DCP Limbo

**daycaremom76** · 02-13-2013, 07:19 PM

If they can't afford daycare then they need to stop having kids or find a cheaper place............to put it bluntly! I was in a similar situation a few weeks back. I have a DCM that's expecting and I've been asking her for the past 5 months what she's going to do when the 2nd baby comes. I gave her my rates at that time (they are printed in my contract so she knew) I offer a $15 sibling discount off each child only for FT care. She kept telling me she isn't sure, they can afford care while she's on leave etc....... So I got tired of asking and just replaced her. The new family starts in March, she's do any day now and on Monday she came in all excited and told me that they decided they were going to stay!

So I told her that I already filled her spot since they weren't giving me a commitment! She actually took it pretty well and understood, the new family is only here M-Th so she is going to send the sibling I already watch on Fridays until she finds another provider.

You need to get paid for who's there and if she isn't going to pay you then don't allow her to drop off her kids and tell her that. I mean seriously she expects you to watch her kids and not pay you????? YOUR THE BOSS SO BE THE BOSS!!!! Infants are a dime a dozen! I get infant calls all day, in my state we can only have 2 under 2. Let her know that you can't provide care w/o a signed contract period, but if you let her take control of the situation then you are only going to be mad at yourself and end up with the short end of the stick!

**snbauser** · 02-13-2013, 07:49 PM

Your response needs to be that you can not care for her children until you have a signed contract. Plain and simple. You do not have a contract so therefore she "technically" doesn't have to pay you because there is no agreement in place. Stop it now before you get in trouble.

**blandino** · 02-13-2013, 08:24 PM

Tom Copeland words it the best when it comes to sibiling discounts. Which child would they like you to provide partial care for ? (since they are providing partial payment).

**Holiday Park** · 02-14-2013, 05:40 AM

Here is another way of doing it. Give her a date it has to be signed by.
And tell her you will respect her choice if she decides not o sign by that but you will no longer care for either of her kids if she decides not to sign by the specified date. HOWEVER , n the mean time she will still still have to pay the rates you quoted her regardless. And make her pay in advance. If he gives you any teouble or tries arguing you can give your two weeks notice. Its just not worth the hassle sealing with some one like that( if shes arguing about it, and still not wanting to sign OR pay) .

**coolconfidentme** · 02-14-2013, 05:47 AM

Originally posted by snbauser

Your response needs to be that you can not care for her children until you have a signed contract. Plain and simple. You do not have a contract so therefore she "technically" doesn't have to pay you because there is no agreement in place. Stop it now before you get in trouble.

You can also say it's a license requirement to have documentation on ALL children in your care. It is here...

**canadiancare** · 02-14-2013, 05:47 AM

I didn't give sibling discounts but I didn't raise the fees of a longterm family- new kids started at 35$ a day and the existing family (3 kids over the course of 6 years) stayed at 32$ a day. I won't do that again. From now on if I have a fee increase it will be across the board.

**coolconfidentme** · 02-14-2013, 05:48 AM

Originally posted by blandino

Tom Copeland words it the best when it comes to sibiling discounts. Which child would they like you to provide partial care for ? (since they are providing partial payment).

**EntropyControlSpecialist** · 02-14-2013, 06:22 AM

Originally posted by snbauser

Your response needs to be that you can not care for her children until you have a signed contract. Plain and simple. You do not have a contract so therefore she "technically" doesn't have to pay you because there is no agreement in place. Stop it now before you get in trouble.

Absolutely!

I would give her a hard deadline. You are sitting there with no money until they "decide" !!!!

I used to give a 10% sibling discount. Then, I quit.

**EntropyControlSpecialist** · 02-14-2013, 06:22 AM

Originally posted by coolconfidentme

You can also say it's a license requirement to have documentation on ALL children in your care. It is here...

**wahmof3** · 02-14-2013, 06:48 AM

thanks so much!!!

While I really don't want to lose this family, I cannot afford what she was expecting to pay and unless they are planning on using family I don't see her finding a cheaper rate that includes what I offer (low ratio, all licensing requirements, location, tax deductible, etc).

It makes me sad and a little confused as to where she got the sibling discount seeing how I don't advertise it and never discussed it :confused:

**countrymom** · 02-14-2013, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by wahmof3

thanks so much!!!

While I really don't want to lose this family, I cannot afford what she was expecting to pay and unless they are planning on using family I don't see her finding a cheaper rate that includes what I offer (low ratio, all licensing requirements, location, tax deductible, etc).

It makes me sad and a little confused as to where she got the sibling discount seeing how I don't advertise it and never discussed it :confused:

this happened to another provider, when the family came back they told the provider that they are going to pay 27 dollars a day for the 1 child. They told the provider thats what she charged before and thats what they are paying. The provider said that she never charge that weird price and she didn't know where they got it. She refused to budge, and she gave them the choice, either pay what she charges or take the child and leave. they stayed. But she said that they tried to give her their price, because thats what they wanted to pay, its not that they couldn't afford it, it was the fact that they were trying to nagotiate childcare.

my only concern is that at the end of the week she is going to short change you. I think I would discuss the amount again at drop off just so she doesn't leave you high and dry.

**cheerfuldom** · 02-14-2013, 07:10 AM

Do not take the kids anymore until she signs a contract, plan and simple.

**Mom&Provider** · 02-14-2013, 07:34 AM

I also don't offer sibling discounts, they just don't make sense to me. Each child requires all the same things, so where/why does the discount apply?

I think you need to stay strong on this one to be happy in the long run. Like other people have alread said, simply say sorry, no contract, no care and I need to know by XX.

I know it ****s, but even you have mentioned that you've already given up money for this family and it obviously bothers you, so enough is enough.

**Blackcat31** · 02-14-2013, 07:44 AM

Originally posted by wahmof3

DCM responds that she is not going to sign the contract until they know if they can make it work.

My response would have been "Ok no problem, When you do decide to sign the contract, I will begin providing care. But please understand I will be interviewing to fill the space in the meantime so it may not be available for too long."

Your situation is a great example of how "special" becomes the norm pretty quickly in a parent's eyes

DCP Limbo

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