Please read the following carefully before booking. Payment of the deposit is deemed as accepting these terms and conditions.
Merinannies act as an introductory agent only and our role is simply to allocate a nanny to you: the nanny is not employed by Merinannies. Although Merinannies will make the necessary checks on references, DBS and qualifications provided by the nanny and make every effort to match your requirements regarding experience of individual nannies, we cannot guarantee that every client will “click” with every nanny. However, we always have excellent feedback and people use us year after year. Under normal circumstances the same nanny will be allocated for the entire booking. In some cases, for example illness or unforeseen problems, it may be necessary for a replacement nanny to complete the booking, even if the original nanny has already started. This will not be accepted as a reason to cancel the booking and no monies will be refunded in this case.
Once your nanny’s details have been passed to you, we strongly advise you to contact her and check that she is suitable and that she meets your specific requirements. We will endeavour to provide you with a profile of the nanny by email or verbally in last minute bookings. If you have any further queries regarding the profile, please contact the agency or the nanny directly. Your nanny will have details of your booking. Any problems regarding suitability must be communicated to us before you start to use the nanny.
Merinannies Terms related to COVID 19
What happens if your holiday cannot go ahead due to COVID-19
For all new and existing childcare bookings between 1st December 2021 and 30th April 2022.
We are offering the following two options: Choice of refund or rebooking.
If you are unable to travel for any of the reasons listed below, you can choose whether to receive a refund of payments made to us with the exception of €150 or £120 for admin costs, or book again in the same season 2021-22 (admin costs apply). Any cancellations or amendment must be sent to us in writing by email and will take effect from the day we receive it. It is your responsibility to check your travel restrictions often and inform us in good time of any changes you wish to make. The provider of the service/ nanny may also charge a cancellation fee on top.
Valid Reasons are:
- The French and Austrian authorities impose regional or national restrictions which result in the closure of French or Austrian borders, closure of the ski resort or essential facilities.
- The authorities of your home country advise against all but essential travel to France and Austria for health reasons related to COVID.
In no circumstances are we responsible for any other expenses including, without limitation, the cost of flights or anything else regarding your holiday.
If you are not willing to travel for any other reason, or you are unable to travel due to medical reasons, normal cancellation charges apply.
It goes without saying that hygiene and the safety of our clients/families and nannies will be our top priority this winter.
Deposits / introductory fee
A deposit of approximately 30% of the total value of your booking will be required upfront to secure your reservation. We will usually keep a nanny on hold for six days from the day of request for advanced bookings, and for 24 hours for late and last-minute bookings unless agreed differently.
The deposit is non-refundable and we do not accept card payments. We accept bank transfers and PayPal.
Full payment to your nanny is required 2 weeks prior to the booking date. This will be outlined in your invoice. If your final balance is agreed to be paid in cash to the nanny the payment is made on the FIRST DAY of the booking and in full without reductions or cancellations of agreed hours. Additional hours are charged at the agreed rate. The nanny will issue an invoice for cash payments. For extra hours cash is required and paid in resort before the end of your holiday.
Full time bookings are usually 6 days of 8 consecutive hours per day between 8.30am to 6.30pm, after 6.30pm is regarded as babysitting hours. If your child attends ski school and there is a break in between (so the nanny becomes free), these hours are also paid and cannot be exchanged for evening or later hours.
No booking will be confirmed and secured with us until we receive the required deposit.
Confirmations of bookings and invoices/receipts are sent by email. For last minute bookings confirmation will be sent by telephone call or a text and a receipt will follow later.
Evening Babysitting
Any work after 6.30pm is regarded as Evening Babysitting and needs to be booked in advance. Evening babysitting can be paid in cash to the nanny directly after prior arrangement with the agency.
Privacy
Merinannies is registered under the Data Protection Act 1998,number Z2183353.
When you contact us/Merinannies, you will be asked to provide us with information including personal data like addresses, names, telephone numbers and details of children. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, you consent to the processing of all your personal data in manual, electronic or any other form, relevant to the service by us and by any third party/ies nominated by us and bound by a duty of confidentiality. Processing includes obtaining, recording, using and holding data and the transfer of data to any other parties and countries.
