Asking for advice once more =o)

[jokalima]

My contract states that if a family gives me 4 week written notice that they will take a vacation I will charge them only 1/2 of fees for that week only once a year. A mom told me verbally exactly 4 week before but not taking under consideration that I was closed the week before her vacation, she did not mention the 1/e rate thing and I did not either because she did not give me a written notice like contract says, but if she looks at her contract and asks for it, should I give it to her anyways? It will be very hard for me because like I said, the week before I am closed so I am not getting paid by no one that week. Then she asks me to provide care an additional day to make up for the time her daughter will be out, because she is paying a week w/out services ( their vacation) she wants me to add another day ( they are part time ) and take care of daughter that day to make up for days they are paying not being here.

Anyways, should I mention the 4 week notice thing even when they did not?

[AnneCordelia]

1. I would not give a day free. If she wants to pay for a 4th day then she is welcome to but I wouldn't give them an extra day because they pay for the time they are on vacation. The paid vacation is a small perk in this job.

2. I would give her the vacation at 1/2 price because she did mention it to you 4 weeks prior, even if it wasn't written notice. She is probably assuming it counts. Typically my clients will ask for their vacation verbally and I ask them at the same time to shoot me an email with the dates so I can mark them down. But if she asked and you said, "sounds good", then she's probably assuming it's a 1/2 price vacation.