Finally Termed My Problem Family :(

[PolkaTots]

I have never struggled to try and communicate with a family in 5 years of daycare...no matter what notes were sent home, emails, newsletters, facebook pages updates...everything seemed to get overlooked.

They were a very good family, with a sweetheart of a child, but enough was enough. A few late pays, a bad check, a few late pickups, bringing their child multiple times tylenol doped only to be sent home sick later, coming on my off days, then last week DCB came tylenol doped with stomach flu (That day his mom denied him throwing up at home, even though he reeked of vomit)...2 school agers, 2 preschoolers, and 3 of the toddlers, my husband and myself, and 2 of the parents came down with this a few days after.

Today I gave them notice that Friday would be the last day I would be providing care. That I am friends with one of the providers she had been talking to about care, and I didn't see the need to continue care further than this week. She walked back out the door and said they were done today because I made her feel uncomfortable. (She was trying to leave me high and dry and didn't know I knew about the other provider)

Then she sends me an email requesting a refund for the week (all child care fees are non refundable) saying that my handbook is too long, and no one reads it anyway (the other parents seem too) and that I was cold when handling her bad check last week (I guess she is mad because I sent her a text with the fees that were owed...that didn't really warrant a discussion...but because I made her pay them, she began shopping for a new provider)
Then goes on to say that I am unprofessional, lack communication, and am passive agressive...hmmm...I have 6 other DCFs that would gladly disagree...

Anyway...the problem family is gone now...it's day like these that I know I can't take being in this business too much longer...Love the families I do have...but they just aren't all like that

[Meeko]

Good for you!

But isn't it weird how parents think providers are "un-professional" because they make them pay for services?!!!!!

[mema]

Good for you for letting them go. Hope things run smoothly now for you!

[Blackcat31]

I'd say the way you handled it was more than professional, clearly communicated and anything but passive aggressive.

[MarinaVanessa]

Of course YOU are unprofessional ....

You firmly required that they

• Pay you on time when THEY paid late
• Not show up on days that THEY were NOT SCHEDULED
• Pay you when THEY bounced a check
• Actually read the information that you hand out so that THEY can be aware of what is going on
• Follow the contract and policies that THEY signed and agreed to follow
• Keep THEIR child home when THEIR child is sick so that others don't get sick

Ha ha ha ha ha please ::.

I love the fact that she asked for a refund ... nope. Sorry lady, you were offered the ability to stay until Friday. YOUR choice to not stay until then is not reason for you to receive the money for this week back.

[blandino]

If it makes you feel any better, I had this problem a few weeks ago. A DCM was irate because I made her pay a late fee (after her 5th late payment in less than 2 months).

We termed them the next week (because of late payments) and she said "we were going to give you notice next week anyway" - apparently they too were also leaving because we had the nerve to charge her a late fee.

How in the world can you get angry about that ? I don't get angry at Amex when I pay late and have a late fee on my bill ?!? How is this any different. A LATE fee - for a LATE payment is pretty logical.

Also, she unfriended me on Facebook last night. I'm just so heartbroken happyface

[cheerfuldom]

dont forget to call your licensor and give them a heads up. parents like this almost always file a complaint.

also, what was the deal with this other provider?!

[Brooksie]

Good for you!!! happyface Sounds like you were MORE than professional. She should have read the handbook and respected your rules. This is EXACTLY why even though my contract is 10 pages, I sit down and go over it with them at signing. They even have to initial at the parts that people tend to back out on (late fees, family vacations, holidays, and sick day policy). If they sign that contract you are not obligated to feel sorry for them. But you definitely get a big virtual high five! Your life will be much easier with her gone.

[Heidi]

dont forget to call your licensor and give them a heads up. parents like this almost always file a complaint.

also, what was the deal with this other provider?!

[Starburst]

Also, she unfriended me on Facebook last night. I'm just so heartbroken happyface

Lol that reminds me of one of those likable pages on fb: "So you unfriended me and blocked me on facebook. What's next, are you going to throw a fruitloop at my head and expect it to hurt?"

[momofboys]

I had parents like that - termd them.and all of a sudden I was unprofessional, . good riddance!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Good for you!

But isn't it weird how parents think providers are "un-professional" because they make them pay for services?!!!!!

I agree. It's the WORST clients that name call and drop words like unprofessional and cold because we run a business like a ... *gasp* business.

I have someone I termed LAST SUMMER who still badmouths me to anyone who will listen in our small community because I termed them after being a no call/no show/no pay for one full week. She says I don't like children, I had poor communication skills (despite e-mailing and mailing everything to that family), that I'm in this for the money, and I lack professionalism. However, she did beg to come back for a week after I termed them. LOL! They were a pain in my butt anyways and I was happy to have that as an excuse to finally term them (although I listed failure to comply with the Parent Handbook as the reason). They still owe their final 2 weeks. :: I will never see it but it was so worth it to get rid of them! SO WORTH IT! Your stress levels will drop drastically.