Do You Charge or Not

[Country Kids]

How do you guys handle late fees that are really beyond parent control. They are doing some major, major construction in my area that are causing parents to run later then normal.

It is very easy to be stuck waiting for 30 min. or so. The school by this is up in arms because kids can get stuck on the bus for an hour! Yesterday buses where running an hour late to stops. My one friend said the traffic was backed up a almost 3/4 a mile. Busses where arriving early at stops today so they wouldn't get stuck which didn't help because kids weren't ready.

The only other way around this is about a 30 min drive so either way parents would be running late.

[daycare]

well you can do one of two things..

you can be really nice and tell the parents while the construction is going on that you will allow for a maxium of 30 min late pick up, however, they need to call you and let you know if they get stuck in traffic. No call and they get late fee..

OR you can be not so nice and tell them that they need to plan for the construction and plan their time wisley and show up on time.

Would their boss be ok with them being 30min late to work every day for something like this? Probably not...they would tell their employee you need to leave your house earlier to get here on time.. Or do what you have to do, but you need to be on time....

When I was younger I walked to school and had to cross the train tracks.l Well one day I pushed the clock and left a few mintues later than normal. I knew what time the train came...well guess what?? YUP train came. I swear it was the longest train I have ever seen in my whole life. I was late to school almost 45min. Lets just say when my parents found out, I could not walk to school or sit in school very comfortably. BOttom line is that you need to prepare yourself for these types of situations.........

[Country Kids]

See thats the thing-its a day to day thing. Some days no delays, traffic runs smoothly and then you'll have days where everything is just stuck. I guess even the bosses are running late so they can't use that-::.

[daycare]

do you know for a fact that everyone has to drive that path to get to your house???

[Country Kids]

Oh yes its the way to my house-. The other two ways-one would take 30 min or more and the other one a good hour.

[daycare]

Oh yes its the way to my house-. The other two ways-one would take 30 min or more and the other one a good hour.

how long will this go on for????

if it is not that long, I would just **** it up................other wise, I just might have to tell them you get 3 get out of jail free cards and thats it.....

[daycare]

Oh yes its the way to my house-. The other two ways-one would take 30 min or more and the other one a good hour.

how long will this go on for????

if it is not that long, I would just **** it up................other wise, I just might have to tell them you get 3 get out of jail free cards and thats it.....

[countrymom]

its happening here and I don't charge because dh says its crazy out there.

[Country Kids]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I just read where they are asking everyone if at all possible to please avoid this area as they are expecting extreme delays-

Then I read two other areas are expecting up to 2 hour delays-

Seriously do they think people don't work?

This has been going on for months but not to this extent. They have 3 schools whose buses have to go through this. Why they can't do this stuff at night is beyond me. I guess everyone can be extremely late to work/school. I think the schools and employers really, really need to be complaining.

[itlw8]

You HAVE to cross a bridge to get to my house. before there was a north and south bridge it was common to have an accident and block the bridge.

Now they can call and warn me but in that case I just wait and say do not worry about late fee. They were all late.. But then if I needed off early they would do it if they could . We work together. I have great families.

No they can not usually leave work early and keep their jobs.

[daycare]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I just read where they are asking everyone if at all possible to please avoid this area as they are expecting extreme delays-

Then I read two other areas are expecting up to 2 hour delays-

Seriously do they think people don't work?

This has been going on for months but not to this extent. They have 3 schools whose buses have to go through this. Why they can't do this stuff at night is beyond me. I guess everyone can be extremely late to work/school. I think the schools and employers really, really need to be complaining.

im sure that it wont last long once the complaints roll in especially from the schools since they are required by the state to be in school for so many hours..... Plus I am sure that they are having to pay the bus drivers more money since they are having to work more hours.......

wonder what will happen.....

[itlw8]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I just read where they are asking everyone if at all possible to please avoid this area as they are expecting extreme delays-

Then I read two other areas are expecting up to 2 hour delays-

Seriously do they think people don't work?

This has been going on for months but not to this extent. They have 3 schools whose buses have to go through this. Why they can't do this stuff at night is beyond me. I guess everyone can be extremely late to work/school. I think the schools and employers really, really need to be complaining.

If everyone who CAN avoided the area it would not be as bad for those who have no choice

[Blackcat31]

These kinds of situations are where being your own boss comes in handy. If you know that there is road construction and the lateness is beyond anyone's control, then I would let it slide.

If I ever felt a parent was taking advantage of that "free pass" then I would re-visit the issue but honestly, I expect my parents to be truthful about this kind of thing and I would never dream of charging someone for something that is way beyond their own doing and frustrates us all!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I wouldn't charge! Ultimately, if I was the parent that would rub me the wrong way! I totally understand sometimes things happen.
My parents are great though. If I need them to be picked up, they do. Today I would have had one little kidlet this afternoon... grandma took her at 2:30 so I would have a free couple of hours. When my dd had a true emergency at college (death of a friend , 2nd this year) I had parents volunteering to take other people's kids and offering to let me take their car!! (dh was about 2 hours away at this point) so I could get to dd!!
I have had parents in the past that have taken advantage of things but I think when you cultivate trust this isn't even be an issue. Of course your going to keep their kids. That is what they ultimately pay you for. My parents couldn't just leave work early so they didn't inconvience me! I guess I charge a fair rate so I don't feel taken advantage of. And when my parents can be early, they are!

[Meyou]

If they left work a little early and made every effort to be on time I wouldn't charge. That would include a phone call well before closing saying they were stuck again. We have huge construction problems in my city for months each year and my families sometimes will start or finish work early to avoid some of it.