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I would be sure to mention to dad that dropping off early throws a kink into your schedule. and if he needs it done occasionally then just to call or text you in the mornings,.. to see if its ok. That you will be honest with him if its not ok in a return call or text. But if it needs to happen more often than 2 time s a month you need to change his times and charge him accordingly.
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But I dont understand how you can charge for early drop off when you offer care for up to 10 hrs? If they contracted for 730-530, they would X amount...and if they contracted for 8-530, its the same X amount. I really dont see how you can justify it. They will only change their contract hrs to say 715-515 for the same amount they are paying now. You are not losing any money!Comment
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I can't seem to get how to do multiple quotes, so I'll just reply.
My contract is worded just like MarinaVanessa's. UP TO 10 hours per day. And actually, that isn't even on my contract - the only thing on my actual contract is their contracted times, late fees, vacation and holiday info.
I do not have "open" and "close" times - when a family contacts me for care, I ask what hours they need and if it fits with my schedule, I'll take them and contract their hours here.
Like I said before, I have had families ask me to let them drop off early or pick up late, and as long as it doesn't go over 10 hours/day then I will do it and I don't charge any extra. What is getting to me is that this family has done it TWICE now without asking or even telling me they were going to be early. I didn't charge them the first time - I let it slide as it was the first time, and they wanted to extend their contracted hours. This was just last month. I drew up a new contract and they signed it - says right on there they will be there at 8am, anything before that will incur a late fee.
If I "contracted" them from 7:15 to 5:15 that would defeat the concept of contracted hours. They don't need me that early. Up until dad's office moved to another building, they were coming at 8:20. The new office is only 10 minutes from here, he starts work at 8:30. There is no reason for him to drop off at 7:45. And IF there was a reason (had to go in early, etc) then he needs to pre-arrange it with me, or get charged a fee.Comment
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I respectfully disagree with you thats the reason for contracted times, but you add in your contract that you open at 8am, and then if someone wants to drop off early, then charge them a early drop fee. If they want to contract now for 715-515, you will still get the same money as you do now, and if origninally thats what they contracted, it still wouldnt be any difference in pay for you.Comment
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I think the wording leaves room for arguement is all.
If you have contracted hours that is fine but then instead of saying you are available to watch their child for up to 10 hours. You should instead state in your handbook that the hours of care are the ones listed as the contracted hours on the agreed and signed contract. And that any care beyond that is subject to an addtional fee, however no child shall ever be in your care for more than 10 hours.
This leaves them locked into the contracted times
allows them over time which they will have to pay for
and never allows them more than 10 hours.Comment
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Where are you getting this? I don't have an open time - I just said that. They are contracted for 8am, per their request. They did not request 7:15 drop off - a pp suggested I do that, for whatever reason. I asked several times what the earliest they would be dropping off, and they repeatedly told me 8am. That's why their contracted drop off time is 8am. If they had said a different time, I would have put that down.
[QUOTE If you have contracted hours that is fine but then instead of saying you are available to watch their child for up to 10 hours.[/QUOTE]
I do not say that I'm available to watch their children for up to 10 hours per day. I don't tell them I open at x and close at y. In my handbook it says that the PRICE for care is $xx UP TO 10 hours per day. That is nowhere on my contract. They sign the contract that states their contracted hours.
Anyway, this isn't at all about the money. That late fee is not going to make or break me. It's about following my policies, that they agreed to, and not walking all over me. It's about showing me a little respect.Comment
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This is where you are confusing me! You say you charge $xx for up to 10 hrs correct?
If they want you from 8-5, it's $xx for those 9 hrs correct?
So they show up at 745 correct?
And they still leave at 5? correct?
So now you want to charge them extra for 15 minutes? correct?
That is 9 hrs and 15 minutes correct?
But your contract "up to 10 hrs" correct?
So how the hek can you charge them more?????
All they have to do now is change their contracted hrs to say 715 (which is an example, I know they have not done this) to 5, and you still will be getting your same $xx!!! That is my point!! they are not going to pay more when all they have to do is change their hrs!Comment
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As I stated before: Anyway, this isn't at all about the money. That late fee is not going to make or break me. It's about following my policies, that they agreed to, and not walking all over me. It's about showing me a little respect. That's why I'm charging them a fee for early drop off. What if they were my first clients and I was just getting out of the shower?? Common courtesy says you will ASK if you can drop off early, not just show up. THAT'S why I have contracted times!Comment
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If you are in the shower, then you are not open yet. That is different!
I will take my shower on my time, when I am not open. If someone wants then to come early, BEFORE I am open, then I charge the early drop fee, and I will then know to take my shower earlier.
I think you need to change your wording in your contract, because if I was that parent, you still have not made your case with me. If he shows up early before you are open and he did not tell you, the you make him wait until you are open, and dont open the door.Comment
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I don't think you are getting it. I am open when my first child is scheduled to arrive!! If my first dcb was not here today, then I would not have been open until 8am - when this family was scheduled to be here. And I'm not sure why you say I need to change the wording in my contract - you've never even seen my contract!
Here is what it says under overtime rates: For the purpose of this agreement, overtime will be considered as drop-off before 8am and pick-up after 5:15pm.
Under the child info part: For the care of ******, the payment fee shall be $110 per week. Care shall be provided normally from 8am to 5:15pm on the following days (and I have all weekdays circled).
Nowhere does it say that those rates are good for 10 hours a day. Nothing in my contract says anything about 10 hours or up to 10 hours a day.Comment
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So I take it the point you are making is that this parent is not honoring your contract, I can understand that.
At next drop off, one of 2 things will happen:
1) he drops off on time, and you could say, "Thank you for coming at 8:00 this morning. It seems like you are getting adjusted to your new schedule. Those early drop offs can get expensive."
or
2) He drops off early again. You could say, "Oh, is it 8:00? Oh, no, it's only 7:45. Are you going to come back, or wait until 8:00?" (He'll say, "Can I drop her off?") "Well, that is 15 minutes early, so if you want to pay the $$$ fee for early drop off, I have the room this morning. Otherwise, you can come back or wait. I need to get back to the kids so what is your plan?"Comment
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Hi I am new to Daycare can someone explain to me what are contracted hours I do not have my license yet but I would like to knowComment
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Let's say you are open from 6am - 6pm, but when you interview a family you ask them what hours they need for care. They tell you they need you from 8-5. So you contract their hours from 8-5. It's just a way to keep parents from dropping off when you open and pick up when you close (which would make them in your care for 12 hours). Most providers will have one rate up to 10 hours/day, and charge more for anything over that.
For me, I don't have set open and close times, I only take families who fit into the hours I'm willing to work, but I'm somewhat flexible also. I use contracted hours so I know who will be here when, and can plan accordingly for our day.
You will find that if you don't put limits on the times the child(ren) can be in your care, some (not all, I have really great parents right now!) of them will take total advantage of you and leave them in your care for as long as they can. Even with contracted hours (as you could see if you read the beginning of this thread
) some will still push the limits sometimes.
By the way, as an update, I did send a copy of the contract home with the parents last week, and a note requesting the overtime pay of $5 to be paid with the next scheduled payment, and yesterday their check was weekly pay + the overtime pay
And....except for one other time when dad tried to come at 7:50 (which I had locked the door and he went back to the car and came back at 8), he was on time the rest of the week.
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