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HE will change the paying day??? WTH?? I would nip that one right here, right now. NO parent will dictate when they will pay you. I would tell them that they are absolutely right, they NEED to go back to paying on Fridays, therefore TWO weeks payment is due immediately to get them back on the Friday (in advance) schedule.
It sounds like they are overdrawing but the check isn't bouncing on your end??My policy is if a check ever bounces future payments are required in cash. Only had it happen once and it was a great paying family that just screwed something up in their accounts - after a month of paying cash I let them go back to checks and never in the 5 years they were here did we have a problem again.
I will allow postdated checks and not cash them if a family isn't going to be here the following friday due to vacation, etc. I will deposit the check on the Friday that it was technically due.Comment
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100% agree. Let them know that you no longer accept checks and it's cash only or local money order only and ONLY in advance. I think maybe they're having you hold checks to avoid paying you in advance. Why doesn't matter. They signed your contract, and have to abide by it or you can release them from your daycare.Comment
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I am sorry to bother you ladies, but would one of you be able to help me word a letter about this to the parents? English is not my 1st language and I want it to be right. I would like to tell them about stacking checks and how that is not my responsibility to ensure the money is in the account even if I stack 20 checks ( I won't do that of course) and about changing the payment date w/out talking to me before, like today, the check is dated for this Friday, that is not paying in advanced. The stacking part of it happened months ago, but because of what happened last week I just can't get it out of my mind so I want to bring that up, I just want to make it clear I am not going to be blamed for their mistakes.
I told Mom verbally about today's check and how for next week I need it with Mondays date, then I texted Dad and told him as well, but I feel it is not enough, I need to be MEGA clear and SUPER Specific about this really uncomfortable situation WILL not happen again. So any suggestions are more than welcome.
ThanksComment
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Dear DCP's
Please note that as of today, Monday, September 17, 2012 ALL payments for child care are due IN FULL on Friday's for the upcoming two weeks.
I will NOT hold checks or accept post dated checks UNDER ANY circumstances.
Once a check is written, it considered payment. Please subtract the amount from your account as I will NOT be responsible for any banking issues once a check is submitted to me as payment regardless of when it is cashed.
No child care services will be provided without FULL payment for scheduled days/hours.
Should a check be returned to me as NSF, a late fee of $10 per day will be applied to your balance until paid IN FULL. No services will be available until ALL fees and payments are current.
After an NSF check, ALL payments must be in cash. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Your child care costs are your responsibilty and I will no longer be accommodating those of you who have checking/banking issues.
Income from child care is my paycheck, therefore payments are expected ON TIME, EVERY TIME.
Thank you,
Daycare ProviderComment
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Here is what my contract/handbook says about payments and checks:
Rates are weekly and not available on a daily or hourly basis. A separate rate contract will be given to each family. This information will be updated yearly or as needed when changes occur.- Payments are PRE-PAID only. (including CCAP co-pays/parent fees)
- ALL payments are due on or before Friday at pick up time.
- Tuition is due 52 weeks per year (regardless of any absences or holidays).
- Additional children do not receive discounts
- You are billed for ALL days scheduled.
Acceptable Forms of Payment
I accept cash, checks, electronic transfers, money orders and CCAP.
In the event that a check is returned as NSF, parents are responsible for the following fees: any cost associated with non-payment, including but not limited to, return check fees ($30.00), insufficient funds fees, collection fees, court costs, and substitute fees. An NSF check is considered a late payment and all late fees and rules will be applied.
After an NSF check, cash will be the only form of payment accepted.
Once a check is issued it will be considered payment. Checks will NOT be held. Please do not ask me to do this.
You may use any or all of this if you wish to update your handbook/contract.Comment
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ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE!!
There are so many things wrong here that I don't know where to start. Let's begin with the parent's blaming you for overdrafting their account. Their circumstances aren't your responsibility and you aren't in charge of balancing their checkbook. I would have NEVER apologized for overdrawing their account. Yes this has happened to me and yes the parent tried to blame me and yes I have been asked to hold a check ... when the account was overdrawn I firmly reminded them that payments in check was the same as cash and must ALWAYS have funds to support it. Then I charged them an additional $35 for the NSF check and the daily late payment fee on top of it and required them to pay this and every payment aftewards in cash. This is all in my policies. To the DCP that asked me to hold on to deposit the check I firmly reminded them that if there was no funds it was the same as not paying and their child would not be able to stay.
Once you start allowing this it'll be harder and harder to contain and it may keep happening. Be firm in your policies and if they are not strong already then ammend them. Would you go to your gym or phone company and hand them a check and ask them not to cash it? Or would you blame them for overdrafting your account if the check bounced?
