I Have Just About Had It With Doing Daycare

[allsmiles]

What worked for me was to take the family that gives you the MOST trouble and give them a written warning/probation notice. Then hand ALL families a notice with reminders about your policies and a reminder that they MUST be followed and that you will be strict in enforcing them. Put the policies that are most important to you at the top of that list (payments etc).

If you want to change anything in your policies this is the right time to do it. Add changes to your policies along with this notice or write up a new notice and hand them both notices at the same time. Give them a 2 week deadline before the policies go into effect (or whatever it says in your policies).

Then watch that "trouble" family like a hawk and keep the others in check too. Charge and enforce penalty fees. If "trouble" family makes even one mistake give them notice of termination. Other families will notice a family is gone and may ask, just say that your policies weren't a good fit for their needs and if you want you can say that because of this you had to let them go but wish them well (all said with a cheerful smile). They'll get the hint ... don't follow the policies and you'll get booted.

They'll either shape up or continue to break policies. Keep enforcing them. Once one family is gone then figure out which other family is giving you the most trouble and do the same with them too.

I did this once when I was TIRED of clients thinking they could do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. I let one family go and warned another family. I advertised and when I found a family that I wanted I told them that the opening would be available in 2 weeks and then I gave a trouble family a 2 week notice. One by one I cleaned house. I have great families now and don't let issues I think are big slide anymore. It's GREAT!.

[RosieMommy]

No way would I make their payday schedule my problem. If they want to pay me on those days only fine ... pay me on the 1st and the 15th for the next two weeks in ADVANCE or budget your money wisely and pay me on my payment dates. No way would this payment schedule work for me. My bills don't come in on the 1st and the 15th.

I just do not understand this rationale. I don't CARE when you're paid, the payment is due when the payments are due. You would think people would ensure that their daycare provider was PAID especially if they NEEDED the care. Paying your provider for many families is like paying rent -- it is a NECESSARY expense. I just don't get people like this.

[williams2008]

Omg, this is going around like an illness!

One of my families just texted me to try and guilt trip me this morning! This is how it went:

dcm: "As you are aware, we don't get paid until wed so DCKs tuition will have to be paid then. Plus late fees I guess. Thanks."

Me: "okay."

My bill collectors don't give a hoot when I get paid, there is a payment date that it is due or else I incur late fees. Same goes for them. Why should I make it my problem that they can't manage their money?

Ugh!

I have a no pay no stay policy!! That is one thing that I'm very strict on, I have bills to pay just like they do! I do not have a problem turning them around at the door.

[williams2008]

I just do not understand this rationale. I don't CARE when you're paid, the payment is due when the payments are due. You would think people would ensure that their daycare provider was PAID especially if they NEEDED the care. Paying your provider for many families is like paying rent -- it is a NECESSARY expense. I just don't get people like this.

YES this!!!!

[williams2008]

What worked for me was to take the family that gives you the MOST trouble and give them a written warning/probation notice. Then hand ALL families a notice with reminders about your policies and a reminder that they MUST be followed and that you will be strict in enforcing them. Put the policies that are most important to you at the top of that list (payments etc).

If you want to change anything in your policies this is the right time to do it. Add changes to your policies along with this notice or write up a new notice and hand them both notices at the same time. Give them a 2 week deadline before the policies go into effect (or whatever it says in your policies).

Then watch that "trouble" family like a hawk and keep the others in check too. Charge and enforce penalty fees. If "trouble" family makes even one mistake give them notice of termination. Other families will notice a family is gone and may ask, just say that your policies weren't a good fit for their needs and if you want you can say that because of this you had to let them go but wish them well (all said with a cheerful smile). They'll get the hint ... don't follow the policies and you'll get booted.

They'll either shape up or continue to break policies. Keep enforcing them. Once one family is gone then figure out which other family is giving you the most trouble and do the same with them too.

I did this once when I was TIRED of clients thinking they could do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. I let one family go and warned another family. I advertised and when I found a family that I wanted I told them that the opening would be available in 2 weeks and then I gave a trouble family a 2 week notice. One by one I cleaned house. I have great families now and don't let issues I think are big slide anymore. It's GREAT!.

[Springdaze]

exactly why I am getting my teacher cert and bustin out! I like getting paid without having to ask

[AmyKidsCo]

I didn't do a separate letter, I just included it in my annual policy revision.

Every fall I revise my policies and give the parents the newest edition of the parent handbook. I also write them a letter listing the changes in "quick reference" fashion.

If you have other policies to update I would do it all at once so the parents have more than the one policy to focus on, and hopefully won't be upset by the date change. I'd also have the policy take effect in 2 weeks and offer parents the option of paying 1 1/2 their normal fee for those two weeks, so by the time the policy takes effect they will have already made the transition, instead of having to pay twice in one week. (I hope that makes sense!)

[daycarediva]

When I made the transition, I enrolled new families under prepay only (due Friday for the following week) and gave existing families one month. I allowed them to pay an additional 25% toward the new payment rate each week until they were paid ahead. Only one family had an issue, and they used the 25%. The rest were just able to write me an additional check that week.

If you think about it, most parents get paid on Thursday or Friday, and then they pay us on Monday. If they pay you Monday 5/13 that is from their pay (Friday 5/10). If they pay you Friday 5/17, the only difference is they aren't waiting through the weekend to pay you. I found that I had a LOT of payment issues, because MY money wasn't budgeted in, and SPENT by the time Monday came around. Kwim?

At the same time, I upped my late fee ($20/day for the first incident) AND instituted no pay, no stay. If I am not paid by Friday at 6pm, come Monday morning, they will owe me an additional $60 (in cash only-no checks at that point) or they don't have care. I email everyone who hasn't paid by 3pm Friday an invoice detailing that. I have had ONE late payment in 6 months, and I NEVER have to ask for my pay.

[Patches]

I just do not understand this rationale. I don't CARE when you're paid, the payment is due when the payments are due. You would think people would ensure that their daycare provider was PAID especially if they NEEDED the care. Paying your provider for many families is like paying rent -- it is a NECESSARY expense. I just don't get people like this.

It IS a necessary expense, but unfortunately, it is one of the FIRST things some (not all) families try to skip on:confused:

[Patches]

When I made the transition, I enrolled new families under prepay only (due Friday for the following week) and gave existing families one month. I allowed them to pay an additional 25% toward the new payment rate each week until they were paid ahead. Only one family had an issue, and they used the 25%. The rest were just able to write me an additional check that week.

If you think about it, most parents get paid on Thursday or Friday, and then they pay us on Monday. If they pay you Monday 5/13 that is from their pay (Friday 5/10). If they pay you Friday 5/17, the only difference is they aren't waiting through the weekend to pay you. I found that I had a LOT of payment issues, because MY money wasn't budgeted in, and SPENT by the time Monday came around. Kwim?

At the same time, I upped my late fee ($20/day for the first incident) AND instituted no pay, no stay. If I am not paid by Friday at 6pm, come Monday morning, they will owe me an additional $60 (in cash only-no checks at that point) or they don't have care. I email everyone who hasn't paid by 3pm Friday an invoice detailing that. I have had ONE late payment in 6 months, and I NEVER have to ask for my pay.

I would do exactly this^