Miswritten Check

[EchoMom]

A recieved a check that was written for $10 short. I fully believe it was an accident as it is an easy number slip up the way the amount works out to be. The family pays bi-weekly and is new, only been here about a month. I would tell them oops, you wrote the wrong amount, but....

I feel bad because they kept their child home sick all week and today is the only day she's come. I feel bad asking them to give me another $10 since I'm getting a large amount of money for this week for only holding the spot not actually caring for the child.

Is it awful if I just let it slide?

[Jewels]

I would feel the same way, I most likely wouldn't say anything, and then just see next week if they did the same thing, but I have really great families, I know there are most who will say if you let it slide this time, they will expect stuff, but I've never had a family take advantage of me, they all respect me so much.

[EAP]

Don't make exceptions - then they will expect them - the rate is the rate.

[jenn]

Tricky.

This seems like a big debate. Paying when gone or only paying when present...everyone has strong feelings.

You shouldn't feel bad about requesting the extra $10 if it is your policy that they pay even when gone for illness. With them bieng new, it is probably just a mistake, but you don't want to set yourself up with them for letting little things slide.

Here's what I would do...
I would address it to the parents, but not collect it. "Daycare parent, I noticed that your payment was $10 off this week. I know your kiddo has been out most of the week, so let's not worry about correcting it. I just wanted to make sure that we agree on the normal payment amount and policies."

[itlw8]

If you take $10 off because their child was sick be prepared to ALWAYS take it off AND the other parents will want that discount when their child is sick.

Decide on your policy and stick to it.

[My3cents]

Tricky.

This seems like a big debate. Paying when gone or only paying when present...everyone has strong feelings.

You shouldn't feel bad about requesting the extra $10 if it is your policy that they pay even when gone for illness. With them bieng new, it is probably just a mistake, but you don't want to set yourself up with them for letting little things slide.

Here's what I would do...
I would address it to the parents, but not collect it. "Daycare parent, I noticed that your payment was $10 off this week. I know your kiddo has been out most of the week, so let's not worry about correcting it. I just wanted to make sure that we agree on the normal payment amount and policies."

I would address it and I have before and ask them to bring in the $10 on Monday. I wouldn't make them come all the way back for $10 unless it was something they were doing all the time.

I have one parent that pays me in cash and shorted me $10. He has a travel, so when I got around to counting out his envelope to do my paper work, he was almost home. I called him and just asked him to pay me on Monday. Now when it happened again a few weeks later, being smart to the first time I looked in the envelope sooner to count up and called and he had not gone far and came right back. It has not happened again. I would not let the money owed slide, you earned it.

I don't know why parent's have such a hard time to get the paying us down. They don't have a hard time when it comes to getting paid for the jobs that they do. I scoot to make it to my bank Friday evenings, and when parents pay late, it makes me have to do another trip to the bank the next day. It puts me out on gas money, my time, etc... Many parents don't visit the bank, they do all automatic banking online and what not. I have great parents, but at one time or another each one of them has had some issue with paying. I forgot the check at home can I give it to you Monday? I am short can I pay you next week the rest? Bouncing Checks, I don't have my checkbook with me? I forgot to stop at the ATM I have heard it all- My parents are good about paying, but at one time or the other I have had heard "some" reason. I don't care how much you stress this topic at interviews, late fee's you apply, it is always an issue at one point or another. UGH!!!

[Blackcat31]

Follow your policies or expect them to always expect exceptions.

I have a short little note that says

Oops! Might have been an oversight, but your check was not enough to cover your total balance due. Your invoice was for $_______ and your check was for $_______. Please pay the remaining balance by (XX date).

As a courtesy, no late fee was added. (this part is ONLY added if I truly belive the short was an accident and not intentional)

Thank you

Provider

[daycare]

I would let them know that you are letting it slide, but that normally the rate would be $____________________..

Never give special....

[MarinaVanessa]

I would let them know that you are letting it slide, but that normally the rate would be $____________________..

Never give special....

I was just going to say that. I would also let it slide but talk to them about it. Point out that it was $10 short and you're going to let it slide this one time but you wanted to bring it up so that next time there wouldn't be a mistake. This way if it was an error and they really thought they were paying in full then they'll be aware of the error.

[bunnyslippers]

I just had this happen to me...and it happened a few times before I actually said something. The dcm was super apologetic, until she went home and thought about it. She then called me and tried to remind me that we had negotiated a different rate (Ummm, I don't negotiate). She them told me based on the agreed upon rate, she had over paid me by $350 for the year so far.

