Are You Kidding Me?!

[Leigh]

I wouldn't let it go with NO payment. I insist on payment up front. If you wanted to work with them, I would not provide more than one week of care without being paid (get paid on Friday for M-F).

I insist on payment upfront for the upcoming week. The ONLY place I work out a payment plan is for my final 2 weeks payment. I will give parents up to 8 weeks to pay the last 2 weeks payment. First week is due BY drop off on the first day of care.

Not everyone is out to pull one over on you. Probably more people WILL pay than won't. But once you let someone go that ends up NOT paying you, you'll see why you should get paid upfront.

The rule here is like borrowing money to your friends and family: Never lend more than you are willing to GIVE. If you're willing to give this person your time for free, then go ahead and take a chance. I'd at LEAST insist on post-dated checks to protect yourself.

[momofboys]

Curious about what happened here. I always require upfront payment. I think it is too risky to get payment after services are provided. Hope it all worked out for you!

[My3cents]

Speaking from experience, if you let the parents make payment arrangements instead of paying the full amount they take advantage of you. I charge for the days I work only not for each space and I get paid every two weeks. One family pays on time and in full every two weeks as agreed on. The other family is constantly trying to pay a little here and a little there...they do this because when I first started with them 4 yrs ago I let that happen and now I am STILL paying for it. I demand payment in full now but they still ask at least once a month and it's very annoying.

Don't make the same mistake I did...insist on payment in full on the agreed upon date and don't care for the kids until you have it. NO PAY - NO PLAY is the policy I have now. Good luck!

I have to charge for the weekly spot. I am not that good that I could manipulate schedules to fill in for the voided odd days with kids to make up the difference in charging for a full slot. My clients know right up front that I depend upon a weekly income and they pay no matter if little one is here or not. Much less hassles this way and I also NOW am charging a week ahead so that I am paid before the week starts on fridays. Big learning curve, but no you should not have to wait for your money. I have helped out here and there but it is not something I want to become a habit because I depend upon my money and I work hard for it. My job last longer then any of my clients jobs

[My3cents]

Pay in advance is the only way to go! I have been burned EVERY TIME I have ever let a parent pay after services are provided. When they have to pay before hand they value your time and energy more and treat you with more respect than if they pay you afterwards like a bill.

yes I agree they do! For those of you that don't set up payment like this, what I did was just start up this way when the next client started with me. I let the others be "grandfathered" so to say. This works out very well for me. It was odd/awkward asking for this at first but once that part was over it has been the best advice given here, get paid in advance. No pay no stay.

[HappyPennie]

You are all confirming my gut feelings on this. I know this will be an ongoing problem. She i found out she still owes money to the provider she had before me. I told her Saturday that we have to stick to our original agreement or the payment arrangement I proposed to her and she never replied. She did however, drop him off today conveniently for her it was at the same time as another family so I didn't say anything. I know she won't have the money by Friday...so am I stuck watching her child for free until then?

[JoseyJo]

You are all confirming my gut feelings on this. I know this will be an ongoing problem. She i found out she still owes money to the provider she had before me. I told her Saturday that we have to stick to our original agreement or the payment arrangement I proposed to her and she never replied. She did however, drop him off today conveniently for her it was at the same time as another family so I didn't say anything. I know she won't have the money by Friday...so am I stuck watching her child for free until then?

Since you already agreed that she could make her first payment on the 7th you could just wait and see if she pays up then, and if not then don't watch her child again until she is caught up and paid in advance for the upcoming week. Very likely she will try to pay you less than she owes and pull her child if you refuse to watch her without being paid in advance. You would get some money, but would be watching her child for longer for free.

-OR- You could talk to her and tell her that you found out that she still owes her previous provider and you are now worried that you will be providing care for her child and not get paid what you are owed. Very likely she won't pay you at all on Friday and she will move on to another provider she can pull this on again. You wouldn't get any money for past services but you wont be continuing to watch her child for free and can fill that spot with someone who will pay.

[Blackcat31]

I hate to say it but I doubt very much you are going to be paid at all.

She sounds like a daycare hopper and she isn't going to pay you on the 7th anymore than she plans on paying you today....kwim?

If you don't want to care for the child for free, I'd bail now and not provide one more minute of service until she pays IN FULL~ UP FRONT.

[TheGoodLife]

Do you have a written contract with start date and tuition rates, just in case? That way you have something to use if you have to go after for for collections?

I'd wait until the 7th, see if you get paid, then explain that you cannot get back paid and ease into upfront payments. Will she be paid in full up to that date on the 7th, or will she still be getting care that hadn't been paid yet? That's hard to have agreed to something already then change after care starts- I'd definitely explain that you can't do anything less than the original agreement. You may not be able to get to a pay ahead schedule, but definitely don't go back and do any more payment favors.

[DaisyMamma]

I am annoyed....I started a new DC boy last week and when I met with the mom we agreed on the 7th as her first payment date because it worked better for her payment schedule at work. I got a text from her this afternoon asking if we could make a payment arrangement for the first payment because she did her calculations and wouldn't be able to pay me the full amount. Not wanting to, I sat down with my husband and we figured out a payment plan that put her first payment at $200 ($112 remaining balance) and she could pay the $112 remaining with her second payment. She said that should work and then 2 seconds later sent another text asking if she could pay the $200 on her NEXT paycheck (20th) and then catch up after that. Seriously?? You want me to go a whole month without getting a dime?? I told her I needed some kind of payment on the 7th and she came back with $80....I'm annoyed and just needed to vent....I want to be willing to work with people but COME ON. What would you do in this situation?

DCM, on second thought, I'm not comfortable making payment arrangements. The full amount is due on the 7th. Thanks for understanding.