Stiffed at Christmas--Grrr

[providerandmomof4]

I have a dcf that has state subsidy that covers three of the four weeks of the month. She transfers the state subsidy on the first and then she is responsible for payment of that last week on the Friday before the last week of the month. Well, my first mistake was letting her pay me on the Monday of the last week instead of Friday. So, I let her pay three days later than what is stated in my contract (without late charges) and hadn't had a problem until this week.
I had a feeling, and even told my dh that I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to pull something and not pay me because tuition would be due right before Christmas.
So she texts Monday and said they were running an hour and a half late. Allright....then in an hour and a half she texts again that she was staying home with the kids because dcb wasn't feeling good. BS! I knew it! I text her back that I was sorry to hear about dcb however payment is due TODAY if she wanted to avoid late charges.
I guess she thought about it all day and at about 6pm she texts again that she wasn't about to get her sick child out in the cold and would just have to pay the late charge. She went on to say that she would leave the pmnt in my mailbox the following day. Which she didn't....
I really feel like terming over this. Doesn't she consider that I was counting on that money for my own fam's Christmas? I had to borrow money from my mother to finish up my shopping.
Now I think that she is going to try and act like nothing happened at drop off tomorrow, but I really am not ready to get over this! Or she may not even show up Thursday, who knows? If she didn't have the money Monday, I don't see how she will have the money Thursday. Kwim? Oh yea, and she just bought a new car the week before Christmas. Guess that's another reason why I knew she would somehow be too short on money to pay for daycare.
If she doesn't show up this entire week, I will term for sure. In my contract it states that after three days of non-payment, I will consider the children withdrawn and terminate dc services. So I guess I just don't know quite what to do if she does show up on Thursday?:confused:

[Laurel]

I suppose if she shows up tomorrow without payment then don't take her children for the day or until she has the money in hand, including late fee.

I know many people wouldn't but I would also tell her that I had to borrow money from my mom to finish my shopping because I didn't have her check.

So sorry this happened to you!

Laurel

[Cradle2crayons]

I suppose if she shows up tomorrow without payment then don't take her children for the day or until she has the money in hand, including late fee.

I know many people wouldn't but I would also tell her that I had to borrow money from my mom to finish my shopping because I didn't have her check.

So sorry this happened to you!

Laurel

I would refuse care until the payment and late fees are paid. Then I would tell her because of this, the payment terms would change. Get payment up front always to prevent this.

[momofboys]

I would text DCM that because she did not drop off the payment late fees for EACH day will now be due. Do not accept her children into care without payment& payment for the late fees. Best of luck!

[Maria2013]

I'm wondering if she showed up

[MarinaVanessa]

I would refuse care until the payment and late fees are paid. Then I would tell her because of this, the payment terms would change. Get payment up front always to prevent this.

[MotherNature]

Any updates?

[providerandmomof4]

Update: She was a no call, no show today. I am typing up my term letter to send out in the mail today. I will also text her that I am sending her the term of contract in the mail today, due to non-payment; per my policies that she signed. I have written in my policies/contract that more than 3 consecutive days of non attendance without pay and you are withdrawn from my program.

Normally I do get prepaid on Fridays. I make an exception for her and let her prepay on Monday... She just decided not to show up the week of Christmas....I guess so she could get out of paying. I don't know if she was planning on withdrawing, or she was planning on holding me off until she gets paid...I just don't know. However, I DO know that I'm through with her antics. This family has been nothing but trouble.

I wish there was a web site where we could warn other providers about trouble families. I know that what works for one, may not work for another but when it comes to nonpayment...I think we should be able to leave a bad reference. Just like a job. Kwim?

[Childminder]

I wish there was a web site where we could warn other providers about trouble families. I know that what works for one, may not work for another but when it comes to nonpayment...I think we should be able to leave a bad reference. Just like a job. Kwim?

Providerwatch.com

[MarinaVanessa]

I wish there was a web site where we could warn other providers about trouble families. I know that what works for one, may not work for another but when it comes to nonpayment...I think we should be able to leave a bad reference. Just like a job. Kwim?

You can report her to ProviderWatch.com. That's where you can report when clients owe you money. You can tell a bit about what the issue is and other providers can subscribe to check clients before they enroll them, sort of like a credit check for providers. Once she pays you can update the complaint but it'll still show as a record.

[Cradle2crayons]

You can report her to ProviderWatch.com. That's where you can report when clients owe you money. You can tell a bit about what the issue is and other providers can subscribe to check clients before they enroll them, sort of like a credit check for providers. Once she pays you can update the complaint but it'll still show as a record.

I use provider watch, and when parents enroll I give them a handout with information about provider watch.

[providerandmomof4]

I use provider watch, and when parents enroll I give them a handout with information about provider watch.

