Parent Soooooo Late!!!!!

[mountainside13]

I should have said something to him about lying and mom not at work but I was so upset I knew I couldn't bring it up until I had time to calm down. They have a late fee of $81. Nearly a full weeks tuition! It will be nice to have extra spending money for supplies!

Thank you for the award!

[MyAngels]

I would collect late fees in one hand and hand them the term letter with the other.

Topping it off by arguing the late fee would seal the deal for me. He should be trying to get back into your good graces (dare I say groveling : not griping about the fees that were caused by his own actions.

[MotherNature]

great backbone!

[MarinaVanessa]

Well I hope whatever they were doing was worth the $81. In situations like this I'm glad I have a policy that allows me to take the DCK with me if I need to leave. I would've left at 5:30 like planned, taken their child (still a nuisance but better than not being able to see your aunt), turned off the lights to my home and left a note "Had dinner plans. Had to leave. Call me". They'd then would've had to drive to where I was and I would've charged them the late fee ending from when they got there to pick their child up.

I don't know that I would've been able to not say anything about them saying that DCM was at work and DCD saying his phone was off. If they said it one more time I'd definitely bring it up. If they do stick to the story I'd clarify that work was called and about the app telling you that the messages were read. If they are lying to you it needs to stop. They need to know that its unacceptable.

They're not even my clients and I'm angry for you.

[mama0609]

Oh. My. Gosh. I'm so angry that happened to you! And for them to flat out lie about it, wow! Glad you are at the very least getting some extra spending money out of it but I'm so sorry you missed seeing your Aunt!

[kathiemarie]

Well I hope whatever they were doing was worth the $81. In situations like this I'm glad I have a policy that allows me to take the DCK with me if I need to leave. I would've left at 5:30 like planned, taken their child (still a nuisance but better than not being able to see your aunt), turned off the lights to my home and left a note "Had dinner plans. Had to leave. Call me". They'd then would've had to drive to where I was and I would've charged them the late fee ending from when they got there to pick their child up.

I don't know that I would've been able to not say anything about them saying that DCM was at work and DCD saying his phone was off. If they said it one more time I'd definitely bring it up. If they do stick to the story I'd clarify that work was called and about the app telling you that the messages were read. If they are lying to you it needs to stop. They need to know that its unacceptable.

They're not even my clients and I'm angry for you.

This is what I do also. I'm not one to say term them but man oh man this time I say TERM them! Not so much because they were late but because of all of the lying.

[mountainside13]

Well I hope whatever they were doing was worth the $81. In situations like this I'm glad I have a policy that allows me to take the DCK with me if I need to leave. I would've left at 5:30 like planned, taken their child (still a nuisance but better than not being able to see your aunt), turned off the lights to my home and left a note "Had dinner plans. Had to leave. Call me". They'd then would've had to drive to where I was and I would've charged them the late fee ending from when they got there to pick their child up.

I don't know that I would've been able to not say anything about them saying that DCM was at work and DCD saying his phone was off. If they said it one more time I'd definitely bring it up. If they do stick to the story I'd clarify that work was called and about the app telling you that the messages were read. If they are lying to you it needs to stop. They need to know that its unacceptable.

They're not even my clients and I'm angry for you.

I don't have this in my contract but I am going to be adding it now!!! I don't have a signed permission slip from them saying I can transport. That was a huge deal for them when they started. No transportation! I haven't minded until yesterday. When my oldest was a baby and in daycare I didn't want her being transported. Now that I am a provider I fell if parents trust me with their children they should trust me transporting at least in an emergency or a necessity kwim?

Oh. My. Gosh. I'm so angry that happened to you! And for them to flat out lie about it, wow! Glad you are at the very least getting some extra spending money out of it but I'm so sorry you missed seeing your Aunt!

Thank you! I know people lie! "He has never hit anyone before!", "I don't have anymore checks, can I pay you on Friday?" Exc exc. the white lies are annoying but these were not small lies! How many other times have I watched the child past closing time when she wasn't working, cutting into my family time?!

This is what I do also. I'm not one to say term them but man oh man this time I say TERM them! Not so much because they were late but because of all of the lying.

I am seriously leaning towards terming them! I have been thinking about it for a few months already, for multiple different reasons. I just haven't done it yet because I hate interviews!! My anxiety goes into overdrive for 24 hours before an interview until it's over.

I do have 1 family on the waiting list. They are ex clients. They would be better than the current family but they had issues too!

[TheGoodLife]

I would consider telling them that you can no longer allow late pickups, as you know they abused it that day. Put the ball in their court. That's if you want the option of them terming themselves- I did that recently and the child termed, but I was OK with it!

[Cat Herder]

Good for you for sticking to your guns!!

Have they paid their fee yet?

[mountainside13]

Mom dropped off a few minutes ago and paid the fee and attached this note. When she handed it to me she said here is for last night. No sorry to my face just the note. They were more than a FEW minutes late!! I took offense to the letter. Is it just me or does it come off plain rude?

[Msdunny]

Mom dropped off a few minutes ago and paid the fee and attached this note. When she handed it to me she said here is for last night. No sorry to my face just the note. They were more than a FEW minutes late!! I took offense to the letter. Is it just me or does it come off plain rude?

No, sorry, that note wouldn't fly with me. Especially with the lie that you are aware of, and the fact that over an hour is much more than a few minutes. Seems a little snide to me. I'm afraid I would have to term, but that's me. I would still be fuming.

[blandino]

I think they feel slightly irritated by it, and want to be heard. I don't think it is over the top rude, but more like someone who wants their point to be heard. I would leave it at that, take your fees and not mention it again.

I kind of feel like the note is slightly trying to make you feel like you are being unsympathetic. And so what if you aren't ! It's not your job to be sympathetic toward her (regardless of the working/not working circumstances). I think you would make your point, that your rules are your rules by not addressing it at all. No need for explanation or anything, you have a late fee, she was late, end of story.

[Lucy]

Mom dropped off a few minutes ago and paid the fee and attached this note. When she handed it to me she said here is for last night. No sorry to my face just the note. They were more than a FEW minutes late!! I took offense to the letter. Is it just me or does it come off plain rude?

No, I don't find it rude. I would thank her for the letter, but clarify that you don't think an hour and a half qualifies as "a few minutes". I actually think she felt bad when she heard that you missed out on your plans. She sounds open to the late fee and encourages you to go ahead and charge them again if it happens in the future. That's how I take it.

[_Dana_]

"Sometimes work or traffic cause us to run a few minutes behind"

A few minutes is 5-10 minutes and I can work with that, sometimes.....not a whole hour and a half! I probably would've call the police at that point.

Anyway...I agree w/ Blandino if you intend on keeping them. I'm still sorry that you weren't able to spend any time with your aunt. :hug: Grrr. I would be bitter about that for a good while.

[Play Care]

No, I don't find it rude. I would thank her for the letter, but clarify that you don't think an hour and a half qualifies as "a few minutes". I actually think she felt bad when she heard that you missed out on your plans. She sounds open to the late fee and encourages you to go ahead and charge them again if it happens in the future. That's how I take it.

I agree with clarifying to mom immediately that is was well over a few minutes! That assertion is why I find rude, not so much the note - as if you are being unreasonable over a few minutes.

"DCM, thank you for the letter. I do want to make it clear that an hour and a half late is not a few minutes. Further it will NEVER happen again. Thanks."