Need Opinions Real Quick!!!

[Ann B.]

Hi all,

I'm in quite a bind here. I have a daycare parent that did not pay me this week. I find that whenever her son is not here on pay day there is no pay. I usually have to call or text to remind her. I have decided that I no longer wish to do business with her. In my contract it states that if 3 days go by and there is no pay I have the right to terminate her childs spot in my daycare and that the money paid up front (when she signed on to ensure I get a 2 week notice if they decide to leave at any time) will not be refunded. She is not the easiest person to have communications with either. Many times she claims not to have received my texts when in fact the other parents always do. She is going down to 1 day a week once school resumes so I figure I need to cut ties now. Would sending her a text telling her that her I no longer wish to do business with her be acceptable? Calling wouldn't help because she wouldn't bother answering. It is a holiday weekend and I was really looking forward to that pay. Very unfair!!! I figured if she didn't have the money than she should have notified me at the very least. Please give me some much needed advice!

[MyAngels]

I wouldn't terminate by text, only in person. Especially if she claims to not get your texts.

[WImom]

I'd send her an email and/or call and leave a message and put in the message that you will follow up with a certified letter mailed to them. Then make an extra copy to hand her Tuesday if they show up.

[Meyou]

I only terminate in person so I would wait for Monday, hand her a letter and send her home with her child.

[Countrygal]

I'd wait until you have your pay in your hands before I sent a term notice..... and I agree, it should be done in person with hand-delivered letter with a fuller explanation, IMO.

[Ann B.]

Thanks everyone for your input. The problem with telling her when she is to arrive back is that she will have her child and I really want to avoid any confrontation that may occur in front of the child. I will send an email with a follow up text. If she still decides to come to my door when the time comes then I will show her the text and email and ask her to leave. I would like to say that I have tried working with this parent over the years so it's not like I'm being cold and mean spirited here. This just happens to be the last time I put up with being paid late.

[christinaskids]

You have to weigh the chances of not ever getting paid or going to the effort of small claims court. I would personally take the kid tomorrow, get paid and then tell her it was his last day. Yes, it puts her in a bind, but she did the same to you.

[Ann B.]

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to let you know that I did email and send a text to the parent for non payment. Her reaction was that I was treating her bad and that I should have reminded her to pay me. She has since sent several texts accusing me of not wanting to watch her child anymore and that I used non payment as an excuse to get out of my contract. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I never responded to her texts especially since she said I had no respect for her. Why oh why is it the providers responsibility to inform the parent when payment is due??? I had to "remind" her??? I think not! Anyway thanks again for all who gave me their input. Will I miss the income from this parent? Sure but I will survive!

[Willow]

I would have waited until you got paid.

I had a parent fall on hard times earlier this year and I tried really hard to accommodate them as best I could. When they started talking about just having bought two new "designer" puppies and going out to eat every night I demanded they resume paying me. After giving me several checks and then bouncing every single one to the tune of ultimately landing 2 MONTHS behind (and causing a giant uproar with my bank) I told them they had to bring cash for care, bounced check fees, late fees etc. the day the kiddo returned or lose his spot. There are less than a handful of providers in my town, all filled to the brim so I knew they couldn't afford to lose me. They brought cash (funny how one can come up with that amount of money when they want to) and I terminated that evening effective immediately.

She went off the rails. Blamed me and her live in boyfriend for her predicament and ultimately became so insulting and ugly when I ignored her that I had to threaten a restraining order to get her to leave me alone.


About a month later she emailed asking me to consider taking her family back despite how psycho she went - her words, not mine -

[countrymom]

I have in my contract a clause that if you don't pay on time I will charge extra, if I have to go to your house to pick up the money its extra.

[Kaddidle Care]

Hi all,

I'm in quite a bind here. I have a daycare parent that did not pay me this week. I find that whenever her son is not here on pay day there is no pay. I usually have to call or text to remind her. I have decided that I no longer wish to do business with her. In my contract it states that if 3 days go by and there is no pay I have the right to terminate her childs spot in my daycare and that the money paid up front (when she signed on to ensure I get a 2 week notice if they decide to leave at any time) will not be refunded.

If I read this correctly, you have already been paid upfront 2 weeks in advance. If payday was Friday and it is now Tuesday and you haven't been paid then I would terminate on the spot. Be done with them.

No it is not your responsibility to remind them that it's pay day. Mom needs to grow up.