Late Fees

[williams2008]

I adopted BC late fee policy.

$10.00 per calendar day the first time
$20.00 the second time
3rd time is automatic termination.

All fees have to be paid before service is given. I had two interviews on last week and one of the moms asked why were my late fees so high:confused:

[Blackcat31]

I adopted BC late fee policy.

$10.00 per calendar day the first time
$20.00 the second time
3rd time is automatic termination.

All fees have to be paid before service is given. I had two interviews on last week and one of the moms asked why were my late fees so high:confused:

:: :: Um, so you don't do it.... :: ::

She shouldn't really care unless she is a habitual late payer....

[williams2008]

:: :: Um, so you don't do it.... :: ::

She shouldn't really care unless she is a habitual late payer....

::::

My reply was....That's motivation for everyone to pay on time!::
I hadn't heard anything from her, so I'm assuming that I'm the lucky one!

[Play Care]

I ask because I had a family go on vacation recently. They have been here 6months and we have had some minor issues (removing child's sick days from pay and essentially making up their own rate) and dropping off early/picking up late. They told me about their vacation, I told them they were still required to pay. Dcm asked if she could give me a postdated check since they were going to be absent on a Friday and I said sure, that way you will avoid late fees.

Day of dck's last day before vacation, Mom says she forgot her checkbook, she will have dcd drop if off. Needless to say they were emailing me all day Friday and upset I didn't respond 'promptly' (um, working here!) and asked if they could pay the following Tuesday. I said yes, and quoted them the late fees due at that time. She had her brother in law bring me cash instead and I got an earful about how it 'wasn't fair' in dcm's email.

Oh heck no! Six months?! And other issues on top? Of course they get the late fee!

[LK5kids]

Mine is $10.00 with no pay, no stay on Monday morning. I have never had a late pay or no pay. Knock on wood, knock on wood! Granted I am only 7/8 months back doing FCC, but I had a FCC for ten years in my former life.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Also side track; under what circumstances have you waived late fees? I hear so many sob stories sometimes.

I would never do it for a sob story. Ever.

The one time I did it, the family was 5 minutes late paying it online and they were never late before (and haven't been since). They had a longstanding history with me and always abided by the policies and never made late payments.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I ask because I had a family go on vacation recently. They have been here 6months and we have had some minor issues (removing child's sick days from pay and essentially making up their own rate) and dropping off early/picking up late. They told me about their vacation, I told them they were still required to pay. Dcm asked if she could give me a postdated check since they were going to be absent on a Friday and I said sure, that way you will avoid late fees.

Day of dck's last day before vacation, Mom says she forgot her checkbook, she will have dcd drop if off. Needless to say they were emailing me all day Friday and upset I didn't respond 'promptly' (um, working here!) and asked if they could pay the following Tuesday. I said yes, and quoted them the late fees due at that time. She had her brother in law bring me cash instead and I got an earful about how it 'wasn't fair' in dcm's email.

Entitlement is ugly.

I wouldn't feel bad in the least for charging a late fee. Oh brother.

[Blackcat31]

WWYD with that families final due balance? Charge the two (or whatever) weeks' notice you required? Just what they owed the day they were replaced? I would still take them to court to recoup the losses if they didn't end up paying... hmmm

If someone charges a deposit, that should take care of the final balance but if you don't charge a deposit (I don't) then you are simply out the money I guess unless you want to pursue it in small claims court, which I absolutely would.

I guess I don't have a fool proof plan for that as it has never really happened to me....the few times I have had a late paying family, they just pay the late fee and make sure they don't do it again.

Also side track; under what circumstances have you waived late fees? I hear so many sob stories sometimes.

I don't waive late fees because of any sob story...because as you said, we've heard them all.....

....and I have some pretty creative parents....I can ONLY imagine what kinds of situations they could come up with or twist if I bought into all the stories we hear.... ::

The 3 times I waived a late fee were for a family who was hit (T-boned in an intersection) and had to manage finding rides and coordinating pick ups/drop offs and all their other family obligations while trying to secure a new vehicle.

