Excess childcare vouchers after pandemic

HFRA

We had diligently saved childcare vouchers to see our children through after school and holiday clubs.  For the past 3 years since lockdown we’ve not been able/ not needed to use them as working patterns have totally changed - no-one could have foreseen this.  Our youngest is only eligible for another year and we have £3k stored up.  Is there really nothing we can do to get it back?

TheMilkmansDad

are these through work?

I was in the same position and my work we're able to arrange a refund from the childcare voucher company on my behalf.

sheramber

Your contract with the voucher company will tell you if the vouchers can refunded. Some do,some don’t. 

If they are refundable then your employer needs to agree to refund them as tax and NIC are payable on them.

EmptyPots

I'd be interested to see if anyone has any luck with this. The vouchers do say they're not refundable but surely a global pandemic that changes everyone's working patterns is extenuating circumstances? We went from 5 days of breakfast club and 3 after school to nothing for 2 full years! If not then what happens to the money spent on the vouchers, do Sodexo etc just get to keep anything we don't spend?

MorningcoffeeIV

EmptyPots said:

The vouchers do say they're not refundable but surely a global pandemic that changes everyone's working patterns is extenuating circumstances? 

Does the contract allow for extenuating circumstances?

That's the 'surely' you have to check.

jacobslange

Hi joined this discussion as today I tried to  get a refund form Kiddivouchers have over £1000 that I can't use as kids are now to old for most clubs in Bristol.  I gave all evidence regarding costs I was expecting to pay during 2019/2020 for afterschool and holiday clubs based on previous academic year but they refused.  I now have money in an account that I cannot use, even though I have earned it.  If a global pandemic is not classed as exceptional circumstances by HMRC. Ii would like to know what is?.  Seems that some providers as issuing refunds as per above posts so would be interested in knowing which provider you used.  Will be taking this up further as as the schemes were set up help with childcare and now the money stuck in an account that is no use to me and could be put aside for my children's future education.  Does anyone know what happens to the money if I don't use it,? Does the provider keep it if so they are making a profit from many people as I  know other parents who are in this situation.as well.

jacobslange

TheMilkmansDad said:

are these through work?

I was in the same position and my work we're able to arrange a refund from the childcare voucher company on my behalf.

HI Cna you confirm which provider you were with?
Thanks
Ora

Chaconne

jacobslange said:

Hi joined this discussion as today I tried to  get a refund form Kiddivouchers have over £1000 that I can't use as kids are now to old for most clubs in Bristol.  I gave all evidence regarding costs I was expecting to pay during 2019/2020 for afterschool and holiday clubs based on previous academic year but they refused.  I now have money in an account that I cannot use, even though I have earned it.  If a global pandemic is not classed as exceptional circumstances by HMRC. Ii would like to know what is?.  Seems that some providers as issuing refunds as per above posts so would be interested in knowing which provider you used.  Will be taking this up further as as the schemes were set up help with childcare and now the money stuck in an account that is no use to me and could be put aside for my children's future education.  Does anyone know what happens to the money if I don't use it,? Does the provider keep it if so they are making a profit from many people as I  know other parents who are in this situation.as well.

Hi, I also joined as I am having the same issue with Kiddivouchers. They seem to be using every excuse possible to prevent having to refund the unused vouchers. I have a lot of vouchers unused because of the pandemic and then once everything re-opened my child is now too old to avail of the services. Kiddivouchers refused to accept the pandemic as exceptional circumstances, even though my employer agreed to take the vouchers back and deduct the PAYE before refunding me. I then found another way to use the vouchers, which is accepted by other voucher providers - except of course Kiddivouchers. I think they are keeping the unused vouchers as they have not been able to demonstrate with evidence where they send the money from unused vouchers, other than into shareholders' funds. I'd be interested to know if anyone else is having continuing problems with Kiddivouchers. The owner (Wider Plan Ltd, which has a single shareholder/director) appears to be one of the few voucher providers which chooses not to sign up to the code of practice run by the Childcare Voucher Providers Association.

bristolhl

I have same problems, saved several thousands through my years hard work. But I kids is old enough no need childcare.  Surely, we are not the only people having this problems.  Do we know if government has any rules to regulate these providers?  How can we get our money back?

TheMilkmansDad

jacobslange said:

TheMilkmansDad said:

are these through work?

I was in the same position and my work we're able to arrange a refund from the childcare voucher company on my behalf.

HI Cna you confirm which provider you were with?
Thanks
Ora

slightly delayed response! Our provider was 

www.childcarevouchers.co.uk

sheramber

bristolhl said:

I have same problems, saved several thousands through my years hard work. But I kids is old enough no need childcare.  Surely, we are not the only people having this problems.  Do we know if government has any rules to regulate these providers?  How can we get our money back?

You need to check the contract you had with the voucher provider. Any refund has to come back through your employer at the time as tax and NIC need to accounted for. Not all employers have payroll systems to do this. Not all employers are willing to do it. So you are up against three systems - the contract with the voucher supplier, whether the employer is willing and able to process a refund.