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OK so abbreviated background... an acquaintance of mine requested summer care for her 2 SA kids.... they came for a week... payment was 4 days late.... the night before their next scheduled care day, I text mom to see if they were still coming... mom texts me approx 930pm saying they just found out the state will pay for them to go to a local summer camp so they will be doing that instead.... I did NOT have her sign a contract as they were summer care and she was an acquaintance... This left me $200 a week less as well as with two full time openings.... She was given my handbook to review which states there is a 2 week notice required.... WWYD? (besides the obvious making all enrolled sign)
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Since she did not sign a contract (something that is required by me of ALL clients, whether they drop in for one day or are full-time clients) there is really nothing that you can do. I'm sorry. -
She was given the handbook and everything to review and had no questions and was very thankful and excited to have the spots. I just feel a little jaded by the whole situation and feel she really abused my generosity. If anything, I am thankful for the experience to grow a backbone.... from now on... my business is my business and it will be run as such... you don't like it move along.Comment
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When I was really new in this business I did a lot of things differently because I trusted people. I trusted that they would abide by my policies and/or keep their word. You quickly learn that each family is going to look out for their own best interest and you will be the last thing on their mind, if you even are.
It was around the time that I had that realization that I began requiring a security deposit (final two weeks of tuition) to hold each child's spot. I had many people actually enroll, so I stopped advertising, and never showing up for their first day of care. It was crazy to me.
Definitely have people, in the future, sign a contract before caring for their child for even one minute along with an agreement saying they have read and agree to all of the policies outlined in your Parent Handbook. It covers your bottom. Mine states that their account will be sent to collections, at their expense, if their account is unpaid. Leaving without a 2 week notice would qualify as an unpaid account.Comment
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Amen. And I use provider watch to report them for unpaid monies as well. I actually once recouped money because of provider watch. I reported a non paying mom and she went to another place desperate for daycare and the person used provider watch and refused to take her until she paid me. The mom came back and paid me and I reported her paid.Comment
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Even if you did give her a handbook you still don't have something in writing that says that you did give her a handbook, that she read it or that she agreed to the terms. Unfortunately without the contract or at least a witness that saw you give her the handbook to them and heard you tell her that all of the policies in the handbook must be followed and who is also willing to go to court for you (if it goes that far) then I don't see you having much of a chance at recouping that money. It'll be a "he said, she said" type of thing and the burden of proof.
You can definitely try asking the person for it by referring to the handbook and maybe they'll feel obligated to stay for another 2 weeks or at least pay you being that they are acquaintances of yours but other than them being willing to cooperate I don't feel you really have a leg to stand on
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Like you said, it's a good learning experience. Next time you know, always treat anyone you care for as a regular client. I watch my nephew (my SIL's son) and even she signs the same contract and follows the same policies as every other client.Comment
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Although legally you can't do anything, I'd at least TRY. "Remind" her you have a 2 week notice and that you expect her to abide by the contract. If she argues that she never signed- then you can't force her since it wasn't signed. But it never hurts to try!Comment
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