Daycare Mom Tried To Burn Me And Karma Got Her. lol

[JLH]

I love it when karma bites people in the butt!

Many of you know that I've been having problems with a family. Mom switched her schedule over to make me open at 5 in the morning without asking me permission first and without offering to pay more. I don't open until 6:30, as I'm newly pregnant and already work 11 hours a day. When I told mom to switch her schedule back to within my hours last week she said fine. She came in Monday of this week and told me his last day would be Tuesday. I quickly informed her she would have to pay for not giving me 2 weeks notice. I offered to let her bring him during those 2 weeks several times and she said no. She said she was on a waiting list elsewhere for quite some time and they finally had room for her son. I said that was fine and gave her the bill for the 2 weeks notice.

Well, Tuesday morning came and I got up extra early again, for his last day. Mom comes in and says he threw up in the car on the way over so she was taking him home. She asked if she could bring him on Wednesday instead. I said that would be fine, as I didn't have anyone to fill his spot yet anyways but I wasn't thrilled about another early morning and I made sure to let her know not to bring him if he threw up one more time.

Meanwhile, I get a call from a man who has 2 kids that need care starting immediately. He had already been given a tour the week prior so I enrolled them right away and the new little ones started care this morning.

So, this morning comes, which again is supposed to be his last day and I get a text saying he's still sick and not coming. I thank her for letting me know and secretly do a happy dance because I was worried about being out of ratio if he did come, seen as how last night I had just enrolled 2 new children to take his place.

Now here's the kicker! I just get a phone call from this mom a few minutes ago. She wants to know if she can bring him thur, fri, mon, and I'm not even sure of what other days. Because something about him being sick and he can't go to the new daycare. I tuned it all out, so as not to get ****ed into her sob story. I cut her off mid sentence. I tell her that his last day was supposed to be on Tuesday and his spot has been filled by a new family with 2 children. I tell her that I would be out of ratio by taking him and he no longer has a cubby or anything here anymore and his paperwork has been closed out, as she decided to move on. So... sorry!

Then I hang up the phone and I LAUGH, LAUGH, LAUGH!!!!! And I LAUGH some more! Then I call my hubby and LAUGH even more. This is what I call karma and I love it! . Serves her right for trying to be sneaky and change her work schedule without asking me and serves her right for trying to pull her child with no notice. Furthermore, how dare her wanting to bring her sick child with the flu over to my home to get everyone here sick because new daycare center won't take him now, for whatever reason. I hope this teaches this woman a lesson about not burning the people that watch your children. happyface

[NeedaVaca]

happyface

Karma will always get em That's hilarious!

[nannyde]

She doesn't have a daycare. She made that up to get you to comply. She will not want to pay notice on slots you say you have filled. She will come back at you so be prepared for more calls and a complaint to your licensor.

[momofboys]

I love it when karma bites people in the butt!

Many of you know that I've been having problems with a family. Mom switched her schedule over to make me open at 5 in the morning without asking me permission first and without offering to pay more. I don't open until 6:30, as I'm newly pregnant and already work 11 hours a day. When I told mom to switch her schedule back to within my hours last week she said fine. She came in Monday of this week and told me his last day would be Tuesday. I quickly informed her she would have to pay for not giving me 2 weeks notice. I offered to let her bring him during those 2 weeks several times and she said no. She said she was on a waiting list elsewhere for quite some time and they finally had room for her son. I said that was fine and gave her the bill for the 2 weeks notice.

Well, Tuesday morning came and I got up extra early again, for his last day. Mom comes in and says he threw up in the car on the way over so she was taking him home. She asked if she could bring him on Wednesday instead. I said that would be fine, as I didn't have anyone to fill his spot yet anyways but I wasn't thrilled about another early morning and I made sure to let her know not to bring him if he threw up one more time.

Meanwhile, I get a call from a man who has 2 kids that need care starting immediately. He had already been given a tour the week prior so I enrolled them right away and the new little ones started care this morning.

