Nursery charges on Bank Holidays - Legality

notanewuser

The alternative is higher fees for everybody. The staff have to be paid for bank holidays whether they are working or not. Would you prefer to pay £20 a session and then not pay for BHs?

MamaMoo_2

notanewuser wrote: »

The alternative is higher fees for everybody. The staff have to be paid for bank holidays whether they are working or not. Would you prefer to pay £20 a session and then not pay for BHs?

I don't have to choose between the two, and if people refused to pay and chose an alternative provider, then maybe the nursery would think twice.

notanewuser

MamaMoo wrote: »

I don't have to choose between the two, and if people refused to pay and chose an alternative provider, then maybe the nursery would think twice.

Have you any idea how business works?

MamaMoo_2

notanewuser wrote: »

Have you any idea how business works?

Yes. A dramatic increase in people agreeing to unfair terms = lower revenue = a company looking at how they can attract more customers/service users.
Whilst it may be legal, it's entirely unfair to charge someone for a service they have no chance of using. There are several people in my family that run a business. D'you know what would happen if they charged for a service they then didn't provide? The customer would be on this board being told by umpteen users how best to get their money back, and then on the PV&W board warning others not to touch the company with a bargepole. Not one user would go "meh. Someone has to pay that company's way. Just deal with it"

ThumbRemote

MamaMoo wrote: »

Yes. A dramatic increase in people agreeing to unfair terms = lower revenue = a company looking at how they can attract more customers/service users.
Whilst it may be legal, it's entirely unfair to charge someone for a service they have no chance of using. There are several people in my family that run a business. D'you know what would happen if they charged for a service they then didn't provide? The customer would be on this board being told by umpteen users how best to get their money back, and then on the PV&W board warning others not to touch the company with a bargepole. Not one user would go "meh. Someone has to pay that company's way. Just deal with it"

It might be unfair - in this case go to a different nursery.

It seems the nursery have been perfectly clear and open about theier charges, so the OP can make an informed decision.

MamaMoo_2

ThumbRemote wrote: »

It might be unfair - in this case go to a different nursery.

It seems the nursery have been perfectly clear and open about theier charges, so the OP can make an informed decision.

Which is exactly what I said several posts back. Vote with your feet, and if enough people do, the nursery will probably have to rethink policies.

dalesrider

owl77lch wrote: »

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?
Thanks in advance for any answers

I would say it depends on who is making the decision on the service.

If it is you, because you are at home on PUBLIC holidays, then it is only fair that you pay.
As you are blocking the place from being used by someone else.
If it is them that are closing for the PUBLIC holidays. Then charging is unfair. Even though they will have to pay their staff.

Service avaiable = Pay
Service NOT avaiable = no pay :T

I work in a bank and work everyday.... There is no such thing as a bank holiday.... :rotfl:

Equaliser123

Our nursery is the same. Don't (really) mind it as it is the best nursery in the area.

When we looked, every decent nursery in the area charged for bank holidays.

Fees are calculated on an annual basis so that we pay a fixed monthly amount.

You don't get a rebate for your child not being there either through sickness - even if excluded due to the nursery's policies - or holiday so, I'm afraid, that's just the way it goes.

vikingaero

MamaMoo wrote: »

Which is exactly what I said several posts back. Vote with your feet, and if enough people do, the nursery will probably have to rethink policies.

Problem is that 99% of nurseries have this policy. So it would be very hard to vote with your feet if all the nurseries in your area have the same policy.

If the cost was absorbed into the fees then we'd just have people complaining about the cost of the nursery fees. Think about it. Most goods and services we buy have the staff cost of bank holidays factored in. For those that have bank holidays off then your employer factors in a cost to their goods and services to pay for your bank holiday.

wealdroam

dalesrider wrote: »

There is no such thing as a bank holiday.

The UK government doesn't agree...

https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays