Do You Take Drop-Ins If a PAYING Child Is Out?

[Cradle2crayons]

I don't read the OP's situation as "not LETTING them use the spot". I read it as, parents say "I need care Tuesday, wednesday, and Friday next week." and pay for 3 days of care. Then Tuesday night the tell her, "Oh by the way, we don't need you tomorrow after all." But they don't' get refunded, per the contract saying that they pay for what they schedule, not what they use.

THEN Wednesday morning she gets a call for a drop-in, "I am in such a bind, can you watch my kid today?" and because the other family decided NOT to use the spot, she can take the drop-in at the drop-in rate.

mthats how I read it too. That's not refusing to let them have their spot.

Like many of us here have said before. Parents tell us on Monday they will be on vacation and kid won't be here in we'd through Friday and then we'd morning saying oops can I bring him. My answer to parent would be NOPE. schedule changes are x y and z. End of story.

[Play Care]

I don't read the OP's situation as "not LETTING them use the spot". I read it as, parents say "I need care Tuesday, wednesday, and Friday next week." and pay for 3 days of care. Then Tuesday night the tell her, "Oh by the way, we don't need you tomorrow after all." But they don't' get refunded, per the contract saying that they pay for what they schedule, not what they use.

THEN Wednesday morning she gets a call for a drop-in, "I am in such a bind, can you watch my kid today?" and because the other family decided NOT to use the spot, she can take the drop-in at the drop-in rate.

In that case it might be one thing, but the way I read it was the family was paying for a FT spot, but not using all the days - she takes a drop in and the original family calls/ shows saying they need to use the spot after all.

Legally, I don't know if the provider has a leg to stand on.

[Margarete]

Does the answer for you change if the 'drop in' is a non-paying child, like a family member or perhaps one of your child's friends?

[MCC]

Does the answer for you change if the 'drop in' is a non-paying child, like a family member or perhaps one of your child's friends?

I don't take family member or close friends anymore for no payment. I watched my friends kids for a week in March and it was the hardest week I've had all year, they did not pay me (I told them not to), and I ended up having to turn down paying drop ins b/c of it. So, now I don't take them.

But- I do think that if a neighbor/friend was coming over and not paying it would not have anything to do with the paying family.

[MCC]

What I offered to them was this:

If a drop in comes on a day that they are paying for but not using, I will issue them a credit on their next payment. I will still need a weeks notice of all schedules. I felt like this was a little more human?

[Cradle2crayons]

Tha ys one reason that I like doing contracted care ONLY. Then there are fewer IFS.

[craftymissbeth]

What I offered to them was this:

If a drop in comes on a day that they are paying for but not using, I will issue them a credit on their next payment. I will still need a weeks notice of all schedules. I felt like this was a little more human?

For me, it wouldn't be worth the little bit of extra money. I think I would prefer to get paid the reg rate and have a lighter workload for the day than take a drop-in for only $10 extra (the difference between my reg rate and drop in rate).

Regardless of how you do it, though, you should be happy with it.