UGH, Digging

[daycare]

SO I have a client that I absolutely love to death. they are an awesome family. Always on time with everything. Well this past month there have been a few incidents where mom and dad failed to communicate and picked up very late. It happened once last month and once this month. Of course since it has never happened before, I dismissed the charges.

Well I sent out the invoices last week and this DCM starts to nit pick at it, looking for more discount, questioning the bill. I look it over and it's correct. I let her know that I reviewed it and it's correct. She continues to state that it is not. Mind you I do not mention anything about the fact that I waived the late fees 2 times which would have cost them about $200.00.

I am really sad right now. I guess I held this family in a higher place and now this.

what would you say? Should I remind her of the waving of the late fees and leave it at that? I mean shouldn't she be grateful that I did this and stop digging for dollars???

[daycarediva]

SO I have a client that I absolutely love to death. they are an awesome family. Always on time with everything. Well this past month there have been a few incidents where mom and dad failed to communicate and picked up very late. It happened once last month and once this month. Of course since it has never happened before, I dismissed the charges.

Well I sent out the invoices last week and this DCM starts to nit pick at it, looking for more discount, questioning the bill. I look it over and it's correct. I let her know that I reviewed it and it's correct. She continues to state that it is not. Mind you I do not mention anything about the fact that I waived the late fees 2 times which would have cost them about $200.00.

I am really sad right now. I guess I held this family in a higher place and now this.

what would you say? Should I remind her of the waving of the late fees and leave it at that? I mean shouldn't she be grateful that I did this and stop digging for dollars???

You could always have said, "Oh that's right, I had forgot about those late fees. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!" ::

[Crazy8]

I guess I don't understand what there is to question.... do you charge by the hour or by the week or what? Do you keep sign in sheets? What are they nitpicking at?

I would flat out ask the parent what the issue is. I love the idea of adding in the late charge since they were so kind to bring it to your attention but instead I would just remind them that you did not add it in and you are not sure what the problem is. You aren't going to get an answer if you don't ask the question - have them give you the SPECIFIC problem with the bill.

[sharlan]

That's what happens when you give "special" to some parents. They always want it.

[daycare]

That's what happens when you give "special" to some parents. They always want it.

very true, but I do have to say that this one has been with me for two years and never ever one issue....perhaps money is tight and they are stressing out over it and I just happen to be the one to get picked on....ok maybe Im reaching here.

BTW. I give a discount for sibling and I have a few credits I had to give due to closing for my upcoming vacation. She was trying to get more out of me....

[Lyss]

You could always have said, "Oh that's right, I had forgot about those late fees. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!" ::

I'd do it this way! !

[bgmeyers]

I invoice once a month and it has a running total of what is owed, what has been paid, vacation times, and other $ related issues. On the bottom of each invoice I put down anything extra or different and keep it on there for the year. For example, one family paid a day late this year and I waived the late fee. The fee is there with a "ONE TIME WAIVER" notice next to it. They can't miss it.

[DaisyMamma]

I invoice once a month and it has a running total of what is owed, what has been paid, vacation times, and other $ related issues. On the bottom of each invoice I put down anything extra or different and keep it on there for the year. For example, one family paid a day late this year and I waived the late fee. The fee is there with a "ONE TIME WAIVER" notice next to it. They can't miss it.

Did you put the ONE time waiver next to this DCFs invoice too? Wow, $200. I'm not so sure I would have let that slide. Maybe the first time, but twice? And this is how they repay the favor? Oye. Some people...
Did you out right ask what was it that they thought was wrong?

[daycare]

Did you put the ONE time waiver next to this DCFs invoice too? Wow, $200. I'm not so sure I would have let that slide. Maybe the first time, but twice? And this is how they repay the favor? Oye. Some people...
Did you out right ask what was it that they thought was wrong?

yes, we went back and forth about 5 times about her not seeing that the discount was given in full. I kind of went off a little bit and told her that I would never purposely try to not give them the discount that I had agreed to giving them when they started. I also told her I was a bit offended, especially after all of the extra time that I have given them over the last 2 years and never asked for a dime. It shut her up really quick, but I got no apology. So that kind of bothered me

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

You could always have said, "Oh that's right, I had forgot about those late fees. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!" ::

That is EXACTLY what I would have said. I'd probably still invoice them an additional invoice for the late fees, to be quite honest with you. But, I invoice my clients even when they are 2 minutes late.