New Late Payment Policy

[providerandmomof4]

My contract/written policies did not include a section for late payments previously. I have a section on late/early fees and DO enforce this, however due to current dcf....I am changing my written contract/policies sheet to include:

LATE PAYMENT POLICY:
Payment is due for upcoming week of care, in advance on Friday or earlier if your child doesn't attend on Friday. I will assess a late payment charge of $5 a day until payment is brought current. Children will not be accepted back in daycare until all fees are paid and current. I will allow 2 days of unpaid non-attendance before I consider them withdrawn and will fill their space.

Do you think it is appropriate to give this new policy to current dcf that I am having issues with?
I think that dcm is going to try to keep her 2 dcb out of care this week because she can't afford it. I have a section in my contract that says that pre-paymnt is due on Friday, so she is aware of this policy. The problem is that she didn't bring dcb's on Friday (I think to avoid pmnt) I called her and she asked if she could pay next Thurs. I said no, and that I would need pmnt before care on Monday. Now I'm not sure if she's going to bring them or not, but if she does.... I would like to hand her the amended policy on late payments. What do you all think?

[MyAngels]

I don't see any problem with amending your contract with a current family, especially since you're having problems with on-time payment.

One thing you might want to add to the part where you say you will consider them withdrawn is whether or not you will still expect the typical two week notice payment.

[providerandmomof4]

I don't see any problem with amending your contract with a current family, especially since you're having problems with on-time payment.

One thing you might want to add to the part where you say you will consider them withdrawn is whether or not you will still expect the typical two week notice payment.

Yes and this is the tricky part. I do require a two week pd notice normally, but if I term without this notice, then I couldn't collect that, right?

[MyAngels]

Yes and this is the tricky part. I do require a two week pd notice normally, but if I term without this notice, then I couldn't collect that, right?

I wouldn't try to collect it if I had to term under these conditions, but I think I'd spell it out so that there is no confusion.

[momofboys]

It is appropriate to do so - I am hoping she still brings her kids & has your payment in hand!

[Crazy8]

Yes and this is the tricky part. I do require a two week pd notice normally, but if I term without this notice, then I couldn't collect that, right?

do you collect a deposit?? My policy is if I am terming them for failure to follow policies they forfeit their deposit. So I'm not getting the 2 weeks notice but I'm keeping their deposit (which is equal to 1 week of care).