Would You Take Back A Former Client???

[wdmmom]

I had a family leave last May because I gave them an ultimatum. My ultimatum was either drop dcb off by 9am each day OR you drop off at 11am each day. Their scheduled drop off time was 10am but dcf was bringing him anywhere between 10am and 1230pm. Not only was it a disturbance if he didn't come on time, but I was having to rearrange our schedule almost daily just to accommodate his arrival time.


In the end, they found another provider (much farther away) for less money but worked later hours in the evening and that's what they wanted. Well, turns out this provider lost her home to foreclosure and now dcf is asking me if dcb can come back.

I had few issues with the boy while he attended. Mainly the issues were with dcd. He is a nice guy but not American and I don't think he always understands what I'm saying or understands the culture. (Common sense isn't always so common.)

I'm guessing the old provider officially lost her home and is no longer working for them because they've now asked me twice in the past month if I would have an opening in March. (Why March and not now, I don't know.)

Essentially I could take him on and I could make the money and I do have a school teachers kid that will be gone a while and making up the money would be nice, but...

I really don't know that I want to travel down a road already traveled. DCB is now 3 and I really think his parents use tv, ipods and other electronics as babysitters. If he's not playing with something visually stimulating, I don't think he can function and here, I do no such thing. We play toys, we do crafts, we get 1 hour of tv a week and that's for movie day Thursday.

Part of me says to give it a try, another part of me says it'd be more work and hassle than it's worth.

What are your opinions? Would you take back a former client?

[Lorna]

Go with your gut. If its more hassle than its worth than don't take him back.

[Mom&Provider]

I'd base this on your gut feeling! You seem to not really trust what they are telling you, plus you've had issue in the past, I'd let this one slide and say no!

[daycarediva]

I have taken former clients with great outcomes. My termed screamer baby is an angel of a 2 year old and is asleep next to me as I type this. That being said, there are SOME clients that I wouldn't take back if they paid me quadruple! :: If there were ANY issues, I would say no way!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have taken former clients with great outcomes. My termed screamer baby is an angel of a 2 year old and is asleep next to me as I type this. That being said, there are SOME clients that I wouldn't take back if they paid me quadruple! :: If there were ANY issues, I would say no way!

I agree!

I've only taken back one, but all that have left (termed, voluntarily, doesn't matter) have asked. ::
In your described situation, no. I would not take him back.

[Starburst]

I would say it depends on the situation- like if the left because they moved or one of the parents lost their job but everything else was okay than yes I would take them back. But if it was because they slandered my business or wouldn't follow my rules than I would say 'no'.

In this case I probably would go either way too but I would sign up a new contract that says that they have a '3 strikes' system or something and that either their son comes at x am or doesn't come at all that day- and payment is still required. Tell them your routines are very important to and all the children and if they cannot handle it they are better off somewhere else.

You do have to respect their culture but at the same time you still have rights in this culture- the right to run your business in a way that benefits you and all the families.