New Family Didnt Pay

[DaisyMamma]

I'm always the first to tell everyone here - no nonsense! You need to be paid, enforce late fees, etc.

Now look at me.
I need some encouragement please.

New family. 2 kids and gave me $650 deposit no questions asked.

Week one. Mom is "transitioning" kids and only coming a couple hours (first day stayed the whole time ), two more hours next day, two more hours today... But never paid on Monday for this week... Soooo does she think she doesn't have to pay this week or? I'm so bad at communication. I pointed out where the payment envelope was on Monday but that's all I said about $. She's been told previously that payment is due at the beginning of each week, Monday morning drop off.

Kick my butt into gear, please! Now its Wednesday so it makes it more awkward for me.

[debbiedoeszip]

Imagine you are running a store. You wouldn't let someone walk out with something without paying for it, right? This is the third time (day) that she has walked out without paying. Demand payment or tell her to get lost. If Walmart wouldn't let you get away with not paying, why would you let her?

There, consider your butt kicked

[sarah33]

The only one looking out for you, is you. (Learned that one fast in the Army!) If you don't make her pay, no one is going to make her pay. You have to stand up for yourself.

[TickleMonster]

Oh God I've been there. Used to be such a softy about asking for payment. Since this is just her first week, maybe just gently remind her? Say something like "Sally, I know this is our first week together and its tough getting everyone situated but I noticed you have forgotten payment for the past few days. That will need to be paid by tomorrow morning in full please." Some people are just scatterbrained about money. I have one dcm that has been with me 6 months and I still have to text her every Sunday night to remember payment Monday morning. If I don't she will go all week long forgetting to pay!

[DaisyMamma]

Oh God I've been there. Used to be such a softy about asking for payment. Since this is just her first week, maybe just gently remind her? Say something like "Sally, I know this is our first week together and its tough getting everyone situated but I noticed you have forgotten payment for the past few days. That will need to be paid by tomorrow morning in full please." Some people are just scatterbrained about money. I have one dcm that has been with me 6 months and I still have to text her every Sunday night to remember payment Monday morning. If I don't she will go all week long forgetting to pay!

Every Sunday? Omg that's a little crazy! LOL

[TaylorTots]

"DCM, I was ready to deposit checks for this week's care that were due on Monday and I saw you hadn't paid. Please bring payment tomorrow morning."

Then on Friday a gentle reminder: "Remember, payment due Monday. Late fees are $X daily as per the contract we signed."

[taylorw1210]

"DCM, I was ready to deposit checks for this week's care that were due on Monday and I saw you hadn't paid. Please bring payment tomorrow morning."

Then on Friday a gentle reminder: "Remember, payment due Monday. Late fees are $X daily as per the contract we signed."

Any chance she thinks her $650 deposit is advance payment?

[sahm1225]

Any chance she thinks her $650 deposit is advance payment?

That's what I was thinking. I like the other post about telling her you were going to make the deposit and realized her payment wasn't in there. Then tell her that you will waive the late fee as a one time courtesy, but payments are always due on Mondays.

[cheerfuldom]

You need to talk to her today! My guess is that she doesnt think she has to pay at all because she has been staying and these are short play date type situations for transition. A lot of parents think that is a part of the interview process and they dont realize that requires payment.

[Crazy8]

Any chance she thinks her $650 deposit is advance payment?

that's what I'm thinking… she may think that is deposit and first week. Since it is wednesday already I wouldn't delay in mentioning it any longer. Since you have a payment envelope I would say you noticed her payment wasn't in there and just wanted to clarify that payment was due on Monday and what the $650 covered (last week of care maybe? - whatever your contract says).

[NeedaVaca]

update?

[taylorw1210]

update?

I'm curious, too!

[DaisyMamma]

I said "I still need to get your payment for this week" and I was very nice. She said oh ok I wasn't sure what the check was for. So I explained. What I really wanted to say was, Oh, so you didn't read your paperwork?!!

I guess she is the type that needs her hand held. She wants me to email her (again) what her weekly rate is and remind her to bring a check. She didn't even remember what her weekly rate was!! Whatever. If that's what you want lady - but I'm only doing it once and then I'm just going to make sure I meet her at the door and ask for a check every Monday for a few weeks. She came from another home daycare (in NYC!), so I assumed she would already have been "trained".::

Sometimes these things that make us, as providers, totally uncomfortable end up being no big deal, but in the mean time we turn that mole hill into a mountain

[TaylorTots]

Sounds like you did a great job handling it. I have a few parents that forget policies. Whenever they do or have a question I print out that particular page of the handbook that addresses it, highlight it and send it home that night. I tell them "review my policy THEN ask questions." It honestly helps me have a backbone

[TwinKristi]

:: Some parents crack me up! I have a DCD (who drives me bonkers) ask me about things that are clearly written in my contract that he has both an email and hard copy of and signed that he agreed to. So a) he is just dumb or b) he never read past the first paragraph and said "yeah ok" and went about his day. But... I've made a few changes that should help keep that in line!

Glad she was just needing a reminder!!