Fee increases at ABC Childcare
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19399
Printed Date: 09 October 2025 at 11:04pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Fee increases at ABC Childcare
Posted By: CuriousG
Subject: Fee increases at ABC Childcare
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 8:23am
|
Just wondering, who else is affected by the fee increases at ABC Childcare centres, how they feel about them and whether or not it is forcing you to re-think where you put your child?
We were informed that our childcare costs were going up an additional $35 a week from 4 August. They have changed their day structure so that now you have your child in there from either 8.30 - 3.30 or from 8 - 5.30. They are no longer doing an hourly rate rather part time or full time. We have to have Charlotte in there from 8.45 - 4.15 so fall into neither category but have to pay the full time rates so are not using 1.5 hours of care a day that we have to pay for! I see on stuff that in Christchurch a family is also having their costs go up, despite being eligible for the 20 free hours a week! http://www.stuff.co.nz/4627365a11.html - Linky Loo ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 11:44am
|
Jack's only in an afternoon a week at the moment (12.30-5.30) and we pay $22 ($7ish after WINZ subsidy). With the new structure he's in 9-3 (so an extra hour) for the same price. So we are better off.
It seems strange to me really. The fees at our centre haven't actually gone up for full time or daily rates. But I do think that casual rates for 2 year olds have gone up, and also part time rates for 3-4 year olds (its cheaper to put in full time). I must say though that that family is pretty lucky to have only had to pay such a little amount for so long. When I go back to work after #2 we will be paying for 2 kids to be in fulltime without subsidies so I definitely wouldn't be complaining about it at all. I think we're all lucky to qualify for some sort of subsidy if you fall under the threshold. Just m2c anyway. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 12:48pm
To be honest I agree...I had the read the amount they had been paying a couple of times....that is insanely less that what we pay and insanely less that what we'll pay when we do qualify for the 20 free hours! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
emz wrote:Posted By: ohanlon82
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 12:55pm
|
agree totally
yeah i had to do a double take on what they were paying aswell.. i know when we have our first we wont probably get anything or any subsidies and when we have another one will probably have both in day care ------------- http://lb2f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/RPaODBg.jpg |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 1:12pm
|
I agree, they were paying a very minimal amount. I am just a bit frustrated that our hours aren't increasing yet we are expected to pay for time we won't use. We are going to have to pay $175 a week because we aren't entitled to anything.
I do wonder how those who might just fall out of the category for help cope! 
I guess too its about the fact they have introduced the 20 free hours and that they said to us it would be good cause we would pay less but we don't! We are paying more! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 1:25pm
|
James goes to ABC in Chch our fees have gone up $15 a week so wasn't really that worried about it but $35 dollars is a big difference. Not to sure how the fee srtucture works for the fee 20hrs as haven't needed to look at it at the moment just thought that the WINZ would still subsidise for the extra hours over the 20 free hours I hope thhat is right and I wasn't being niave. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 1:38pm
I just feel that they are charging us more to compensate for those getting subsidised. I don't know, just on a pity party rant  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 1:39pm
|
Don't worry CuriousG i thought the exact same thing too. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 3:09pm
That would be incredibly frustrating!!!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 3:42pm
|
I get a subsidy - what fustrates me is - when i do casual hours I don't get subsidy for it BUT it effects my subsidy cause I earn more.... I know seems a little petty considering people are worse off than us. ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 3:43pm
|
oh and before someone says it - I know I can get subsidy (or maybe they said) for my causual hours but have you seen the form you have to fill out - and cause mine changes week to week it just wouldn't be possible! ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Natalie_G
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 4:58pm
|
I have been quoted $220.00 per week for full time care when bub will be 1 and I go back to work. I am not too sure how the childcare subsidies go but should I be paying less if I can??
I will have to go to WINZ and get them to talk me through it. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
|
Posted By: RBsMama
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 6:29pm
|
ABC had stated in our paper (The Press) last week, that they will be charging people more because they've introducing 20 free hours. I think it's rude. ABC are having financial trouble and have been for a few months. I know I will be avoiding them when it comes time for me to look for childcare.
Other childcare facilities seem to cope with the 20 free hours much better. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 6:39pm
|
I have had Andrew in a daycare that offered the 20 hours free, but we were given the option to keep on the WINZ subsidy and not take up the 20 hours free. So as far as I knew you don't have to take the 20 hours free up if you don't want to. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 7:02am
|
you can have the free 20 hours and have the subsidy for the other hours.
Curious G - when i heard they were doing the free 20 hours i was stoked BUT not when iworked out with everything, we en up paying $20 more a week. not impressed. eta to change the fortnight to week |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 7:59am
|
At our ABC, DH learned yesterday from talking with other parents, that a lot of them are looking to remove their kids. There is another place that is in Raumati that also does the 20 free hours and is cheaper. Their waiting list is now HUGE!
We thought about moving DD, but you know, she LOVES it there, has some great friends and its not the staff who make the decisions. We are going to have to suck it up and go with it. At least we are in a position that we can afford it but still - I pity those who are going to struggle even more.  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: ~*Telly*~
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 1:07pm
|
My sons at a newly acquired ABC centre here in ChCh, and the fees haven't gone up there. They also don't do the 20 free hours. ------------- 
Mum 2 C (4) & S (1) |
Posted By: pikelets
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 2:33pm
|
$35 increase per week - thats a massive increase!
Maybe you could waitlist your child at another place - you may not get in anyway but at least if it comes up you can them decide. We have a new ABC opening on our road. Would have been very handy but decided against it due to them not doing the 20 free hours and had heard about the financial troubles. They were supposed to open in January, then June and now its supposed to be September - shocking for those who had their childrens booked in! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 3 Angels - Dec10 / Mar11 / Dec11
|
Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 8:52pm
|
I was reading in the dom post that in Australia you pay AUD70 per day to have your child at ABC.
We think our creche is great. They do the 20 hours free but DD is only 2 so not getting that yet. I would say that even if the creche increased there fees by $30 per week we would still keep him there as we think the centre is run really well, Alex loves it and it works well for us. They only do mornings, afternoons, 7.30am to 3pm or full time. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Alex 6 and Harry 8 |
Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 9:00pm
|
What mummy_becks said...if you don't want to have 20 hours free you can choose not to and keep your subsidy instead if you're better off that way. Maybe I read the article wrong but they didn't seem to realise they have that option?
Personally I wouldn't want to go with a chain like ABC anyway - a big company like that is too much about profit for my liking. Would rather use a community non-profit centre, then you know all the money is going into good staff and more stuff for the kids. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: fairsk8
Date Posted: 25 July 2008 at 7:58pm
|
Sarah, I agree with you that they are very much about profit, and some of their policies reflect that. When my son started going to the only daycare we have here in our little town it was a community pretty much non-profit centre. ABC bought them out and we are now left with no real other possibilities. ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
|
Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 26 July 2008 at 8:54am
|
ABC are just buying out places everywhere aren't they. There are so many of them here in Hastings now. That is stink that you don't have any other options though. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
|