Tticked Off

[nannyde]

If you have a late fee of, oh, say $10/day, the difference is $20! :: I know I have no room to talk, since I've had my own share of problems with people paying late, and not having a backbone to make them stop paying late.....but I really do agree with late fees and the "no pay, no stay" ideas.

Question for anyone reading this far: my families leave check in diaper bag and I get it later in the day, when I have a chance to look for it. If it wasn't in there, would you text/call mom to remind her to bring it? Or just add late fees? If you add the late fees, do you send a note home every day that it's late? Or just not say anything? I understand the courtesy of letting them know they forget the check, but really, they are adults and I get tired sometimes of searching for the check, and finding it not there, and then having to contact them to remind them to bring it. I've actually been thinking about switching payday to the Friday before, that way I can deposit checks on Saturday, instead of having to put them through the ATM on Monday night, and then the funds aren't available until Tue or Wed.

Tuition is due on Friday by noon for the upcoming week. If they forget the check on Friday morning then they either have to bring a check over by noon or they have to pay in cash at pick up. We only do one run to the bank Friday after lunch. They pay in advance for the upcoming week.

I don't have late fees for payments in my policies. If they don't have the money to me on Friday by check by noon or by cash by pick up they will be terminated. I don't chase them for money. I don't like money conversations so I make it clear what we expect for them to attend the day care. I don't have any problems with late payments. Most of my clients do wire transfers on Wednesday or Thursday so it clears my bank by Friday at noon. I only have one that pays by check so I cash them when I am out and about so I don't have to make a special trip for it.

[AfterSchoolMom]

In my case, I don't have the option of termination. I have SA's, so once you terminate, that's it for new families until the following school year. They pretty much have me over a barrel, and they know it.

[TGT09]

Nikia, what ended up happening with this situation?

[nikia]

I did send the parents a message that if I did not receive payment by 6 that night late fees would be enforced. 2 of the 3 paid I am still waiting on the 3rd. One of the moms called and said that she just spaced me off and asked if I really needed it that night. I told her if she didn't bring it late charges would be added. I wanted to say well I will just space off watching your kid on monday that ok with you?? I know that it is my fault letting parents get away with being late pays but really its called being a decent human being you pay for the services that are provided for you. I'm still angry about this just in case you couldn't tell. Lol. I actually have a job interview today I really need to weigh my options and think about what is best for my family. If I decide to continue daycare I am going to change to being paid before care for the week I am also going to just term any family that pays late more than once. So my handbook will become even longer. Lol. Lots more happened as far as sickness and lying but that's another thread . Thanks for all the insight ladies sometimes I feel as though its just me that gets bad parents.

[Blackcat31]

I did send the parents a message that if I did not receive payment by 6 that night late fees would be enforced. 2 of the 3 paid I am still waiting on the 3rd. One of the moms called and said that she just spaced me off and asked if I really needed it that night. I told her if she didn't bring it late charges would be added. I wanted to say well I will just space off watching your kid on monday that ok with you?? I know that it is my fault letting parents get away with being late pays but really its called being a decent human being you pay for the services that are provided for you. I'm still angry about this just in case you couldn't tell. Lol. I actually have a job interview today I really need to weigh my options and think about what is best for my family. If I decide to continue daycare I am going to change to being paid before care for the week I am also going to just term any family that pays late more than once. So my handbook will become even longer. Lol. Lots more happened as far as sickness and lying but that's another thread . Thanks for all the insight ladies sometimes I feel as though its just me that gets bad parents.

Don't be too hard on yourself....we all have those parents now and then. I agree with you...it is all about just being a responsible adult and paying for services you receive. It is sad that as providers we have to chase our paychecks sometimes. I am human and I forget things too...but I know exactly where you are coming from. For the most part parents are pretty good. You just get a few bad ones here and there and even then it isn't black and white because sometimes those parents are great about everything else so no parent fits in the BAD catagory all the time. THAT is what makes it hard. This job requires a big heart and yet that is what gets taken advantage of. I try to use my best judgment in every case and sometimes I let some families get away with more than others but again every family is different so it is tough to know....Guess I should listen to Kenny Rogers more and know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run! LOL!! Good luck in deciding what you are going to do....

[nikia]

Don't be too hard on yourself....we all have those parents now and then. I agree with you...it is all about just being a responsible adult and paying for services you receive. It is sad that as providers we have to chase our paychecks sometimes. I am human and I forget things too...but I know exactly where you are coming from. For the most part parents are pretty good. You just get a few bad ones here and there and even then it isn't black and white because sometimes those parents are great about everything else so no parent fits in the BAD catagory all the time. THAT is what makes it hard. This job requires a big heart and yet that is what gets taken advantage of. I try to use my best judgment in every case and sometimes I let some families get away with more than others but again every family is different so it is tough to know....Guess I should listen to Kenny Rogers more and know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run! LOL!! Good luck in deciding what you are going to do....

The thing about the 3 families is not one of them have EVER paid on time (they have only been here a couple months) and they are the ones who covered up sickness this past week, so I think it was my last straw with them. I have 2 other wonderful families and 1 that is so-so. If one of the other families were to say oh I am so sorry I forgot to bring your check this morning but I will bring at pick-up I would say no problem and not be angry at all. I struggle with quitting daycare because I love these kids. When they run up and tell me they love me and hug me its the best, but having to chase my pay down and the parents who lie about their kids being sick just ****s so much out of me.

[TGT09]

I would be sending out a newsletter to say that late fees will start being enforced if payment is not recieved on their last day of care for the week starting 01/01/2011!!

[Unregistered]

This is why I get paid Friday BY 5:30pm for the FOLLOWING week and if they dont pay their kid doesnt stay end of story. The 2 families I have now 1 has NEVER been late and she has been with me a year and half and the other family has been with me almost a year and was late 1 time but it was an emergency and I understood she did pay at 8am on Saturday plus late fee even thou it was an amergency and I did not ask for it. I had 1 parent pay late 3 times and she is gone because I dont put up with that and I charged her 25 late fee everytime but 3 strikes and your out.