Late to Interview

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I had a parent reschedule her interview (last minute) for 30 minutes later so her husband could come. I said that was fine. I shouldn't have.
It was originally at 6:00.
Rescheduled for 6:30 (at 5:20PM).
It is now 6:52PM and they have not arrived. They live about 15 minutes away (so for 5 minutes, I was assuming they had hit traffic). I would have opened the door up until 6:45PM (15 mins. late).

Is there anything else I need to do/should do?


Edited to say:
They just rang the bell. 25 minutes late. They rang it again at 27 minutes late.

[Michael]

Edited to say:
They just rang the bell. 25 minutes late. They rang it again at 27 minutes late.

I'm gather for this you are making them wait at the door for another 25 minutes?

[MizzCheryl]

::

I'm gather for this you are making them wait at the door for another 25 minutes?

Ha ::ha:: ha:: ha:: ha ::
I love it. That would teach them.

When they are that late and don't call I always think......
Humm, I am pretty clueless sometimes but I wonder what will happen when it's time to pick up junior?

[wdmmom]

I had a parent reschedule her interview (last minute) for 30 minutes later so her husband could come. I said that was fine. I shouldn't have.
It was originally at 6:00.
Rescheduled for 6:30 (at 5:20PM).
It is now 6:52PM and they have not arrived. They live about 15 minutes away (so for 5 minutes, I was assuming they had hit traffic). I would have opened the door up until 6:45PM (15 mins. late).

Is there anything else I need to do/should do?


Edited to say:
They just rang the bell. 25 minutes late. They rang it again at 27 minutes late.

As long as you didn't answer the door, you did the right thing. My philosophy is: If they are late for the interview, they'll be late to pick up their kid.

Had you have answered the door, that would have been giving them SPECIAL. Then they would have expected so much more!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

No, I did not answer the door at all.

I had one family late for an interview before. I accepted that, and they enrolled. They are my only family late to pick up their child. Yesterday, they were 53 minutes late (=$53).

I told my husband I refuse to play this game with another family.

[sassysue]

I always give them 15 minutes.After that I lock my door and never give them a second thought.
I don't answer the door,accept their calls.
I think you did the right thing.Late is just rude

[DaisyMamma]

I'm glad you didn't answer! Good for you!
Your time is valuable and they wasted enough of it.

I had a family not show for an interview and call a few hours later to reschedule. I allowed it. Turned out something actually must have been wrong because they were always ontime, always paid ontime and quite often picked up early. When they dis-enrolled I got last day notice, but they did pay the final two weeks without question. Sometimes you never know.

[Zoe]

Good for you. I would have opened the door, and told them that since they were late they showed me what kind of clients they would be and it would be better that they look for childcare elsewhere. But that's just me. I like having closure with a family so they don't "hunt me down" to get an explanation. I recall a thread before where a provider (I don't remember who it was) didn't return a lady's calls and she ended up stalking her!

If they call and ask, be honest about why you didn't open the door. Otherwise, enjoy the fact that you recognized a bad egg when you smelled it.

[Blackcat31]

Good for you for standing your ground! happyface

However like Zoe, I would have answered the door as soon as they rang the bell and said "I'm sorry but you are 25 minutes late and I do NOT tolerate lateness so there will be no interview. Have a great day!" and then shut the door.

I know confrontation can be difficult and sometimes tough to do but if parents like that aren't TOLD what they did wrong, they just leave wondering what YOUR problem is and then never "fix" the issue.

Alot of people really do not see past their own lives and how things affect them and them only so when the door went unanswered, you became the flake in their minds....kwim?

[MarinaVanessa]

I told my husband I refuse to play this game with another family.

happyfacehappyface Yay for you. happyfacehappyface

I don't answer either if they are late and not just because of the fact that they were late but because of the fact they do not call before and tell me they will be late. If they already pushed it back once ... okay, that's fine. But then you're going to be late to the rescheduled time ... well then call me again and see if it's still ok to come at that later time. I have a family and I may need to do other things too. I could have always rescheduled the interview for another day. 7pm for an interview is too late for me.

[MissK]

No, I did not answer the door at all.

I had one family late for an interview before. I accepted that, and they enrolled. They are my only family late to pick up their child. Yesterday, they were 53 minutes late (=$53).

I told my husband I refuse to play this game with another family.

Good for you! Of course we all know things do happen, but they already called once and then were late for the re-scheduled time - I wouldn't have moved forward either!

[MsMe]

When I have an interview sched I wait about 20 minutes (I am in a small town and there is NO traffic that would make anyone more than 5 minutes late.)

After 30 minutes I lock up and leave.

I don't know if any of those families ever did show up. I have never gotten a call asking where I was. Sometimes I wish the did...

[Daycare Diva]

I usually give them 10-15 minutes then I leave my house. I usually go to the grocers to pick up last minute items or I just run an errand, but I make sure I am not home. I have even passed by clients before as I was leaving my driveway. Oh well too bad. You should have been on time.

[renodeb]

I had an interview on time, they didnt show so after 30 minutes I just wrote it off. The next day right at naptime they show up and he smiles and says "we are a bit late". Needless to say they did not enroll. I answered the door becasue it was during business hours and theres always a chance that it could be the food program lady or licensing. If they are late to the interview (w/o a call) then you just know mosts times they will be late picking up there kid. Parents dont think how precious our time is!
Debbie

[Lilbutterflie]

Good for you LCLC! Being late is a pet peeve of mine (if it's not communicated). I usually tolerate it as long as the parents communicate about it.

I've actually never had to charge a late fee... I usually get informed that they will be late for pickup; at which time I tell them they have a 10 minute late window before late fees apply. They usually show up right in that time frame! LOL