Acceptable to ask for bill to be checked?

onlyroz

It should certainly be fine to make a polite query when you think a mistake has been made - and it should be possible to do this in a way that doesn't leave anybody feeling upset or embarrassed. The after-school and holiday club that I use once made a mistake on my invoice which resulted in a bill around £400 higher than I was expecting. The staff were perfectly fine with me querying it, and agreed that their calculations had been off (it is complicated because they bill me half-termly, but they get paid monthy via my childcare vouchers, and so it is quite difficult to figure out at any one time whether I'm in credit or not).

duchy

I think the OP probably doesn't realize what a rare thing a childminder who is as flexible as their one appears to be -is.

I did ask earlier where the confusion was with the days - eg had they told the CM and she forgot....or the parents forgot to cancel a day booked. Which it was could explain the CM's attitude - -for example if they didn't tell her - and then sent an email implying she made a mistake -it would be very different to if the parents had sent an email confirming the cancellation in good time beforehand.

OP f you felt it was the CM's fault - why did you pay her ?

meritaten

I cant see why someone would get upset because a 'client' queried a charge?
I take the view that if somebody 'thought', well I dont think I used that service that day, I will double check, then its up to me to 'prove' that I provided that service.
I can relate that to my Reiki service - I had clients who had regular sessions on certain days - but later couldn't remember if they had cancelled or not. I never minded checking my records for them. I really don't understand why the childminder is getting upset.

sweetilemon

Do you not get an itemised bill? I don't have children but from my friends bills I've seen have the dates and hours itemised. I think your query is fair. A bit strange it's been blown out of proportion on her part.

Pollycat

Paul
maybe you could post the email that you sent to the childminder - removing any personal data of course - so we can decide for ourselves whether you were 'perfectly polite' and 'tactful' or not.

As other posters have said, when writing emails - or posting on a public forum - there is no visual indications to help with context.

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/5355403]
But she wont let it go now and is still upset!
[/QUOTE]
In what way will she not let it go?
How is she demonstrating 'upset'ness?

warehouse

Poppie68 wrote: »

He didn't say it had happened before he said the bill had been 'variable' which could mean a plethora of things....

My granddaughters childminder has a sign in/out sheet for each child which the person has to sign,date and time in/out every visit, she gives her clients a copy each month with the bill......do others do this?

When that childminder has had a parent constantly not pay and be awkward with money then she'll do what my wife does, a month in advance.

maman

[quote=[Deleted User];69477906]
Also, stating the obvious, but if you think there is a thread on here that you feel is unnecessary or spurious (as you seem to think in this case), I don't understand why you continue to not only read it but post on the thread also?
[/QUOTE]


Since you ask, I don't like the threads started by people who work for mse. To me they seem unnecessary, so like you say I don't read them.:)