Can I Charge...

[SilverSabre25]

a late drop off fee?

I'm getting really tired of being told that child x will be in at [time] and other child will be in at [other time] and both of them end up showing up half an hour or more after the time I was told to expect them. Last night dcd specifically ASKED if it was okay to drop them off at 8 because he goes into work at 8, I said yes and now FORTY MINUTES LATER they aren't here. What happened to work? I was told something similar for dcb, that dad had to work at 6:45 and he'd be here at 6:30, and they strolled in at almost 7. And this is just from today!

I want to add a $10 inconvenience fee if they drop off more than ten minutes past their scheduled time.

[Familycare71]

a late drop off fee?

I'm getting really tired of being told that child x will be in at [time] and other child will be in at [other time] and both of them end up showing up half an hour or more after the time I was told to expect them. Last night dcd specifically ASKED if it was okay to drop them off at 8 because he goes into work at 8, I said yes and now FORTY MINUTES LATER they aren't here. What happened to work? I was told something similar for dcb, that dad had to work at 6:45 and he'd be here at 6:30, and they strolled in at almost 7. And this is just from today!

I want to add a $10 inconvenience fee if they drop off more than ten minutes past their scheduled time.

Ill jump on that boat!!! It is so frustrating... I don't think parents realize we are in a "holding pattern" waiting...

[SilverSabre25]

And now, third arrival of the day...also not on time.

Seriously?

[Familycare71]

I have a new dcb here- this is his fourth day and they haven't been on time yet- once there was a text. If he isn't on time next week I will notify that their drop off has been changed...

[Laurel]

a late drop off fee?

I'm getting really tired of being told that child x will be in at [time] and other child will be in at [other time] and both of them end up showing up half an hour or more after the time I was told to expect them. Last night dcd specifically ASKED if it was okay to drop them off at 8 because he goes into work at 8, I said yes and now FORTY MINUTES LATER they aren't here. What happened to work? I was told something similar for dcb, that dad had to work at 6:45 and he'd be here at 6:30, and they strolled in at almost 7. And this is just from today!

I want to add a $10 inconvenience fee if they drop off more than ten minutes past their scheduled time.

I know one provider who does not allow them to stay if they are over 30 minutes late and still charges them for the day. She just turns them away.

For me, I don't care as long as I don't have to open early. If they come at or after my opening time then it is okay. The only time it wasn't was when I had a parent with a variable schedule and I told her if she didn't call me by 9:00 if she would be later than 9:00 that we would go ahead and head out for a stroller ride/park and might not be home when she came. She called after that.

I don't think it is out of line if you want to charge an inconvenience fee. It sounds like a pretty good idea actually.

Laurel

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If I had to open early/wake up early to accommodate someone and they were late I would not be happy and after one instance of that I would discuss it with the DCP and let them know if it happened again I would change their arrival time.

I didn't like it when children were arriving when we were beginning to do an activity or at the park so there is now a rule in place that a child has to be dropped off before or after recess. They cannot be dropped off while we are outside (either in the backyard or at the park) and I have had at least 3 parents arrive and we were not here and they had to come back again later. Our schedule is posted on my door and it states, "No drop-offs or pick-ups during this time!" under both recess times and nap. The parents are also aware of this because I have verbally told them and they have their own copy of our schedule. The parents that came while we were at recess were never late again because of the inconvenience it caused them and the fact that it made their arrival time MUCH, MUCH later. They ended up having to drop off around 9:30 (or if they missed us when we came back in and then left again they have to come back at 10:30) instead of 8:00-8:30.

I would rather implement a time they had to arrive by than implement a late charge, personally. Tell each family what time you want them to arrive by and if they don't then you won't be available to care for their child/in the home/whatever you want to say.

