SO Irritated - Am I Your Doormat Now?

[SignMeUp]

So, I had a couple whose jobs both got downsized the same day, and I gave them a "deal" on their rate.
They have been with me for many years, always pay on time, always come on time, and are just pleasant and nice people.

Today is the first day that they owe the reduced rate (3/4 of their normal pay).
They did not pay me. Maybe it's nothing, but I feel as if by giving them a lower rate, they are now invited to walk all over me

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I hope you did not accept the child into care.

[SignMeUp]

They have been here for six years already. I was trying to be understanding and nice.
And now I guess I have to go ask to be paid. Hate that. Hate that they did that. Hate that I was nice and understanding if it's an invitation to be taken advantage of.

[cheerfuldom]

I would give them the benefit of the doubt. even the best parents are going to have mistakes here and there. but yeah, if it appears to be a trend, it would call them out on it

[NeedaVaca]

You might consider doing a new contract for the rate reduction with an ending date. Did you put any kind of time frame on it? This kind of reminds me of another thread where someone did a rate reduction and after quite some time the family ended up leaving for cheaper care or maybe it was grandma/free? So, this provider tried to be nice, lost a lot of income only to have the family leave Would hate to see you have the same ending!

[Annalee]

They have been here for six years already. I was trying to be understanding and nice.
And now I guess I have to go ask to be paid. Hate that. Hate that they did that. Hate that I was nice and understanding if it's an invitation to be taken advantage of.

I have been full-time pay regardless for so long and your situation is one of the reasons I am not sure i want to even offer part-time/drop-in care. It is in the works but not sure how it will go over with current clients?????

[SignMeUp]

I did, it's for a few months. They are my dream family, I have always said everyone should be like them, and I will be very upset if I helped ruin that

I guess I should try to not over-react, hmmm?

[Crazy8]

Hopefully they will come in with it this afternoon but I would have a new contract drawn up for them when they walk in today and say "I know your new payment amount is due starting today, just need you to sign this to show the TEMPORARY change". PUT AN END DATE to it. Are their reduced hours for this reduced rate?? If they are just job hunting there is no need for children to be in care from open to close. I would spell all that out for them in a new contract.

[SignMeUp]

I hope you did not accept the child into care.

I just realized what you meant. I have never needed to deny care before. This payment would cover next week, so if I had to, I would deny care then, yes?

[melilley]

I agree with Cheerfuldom. Maybe they forgot? My very best parent has forgotten before. I would wait until p/u and see if they pay, if not I would bring it up. I have to do this with one of my families often, I hate having to do it-they should remember, but I need to get paid.

[melilley]

Hopefully they will come in with it this afternoon but I would have a new contract drawn up for them when they walk in today and say "I know your new payment amount is due starting today, just need you to sign this to show the TEMPORARY change". PUT AN END DATE to it. Are their reduced hours for this reduced rate?? If they are just job hunting there is no need for children to be in care from open to close. I would spell all that out for them in a new contract.

or offer to provide care with the reduced rate ONLY when they are job hunting or on an interview.

oops I think that's what Crazy8 said.

[Naptime yet?]

I text a reminder to the parent that they need to bring payment at pick up. Half the time the check was in mom/dad's wallet etc & they just forgot because they were rushing out the door in the am.

I agree with giving them the benefit of the doubt. But if they don't pay you tomorrow, that's another story.

[coolconfidentme]

Send a gentle reminder text, if they ignore it, at pick up tell them you will resume care when service fees are caught up.

[NeedaVaca]

Hopefully they will come in with it this afternoon but I would have a new contract drawn up for them when they walk in today and say "I know your new payment amount is due starting today, just need you to sign this to show the TEMPORARY change". PUT AN END DATE to it. Are their reduced hours for this reduced rate?? If they are just job hunting there is no need for children to be in care from open to close. I would spell all that out for them in a new contract.

Reduced hours! I didn't think of that and that's good-they don't need full time care if neither of them are working right?

[SignMeUp]

They both still have jobs. One is going to have fewer hours and less pay, and the other is going to have more hours for less pay. Obviously, this is not a happy situation for them either.