Miswritten Check

[daycare]

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.

I agree with you 100%

[momofboys]

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.

I get it but this is the parent's 2nd Week. For that reason I wouldn't want them to think it was OK to short you, accident or not. I don't agree with "letting it go" and think doing so sets u up for future issues. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be nice.

[AquarianKid]

In a situation like this, I believe tact is imperative. I believe you did well by mentioning the oversight to her, but I like the idea of putting everything in writing-papertrails are very important and can be a lifesaver in the event of a conflict down the line. You could simply write her a short note informing her of the oversight or, my preference would be to give her an invoice for the difference with a line waiving the fee, if you desire. You could do this for free, using PayPal.
Although the DCM is nice, and her son was absent most of the week-you are running a business governed by your policies. If she owes you the ten dollars, there is nothing wrong with waiving it, but do it in writing-first put yourself in the position of mutual acknowledgement of the oversight. This lets her know you are professional, even when you make discretionary decisions to waive miscellaneous fees. Also, even though the baby was absent this week, you have still earned every cent...If you are like most programs, tuition is based on enrollment, not actual attendance, she paid you for a space reserved in your program for her child, whether he attended as scheduled or not.
Overall, I do feel you handled this very well, especially for a client who is new to the system of daycare, but remember, you offer a quality fee-based service, and you have every right to expect and require full payment regardless of how nice the parent appears to be. Keep that business line drawn in the sand...once blurred, its very difficult to get it straight again.

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.

[Michael]

$10? I would let it slide and not mention it. Figure you both missed it. For $10, I don't believe she is pulling as fast one on you.

If you already mentioned it to her? Well that is another matter.

[Play Care]

I get it but this is the parent's 2nd Week. For that reason I wouldn't want them to think it was OK to short you, accident or not. I don't agree with "letting it go" and think doing so sets u up for future issues. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be nice.

I don't think this has anything to do with being "nice" or "mean" though but being a professional that stands by your contract. How many times do we read a post from a provider who let things slide *just once* because of x,y,z and now the parents expect it all the time? I hope the parents are truely appreciative of the fact you waived it *just this once.* But in general I do think allowing a mistake to stand in the second week of care can come back to bite you. All my parents are very nice, appreciative, generous, etc. But they all know that I need to be paid the agreed upon amount - even if their child is sick, or they supply food, etc.

[EchoMom]

They brought the missing $10 today.

Very nice since I told her multiple times not to worry about it. Awesome family!

[Cradle2crayons]

I love awesome families!!! Js

[Sunchimes]

I see she brought it, and that is really nice of her. I think I would have mentioned it, using the reasoning that the error might throw off her check book balance. (Or maybe I'm the only one in the world who still uses a check book, so that might not work.) I would have told her and then waived it.

[DaisyMamma]

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?

Do you think that if the daycare parent's paycheck was $10 short from their work that they would "let it slide" or ask for their $10?