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Depends on what the kid has. I usually pay my bills ahead so getting payment Friday instead of Monday is no biggie if a kid has strep or something I don't need to have additional exposure to. I also consider that if the child is so sick I require them to be home, I do not force the mom to come out simply to pay me. Now, if he's sick every other payday, then I might get strict. But for once-in-a-while unexpected illness, I'd rather they just pay on Monday. Now, if they don't pay Monday a.m., they don't drop off the kid.
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I still require it but I have had some of my single parents been unable to come so they have made arrangements to get it to me on Saturday.
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I take payment on the 1st of the month, but allow them to pay until the 3rd. If they are parents who normally pay on time I wouldn't make them come in special, but if I'd had issues in the past I would.Comment
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Payment due Monday at drop off. But if they're out they can bring it next day they come. Full payment due but no fees.Comment
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It would depend on the family. I actually termed one family because dcm always had some excuse as to why she didn't get my money transferred. In my mind the situation was ridiculous because she was state pay and the money was loaded on her card. All she had to do was make a phone call or could pay over the internet. She can't touch that money for anything other than daycare, so I couldn't understand why she was having such a problem with paying me??? She chose to pay weekly, which was fine however payment was due in advance on Friday, the same as my private pay. It was just completely disrespectful in my opinion. When I told her that it wasn't working out, and I had to have clients that paid me on time, she looked at me like I was crazy
Really? You didn't see this coming? And then tried to argue with me.
Now, I have another dcm that is state subsidy but she has to pay out of pocket the last week of the month because she doesn't rcv enough to cover the entire month. She is allowed to pay on Monday that last week instead of the previous Friday. She transfers the entire month amount in advance on the first, less the last week of payment that she owes.Comment
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depends on the family for me too..... great parents who ALWAYS pay on time I will tell them not to worry about it till Monday (and they are usually the ones who will bring it up first and say they'll drop it off before monday!) but if there are any issues with a family I would just send a reminder saying "hope dck feels better, please just leave the check in my mailbox by 5pm".Comment
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Depends on their attitude and how much you need the money that very day. If you need the money to buy groceries or supplies this weekend then you insist they come to pay you as per your agreement.
If a family tells me when they call to say their child is sick that they will be coming by later with their fees, if they have been a good family in the past, I might say to them, "Thank you, I know you're good for it, you can bring it Monday morning." (My fees are due the child's last day of attendance for the week). But sometimes I would just say "thank you, see you when you get here".
If they "tell" me that they will bring their fees Monday, I "tell" them that they will accrue late fees if they do that.
So, if they show respect for my policies, I am more understanding, if they are bossy and "tell" ME what they are going to do, no leniency.
But if I really needed that money that very day, I would insist they pay that day no matter how nice they were.Comment
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My DH has a great job that provides us a comfortable lifestyle.
Requiring parents to pay their fees when due (regardless of their issues) shouldn't be dependent on whether I NEED the money or not.
I think that makes it sound like those of us who don't give much leeway for late or missed payments, are money hungry and that is not at all the case.
I don't NEED the money that day. I require it because that is when it's due. period. There really shouldn't even be an option to give "golden families" or families I like or have a good relationship with an exception....
I provide a service and expect to be paid like everyone else. On time.
I understand that the mom has a sick kid but unless there really is no option for her to come pay it, I think it's due when it's due. In all my years of doing child care I think there my have been 1 or 2 situations where it was literally impossible for the parent to pay as scheduled.
Most times, they have the other parent drop it off, do a bank or e-mail transfer, have a friend bring it, bring it themselves and/or just pay the late fee when they come on Monday.
As a business owner, I personally feel it isn't fair to waive policies based on personal feelings or a "likeability" factor.
*FWIW~ This wasn't addressed solely towards you.
I'm sorry if it comes across that way...... I just don't feel like parents should have to or not have to pay according to how badly a provider NEEDS the money.
It really isn't any of my DCF's business whether I need or don't need the money. kwim?
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If they know in advance that they won't be here on payday, they pay me the last day of the week that they know they will be here. For example, if they know they are going to be off work/ going on vacation/ child will be spending the day with grand mom, etc. and they know that their last day will be Wednesday, than they pay me that Wednesday instead of Friday (their normal payday). If they were expecting to come to daycare on payday (Friday), but something happened to make them not need daycare (example - someone got sick), I require that someone stop by at the normal drop off time in the morning to pay me even if the child is not coming to daycare. By having them come in the morning at their regular drop off time, I am not stuck sitting here all day waiting for them. This is especially helpful if the other children get picked up early.Comment
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