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It really bites knowing this is part of the daycare business, but we live and learn. Have you had any other experiences where you now want balances pre-paid? It's not required, but I would recommend it. I'm not by any means saying how to run your business. If you have plenty of good clients then you really have not had a reason to change when parents pay. It is good that so far the invoices are Thursday and payments are Friday. I hope I have parents who will pay overnight too, but I will be a stickler and have things pre-paid.
I would also add to your handbook that text messages are NOT business appropriate or a good means of communication because you never know "my phone must not have gotten it, etc." excuses later. Email, snail-mail, letters handed in person, phone calls, etc are good communication between providers and parents usually. Anyways, that is just my pet-peeve, I hate business text messages...it's like being a teenager again. LOL
Like someone stated above, send a letter that is certified stating how much they owe you, when they needed to pay it, and for what dates it covers. You do not need to add that you couldn't provide care their last day. Certified mail holds up in court and so does your history with this family, all the papers you have. Mention that the balance/statements they have received need to be signed by you, the provider, before they can claim it on their own taxes, etc. Give them a date (less than a week) to get a check paid in full to you for your services provided or they will be turned over to small claims court and reported. Even if you don't plan on going to small claims (Yet, it's easy and I would follow through because they're responsible for all costs related to starting a small claims case), mention it in the certified letter because usually that threat makes them pay up. Email me if you want to know more about small claims and certified mail. I've done this before and won by default because they refused to do anything.
I would also add to your handbook that text messages are NOT business appropriate or a good means of communication because you never know "my phone must not have gotten it, etc." excuses later. Email, snail-mail, letters handed in person, phone calls, etc are good communication between providers and parents usually. Anyways, that is just my pet-peeve, I hate business text messages...it's like being a teenager again. LOL
Like someone stated above, send a letter that is certified stating how much they owe you, when they needed to pay it, and for what dates it covers. You do not need to add that you couldn't provide care their last day. Certified mail holds up in court and so does your history with this family, all the papers you have. Mention that the balance/statements they have received need to be signed by you, the provider, before they can claim it on their own taxes, etc. Give them a date (less than a week) to get a check paid in full to you for your services provided or they will be turned over to small claims court and reported. Even if you don't plan on going to small claims (Yet, it's easy and I would follow through because they're responsible for all costs related to starting a small claims case), mention it in the certified letter because usually that threat makes them pay up. Email me if you want to know more about small claims and certified mail. I've done this before and won by default because they refused to do anything.
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