.... throughout the whole ordeal, I noticed mom really made a point of ALWAYS being on time with her payment (even finding a ride to come pay me in the snow) so one Friday, she was scheduled to be absent and I knew she'd make arrangements to come pay me so I called her in the morning and told her to wait until Monday to pay me and that I wasn't going to charge her a late fee for it.

The other two times, were due to family emergencies (the DCF's) and again, something I chose to do and NOT something the parent asked if I would do.

So contrary to popular belief, we are not all greedy lazy peeps just in it for the money. LOL!!

[daycare]

I ask because I had a family go on vacation recently. They have been here 6months and we have had some minor issues (removing child's sick days from pay and essentially making up their own rate) and dropping off early/picking up late. They told me about their vacation, I told them they were still required to pay. Dcm asked if she could give me a postdated check since they were going to be absent on a Friday and I said sure, that way you will avoid late fees.

Day of dck's last day before vacation, Mom says she forgot her checkbook, she will have dcd drop if off. Needless to say they were emailing me all day Friday and upset I didn't respond 'promptly' (um, working here!) and asked if they could pay the following Tuesday. I said yes, and quoted them the late fees due at that time. She had her brother in law bring me cash instead and I got an earful about how it 'wasn't fair' in dcm's email.

I just went through this same exact thing....... I had to say somethings that I normally would not say......UNFAIR??

Really....who is being unfair......we all know its the parent

I had a DCM just go off on me for charging the late fee.....told me they were disappointed in me, they had some issues....They never communicated to me anything, I charged the late fee...DCM kept on me about I should have not charged the late fee, it's not fair..

I told her this.....
have I ever opened DC late and you had to wait?
have I ever forgotten to feed your child, hug them, love them, keep them safe, change their diapers, hold them, etc...NO, never and I never would, because we signed a contract, this is a business and I have every intent to uphold all of my agreements and policies.

it's a two way street, I have kept my word and have supplied everything to you and your family ON TIME ALWAYS.. How would you feel if I decided to not open on time, LATE, or forget to do any of the above for your children?? I am sure you would be pretty upset and disappointed with me. NOw tell me why I shouldn't be the one that is disappointed here. I then went on to show DCM, this is the contract we signed, it's nothing personal, it's what YOU agreed to when you signed it. I am going to give you another copy of it. I think you should reread it and decide if this is still the place that you want to bring your child to. She stood there just jaw dropped.......... Then said I have never seen this side of you before, I am quite shocked. I replied, you should be, and she left.....

I got a little more backlash from the DCD at pick up, but I just kept smiling and nodding and carried on as if I didn't care at all.....

[melilley]

I just went through this same exact thing....... I had to say somethings that I normally would not say......UNFAIR??

Really....who is being unfair......we all know its the parent

I had a DCM just go off on me for charging the late fee.....told me they were disappointed in me, they had some issues....They never communicated to me anything, I charged the late fee...DCM kept on me about I should have not charged the late fee, it's not fair..

I told her this.....
have I ever opened DC late and you had to wait?
have I ever forgotten to feed your child, hug them, love them, keep them safe, change their diapers, hold them, etc...NO, never and I never would, because we signed a contract, this is a business and I have every intent to uphold all of my agreements and policies.

it's a two way street, I have kept my word and have supplied everything to you and your family ON TIME ALWAYS.. How would you feel if I decided to not open on time, LATE, or forget to do any of the above for your children?? I am sure you would be pretty upset and disappointed with me. NOw tell me why I shouldn't be the one that is disappointed here. I then went on to show DCM, this is the contract we signed, it's nothing personal, it's what YOU agreed to when you signed it. I am going to give you another copy of it. I think you should reread it and decide if this is still the place that you want to bring your child to. She stood there just jaw dropped.......... Then said I have never seen this side of you before, I am quite shocked. I replied, you should be, and she left.....

I got a little more backlash from the DCD at pick up, but I just kept smiling and nodding and carried on as if I didn't care at all.....

and lovethis this. I only wish I could come up with things to say-at the time something happens, not after!

[williams2008]

Guess who called me on Friday wanting to start care for their child:confused:The mom that complained about my late fees being too high.