Do You Charge For Early Drop Off?

[Msdunny]

I have a mom who texted today asking if she can bring her 2 dds at 6:30 tomorrow morning. I don't normally open until 7:30, and she usually comes around that time. I told her that I wasn't open that early, but that she could bring them if she was willing to pay extra for that hour ($15). **edited to add - this early drop off is for a last minute ski trip, not for a work related activity**

In your opinion, is this fair? Would you have charged? Her normal hours are 7:30 to 4, and they are supposed to still be picked up at 4 tomorrow.

TIA

*as a side note - this is one of my two dcms who brings her kids to me sick on a regular basis. She told me this morning that one of her older sons stayed home today with a fever which makes me wonder what she plans to do with him while she is skiing!*

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I think charging for extended care is fair. If you are willing to wake up early, then you can make the rate what you want.

I typically did $6.00/hour for each child for any extended care that I offered in the past.

[DaisyMamma]

I allow for a half hour here and there as long as I'm not being taken advantage of. By here and there I mean less than once per month. I don't charge unless its after hours, though, after hours I would just say no.
So really it depends on what you're comfortable with. It sounds like a fair rate to me. I would be more concerned with if she wants to start doing it more often.

[nanglgrl]

I think it is totally fair. Even if she said she would pick up an hour or more early I would still charge extra for that hour in the morning. If she was the best client ever and followed all of my rules I would still probably charge. The only way I wouldn't charge is if it was an awesome client, they asked in advance (instead of just saying "hey I'm going to brink the kids early tomorrow") and I was feeling charitable. If all of the planets aligned and I decided to do it and not charge I would make sure they knew I wasn't charging but that it was a one time thing I was doing to show appreciation.

[mema]

If you agree to it, I would definitely charge for it, regardless of when they are picking up (regular or earlier). If you open for them before you normally open, that makes our day longer regardless of what time they leave. I have it at $5 per half hour per child before/after contracted time.

[JenNJ]

For my Golden families -- no. I would do anything for them.

For the nit-pickers I charge $20 per hour, per kid. It is there if needed, but I don't want to encourage it. And any part of an hour constitutes the full $20 fee.

[Play Care]

I refuse to open early or stay late for any families. Even the good ones will take advantage if you let them. But if for some reason I felt like I wanted to I would charge.

[Msdunny]

I think it is totally fair. Even if she said she would pick up an hour or more early I would still charge extra for that hour in the morning. If she was the best client ever and followed all of my rules I would still probably charge. The only way I wouldn't charge is if it was an awesome client, they asked in advance (instead of just saying "hey I'm going to brink the kids early tomorrow") and I was feeling charitable. If all of the planets aligned and I decided to do it and not charge I would make sure they knew I wasn't charging but that it was a one time thing I was doing to show appreciation.

This is a fair client (wouldn't say awesome), and the early drop off is for a last minute ski trip. If it were for work, I might be more inclined to not charge.

[bunnyslippers]

I would absolutely charge, and it would be at least $30 for that hour! That is a huge difference in your day. You have to get up earlier, start your day earlier, dela with kids earlier.

Can you tell I am NOT a morning person?

[nanglgrl]

This is a fair client (wouldn't say awesome), and the early drop off is for a last minute ski trip. If it were for work, I might be more inclined to not charge.

You also said she brings her kids sick on a regular basis. In my book that is one of the worst offenses so for that client I would charge. As for the ski trip I would charge no doubt.

[Msdunny]

You also said she brings her kids sick on a regular basis. In my book that is one of the worst offenses so for that client I would charge. As for the ski trip I would charge no doubt.