As the start of the new school year for toddlers approaches, the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF) invites parents to report problems encountered with a professional in the "micro-nursery" sector, for example on false promises concerning the terms of reception or on pricing.
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) asks parents to report these problems on the "
SignalConso
" platform, which it has set up to allow consumers to report a problem to it with a professional.
Read alsoHow much will your nanny or childminder cost you this fall to look after your children?
The service of the Ministry of the Economy, in charge of consumer protection in particular, carried out in 2021 "
for the first time
" a survey of the sector of "
micro-nurseries
", namely those which welcome fewer than ten children, controlling 362 collective crèches in 58 French departments.
Objective: “
Check the correct pre-contractual information for parents
”, the absence of abusive clauses in childcare contracts or misleading commercial practices.
Among the illegal clauses identified, the DGCCRF pinpointed those which "
leaded to a significant disadvantage to the detriment of families
“, providing for example changes to the terms of reception decided by the professional alone, or even penalties in the event of delay or rejection of payment “
of a disproportionate amount
”.
A sector strongly impacted by the shortage of personnel
The DGCCRF also noted "
misleading allegations
", in other words false promises, for example on "
the fictitious qualifications of staff members
", on activities "
offered to children
", or on "
the use of qualifiers for food
", such as "
organic
" or homemade for example, "
whereas this was not the case
".
As this is a first investigation, the services of Bercy preferred to enjoin professionals to comply, rather than sanctioning them.
"
In the majority of cases
", compliance was "
voluntary and rapid
", notes the DGCCRF.
Read alsoHow much will your nanny or childminder cost you this fall to look after your children?
More generally, the crèche sector is the subject of particular attention from the authorities because it is plagued by major staff shortages.
A recent ministerial decree, applicable on August 31, has relaxed the recruitment of non-qualified employees, who will have to be trained internally, “
exceptionally
”.
The derogations will be applicable in a “
local context of shortage
”.
The employer, if he can prove that he has been looking for a qualified employee for at least three weeks in vain, may hire an unqualified candidate: he will only have to take into account his experience, "
particularly with children
", or even any simply his "
motivation
".
