Problems With Checks?

[jokalima]

Have you ever had problems with parents blaming you because there accounts got over-drafted? It has happened to me about 3 times with 3 diff families. One time was "my fault" and I say like that because I truly believe that it does not matter when I cash the check, once you gave it to me as a payment you should have the funds in the account to pay it. In a very busy time I could not go to the bank so I accumulated 2 checks and cashed them during the weekend, then they brought me the check for the week in progress and during that week I cashed that one, I got a phone call from Dad telling me that I over drafted their account and how upset he was. I apologized and told hem it would not happen again, but like I said, that money should have been in the account...

Anyways, so my policy is that they pay a week in advanced, moneys are due on Fridays. This family started to give me the money on Monday mornings and I let it be because they were paying.I would cash the check anytime during the week or weekend. A couple of weeks ago they sent a check and asked me verbally to wait until following Friday to cash it, I agreed, then everything back to normal. So they pay this week, as usual on Monday, that check is for this week 9-10-12 to 9-14-12, I cashed the check on Wednesday and today Dad texted again really upset because I made their account overdraft once more... The problem was that I did not look at the date on the check, my bad, but I did not do it because it was an automatic thing for me, you pay for this week, when you pay Mondays you should have your money available for me, but no, they had put today's date on the check because they did not want me to cash it until today, well, that is not what we agreed by contract. Then he has the nerve to tell me that if this happens once more he will change the paying day for Fridays, in other words, that they will stop paying a week in advance and start paying at the end of every week. WHAT? I mean, what????? Really?

[sharlan]

Have you ever had problems with parents blaming you because there accounts got over-drafted? It has happened to me about 3 times with 3 diff families. One time was "my fault" and I say like that because I truly believe that it does not matter when I cash the check, once you gave it to me as a payment you should have the funds in the account to pay it. In a very busy time I could not go to the bank so I accumulated 2 checks and cashed them during the weekend, then they brought me the check for the week in progress and during that week I cashed that one, I got a phone call from Dad telling me that I over drafted their account and how upset he was. I apologized and told hem it would not happen again, but like I said, that money should have been in the account...

Anyways, so my policy is that they pay a week in advanced, moneys are due on Fridays. This family started to give me the money on Monday mornings and I let it be because they were paying.I would cash the check anytime during the week or weekend. A couple of weeks ago they sent a check and asked me verbally to wait until following Friday to cash it, I agreed, then everything back to normal. So they pay this week, as usual on Monday, that check is for this week 9-10-12 to 9-14-12, I cashed the check on Wednesday and today Dad texted again really upset because I made their account overdraft once more... The problem was that I did not look at the date on the check, my bad, but I did not do it because it was an automatic thing for me, you pay for this week, when you pay Mondays you should have your money available for me, but no, they had put today's date on the check because they did not want me to cash it until today, well, that is not what we agreed by contract. Then he has the nerve to tell me that if this happens once more he will change the paying day for Fridays, in other words, that they will stop paying a week in advance and start paying at the end of every week. WHAT? I mean, what????? Really?

Uh, no, I would not allow them to pay by check anymore. Do not make their financial issues your problem.

[familyschoolcare]

Uh, no, I would not allow them to pay by check anymore. Do not make their financial issues your problem.

that is what I think I would tell them that since your cashing of the checks schedgule is causing them problems then from now on they need to pay with cash so that you will no longer cause them any problems. I have one parent that alwys pays me in cash because she admits she can not balance a check book so she does not keep one.

[dave4him]

I thought legally they can't pay cash

[AnneCordelia]

I would say, "You are right this payment situation has gotten it of hand. We need to get back to our original signed contract. You need to start paying in advance on Friday and it needs to be by cash, cheque or etransfer. If you pay by cheque please note that cheques are legally cashable for up to 6 months after issuing. Please also note that in the US ppostdating cheques is fraudulent if you are writing cheques to an account when the mo ey is not there yet. Please make your payments on time and in full."

[Snapdragon]

You did nothing wrong. Checks are good for 6 months after they are written and it's incumbent upon the check writer to know that he/she has the money in the bank to cover the check regardless of when it is cashed during that period of time. I agree with other suggestions -- this family should pay with cash or certified check in future. I actually think they have some cheek trying to make it your problem.

[jokalima]

I would say, "You are right this payment situation has gotten it of hand. We need to get back to our original signed contract. You need to start paying in advance on Friday and it needs to be by cash, cheque or etransfer. If you pay by cheque please note that cheques are legally cashable for up to 6 months after issuing. Please also note that in the US ppostdating cheques is fraudulent if you are writing cheques to an account when the mo ey is not there yet. Please make your payments on time and in full."

