Doesn't She Get the Point......?

[Unregistered]

I have a dcb that started as part-time (3 days/week) but mom paid as a drop in each day. Well, a couple of months ago she said that she would need 4 days a week, possibly 5, but she would like to pay full time so that the baby did not lose his spot. (My policy is that drop- ins are not guranteed spots if someone wants to start full time i will allow it and if that is the last spot then there will be no more drop in spots open)

Well thats great, i like the baby, super easy child, mom brings him at 9-9:30am picks him up around 2:30 most days. He takes a 2-3 hour nap, eats fantastic, so of course, i was more than happy to start him full time.

Went over policies again, made sure she understood that payments are due on friday for the fiollowing week, payments not made on friday will be due monday before you drop off with $20 late fee, or you cannot drop off.

First week she doesnt pay on friday says she forgot, she paid on monday and i let her slide on the late fee since i figured she wasnt used to the policy (i know, goofy me)

The week after i charged her the late fee, i dont want the late fee, i just want my money on time,.......

She is still only bringing him 3 days a week 90% of the time and pays $30 extra for me to keep him 2 hours past closing on thursdays which was previously arranged. But now she is also paying the late fee EVERY WEEK. It just doesn't seem to bother her. I WANT it to bother her. I want my money on time each week along with everybody elses...... NOT Tuesday morning which is usually when she brings him and she ends up not bringing him friday, thats how she gets out of paying on friday, if she brings him she always has some wild excuse like her husband took her debit card she will bring the money back, sometimes she calls when he is not here on fridays to tell me she will bring it by but never does.

I have told her she needs to pay on thursdays if she knows baby will not be coming on friday, i even gave her the option of paying 2 weeks (which i dont normally allow) SHE asked to pay 2 weeks ahead and i told her she could and she still doesn't.

What do i do to make her understand........i just want to be paid on friday.....sheesh

Or should i just **** it up since i get paid full time for technically a part time baby and its good hours and he is super easy plus the late fee is like a bonus right?

It really bothers my husband more than me, he gets very annoyed that ppl try to take advantage, so i just need her to pay on time........

[Blackcat31]

You could try the three late payments and your out method.

First late payment....fee is $20
Second late payment.....fee is $40
Third late payment......fee is "TERMINATION"

Usually gets the point across.

Especially when it isn't about the money but about respecting your policies and rules.

[daycarediva]

ITA about not wanting the $ but wanting to be paid on time!

I had to change my late fee to $20 PER DAY. So if payment is due Friday and not made by 6pm, it's $20. Not made Saturday by 6pm, additional $20, not made Sunday by 6pm, additional $20. So, that's an extra $60 for deciding to pay Monday.

I also like BC's idea!

[Happy Hearts]

Dear OP: I feel your angst. Here's a laugh for you:

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

ITA about not wanting the $ but wanting to be paid on time!

I had to change my late fee to $20 PER DAY. So if payment is due Friday and not made by 6pm, it's $20. Not made Saturday by 6pm, additional $20, not made Sunday by 6pm, additional $20. So, that's an extra $60 for deciding to pay Monday.

I also like BC's idea!

I like that combined with the 3 times and you're out.

[e.j.]

Or should i just **** it up since i get paid full time for technically a part time baby and its good hours and he is super easy plus the late fee is like a bonus right?

I totally understand wanting her to respect your policies but honestly, if it were me, I'd let her keep paying on Mondays/Tuesdays with the extra fee attached. If she has money to burn and doesn't mind parting with it for no other reason than just laziness in not getting your payment to you in time, heck, why not let her pay extra for the luxury of paying late? As long as she pays each Monday/Tuesday, I'd consider that "her" day to pay me and I'd bank that extra money or use it for my vacation fund! Week after week, that extra money will add up!

It would be different if the parent were paying a late fee because of late pick-ups. Late pick-ups would impact me negatively and at that point, the extra money wouldn't be worth it to me. Extra money just for waiting a few days for payment?.....Yeah, I'd **** it up and let her keep doing it!

[littlemissmuffet]

I charge a $25/day late fee. So, if the fee isn't in my hand by 5pm on the day it's due then the parent is charged $25, the next day another $25 late fee is charged, third day is an automatic termination. In this case though (and as most of you know I am VERY strict) I would let it slide, because the third day (Monday) would be another $25 fee... so that's $75 PLUS the usual full-time fee - for an easy part-time kid... YES!

Up your late fee and make it DAILY... she'll either start paying on time or you'll make way more off of her (for no work)

[cheerfuldom]

I would just let her pay the late fee....thats just me though. i wouldnt term over this because the kid is still part time at a great rate and you said, super easy to deal with.

[heyhun77]

If she is paying by check would she be willing to bring you a check on Tuesday (which seems to be her day to remember payment) but you hold it until Friday when it's due? That way you are paid on time and she brings you the payment when she can remember.

[daycaremum]

I would either go with the late fee per day, which is what I do $10 per day. So if your fees are due Friday and she didn't pay till Tuesday, that would $40 late fee. Alternatively, I have asked certain families to leave blank signed cheques with me so I can fill them out and then they never pay late.