I Guess I Need An Early Drop Off Fee...

[AfterSchoolMom]

My contract has a fee for late pickups, but not for early drop offs. I've just never had it happen, at least not more than five or ten minutes or so.

This morning I'm upstairs getting dressed, I had only been up about five minutes and I had JUST starting getting my own kids ready for school, and all the lights are still off downstairs. It's pitch black out.

I'm brushing my teeth when I hear the doorbell ring. My youngest goes running downstairs, then comes back up and says "X" is here early! I rush to get finished and get a shirt on and go downstairs..... there stands DCM with DCK in my pitch black TV room.

She was nice an apologized about it, but I couldn't turn her away b/c she's a teacher and doesn't normally do drop offs. Apparently Dad had an early meeting today. She said "if he had dropped off it'd have to have been an hour ago." Haha! Um, no. I told her that that would have been totally unacceptable as we're still asleep at that time. I was so astounded that they were here at all that I didn't really say too much else.

When they pick up this afternoon, though, we'll have to have a talk. I don't do random drop offs an hour earlier than they're contracted for unless I'm getting compensated for it. DCD knew at some point yesterday, even if it was last night, that he had an early meeting today. Yesterday would have been the time to mention it!!!

To make matters worse, I'm pregnant and have been just exhausted all the time....I need all of the rest I can get. I refuse to get up any earlier than I already am. If they needed earlier drop offs then they should have said so when we interviewed.

[Breezy]

Ugh, how rude! So sorry!!

[AfterSchoolMom]

Just noticed that I misspelled my thread title. Sorry!

[countrymom]

this is what I don't understand, people know the day before if they have an appointment or a meeting, why do they wait till the day of, to inform us. I have a dad who would call in the early morning asking if he can bring his kid early (he's an afternoon drop off) because his other child has an orthodontist appointment, I know for a fact that those are schedualed way in advance, drives me crazy.

[Zoe]

I really don't think it occurs to parents sometimes how things work. I know that when I was on the other side of things, I really didn't think about how it affected the provider. Bad, I know, but true.

Hopefully after the talk, they'll get it and ask permission before interrupting your morning like that.

[momofboys]

Wow - so how early was she? I would definitely let them know that any early drop-offs must be pre=approved & that there will be an extra fee included.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Wow - so how early was she? I would definitely let them know that any early drop-offs must be pre=approved & that there will be an extra fee included.

An hour early.

[cheerfuldom]

oh no, no, no....I would have turned them away and told them to come back in an hour.

[momofboys]

This really bothers me - a whole hour early. If it were me I would be in the shower & my DH would have already left for work! Where is the common courtesy? Couldn't they at least text/call last night to ask if it was okay - much better than showing up at your doorstep 1 hr early. I would definitely let them know tonight that you MUST have advance warning & I would let them know they owe you extra for this, too. Can you tell I'm ticked off for you? I once had a school teacher DCM who normally showed up @ 7:45 w/kids in tow. One morning she called me at about 6:45 to ask a quick question - I thought it was odd & wondered why she did not wait until drop-off. Then literally 5 min after I got off the phone w/her she was at my doorstep. I think she was calling to verify I was awake I was totally dumbfounded & didn't know what to say - I did say you MUST let me know if you are coming early - I did mention that had she come 2 min later I would have been in the shower & she would have been stuck on my doorstep.::

[wdmmom]

I lost a daycare parent over dropping off 15 minutes early and I didn't care!!!

I don't open til 730am! My daycare parents know my hours. Granted, I'd be understanding IF

1. The parents had discussed an earlier drop off in advance!

2. Gotten the approval from me beforehand.

I don't do early drop offs. My policy on late pickups is $1.00 per minute. My early drop offs is $1.00 per minute.

Wanna come in an hour early?! I'll get up for $60!

[SandeeAR]

I tell all my parents and sign up, When my front blinds are open, I am open. I won't take children before then. I have a phone alarm that rings at 7:30

I may have one or two parents in the driveway, but NOBODY at my door, until those blinds open.

[Blackcat31]

Just noticed that I misspelled my thread title. Sorry!

Fixed it!

I have a fee as well but it is not called a late fee it is more of an "outside your scheduled hours" fee. I charge the same $1 per minute for early AND late arrivals/pickups. If parents need to arrive early for reasons you stated they need to have it pre-arranged.

[Cat Herder]

oh no, no, no....I would have turned them away and told them to come back in an hour.

....... Or $60, cash, in hand at the door.

My children's time is VERY expensive.

[Lucy]

I would instruct your son not to answer the door just in case something like this happens again. For me, if they come early, too bad. I don't answer the door until I'm open. If it's a couple min early and I know they are out there, I will, but no more than about THREE minutes! If they are ringing my bell early, "I was brushing my teeth and didn't hear you". Or "I was still in my bathrobe". Etc. They can stand there and wait until opening time. Maybe they'll think twice about it tomorrow.

I realize you couldn't stop your son fast enough from answering the door, but if this were at my house, I would not have answered the door and they would have eventually realized they were WAY early, and hopefully go back to their car. If they called, I would sound as sleepy as possible and say "Oh, I don't even open for another hour." Basically, just make it as uncomfortable for them as possible so that they won't do it again. One time when it was like 15 degrees outside and someone was 20 min early, I answered the door in my nightgown with pillow head, glanced at the clock, and said, "wow, you guys are early!". Makes them really uncomfortable. But hey, they aren't likely to do it again!!!

[daycare]

This is what mine says..... I don't have any more issues.


Provider will try to be as flexible as possible if given proper notification. The *** DC uses an atomic clock that is stationed next to the daily log book, please set your clocks according to this time, as it will be used when determining early drop off and late pick up.

Please understand that arriving early or picking up late can cause chaotic moments for the provider, as well as the children. Early drop off and late pick up will result in a $1.00 per minute per child charge for each minute that you drop off early or pick up late. There will be a 5 minute grace period applied for both drop off and pick up. While things do happen out of our control, please do not let overtime become a habit.

Regardless of notification, any person(s) that drops off or picks up more than 10 minutes early or late will be required to pay the early/late fee of $1.00 per minute, less the 5 minute grace period. It is recommend, that you have a backup plan if you cannot drop off your child at the contracted time. The same applies for picking up. Failure to abide by contracted hours will result in termination of care. If a change in contract time is needed, please speak to the provider.