Case By Case, Charge Them Or Not

[daycare]

So I have a family that is some what new. They have been with me for a few months.

DCM works for LIC and works directly below my monitor.

They have also brought me a great deal of business, continue to always advertise me by word of mouth and are planning to have their son come here in a few months when he is old enough. The family is well to do and every week DCD or DCM always bring me supplies for the DC, fruit from their home garden and etc.

Well the DCM had to leave town last month for two weeks and left DCD in charge of paying me. DCD accidentally wrote me a check from an account they don't use any more. He paid me a few days early and the morning that the payment was due I deposited it before daycare was even open. DCM calls me around 10am that morning and said, please don't cash that check yet, my husband made a mistake and it's no good. He will bring you a new one later today at pick up. I explained I already deposited it and if it returned I would charge a NSF fee. DCD did come with a check that day and replaced the bad one... That check was fine.

Well all payments are due today. Their daughter has been out yesterday and today for family stuff.

In my rules it states all payments are due on the due date regardless if your child is in attendance or not.

SO if no payment is received today, do I charge a late fee??? Most of me says no, you don't want to upset these people, the rest of me says rules are rules....

[Sunchimes]

One of the benefits of owning the business is that rules don't have to be rules. If you think they might take advantage of you bending the rules once, then don't do it. But, if it is a rare thing and everything else is good with them, I would bend the rules.

I see no reason you can't bend them once and if it happens again, don't bend them the second time.

I look at rules like flexible bars. They can easily be bent, but they always spring right back to where they belong. They are elastic, not steel.

[Blackcat31]

I agree with Sunchimes, YOU do get to decide when it is ok and when it isn't.

My only issue would be that if it is a one time thing and if they normally follow ALL rules/policies, then yeah, cut them some slack but if they are going to only ask for more....don't bother and stay firm.

However, I have to also add that you should NEVER give anyone a break soley based on where they work or who they are....so I would NEVER base my decision on the fact that she works in licensing....kwim?

[daycare]

One of the benefits of owning the business is that rules don't have to be rules. If you think they might take advantage of you bending the rules once, then don't do it. But, if it is a rare thing and everything else is good with them, I would bend the rules.

I see no reason you can't bend them once and if it happens again, don't bend them the second time.

I look at rules like flexible bars. They can easily be bent, but they always spring right back to where they belong. They are elastic, not steel.

yes I do this too, but they have already faulted once and I was charged an NSF fee. All of the fees were taken care of and check was replaced that same day.

[daycare]

I agree with Sunchimes, YOU do get to decide when it is ok and when it isn't.

My only issue would be that if it is a one time thing and if they normally follow ALL rules/policies, then yeah, cut them some slack but if they are going to only ask for more....don't bother and stay firm.

However, I have to also add that you should NEVER give anyone a break soley based on where they work or who they are....so I would NEVER base my decision on the fact that she works in licensing....kwim?

I am not basing it off of their job, not sure why I even mentioned that. I think that I am questioning it because of how great they have been and still are.

Would you let them slide this time even thought they have already made a mistake and have only been here a short period of time??

[wdmmom]

My families know that if their child is suppose to be in attendance on a Friday and they are gone for whatever reason, payment is still due by 3pm.

If I don't receive payment, I charge the fee. And the reason I charge the fee is simple. Then paying on any other day than payday constitutes another bank run for me. To me, this is what they are paying for.

Parent's also know that I charge $10 per day so if they call or text me on Saturday or Sunday to pay, I'll gladly accept payment and only charge them accordingly. If they wait to pay me until Monday, it's an additonal $30.00.

[JenNJ]

I say that payment is due Friday no matter what, BUT if a child is out sick, I NEVER make them come to pay me. Some do come and pay, some appreciate my leniency and pay Monday morning, others come on Saturday morning.

I hate taking my kids out sick for whatever reason and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, so if sick is the reason, they get a pass. Vacation, family day, etc. they need to drop it off.

[Sunchimes]

I would still bend the rules only because I can't even imagine the havoc that would ensue if I left my husband to pay the bills for 2 weeks. It sounds like they made it good as soon as they were aware of it and that it was an honest mistake. I'd look back over the previous months and decide if they were going to be chronic flakes or if things just got mixed up with mom out of town.

[Crazy8]

why they are out today would also play a role in my decision. You said it was for family stuff but is that to spend the weekend away, for grandmas funeral or what?? I have dc parents who literally have to pass my house to get to theirs from the main road - so I feel they can drop payment off. When I had a family who lived 30 min. away (but worked near me) and they were out sick on Friday I would let them go until Monday morning but don't even think of dropping off your child without dropping off your payment!!

I hate how on this board sometimes the idea of having to have a "backbone"sometimes get mixed with a little flexibility and compassion. I think sometimes people choose home daycares because we CAN be flexible in some things and we can give them that little bit of "special". I don't think that is a bad thing!! Yes, it can be taken advantage of, but only if you let it.

[daycare]

I think that some family are just visiting from out of State.

I decided I am going to let it go and will just tell DCF that I am letting it slide this once, have them sign off on their get out of jail free card, but next time it's a late fee...

Thanks guys.... Your responses have helped me make my decisions