smells of scam to me. Also fees for late pick up. Surely they're open set times and you can't pick your child up late. For instance ours is open 8am-6pm so I physically cannot pick DS up any later than 6pm. And again with late payment, we're supposed to pay on the first of the month, but I won't be paying until monday which is the 5th, but nothing will be said. Maybe I should thank my lucky stars!!!!

Jxx

plane_boy2000

WHat did you sign when you first joined the nursery? Did you pay a registration fee then? If so I would refuse to pay, as you say this is just an excuse to get more money from you, however the other 2 new terms are not uncommon in nurseries. The late charge is fair as if you are not there then someone has to stay with them, and that person will have to be paid. The 10 % is a bit steep, but as long as you pay on time it wont be an issue.

I may be wrong, but the 10% term, and the re registration fee smack to me of a cash flow issue - perhaps the new owners have overstretched themslves.....

Mabboo

I had a gut feeling that our hands were pretty much tied. I am going to argue the registration fee, and attempt to get the late payment fee waived for now... we pay as close to the 27th as DS's nursery visits allow.

It's worth noting, however, they've just had an extentionn built... I wonder now if they weren't a little premature when they decided on having it.

andycarmi

Hi Mabboo points 2 and 3 in your post are the "norm" at nurseries!!! As for point one thats just greedy. Bet they are allowed to do that as you are sign a new contract!

What the £50 reg fee used for sounds like the bank charges all over again:rolleyes:

LifeisEvenbetter

I think this new registration fee is very steep. Have you spoken to any other parents who also use the Nursery to see what they feel about these sudden changes/registration fee? Surely if you have registered once you should not need to register again - they can ask you to update your details regularly but very unfair if they are asking you to pay a registration fee again. whilst they can write to you and let you know of any contractual changes (such as the late payment penalty charge/late collection fee) they should not be charging you a fee to do this.

It might be worth contacting your local Early Years Partnership (they should be based in the Children's directorate of your Local Authority). You could ask them whether this was standard practice to charge such a high registration fee (particularly after you have already registered!).

andycarmi

I worked in nuresery 10yrs ago and it was took over by someone else they made its a LTD company and parents had to re-registar! But it was free but they made other changes to the contracts.

Is that what they are doing going LTD?

andycarmi

If it is because of going LTD-The costs of running a limited company are considerably higher, both in terms of administration costs and accountancy fees. Thus what your £50 could be used for?

andycarmi

LifeisEvenbetter wrote:

You could ask them whether this was standard practice to charge such a high registration fee (particularly after you have already registered!).

I think they will get round this as IF the old contract is with the old owners and not with them so they need to re-registar with the new owners!

ailuro2

Is there a childminder in the area? Is there any proportional element to the charge because he is only there one day a week? I'd ask and see what they say...


Late charging fees that seem steep are because,sadly, parents who have dropped their kids off at eight o'clock in the morning will still turn up 10 minutes after 6pm after the nursery is meant to be closed.:rolleyes: