Parent Soooooo Late!!!!!

[kathiemarie]

I find it rude. It wasn't an apology it was an excuse. By the tone of the note I would count on it happening again.

[Lucy]

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."

Yes, this exactly! I'd be ticked that she found an hour and a half to be a few minutes, and I'd FOR SURE clarify that with her.

Dr. Phil says, "you teach people how to treat you", and you need to let her know that an hour and a half late with poor communication was NOT acceptable to you.

Other than that part, I find the tone of the letter to be apologetic. If she were being snide, she wouldn't have written the letter. Or, she would've written something like, "Sorry Joe was a few minutes late yesterday. As you know, traffic can be bad sometimes." But she didn't merely say that part. She apologized, and acknowledged that it inconvenienced you, and went on further to state that you definitely SHOULD charge them if it happens again.

ETA: All the above being said, I'd be ticked at them for just the lateness itself, not to mention the lying by omission, and the flat out lying to your face! I wouldn't want to work them anymore. If I didn't mind taking the former clients, I'd try to summon up the courage (it's hard for me!) to term this family and take the other one.

[My3cents]

Omg! I need a break after this evening! Most of my kids are gone by 4:30. Today 2 parents were late and they didn't get picked up until 4:50. I didn't mind too much since I had 1 child that was going to be here until 5:15. I didn't charge them late fees since they are rarely late!

My last child was suppose to leave at 5:15. Dad called at 5:10 saying he will be a FEW minutes late! Ok no big deal we don't have to leave here until 5:30. My aunt was driving through town so just here for 1 day. 5:30...5:40, still not here. Call dad, no answer. 5:50 call both parents, no answer. 6:05 call emergency contact...they live in New Mexico! But with Iowa zip code. No help there...2nd emergency contact at 6:10 no answer. 6:15 I call moms work because she is suppose to be working until 8pm tonight. The manager says that she didn't work today. Our agreement was the child is to be picked up at 4:20 on days off or days that she works early. The days she works late dad picks up at 5:15. So right there she broke the contract!

6:30 I text both mom and dad. Dad finally shows up at 6:41! He said that the battery in his car died and couldn't get it to start, then his phone died so he couldn't contact me. I told him that I am charging a late fee of $5 for the first 10 minutes then $1 per minute after that. It looked like he was going to argue with me but I cut him off and told him that my aunt got into town this morning from Illinois and we were going out to spend time with her but we missed the get together and she leave tomorrow at 6 am. So we can't see her now and will have to wait another year or 2 to see her again! He then started apologizing and asked if they can pay it on Mondays check. I said nope, tomorrow morning at drop off or she won't be admitted back into care until it is paid.

Oh I am so upset! Never has a parent ever been that late before! Oh and he said that his phone died and couldn't respond... He has iMessage on and it informs me when the text message is read. He flat out lied.

At this point I don't even care if they don't come back! Thanks for listening to my vent!!

OMG!!! I just want to hug you:hug::hug::hug: I feel so bad for you missing that time with your Aunt. What was Moms roll in all of this? I would be livid too. I have to say you have a good backbone and handled yourself well with not backing down. I wouldn't want to work with these clients anymore either.

[My3cents]

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

yes....... and I am not quick to term anyone. This is flat our disrespect and disregard for you as a person- They both Lied it sounds like. Agree with JEN

[Moppetland]

On top of this, you also mentioned that an emergency contact lives in New Mexico?

They also need to update their emergency contact information. What if that was a medical emergency on your part or on their child's part? You couldn't contact anyone. That alone would have put more fuel to my fire.

[My3cents]

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.

Do you know why we are so angry for you, besides the obvious? They are not our clients but after you term them probably they will move onto someone else and pull this again and that angers me. Lying unacceptable

[My3cents]

I find it rude. It wasn't an apology it was an excuse. By the tone of the note I would count on it happening again.

Sounds like don't worry about telling us again of how much we owe in late fees because its going to happen again.

Not having back up to call- No
The lying- No
Scratch letter she wrote half asleep before morning drop off-No

Term them and take the anxiety of finding clients that will appreciate all that you do. This family is giving you anxiety all the time-

I would tell them that you knew she was not working and the Dads phone was working fine. Give them two weeks and be done with this. I don't term easy but this is crazy

Best-

[Cat Herder]

Some people really have no idea what it is to be accountable for their own life choices.

Society tells them car trouble IS a valid excuse. Never mind the fact the check engine light has been on for 30 days, they are driving on a spare and the battery died twice this weekend already requiring the neighbor guy to jump them off....

I'd meet the note with radio silence, cash the check immediately (before they can stop payment if they are vindictive) and "feel comfortable" telling them when they incur fees in the future.

Take her literally... No guilt for holding her accountable in the future. Get comfortable. :hug:

[mountainside13]

I have decided to terminate tonight when dad picks up late again tonight. Anyone have a good termination letter? I don't like mine. I am on the fence if I should bring up the lying and everything else or just terminate and be done. I will give 2 weeks notice but will give them a free out if they find someone sooner. I don't want to deal with it longer than I have too.

[Heidi]

I have decided to terminate tonight when dad picks up late again tonight. Anyone have a good termination letter? I don't like mine. I am on the fence if I should bring up the lying and everything else or just terminate and be done. I will give 2 weeks notice but will give them a free out if they find someone sooner. I don't want to deal with it longer than I have too.

Please don't give them a free out! You can make it two weeks if they really do continue to bring him. I did it for 4 kids I termed from one family. Awkward, but I did it. I really hoped that she'd just not bring them back, but she did, and we made it through.

If they DO decide to not come back, you can and should still bill them through the two weeks!

[mountainside13]

Please don't give them a free out! You can make it two weeks if they really do continue to bring him. I did it for 4 kids I termed from one family. Awkward, but I did it. I really hoped that she'd just not bring them back, but she did, and we made it through.

If they DO decide to not come back, you can and should still bill them through the two weeks!

I see what you mean! I won't do a free out, I am hoping that she will just pay for the 2 weeks and not come back!

[safechner]

The mother wrote the note and I found that she is guilty because she knew she lied to you so she can make an excuse!

If I were you, I would go to their bank to cash out from the check before you hand out the terminate letter tonight. More likely, they will get angry and will not bring the kid back on Monday morning.

[TwinKristi]

On top of this, you also mentioned that an emergency contact lives in New Mexico?

They also need to update their emergency contact information. What if that was a medical emergency on your part or on their child's part? You couldn't contact anyone. That alone would have put more fuel to my fire.

This should be brought up in the term letter IMO! This is what really freaks me out about doing DC sometimes. I know that my kids had a couple emergencies at daycare when they were little, one requiring several stitches and a CT scan. Thankfully I worked in town and my dh was headed home anyway but had I been an hour away, dh working out of town, let alone just not answering, and no local emergency contact I would be horrified as a provider. Did their contact person move and they didn't update or have they always lived elsewhere? That's just weird. Anyway, I'm glad you're using your backbone and telling them that's not acceptable.

[mountainside13]

The mother wrote the note and I found that she is guilty because she knew she lied to you so she can make an excuse!

If I were you, I would go to their bank to cash out from the check before you hand out the terminate letter tonight. More likely, they will get angry and will not bring the kid back on Monday morning.

I told her she had to pay in cash, which they did! I am hoping they don't show up on Monday but pay the 2 weeks. If not then I will have to go down that road if it comes to it.

This should be brought up in the term letter IMO! This is what really freaks me out about doing DC sometimes. I know that my kids had a couple emergencies at daycare when they were little, one requiring several stitches and a CT scan. Thankfully I worked in town and my dh was headed home anyway but had I been an hour away, dh working out of town, let alone just not answering, and no local emergency contact I would be horrified as a provider. Did their contact person move and they didn't update or have they always lived elsewhere? That's just weird. Anyway, I'm glad you're using your backbone and telling them that's not acceptable.

They have our area code so I am guessing that they recently moved there. Another lessen learned!

[melilley]

I didn't like the note. I read it more of a "nice rude" note if that makes sense.