Wow, Thanks AnneCordelia, did not know about the 6 months... I did know that I would be able to cash them at least after a month but this is very good info, thanks. It infuriates me because the 2 times they had made it look that the blame is on me and have been very rude about it. I am going to wait and see what date is the check for next week going to have, if is for next Friday I will tell them that I cannot accept this situation no more. Contract says pay in advance not after ending week, they can give me a check on Monday with Fridays date, what good will it be to me if they cancel the payment? Or even if it turns out that they don't have funds? I will be working for free.

I have this other family that is latley making me upset also... They payed me with a check one week and the weekend passed and I did not cashed it, the following Tuesday Mom called and asked if I could cashed the check because she did not want her account to act up, I said "ok, tonight I'll do that for you" That same day dad came to pick up, I open the door and he does not say hello or any kind of greeting, he says very seriously " I need you to cash that check today" and keeps walking, I am like :confused: I mean, it is not my fault if people don't know how to keep track of their money.

The other thing with this same family is that they begged me to make them a price for their kids, because they are going through difficult a financial situation, and have not been able to get the kids in to DC because of how expensive it is... I said ok, we agreed in to an amount that seemed fair for both of us, more them than me I'm like "OK, good Jokalima, you are helping this family and you should feel good" Uhhh NOOOO! This little "poor" family lives in a expensive place of an expensive town, drive an expensive brand of car, not new, but still expensive and the other new car is it not cheap either... The kids only dress with brand name clothes , mom goes to nail salon and takes little one with her, go to nice restaurants, the entire family is always well dressed with expensive clothes, they don't have book bags for the kids so they use Shopping bags instead, yep, that's how I know they don't buy from second hand stores, they travel and rubbed all of it in my face, but yet don't have enough money to pay my full rate?

See, when people do this, I don't know if they are aware that they just loose all credibility and they become liars in the eyes of others. I honestly believed them when they said they could not pay the entire fee, their acts show different. They are not willing to lower they're spending in material things and rather take advantage of someone like me that work my but off really hard daily to care for their kids.

Whoa! Venting moment there!

[nanglgrl]

I thought legally they can't pay cash

I've never heard that.

[Blackcat31]

I "stash" checks on a regular basis.

Once a parent issues me the check, THEY are responsible for deducting that amount from their account whether I cash the check or not.

I would be livid if a parent tried to blame me for their money issues.

I do NOT accept post dated checks and I absolutely do not hold checks at a parents request.

I work long hours and they certainly are not banking hours so I cash checks when ever I get to the bank. It might be weekly, it might not be until a month later. NONE of that is the parents business.

Once they write the check the money is NOT theirs any more.

If they have issue with that then they need to be paying their bill in cash only.

If I were you I would be charging them a late fee for late payments since "holding" a check is the same as a late payment. You can't spend it so it isnt paid yet IMPO.

[itlw8]

I thought legally they can't pay cash

why not??? just give them a reciept cash is legal tender
oh by the way banks will cash a check up to one year and then it is stale dated and they will refuse it.

[itlw8]

I am ral bad about getting to the bank... and yes it caused one family to overdraft. They paid cash to avoid it.

many banks are getting the thing where you can deposit a check from a smart phone. not sure I trust it but it would solve the problem deposited the instant they hand it to you.

[Kaddidle Care]

Former Bank Teller here - not sure what today's rules are but in my day post-dated checks were a no-no. No rubber checks allowed - period!

While I understand that people write out their checks on weekends or when they have time, it is THEIR responsibility to hold the check until it can be cashed - not yours.

If they are making a habit of post-dating checks, don't be surprised if their checks bounce. Make sure you are cashing them at THEIR bank so you don't get hit with any fees.

I would remind them that I'm sure their employers don't ask them to wait several days to cash their checks when it's their pay day.

[rbmom]

I would have to tell the parents that due to their banking issues they need to pay cash in advance to services. You shouldn't have to worry about their banking problems!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

My policy is that if they have a bounced check they must pay in cash, and yes it is due friday before the week. They must also pay any fees that I incur. Cash- get a reciept book at walmart and handwrite a reciept as they hand you the money. Keep one copy, hand them the other. I sign and have them initial or sign also.
Honestly, I do not like to have money issues and I make that very clear to my parents. If it becomes an issue, I will terminate. They wouldn't like it if their boss messed with their pay!

[saved4always]

I would not allow them to pay by check anymore. If a client gives a check, they should have the funds to cover that check in their bank account at that time. If they owe you the money on the Friday before care is provided for the next week, you should be able to cash that check when you receive it. I have friends who do childcare in their homes and their clients play these "I don't have the money to pay you now" games and it just makes me so mad. I required payment to be made for the week on the first morning care was provided for that week. I took checks and never had a problem with bouncing but if I had, I would worry about the parents' priority in paying for childcare.