For many reasons, I just ****ed it up and let the whole thing go. I know I shouldn't have, but I did. Too many reasons to get into, the biggest one being I am closing soon and didn't have the fight left in me.

The lesson I learned, however, is to never let anything slide without acknowledging it. The longer it goes on, the more expected it will be. I would definitely address it in some way, so that it doesn't become a trend.

[EchoMom]

Here's what I would do...
I would address it to the parents, but not collect it. "Daycare parent, I noticed that your payment was $10 off this week. I know your kiddo has been out most of the week, so let's not worry about correcting it. I just wanted to make sure that we agree on the normal payment amount and policies."

She was not at all trying to give me less money for her being out sick most of the week. I truly believe it really was just a mistake because the amount does have numbers that would make it easy to accidentally write it for $10 off. It was a large bi-weekly check, and they already pay for more days than they actually use, so I just feel bad mentioning a simple $10.

But I did just what Jen said. When she picked up today we chatted about DCGs day and mom was super happy and appreciative as always. As she was leaving I mentioned that it was off by $10 but I said really really don't worry about it, it's fine, I just wanted you to know for next time. She was really apologetic and said she'd give me the $10 on monday but I said really it's ok don't worry about it.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If you take $10 off because their child was sick be prepared to ALWAYS take it off AND the other parents will want that discount when their child is sick.

Decide on your policy and stick to it.

YES!!! This.


Glad she's giving you the $10 she owes you.

[Play Care]

I don't understand why anyone would suggest that you not tell her she needs to pay the full amount. I can't think of any business that would allow me to short them $10 and tell me "it's okay this time, but next time..." Nope. They'd tell me to pay up and add a late fee - mistake or not.
I like Blackcat's suggestion. If it were me I would not have told mom not to worry about it when she seemed apologetic - and we'll see on Monday if she does feel bad enough to pony up.

[EchoMom]

I don't understand why anyone would suggest that you not tell her she needs to pay the full amount. I can't think of any business that would allow me to short them $10 and tell me "it's okay this time, but next time..." Nope. They'd tell me to pay up and add a late fee - mistake or not.
I like Blackcat's suggestion. If it were me I would not have told mom not to worry about it when she seemed apologetic - and we'll see on Monday if she does feel bad enough to pony up.

If it were any other client, in any other situation I wouldn't bat an eye at handing the check back and saying it was wrong. I only hesitated and let her off the hook this time because:

1. She has been AMAZINGLY nice, appreciative, etc. since she started 2 weeks ago.
2. This is only the 2nd bi-weekly check she's written, it was a genuine mistake.
3. They already pay for 4 days a week when the child really only comes 3 or 3.5 days a week.
4. This week he only came a half day the whole week, but yet they didn't once try to ask for any discount or anything since they're paying for so much they didn't even use.
5. The child doesn't eat any food here because of his allergies, mom packs it all, even though food is included in the rate.
6. They are by the highest paying rate I've had. They pay the highest rate possible, my infant part time rate.

So, for all those reasons, I just can't justify squeezing out a $10 oversight when they've paid me richly both in money and in gratitude. So I did bring it up just so she'd know not to keep writing the check for that same amount, but I really don't mind a bit if she doesn't bring the $10. I really don't mind this time at all considering how much "free money" I was paid this week.

[Crazy In Mo]

If it were any other client, in any other situation I wouldn't bat an eye at handing the check back and saying it was wrong. I only hesitated and let her off the hook this time because:

1. She has been AMAZINGLY nice, appreciative, etc. since she started 2 weeks ago.
2. This is only the 2nd bi-weekly check she's written, it was a genuine mistake.
3. They already pay for 4 days a week when the child really only comes 3 or 3.5 days a week.
4. This week he only came a half day the whole week, but yet they didn't once try to ask for any discount or anything since they're paying for so much they didn't even use.
5. The child doesn't eat any food here because of his allergies, mom packs it all, even though food is included in the rate.
6. They are by the highest paying rate I've had. They pay the highest rate possible, my infant part time rate.

So, for all those reasons, I just can't justify squeezing out a $10 oversight when they've paid me richly both in money and in gratitude. So I did bring it up just so she'd know not to keep writing the check for that same amount, but I really don't mind a bit if she doesn't bring the $10. I really don't mind this time at all considering how much "free money" I was paid this week.