I would sit down with both parents and have your a copy of their contract and your policies relating to this in hand. I would also type up additions to the policies like a late payment fee and returned check fee if you don't already have them and have this ready for them to sign. BE FIRM!!! I'd say something like:
"You have some confusion with payments which needs to be clarified and corrected. Payment for childcare services are due on Fridays for the following week in advance. From this day forward if they are not paid on the due date a fee of $10 per day will be added until it is paid in full. Paying on Mondays means that your account will be 3 days late an an additional $30 will be owed on Monday in order for your child to attend. If a check is returned for NSF you will incure an automatic $35 fee and your account is considered late and $10 per day will be added until it is paid in full. It is important for you to uinderstand that I have absolutely no control over your finances and I am not responsible for making sure that there are funds in your account when I cash your checks, that is your responsibility. Checks given to me must have the current date on them and cannot be post-dated. If one more NSF check occurs or you have more trouble with checks then checks will no longer be accepted from your family and all payments will be required in cash. If you continue to have problems with payments or if you don't agree with these new and existing policies maybe you should consider whether my daycare is the right fit for you. I need you to review the current and new policies and sign them at the bottom. These will go into effect immediately."
I've had this exact conversation twice while doing daycare and it's best to say it all at once and get it all out and finish with the part about how if they don't like it they can go elsewhere. Don't give them a chance to respond until the very end AND DON'T GO BACK ON IT. Stay strong. The last part will give them pause and make them think about whether or not they really want to argue about it, in both my cases the DCP's agreed to sign and follow policies. If they argue with you about being firm or they refuse to sign have a 2-week notice ready and hand it to them before they leave. They either follow your policies or they can find childcare that better suits them. I know it seems harsh but if you don't enforce your policies then why have them KWIM? This is a case where you gave them a break and unfortunately they take advantage AND blame you for it. All you are doing is taking the responsibility and shifting it back onto them where it belongs. Good luck.
Please KUP!!Comment
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I had issues like this in the past... now I am a cash only daycare... I LOVE IT!!!Comment
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Thank you all...
Well today was an interesting day and I feel so proud of myselfhappyfacehappyfacehappyfacehappyface Yes, they did send a postdated check again and yes I did tell them this one would be the last one. I gave them one more week ( yes I know
), told them payments need to be by Contract starting with payments for next week.
They told me "fine, but don't stock up the checks because it will overdraft our account again" So I told them that's their responsibility and the funds should be there no matter when I cash the check, told them how uncomfortable I felt when being blamed for their banking issues when it was clearly their fault not mine.
They tried to tell me 1,000 different stories about how their bank account works and how if more payments than scheduled are withdrawn in a week it would make their account act up... "Do you understand what I'm saying?" she asked me :confused::confused: "honestly mom, no I don't understand, because as far as I know this is how a checking account works..." I explained to them how it does work, "That's not how it works " said mom, so I told them to explain it to me because I truly did not understand their bank, they tried to sell me the same story, did not work. I stood firm on what I said and explained to them that even if 5 checks were stocked and cashed at once they should have the funds available. "Maybe we should do cash" they said, "Sounds good to me" I said LOL
They also had told me a little bit earlier that they were not blaming me, that I should not have taken it that way, but... If you are really not blaming me then why even bother tell me that because I cashed your checks you had problems with your account, and that if I do it again you will change your paying days?
Then, before she left, mom stops and stays quiet for a moment, then tells me " I think my husband does not know how to keep track of his money in the checking account and that's the real problem"
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:happyfacehappyfacehappyfacehappyfacehappyfacehappyface
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:: Ya think? Maybe SHE should take it over then. 
Maybe her husband is spending the money on something he shouldn't. 
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I have been very lucky with checks. One time I put a check through (by mistake) the night before it was dated for. The mom called me and said that, that was the case. I then realized that I misread the date. Other than that no problems. That Dad should of known to make sure the $ was there. He can not miss around with dating your check, thats just wrong. I really think that we live in a society where its everyone elses fault but your own. Does he have a signed payment agreement with you? Also make sure you have firm policies on if a check bounces. I see by reading further you seem to have talked to them about it?
DebbieComment
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sounds like they don't know how to keep a check register. You mentioned english is not your first language, by any chance are they ESL also? They really need to learn how the banking system works if they want to keep writing checks!! Unfortunately I think this is a problem with all the online banking, etc. (which I love btw) where people just look up their balance - not paying attention to checks that may not be cashed yet.Comment
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All I have to say is that if they have those issues I would require cash or cashiers check just to make sure you dont get taken advantage of.
I use childcarepay.com and dont allow payment any other way. happyfaceComment
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