So, this morning comes, which again is supposed to be his last day and I get a text saying he's still sick and not coming. I thank her for letting me know and secretly do a happy dance because I was worried about being out of ratio if he did come, seen as how last night I had just enrolled 2 new children to take his place.

Now here's the kicker! I just get a phone call from this mom a few minutes ago. She wants to know if she can bring him thur, fri, mon, and I'm not even sure of what other days. Because something about him being sick and he can't go to the new daycare. I tuned it all out, so as not to get ****ed into her sob story. I cut her off mid sentence. I tell her that his last day was supposed to be on Tuesday and his spot has been filled by a new family with 2 children. I tell her that I would be out of ratio by taking him and he no longer has a cubby or anything here anymore and his paperwork has been closed out, as she decided to move on. So... sorry!

Then I hang up the phone and I LAUGH, LAUGH, LAUGH!!!!! And I LAUGH some more! Then I call my hubby and LAUGH even more. This is what I call karma and I love it! . Serves her right for trying to be sneaky and change her work schedule without asking me and serves her right for trying to pull her child with no notice. Furthermore, how dare her wanting to bring her sick child with the flu over to my home to get everyone here sick because new daycare center won't take him now, for whatever reason. I hope this teaches this woman a lesson about not burning the people that watch your children. happyface

LOL! Love it!! Glad you got a replacement family so quick!

[JLH]

She doesn't have a daycare. She made that up to get you to comply. She will not want to pay notice on slots you say you have filled. She will come back at you so be prepared for more calls and a complaint to your licensor.

I was ready to terminate the child last week and it is only because of my hubby promising to get up early to let him in that I didn't. I made sure that everything was documented really well because of the whole situation. I think we will be okay. That is the sad part of this business though. Everytime you try to follow the rules, you risk making people mad and have to worry about them going to your licensor or pulling. This website has given me my backbone. Yay! I will no longer be a doormat.
I did discuss the 2 week notice fee with mom before I knew I had replacement kids lined up. I told her I turned away 3 families that came for tours last week because I didn't know she was pulling. That was the truth. I told her I would follow up with those families and see if they wanted the spot. Before I had time to do that, this dad called and wanted the spot. It worked out great for me. I feel that I should still charge the 2 weeks though, as most daycare's in my area charge the last 2 weeks of care up front so this doesn't happen. I feel that it is owed to me and it is in my contract to legally back me up. This family has caused me so much grief. The child cost me atleast 3 different tours by acting naughty when people were over to interview with me when I first opened and was trying to get full. What do you gals think? Would you still charge even if you filled the spot a day or 2 later?

[nannyde]

I was ready to terminate the child last week and it is only because of my hubby promising to get up early to let him in that I didn't. I made sure that everything was documented really well because of the whole situation. I think we will be okay. That is the sad part of this business though. Everytime you try to follow the rules, you risk making people mad and have to worry about them going to your licensor or pulling. This website has given me my backbone. Yay! I will no longer be a doormat.
I did discuss the 2 week notice fee with mom before I knew I had replacement kids lined up. I told her I turned away 3 families that came for tours last week because I didn't know she was pulling. That was the truth. I told her I would follow up with those families and see if they wanted the spot. Before I had time to do that, this dad called and wanted the spot. It worked out great for me. I feel that I should still charge the 2 weeks though, as most daycare's in my area charge the last 2 weeks of care up front so this doesn't happen. I feel that it is owed to me and it is in my contract to legally back me up. This family has caused me so much grief. The child cost me atleast 3 different tours by acting naughty when people were over to interview with me when I first opened and was trying to get full. What do you gals think? Would you still charge even if you filled the spot a day or 2 later?

Have you been paid yet for it? If you haven't you will probably not get it.

[daycare123]

I personally wouldn't charge her if you filled the spots, better to just cut all ties and chalk it up to lesson learned. Your technically not out much or any money. I would bet she would throw a fit about asking for payment.

[daycarediva]

I also think it's hilarious!

Is he part time? Do you allow him to switch days on a regular basis, or just when ratios allow? If the other family filled days that weren't set for this dcb, I would absolutely charge her the last two weeks. If not, I would just let it go.

