While we hope that any queries can be resolved quickly and amicably, sometimes there are disputes around invoices and payments that may need extra attention.
Any disputes should always be discussed with your childminder as the first step, but if you wish to speak with us after that, there are a few key points to bear in mind.
tiney's role
We're a childminding agency, meaning that we handle various administrative processes for our registered childminders, as well as providing training, support, and the use of our app. Our childminders are self-employed: they each retain control over their own business, including invoicing.
What we can do
We can clarify points and answer any questions you may have around invoices and contracts.
We can help to facilitate constructive discussion between families and childminders.
We can make invoice amendments and issue refunds if these have been agreed upon by both parties, and confirmed to us by your childminder.
What we can't do
We cannot make changes to your invoices, or issue refunds, without the consent of your childminder.
We cannot make decisions on behalf of your childminder, or issue rulings about financial disputes. This includes disputes around notice periods.
Notice periods
After the 14-day cooling-off period, tiney's contracts have a standard notice period: this is usually 30 days in contracts for regularly scheduled care, and 7 days in contracts for ad-hoc care.
This means that if either party gives notice to end the contract, all care scheduled in that period must be paid for.
While a childminder may choose to waive or reduce this notice period in certain circumstances, this will always be at their discretion, and tiney cannot make that decision or advise a childminder to do this.
Next steps if a resolution has not been reached
If the dispute remains unresolved after discussion between both parties, parents and guardians may wish to seek independent advice, and childminders may choose to contact an insurer for advice and possible claims.