Childcare Vouchers taken after my child left the nursery! Post Reply

[zanzibar2]

Hi Everyone,

My daughter changed nursery last December, just before her little brother was born. In the busy time that followed I forgot to cancel her childcare vouchers, and they continued going to her last nursery.

They appear to have used January and February's vouchers, which I would like to put towards her new nursery which she started attending in January.

I haven't been able to get a reply from her old nursery, they are not returning my calls or answering my emails. Has anyone ahd a simialr experience, and what could I do in a legal sense to get these vouchers back? I know it's my fault for not cancelling them, but also feel the nursery should have informed me they were still receiving them ....

[tilly]

From a legal point of view, you have paid for services you have not received as you had cancelled the contract (and I assume there was no dispute over whether the contract was properly cancelled). Therefore, the nursery is not entitled to retain the money. It is pretty unprofessional not to return it to you, I would make more noise and if necessary write a formal letter saying you will make a make small claim (which you would be entitled to do for a very small fee and filling in a form) in the county court if they fail to repay it within say 14 days. As well as the legal route though, i'd just make noise about how you wont be recommending them etc..

[zanzibar2]

Thanks Tilly, really helpful advice.

I suppose I should start by naming the nursery - Kids Unlimited in Wandsworth. I've had previous problems with them over charging. In fact, in addition to the childcare vouchers they still owe me a refund on an incorrect invoice!

[vonnie17]

Hi there

Get in touch with your Childcare Voucher provider, they can contact the Nursery and ask for a refund back to them, as Childcare vouchers are linked into your tax and the Nursery could turn round and say they cant give you a cash refund, but they cant refuse the Childcare Voucher Provider, they have signed certain terms and one of these relates to refunds.

Best of luck