[JLH]

No, he came full time mon-fri. His contract was signed by mom for 7am to 5:30pm. She has been signing him in at 5 and 5:30 lately which is way before our agreed upon time. Like I said, lots of documentation for proof for the courts if needed. I know that she may be mad and there is a very real possibility of her not paying. In that case, we will probably take her to small claims court. Plus, her husband is military and we can follow up with his chain of command if needed.

[e.j.]

Gotta love karma!::

One of my dc moms left me because she found someone who would charge her a dollar less per hour. Dcm didn't like the care her kids were getting there (she walked in and found the babysitter eating and watching tv while the kids - ages 1 and 5 went totally unsupervised, she never did crafts or learning activities with them, etc. ) but as she explained it to me, "She didn't want to end their arrangement with her because she was a college student and she would feel bad messing with her income." Of course, she didn't seem the least concerned about what she was doing to my income!

Anyway...the college student dumped her with no notice as soon as school started up in September, leaving her to scramble for child care. She apparently found someone else who charges less than I do but on at least 3 different occasions since September, she's called me to see if I had any drop-in openings because her day care is closed. Just so happens, I've been full each time! Gotta love karma!

[Starburst]

What do you gals think? Would you still charge even if you filled the spot a day or 2 later?

I plan on asking for a non-refundable deposit of the last week up front when they sign up along with first week and the enrollment (supplies/registration... w/e you wanna call it) fee when I start {a useful tool I learned from this site}. Maybe after a while I would make it two weeks deposit or give them an option of paying a certain mount for a few weeks until it is paid off. It might be too late to do with her but could be useful to do for future families.

ETA:
At this point I wouldn't even want her to come back to my daycare for any reason- even if it is to pay me. Plus karma/justice (w/e you wanna call it) works both ways and if you keep pushing your luck it will run out. I personally would just be the bigger person and yeah it may sting a bit but it's better than doing it and her saying that you are trying to cheat her out of money or saying that you are stingy and only care about money on a potential website ad and have it affect your business. Plus most people charge for the last 2 weeks to give them some time to fill the spot and you now have 2. There is also that saying 'kill them with kindness' get under their skin by showing them the kindness they never showed you.

[e.j.]

What do you gals think? Would you still charge even if you filled the spot a day or 2 later?

Personally, I wouldn't but that's just me. I would just want to be done with her. If your contract states that that's your policy, though, you have every right to go after the money. It just wouldn't be worth the hassle for me.

[wahmof3]

I lovethis this story

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wouldn't pursue the money. You filled the spot and there was no option for that child to attend the final 2 weeks of care. If they pay for it, they have a right to attend unless there is some extenuating circumstance.
I collect the final two weeks of care upfront as a "security deposit" to be applied later on down the road if a WRITTEN two weeks notice is given to me. I was burned as well.

Good riddance!!! You will be much better off.

[Starburst]

Gotta love karma!::

One of my dc moms left me because she found someone who would charge her a dollar less per hour. Dcm didn't like the care her kids were getting there (she walked in and found the babysitter eating and watching tv while the kids - ages 1 and 5 went totally unsupervised, she never did crafts or learning activities with them, etc. ) but as she explained it to me, "She didn't want to end their arrangement with her because she was a college student and she would feel bad messing with her income." Of course, she didn't seem the least concerned about what she was doing to my income!

Heck I once baby sat for two kids (a 2 year old and a delayed 4 year old) for like 7 hours 3 times a week whenever they were too sick for daycare (lasted about 3 months) I was also a full time student (18 creds only 2 days a week) and I NEVER turned on the TV- the minute the parents left (if not before) I turned off the TV and we would play together and read and sometimes I even tried to do a mini preschool thing were I would try to go over colors and numbers and simple actions with them in English and Spanish. Sometimes I would turn the radio to the Christian station and we would dance around. Even during nap time when they were in their rooms and I was in the living room- I would either read a magizine or do some homework and trust me, I grew up with my eyes glued to the TV and even I know that it's not the best thing for kids.