Would it be Unfair to Charge

[Holiday Park]

The late fee in my handbook & contract for a third time being late ($30.per day) if I totally forgot to charge ($20.) for the second time?

1st offense is $10.00 per day, 2ND offense is $20. Per day , third is $30.per day. I have a feeling dcm will be late paying again this week. Should I charge $30.00 per day for each day that shes late and explain that last time was an over sight? Am I supposed to charge just 20.00 this time since last time I forgot to?
She didn't communicate with me at ALL for three days straight and was a no call/no show too. Yesterday I texted to make sure dcb was ok even though I figured he probably was because she has a habit of not calling when he isn't coming. In the handbook it says after 15minutes past her contracted drop off time (with no communication) he is automatically counted absent. So that is the consequence for that. There is no mention about chronic lack of communication being s reason for me to terminate immediately. So technically I don't feel she broke any rules. His last day is April 5, also. And I am so ready for them to be gone. So I can see her possibly continuing to do late payments, and no call-no shows etc.. i want to stay firm in my policies and I slipped up because Im still memorizing what all i put in place since the new handbook in jan .

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If I slipped up, then I'd charge $20 this time.

[butterfly]

If I slipped up, then I'd charge $20 this time.

Yep, me too. I probably would tell her that the 3rd late fee is supposed to be a $30 fee though just to make sure she has a clear understanding of policy.

[MarinaVanessa]

Ditto here too but I would make it clear to them it was my mistake and that they got lucky on the last one. Because of that and only that I am charging them $20 instead of the $30.

[KnoxMom]

I agree with the $20. Make it CRYSTAL clear that you will not be able to make any further exceptions on late fees and that this was a one-time courtesy.

[daycarediva]

I agree, $20 & letting her know that you made an error, next time it will be $30.

[Holiday Park]

Ok , thanks . That is what I will do. I am so tired of dealing with this . These things are what make me stricter&stricter , with each new family ! I almost terminated care for this same reason (chronic late payments) the day before she signed the new contract&handbook . And now its chronic no shows with no communication. Since he is the one in my care and I have a ton of other things I can be doing (or planning in advance) , its not worth my time even to be paid when he doesn't come. Im just trying to ride out these next two weeks so it ends on good terms.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Ditto here too but I would make it clear to them it was my mistake and that they got lucky on the last one. Because of that and only that I am charging them $20 instead of the $30.

Absolutely!

[littlemissmuffet]

Personally, I operate on a 3 strikes your out policy - so she'd be paying a late fee on top of being termed.

I'd charge the $30. I'd say "Sue, according to our contract the third time a parent is late with payment the penalty is $30/day - so, you're currently owing an additional $30, tomorrow it will be $60. I realize that last time - the SECOND time you were late paying - I didn't charge the $20/day late fee and only charged $10/day. Obviously you didn't appreciate that courtesy, so we'll be sticking to our contract this time. Next time, you won't have any care." And a biiiiiiiiiiig !

[Holiday Park]

Yeah but I didn't do it out of courtesy . It was a mistake. I wouldn't have done it out of courtesy at all because she has run out of "special" a long time ago. Plus after this payment there will only be one more due (29th)before his last day on the 5TH.

Also, I thought I put a three strikes rule for stuff like late payments,non communication , late arrival with no communication etc , but apparently I only wrote that up for biting . I need to update my handbook for future clients to include this.

[Holiday Park]

I really do like the above letter/statement. I just don't want to sound wishy washy by making it look like I gave her a break but now I'm not. she may also get angry if I include the part about her not appreciating it, since she probably forgot about the fee increasing too . And how dare I forget but she cant if I'm the one who made the rules right ?

[littlemissmuffet]

Yeah but I didn't do it out of courtesy . It was a mistake. I wouldn't have done it out of courtesy at all because she has run out of "special" a long time ago. Plus after this payment there will only be one more due (29th)before his last day on the 5TH.

Also, I thought I put a three strikes rule for stuff like late payments,non communication , late arrival with no communication etc , but apparently I only wrote that up for biting . I need to update my handbook for future clients to include this.

My three strikes rule isn't in my handbook. I keep a dialy log about goings on in my daycare... regarding both my interactions with the kids AND parents. This is how I keep track of situations... or strikes, as it were.
My contract states I can term at will for a parent not following policy, being disresepctful, non-payment, etc... in this case, your parent falls under all three of those!

I know you didn't do it out of courtesy... but does she?

[Holiday Park]

I am seriously thinkingabout terminating care and not continuing through the next two weeks, if she doesn't call me about making payment arrangements. The deadline is in 23minutes ad I haven't heard anything from her since yesterday when she said her mom had the week off and that was why he didnt come.
I do feel that she doesn't let me know these things until after the fact because she likes to have me still available just in case . Her mind is never decided and honestly I think a open ended hours day care center would be a better fit for her.