Nursery charges on Bank Holidays - Legality

owl77lch

I would like to send my children to a nursery for just 2 days a week, Monday and Friday. However, apparently they will still charge me for bank holidays even though they will not be providing any childcare on those days. Are they legally allowed to charge me for a service they are not providing? It just seems very strange that they can do this, or that the cost is not spread within everyone's usual charge so that it doesn't just penalise people that have to work Mondays or Fridays? Thanks in advance for any answers

alwaysbrassic

I changed my children's day in nursery for exactly the same reason.
Our nursery worked out an average weekly cost based on 2 weeks holiday per year (hence charged for 50 weeks). This was no good to me with the additional Monday bank holiday!

flea72

How can it be illegal? a business they can charge what they like, when they like. Its up to the customer to decide whether they agree to the terms of service being offered

If you dont like how they charge, go elsewhere. But seeing as staff are paid for b/h the business has to cover the cost somehow. If it irks you so much dont send your child on mondays. You only loose 1friday a year and maybe 3 other days depending on when christmas/new year falls

halibut2209

Do you get paid for holidays?

System

halibut2209 wrote: »

Do you get paid for holidays?

Why's that relevant?

Are you suggesting if the OP gets paid for holidays she should pay but if she doesn't get paid for holidays she shouldn't?

halibut2209

That's very sexist, assuming the OP is female.

System

halibut2209 wrote: »

That's very sexist, assuming the OP is female.

Good comeback...........

Your contribution on this thread has been top draw

MamaMoo_2

halibut2209 wrote: »

Do you get paid for holidays?

Irrelevant. If you pay someone to provide a service which they fail to do, you expect your money back. The consumer rights boards is full of people being told "claim your money back for goods/services not received".
If I'm paying someone to look after my child and they fail to do so, I don't see why I would, or should, give them the money.
My son's nursery charge £15 per 3 hour session. If he doesn't attend due to illness etc I still have to pay, however if they're closed (eg the snow earlier in the year, Good Friday etc) they don't charge.

halibut2209

A quick google search for "nursery bank holiday charges" will show this is completely normal and legal.

hone123

MamaMoo wrote: »

Irrelevant. If you pay someone to provide a service which they fail to do, you expect your money back. The consumer rights boards is full of people being told "claim your money back for goods/services not received".
If I'm paying someone to look after my child and they fail to do so, I don't see why I would, or should, give them the money.
My son's nursery charge £15 per 3 hour session. If he doesn't attend due to illness etc I still have to pay, however if they're closed (eg the snow earlier in the year, Good Friday etc) they don't charge.

I don't no much but I do no that if your child was going to a registered child minder, you still have to pay even if your child does not attend on a particular day, even if u go on holiday or if they go on holiday any bank holidays etc as this keeps the place open for your child, perhaps you only get a certain amount of fee charge days a year (good Friday etc) unfair I know, but you are paying for a service you wouldn't only pay rent for 5 days if you went away for 2

MamaMoo_2

hone123 wrote: »

I don't no much but I do no that if your child was going to a registered child minder, you still have to pay even if your child does not attend on a particular day, even if u go on holiday or if they go on holiday any bank holidays etc as this keeps the place open for your child, perhaps you only get a certain amount of fee charge days a year (good Friday etc) unfair I know, but you are paying for a service you wouldn't only pay rent for 5 days if you went away for 2

The difference there is if I rent my house, even if I'm away from it for 2 nights, I *could* still use it if I returned early. The fact here is that they are charging for a service that cannot be used, whether you want to or not.
I totally agree with charging you if your child fails to attend for whatever reason, as you're the one choosing not to use the service despite it being available and a space being held for your child.
However, if they are not working on a bank holiday, no space is being held for your child as there is no space available.
Think of it this way, you've booked a hotel (Hotel A) for a Friday, Saturday & Monday night. You cannot book in on the Sunday as it is fully booked, so you'll have to go somewhere else that night (Hotel . Would you then think it's fair to pay for Sunday night at Hotel A when you're not staying there, and couldn't even if you wanted to because they are closed?