Nursery World - Letters: Handouts for Fraud

I am concerned about the way families receive help with the cost of their childcare through Working Families Tax Credit.

I have set up a small neighbourhood nursery in a deprived ward. I am trying to help, but some of the local parents are abusing this system. Several families have outstanding fees adding up to a few thousand pounds in total. I am aware that the families have received assistance up to 80 per cent to help pay for their childcare from the tax credits, which I feel is a very good incentive for people returning to work.

The unfortunate thing is that a lot of families abuse this and do not continue with childcare as arranged, or do not pay fees and then leave. I have tried different approaches to retrieve the outstanding fees, without any luck. I am considering the small claims court, but I will have to pay for this and may not get anything in return. How can this be right?

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