[Brooksie]

I'm thinking of doing the same thing! I recently sent something home saying that I will only allow drop offs between 7:30-8:30. And no child is accepted for care after 8:45. But I'm thinking about doing it for people who say they will be picking up early and then don't. I was told dcm would be getting her kids early yesterday and would be off work by 3:00. That's around the time we go outside and if she was going to pick them up I wanted to wait to take the remaining kids outside until the left. You know what happens when you guys go outside and someone gets picked up almost immediately . Not only is the child upset because he didn't get to play, but I would then have to march everyone back inside to get those kids signed out (one is special needs and has refrigerated meds and is in a wheelchair, so it takes more effort to get her together). Any way, so we waited and waited thinking she would be there any minute and other parents came and picked up and then last but not least at 5:15 here rolls in DCM. I would have been fine if she text me and said she was able to stay later at work, but no call with the expectation of her coming early was a little frustrating.

[wdmmom]

I have what's called a "convenience fee" in my policies. If you don't contact the daycare 30 minutes before your scheduled arrival time to notify them of an absence or a late arrival, a $10.00 convenience fee will be assessed to your account.

I started this years ago when I had 1 dcg scheduled to arrive at 615am everyday and no one else scheduled until 8 or 830am. DCM was notorious for over sleeping and I was up waiting for her.

[Blackcat31]

Late drop offs (times that differ from what they scheduled) don't really bother me and I don't just get up and open, I have to drive into my work....

But if someone is late, I just get to enjoy a bit of time kid free WHILE still getting paid for it....

BUT....that being said, I don't think it really has anything to do with waiting around for parents or being able to continue on with my daily routine as much as it has to do with simply respect.

If you say you are going to be somewhere at a specific time, then do so.

I KNOW I am here when I tell parents I will be here so I expect the same/equal behavior in return.

[spud912]

My problems arise when it affects our ability to take walks or they come late into breakfast time or after and expect their child to still be fed. If they want their child to take part in an activity, then they need to be here when it starts. Otherwise, I would prefer them to come at the end of that block of time. I follow our schedule pretty closely and weird drop off times do affect our schedule.

[Familycare71]

I have what's called a "convenience fee" in my policies. If you don't contact the daycare 30 minutes before your scheduled arrival time to notify them of an absence or a late arrival, a $10.00 convenience fee will be assessed to your account.

I started this years ago when I had 1 dcg scheduled to arrive at 615am everyday and no one else scheduled until 8 or 830am. DCM was notorious for over sleeping and I was up waiting for her.

I love my sleep!!! That would have driven me crazy!!!

[trippingontoys]

I've had this happen twice just this week. And since I have low numbers this summer it really irritates me. DCG was supposed to be here at 830 Tuesday. My only one that day. No text, no call, no consideration. By 10am, I assumed she wasn't coming and I wasn't in the mood to call her to find out where she was. so I headed out to the garden to work. Since I'm at home I have plenty to keep me busy. At 1030 there they are. "Sorry we're late. We slept in."

How nice. I would have liked to have slept in, but I was up and ready and waiting for you! Between kids sports practices, meetings, canning and my own kids not sleeping well, I've gotten about 4 hours of sleep a night. But don't worry about it. Feel free to drop off at your convenience. That was I thought. What I said was, "No problem" Sometimes I would really like to punch myself in the mouth and call myself names. Like peoplepleaser and spineless wimp. :-)

This morning, my family of four kids was almost an hour late. When they get here, Grandma drops off instead of mom because the youngest of the four has been puking all night. All I can think of is the germs they older three must be carrying. The youngest is 10 months old, slobbers on everything and they are always holding, carrying, and playing with the baby. I love these four like my own, but I'm trying my best to not get to close and catch anything. I've spent most of the morning wiping down everything they are touching with disinfectant cleaner. I hate to be sick. And of course they were my first ones this morning so I could have slept 1/2 hour later.

But since my enrollment numbers are sad right now and I am barely paying the bills, I can't afford to make anyone mad by charging a late drop off fee..........But I'd like to.