You understand that you will use your best effort to protect the privacy of anyone whose information we pass to you. The information passed to you is for your personal use and must not be directly or indirectly used for any commercial purpose or further distribution.
Cancellation by the nanny
If through circumstances beyond the nanny’s control your booking is cancelled, Merinannies hold no liability whatsoever and compensation will not be payable by Merinannies to any parties. In these circumstances the deposit to the agency is not refunded.
If the allocated nanny is not able to carry out the service due to an unforseen matter, and she or we cannot offer you a replacement, refunds of monies paid to her would be returned by negotiation with your nanny minus the agency fee. If the nanny cannot fullfil the entire booking due to illness or any unforeseen circumstances beyond her control, then the nanny or the agency will try to offer you a replacement for the period they are sick or unable to work, but we cannot guarantee this. In this case she will return all the remaining balance amount of the day/s that she cannot cover.
An administration charge of £70 or €80 will apply to all cancellations if we fail to replace the service.
Packages
If you have booked a package we have the right to use the nanny during her spare time, so it is important to book your specific hours at the time of the booking unless we have agreed differently. Hours cannot be moved or exchanged with evening hours unless agreed with the agency. Any additional hours need to be requested and agreed with the agency even for last minute requests. Any pre-booked hours that are not used will not be refunded. Hours will be used consecutively and without small breaks unless we have agreed differently in full time bookings and in advance.
Changes to your booking by us:
Due to some unforseen circumstances or practicalities, ocassionally we might have to change your nanny and replace her/him with another one. We will try to keep you informed and send you her/his details in advance where this is possible. However, for last minute bookings and changes you understand that we will not be able to do so and we will only be able to provide you with the replacement nanny’s number. Merinannies hold no liability whatsoever in these circumstances and there will be no refund or other claims against us.
Changes to your booking by you:
If you have made a reservation and you change your dates or times at a later stage without communication & agreement with us and the nanny, then you will be liable to the payments of the hours reserved unless your nanny accepts otherwise. If you add nannies after the original booking has been made and/or make another booking during the season you will be required to pay another deposit and introductory fee, as stated above in “Deposits/ introductory fee”
Behaviour
Merinannies encourage positive behaviour and understand the importance of the children’s safety at all times. If a nanny encounters inappropriate or dangerous behaviour this will be communicated with you immediately and your booking might have to be cancelled.
Heath and safety
It is strongly recommended you speak to your tour operator or chalet owners about Health and Safety regulations before travelling. Everyone has different rules for example about the use of kitchen, ovens, and equipment.
It is also important to take a private medical and travel insurance. If your child is involved in an accident, or causes an accident or injury, or property damage, or money loss to a third party, through negligence, Merinannies take no responsibility and will not be liable to pay any damages or such costs.
Illness
If your child has a contagious disease during your holiday, then the nanny reserves the right to cancel part or all of your booking. In this case no refund will be given.
Cancellation by You/the client, or situations beyond control, disasters and weather closures
If the booking is cancelled by you or resulted in resort closures, the deposit is not refundable and there will be a cancellation charge from the balance amount/not the agency deposit, as below indicated and within a period of 4 months from the cancellation and not indefinite.
Days before childcare start date Cancellation charge (%of total price)
More than 56 25%
43 – 56 days 40%
29 – 42 days 50%
0 – 28 days 100%
For cancellation refunds within the times outlined above we endeavour to make payments to you in the same way you paid and if bank charges occur in result of this we will charge you for these.
Insurance
It is strongly advised that all families have insurance cover that is suitable and adequate to cover the likely needs / risks relating to their holiday , including but not limited to personal liability, medical, holiday and travel cancellation, closures of resorts and all disasters, interruption and/or inconvenience and also cover for all winter sports. Merinannies will not be held responsible for any expenses, losses or cancellations and full payment will be required according to our terms.
Payments
These are agreed at the time of the booking. The agency will pay part of the deposit to the nanny after the final allocations, and you make the payment agreed on your invoice to the nanny.
In the event that you engage a nanny introduced by us for any further holiday then you agree to pay our charges as per initial booking. You agree to notify us immediately and you must not contact any nanny introduced by us to engage them directly. If you do so you will be liable for our charges. Our introductions are strictly confidential and you must not pass on details to any third parties.
Changes of these terms can and will be made without any prior notice.
