Nursery fees change - do I still need to give notice period?

Bronk80

My son's nursery have changed their policy on accepting 30hrs free child care, resulting in what would have been a £300 increase in my monthly bill. They made this change with less than 5 weeks notice. I have been left with no option but to move him to a different setting but obviously needed some time to look at options and make arrangements. His current nursery is now expecting for me to give them a full 8 weeks notice period for leaving.
What are my rights here? As the T&Cs have been changed should the notice period be waived?
Thanks

spadoosh

Youd think it reasonable that the notice they give you should be the same notice you need to give them. Ie if they can give you 5 weeks notice for policy changes you should be able to give them 5 weeks notice for cancellation. Otherwise they could increase the price to £1million a session and keep you locked in to it for a few extra weeks (excluding any kind of what is considered reasonable in a contract)

Bronk80

So far I've said they should have given me 12 weeks notice if they wanted 8 weeks notice as obviously needed time to look into and arrange alternative childcare before giving up his place.

dj1471

Legally they can't increase their fees without your agreement, since you're both bound by a contract. Make it clear that you don't accept the increase.

They can either agree and keep the existing fees, or give you notice that they will stop providing the service to you with whatever notice period is in their T&Cs.

Aylesbury_Duck

What does the contract with them say about notice periods? I assume it's eight weeks on either side? If so, point out to them that you don't accept the increase and that you will pay for eight weeks' childcare at the current rate.

I can't see how you can demand 12 weeks' notice, unless the contract says it's 12 weeks on their side and eight on yours.

keithdc

They aren't really increasing fees- just changing the methods of payment that are available.

Aylesbury_Duck

keithdc wrote: »

They aren't really increasing fees- just changing the methods of payment that are available.

That's true. The effect to OP is an increase but you're right.

I think the upshot is the same. OP needs to give whatever notice s/he is obliged to give under the contract. If that takes the service into the new payment territory, perhaps that means OP has to find the extra for that short period.

Ectophile

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

That's true. The effect to OP is an increase but you're right.

I think the upshot is the same. OP needs to give whatever notice s/he is obliged to give under the contract. If that takes the service into the new payment territory, perhaps that means OP has to find the extra for that short period.

No company is allowed to unilaterally change the terms of their contract with the customer, and then enforce those new terms if the customer doesn't agree.


The nursery should either let the customer go with no penalty, or allow the customer to continue on the previous terms until the contract comes to a natural end.