Good to know! Thanks!
A strange turn of events happened today. I sent dcm a text stating that I was terminating immed, per my policies that she signed, for non attendance and non payment. I advised that I would also be sending her a termination letter through the mail and she should receive it tomorrow.

A few seconds after I send the text, she calls crying. Saying she doesn't want her kids going to another dc and how sorry she is. :confused: It really caught me off guard. She said she'd be over in 5 minutes to pay me fees owed, and with a million excuses. She herself said that she had no excuse She just couldn't believe that I was serious?
Don't mess with my money lady. I tell ya, I will put up with a lot of BS, but when I put up with it for free. I get serious.

I ended up telling her that I would give her a two weeks notice so that she could find other care but I felt that would be best at this point to part ways. I also said that this wasn't the only problem. I told her that after the first of the year, I would be changing my closing times, and not taking schedules past 5pm. (She has a 6:30 pick up)

So she came and paid me all fees owed...in 5 minutes (she lives really close) but what really surprised me was that about an hour later, she sends a text asking if there was anyway her kids could stay. That I'm such a great provider and they really enjoy it here and she doesn't want to move them?? Also that she could change her work schedule to arrange for an earlier pickup if need be. What? I don't know what to think!

[Josiegirl]

Ugh, she's been taking advantage of you all this time because she could. Now that you've put your foot down and become serious, she's changed her tune. I hate it when people do that, why couldn't they do it before?? I think if you could afford it, I'd still term her.

[cheerfuldom]

Good to know! Thanks!
A strange turn of events happened today. I sent dcm a text stating that I was terminating immed, per my policies that she signed, for non attendance and non payment. I advised that I would also be sending her a termination letter through the mail and she should receive it tomorrow.

A few seconds after I send the text, she calls crying. Saying she doesn't want her kids going to another dc and how sorry she is. :confused: It really caught me off guard. She said she'd be over in 5 minutes to pay me fees owed, and with a million excuses. She herself said that she had no excuse She just couldn't believe that I was serious?
Don't mess with my money lady. I tell ya, I will put up with a lot of BS, but when I put up with it for free. I get serious.

I ended up telling her that I would give her a two weeks notice so that she could find other care but I felt that would be best at this point to part ways. I also said that this wasn't the only problem. I told her that after the first of the year, I would be changing my closing times, and not taking schedules past 5pm. (She has a 6:30 pick up)

So she came and paid me all fees owed...in 5 minutes (she lives really close) but what really surprised me was that about an hour later, she sends a text asking if there was anyway her kids could stay. That I'm such a great provider and they really enjoy it here and she doesn't want to move them?? Also that she could change her work schedule to arrange for an earlier pickup if need be. What? I don't know what to think!

Do you have replacements for these kids? I personally would confirm that she can abide by the payment plans and the pickup plans in the future with the condition that her family is still on probation. One break of rules and she is out, no exceptions. I do think some parents can get it together and hopefully she is one of them. But if you dont want to risk having to deal with a term later, then just term now. its up to you.

[nannyde]

Good to know! Thanks!
A strange turn of events happened today. I sent dcm a text stating that I was terminating immed, per my policies that she signed, for non attendance and non payment. I advised that I would also be sending her a termination letter through the mail and she should receive it tomorrow.

A few seconds after I send the text, she calls crying. Saying she doesn't want her kids going to another dc and how sorry she is. :confused: It really caught me off guard. She said she'd be over in 5 minutes to pay me fees owed, and with a million excuses. She herself said that she had no excuse She just couldn't believe that I was serious?
Don't mess with my money lady. I tell ya, I will put up with a lot of BS, but when I put up with it for free. I get serious.

I ended up telling her that I would give her a two weeks notice so that she could find other care but I felt that would be best at this point to part ways. I also said that this wasn't the only problem. I told her that after the first of the year, I would be changing my closing times, and not taking schedules past 5pm. (She has a 6:30 pick up)

So she came and paid me all fees owed...in 5 minutes (she lives really close) but what really surprised me was that about an hour later, she sends a text asking if there was anyway her kids could stay. That I'm such a great provider and they really enjoy it here and she doesn't want to move them?? Also that she could change her work schedule to arrange for an earlier pickup if need be. What? I don't know what to think!

Parents don't like it when you break up with them. They want to stay on top in the relationship to the last day. She has already started looking for care. She will term you without notice and turn you into the State once she has secured a spot.

SAVE the text. Copy it and have her sign it and date it. If you can, video tape her discussion with you about it.

Right now she is saying whatever she has to to have an open ticket so she can find care and stay being your boss. I would have her sign an agreement to switch hours AND to give you two months notice in writing and notorized. I would also have her agree to late fees and late payment fee. If she loves you so much she will gladly agree.