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A couple weeks ago, I had to close early on a friday at short notice because my daughter was really sick. I let the parents know thursday night when I noticed that she was getting worse. So when the boy's dad comes to pick him up that friday, he tells me that was his last day and he wouldn't be coming anymore. I told him about the contract and the two week notice but he didn't seem to care. He said to take that up with the mom. So I contacted her and she said that she was taking him out because I was unreliable. I can count on one hand that I have been closed. There have been days 3 days total to be exact within a years time, where I had to close early or open late because the boy is here from 7-7 most days and there are appointments and classes I have to take. Well I let her know about the two week notice as well and she said that I should have prorated her for the days when I close early. He is here 50 hrs per week so me closing early would still put him at the full time rate. I told her that regardless of her reason for leaving she still has to give notice. She said he wasn't coming back and she wasn't paying the $. Today, I sent a letter to her about the fees owed but I know they moved and I don't know the new address so hopefully, it will be forwarded. I doubt if they will pay it so I will be taking her to small claims court for the $. Have any of you had to go to court? If so, what did you have to bring? And do I need to bring something to prove that I do not owe her any money for the days that I closed early? I want to make sure that I cover all my bases so that I get my money back. What ****s about all this is that this family were friends...
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Do you have a parent handbook with the policies and a signature stating they understand the policies? THat will help. Also, have you thought about sending the letter through email as well? -
Yes, I have a signed contract and a signed form stating that she has a copy of the handbook that has all my policies in it. I was sending the letter for record purposes. She is well aware of what was supposed to happen but didn't care to follow the policies. She told me that she doesn't care about what the contract says and that she doesn't feel that she has to follow it because this is just a home and not a facility.Comment
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Sounds like she was going to leave with no notice because of the move and just used your few days off as an excuse to blame you. If she really did think that she should have a refund for those days, why didnt she mention it the first day you had off? Pretty shady of her considering you were watching him for 12 hours a day. hope you get your money!Comment
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Another option is to turn the account over to a collection bureau. They aren't always 100% successful in recouping money owed to you but atleast they continually call and contact the debtor until they pay the amount owed or end up with a bad mark on their credit.
I would personally go to court. She signed the contract so she owes the money. Despite what she thinks...she still agreed. Use her or dad's work address if necessary.Comment
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Aw that stinks! Some people obviously are not going to keep their word.
May I make a suggestion? Please, in the future, have them pay a deposit at contract signing equal to at least one week's tution (to be used for the last week, whenever that might be), and have them pay tuition in ADVANCE of care. Yeah, they could still leave without notice, but it would be a little trickier to rip you off!
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If you think they moved, how will you serve them papers for court?
Mail her a letter now and put on it "return address correction requested" and the PO will send it back to you with a new address --- that is if they put in a forwarding address.
Good luck.Comment
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What does your contract say about you closing early/taking unexpected days off? I think that is what will be the clincher for you.
Personally, I'd let it go. Even three days off, though it seems minimal to you, without at least a week or two notice is A LOT to parents when they depend on you for child care. I haven't closed that many days unexpectedly in over 15 years in this business, so I can understand why a parent would consider it unreliable when it has been three in one year.
It ****s, but it is the reality of this business......you only close when there is absolutley no other alternative whatsoever or you will lose business.Comment
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I have to admit I was thinking the same thing.
As someone else suggested I HIGHLY recommend collecting a deposit to be used as their last week (or two) of care. I collect 1 week - mostly because I don't want to be "working for free" for 2 weeks at the end. I just had a situation where a family left without notice and that forfeits their deposit so its like I am being paid for that last week.Comment
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I have to agree with some of the other posters. I have never - in nearly 14 years as a provider - closed for the day without at least a month's notice. I reserve the right to close with little to no notice in the event of an emergency, but that has never been necessary. There's never been a time in all these years that I've called a client the night before to say I would be closed the next day due to illness in my family.
This is one of the things that working parents expect of childcare providers - absolute reliability. Sometimes it's at the expense of our families, our personal time. But it comes with the territory.
Try to build in some personal days in your contract ahead of time, when you give out your contracts for the year. At least then, the parents can plan for them.Comment
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Glad someone said this because I thought the same as I read the original post, but wasn't going to say anything. In 17 years I only closed ONCE. That is no exaggeration. It wasn't easy but I always found ways around hurdles. No need to go into a big explanation, and I am not criticizing you, just saying that as a parent, 3 in one year might tend to annoy me too. Please don't be offended. I need to also come clean and say that within 5 months time (after the 17 years), my father died out of state, and my husband had a bypass. I obviously took days off for both of those. Luckily I didn't lose anyone. They were all very supportive. So... no pearls of wisdom here, just observations, for what they're worth.
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So, are you guys saying you never get sick? Or you work through your sick days? Or you hire a sub? I can't imagine working 15 years and only having to close a few days out of that entire time from my own sickness.
I'm lucky because when one of my kids are sick my mom can take them to her house during daycare hours. I also have a sub that is usually available if I'm sick. However, I've had one time in the last 2 years that I've had to close from illness.
Even if I was sick enough to get through the day I'm not sure all of my parents would WANT to leave their kids with me to expose them.
I'm not saying I disagree with yall exactly but just curious to see what you do when you're sick?Comment
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That's great that everyone here has not had to close much & very praise-worthy but it seems to be beside the point IMO. What does that have to do with the parent giving NO notice? The DCP could give any reason why they are leaving but it still boils down to NO notice. I'm sure most of you would not say "oh, just let it go" if one of your clients gave you 0 notice! Not every provider here has access to back-up. I can not recall the last time I closed with little notice, although I have once or twice over 3 year's timeframe but things do come up that can't be helped.Comment
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I wonder the same thing! I don't have a back-up - it's just me! I've pnly been ill enough to close 1x although my DH is kind enough to help if it's only me who is sick. I've closed with short notice one time when I had a high fever/bronchitis/sinus infection all balled up into one. I also gave very little notice for the death of my dad.Comment
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