2 Week Notice Because of Late Fee!!!!!!! R U KIDDING ME!!!

[Unregistered]

So basically here's the story. I have a parent who's daughter comes to my daycare. I've never had any problems with them following my rules. So Yesterday the parent came 50 mins late to pick their daughter up. Apparently it was a misunderstanding about who was suppose to pick her up. Anyways....the mother comes and I asked her to fill out a late slip. She said how much is it. I said $50.00 (my late fee is $1.00 per minute which she knows.) suddenly she had this attitude like that was so unfair signed her name and stormed out. This morning when the father drops off he pays the $50.00 and says that the mother wants to put in her 2 week notice because she feels as if I took advantage of her. Now I'm a very fair person I've had parents come later than 50 mins and we've always worked out some type of deal or I have some parents that just **** it pay. At this point I'm VERY upset. Have ever had this happen? Or how would you handle it?

[Former Teacher]

IMO Yes you did the right thing. I would have done the same thing. However do you have it in your policies? Was this parent aware that you had a late fee?
Regardless again I believe you did the right thing. A child is in care long enough..there is not reason to be late almost an hour.

[Unregistered]

Yes its in my payment agreement, which they signed and returned. They both know my late fees and know I enforce it. The dad has been late before and paid with no problem on the spot. But because it's her its a problem?

[missnikki]

I agree, you did the right thing. I would probably have a conversation with the mom when you see her, and say, "I understand you were caught off-guard by my late policy. I would like to find a way to work this out, but I cannot remove the fee. I can tell you that the other programs in the area would charge the same rate. It is a policy because there are parents who take advantage of our services, and I am not saying that is you... Again, I'm sorry for any inconvenience, and I think we both would like to never see this happen again."
She may not like it, but you need to remind her that your business hours are set aside to provide care for your clients, and the hours outside of that are for your family and are charged at a premium.

[emosks]

If this was the first time happening I would give a warning...but after that I would have done the same thing.

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

If it is in your policy and they signed a contract she should have known.

I don't charge that much for a late fee..if I did I wouldn't have any clients. Small town, jobs don't pay much around here and that's almost a whole day pay for most people around here.

I know the point is don't be late, but once in a while it happens..thankfully I don't have any family right now that is ever late...once in a while my sister in law asks if I can keep my nephew a little longer and pays me a little extra, but she always asks first. If I had a family that was always late and abusing my care, I may have to rethink my late fees..which right now are only $4/hour with 1 hour being the min. (so if they are 15 min. late, they pay an extra $4).

[misol]

Since this isn't the first time they have been late they know the policy. I think that you did the right thing - especially since they didn't have the common courtesy to call to say they were running late. I like missnikki's suggestion. If you like the family, have a conversation with the mom to see if there is something that can be worked out. How long have they been with you?

[jen]

I would let them go if thats what they want to do. If she bullies you in to forgiving the late fee who knows where that will end. Plus, and this is big to me, they have an awesome provider who their child knows and is comfortable with, but they want to uproot her over 50 bucks??? Not exactly parents of the year.

[Unregistered]

If her boss made her stay an extra 50 mins. at work would she get paid overtime? Why do people think its ok to be late and cut into family time and not pay extra for it?

[QualiTcare]

my oldest child went to daycare for four years. my youngest went for three. for part of that time i was a single mom, worked, and went to school. i was never late - ever. not once. not because of the late fee (which i did know which was also $1 per minute) but because i couldn't imagine my kid being the last one there and having to face the director when i showed up.

i can understand a mix up - kinda. maybe i'm obsessive, but if someone else was picking up my kids (including their dad) i would remind him the night before, the morning of, on lunch breaks, and an hour before pick up time. haha. i'd usually call when they were supposed to be getting picked up to make sure they were on the way to daycare, too. if i couldn't call, i'd at least text. it's really hard to have a mix up like that these days.

anyhow, there was a time when i worked at the daycare my children attended, and the director was leniant with first time late pick ups. even if they were an hour late, if they'd never been late before, she'd let it slide. i could kind of understand that, but it annoyed me in a way. i was like - wow, i'm glad i always made such an effort to never be late only to find out i would've gotten off the hook if i was. kinda like when a kid at school is bad as heII and the teacher threatens not to give them candy, but then gives them candy anyway. i always hated that. i was like dam, i behaved for nothing. i should've smacked that girl when she made me mad cus i still would've gotten candy!

it's up to you, but if they are great parents and you think it was really a one time deal - you could let it slide and make sure they know it can't ever happen again. then again, it kind of sends a message to the "really good parents" that there's really no reason to follow the rules because there's no benefit to doing so.

[mismatchedsocks]

I also charge $1 a minute. However if they call BEFORE the the time that they are scheduled to pick up I give them a break. I dont understand in the 50 minutes that they were late, that no one picked up or called when they realized the mix up. I would not refund the money, especially since now she wants to give 2 week notice, then it might happen again where she threatens with this for other things.

I would say sorry you feel it is unfair, however I have this in affect for a reason. Then move on, dont dwell on it and discuss with her daily, because its a rule, poilcy that she needs to follow

[tymaboy]

I had someone give notice due to my outrageous late fess ( which are cheaper then your) We have these cuz of parents taking advantage of us. I usualy give 1 warning then after that I charge.

[kpa0627]

I know it seems odd about rates going down but this is how they were:
ages infant-two is 125 a week
ages two-5 is 110 a week

I have now changed the rates and ages of rates to this:
ages infant-18months is 135 a week
ages 19mo-5 is 120 a week

So I did raise the going rate 10 dollars a week but since this child will be 19 months when it takes effect the rate is 120. So theirs is going from 125 to 120 because of the age change. It's only fair because that is what my new rates state and it's normal to pay less for toddler/preschool age than an infant in my area.

[momofboys]

I know it seems odd about rates going down but this is how they were:
ages infant-two is 125 a week
ages two-5 is 110 a week

I have now changed the rates and ages of rates to this:
ages infant-18months is 135 a week
ages 19mo-5 is 120 a week

So I did raise the going rate 10 dollars a week but since this child will be 19 months when it takes effect the rate is 120. So theirs is going from 125 to 120 because of the age change. It's only fair because that is what my new rates state and it's normal to pay less for toddler/preschool age than an infant in my area.

I think you should try to compromise with the mom if you want to keep her family on at all. I would tell her you were quite surprised that you never got a call saying they would be late. Confusion over who was to pick up is NOT your problem. They screwed up royally. $50 is a bit steep, maybe you could compromise & tell her you'll split the fee in half since it was their first time. I think you said they always follow your rules otherwise. Hope it works out for you.

[TGT09]

I think you should try to compromise with the mom if you want to keep her family on at all. I would tell her you were quite surprised that you never got a call saying they would be late. Confusion over who was to pick up is NOT your problem. They screwed up royally. $50 is a bit steep, maybe you could compromise & tell her you'll split the fee in half since it was their first time. I think you said they always follow your rules otherwise. Hope it works out for you.

This is completely what I would do as well.