Advice Please

[sweet_cakes]

Sorry so long!

When families enroll I give them two options. A daily rate of $30 for up to 10 hours of care. OR an hourly rate (which is used for drop in care) of $5 per hour for the first child and $2 per hour for each additional sibling.

I started doing drop in care for a family a few months ago. So far the family has been in my care just a couple of times for no more then a couple of hours each time. When they enrolled they chose the hourly rate. When mom and I originally talked before meeting she requested an hourly rate for drop in care....

The children are supposed to be in my care tomorrow. I open at 6:30am. DCD has a meeting and needed care at 6:00am. I explained that I don't open that early and mom confirmed I would see them at 6:30am. A little while later she asked if DCD could drop off at 6:15am due to the importance of the meeting and his driving time. I agreed to make a one-time exception (I do understand how it can be hard juggling schedules sometimes) and said there was no need to pay extra (after DCD offered) for bringing them 15 minutes early.

She thanked me and then wanted to confirm everything for tomorrow because DCD is nervous. Two children will be in my care from 6:15am to about 5:45/6:00pm. Essentially 12 hours. That would make it a total of of $84 for one day. Mom said they only planned for $50 for the entire day.

My question is, they chose the hourly rate because they need care so sporadically. Am I being unreasonable for sticking to my rate (which again they chose). You ladies are veterans...please help!

[Daycaregranny]

I would stick to my hourly rate and offer her the option of switching to the regular daily rate as an option in the future. She knows what your guidelines are and is trying to work you that's all.

[daycare]

What does your contact say about switching from hourly to flat rate?
If there is no loop hole heck ya she owes you hourly

I would be copying your policy and tell her sorry you chose an hourly rate

[llpa]

Definitely stick to your rate! They are bullying you in a nice way kwim? First the early start, then the "ohhhh, we didn't plan for more than $50" oh, poor them so what does that nean? That you should work for free??? Your paycheck is as important as Dads meeting, right? They set the pay rate and now they should pay it!

[Blackcat31]

The cheaper daily option should only be available to regularly attending children IMHO.

The should pay $84.

[sweet_cakes]

I don't have a clause about switching from daily to hourly. I have never been down the road of a parent wanting to switch and it is my fault for not foreseeing a parent wanting to. You bet I'll be adding one now though.

The contract states:

I agree to the following pay schedule:
Daily Rate or Hourly Rate (please circle one).

And then directly below it is states:

Hourly Rate is charged at a a rate of $5 per hour for a the first child and an additional $2 per hour for each additional sibling.

Daily Rate is charged at a rate of $30 per day for up to but not to exceed 10 hours per day.

Then at the bottom it says We ___________ parents to, _____________ have read and understand the entire parent handbook and agree to abide by all policies listed, etc, etc, etc. Then they sign and date it.

I'd like to add, I have a late fee of $5 per half hour per child past the 10 hour mark for families who pay a daily rate. So - even if she was on the daily rate her total would be $70 for 12 hours ($30 for the first child, $20 for the second, plus late fees). Far more then the $50 she budgeted.

[sugar buzz]

I would stick to my hourly rate and offer her the option of switching to the regular daily rate as an option in the future. She knows what your guidelines are and is trying to work you that's all.

Can you imagine trying to do this in any other type of business? Oh...I was only planning on paying the price of a cut for a cut and highlights....:confused:

[preschoolteacher]

They need to pay the drop in rare unless they're regularly scheduled.

To me, it sounds like she KNEW she was meant to pay the drop-in rate and us trying to pull one over on you. She "wanted to confirm" is she wanted to see if you'd let her get away with it.

Don't!

[cheerfuldom]

No more deals! Tell her no! She agreed to your rates. $50 does not even cover the daily rate, should you even offer it to her! (which I am sure you wont). She needs drop in care and yes, you are going to have to pay a pretty penny for two kids to dropped off at random for 12 hours. really. go try and find a sitter to do that for $50 a day at random. If the meeting is that important, she is going to have to come up with $34 extra dollars. not your problem. I would reply

"Oh I understand that you have a budget but my rates were clear at enrollment. If you cannot afford the rates you agreed to you, I understand if you need to find alternative care. Let me know by X time what you decide. Thank you"

subtle but firm saying no deal hunny!

[AmyKidsCo]

So you're opening 15 minutes early for 2 children who will then spend the next 11.5 hours with you, and you're wondering if YOU'RE unreasonable? Not a chance!

If you want to be nice you could give her the option of paying $84 for the hourly fee as previously agreed upon, or $70 for the daily fee. IF you want to be nicer than you're already being.

[Laurel]

So you're opening 15 minutes early for 2 children who will then spend the next 11.5 hours with you, and you're wondering if YOU'RE unreasonable? Not a chance!

If you want to be nice you could give her the option of paying $84 for the hourly fee as previously agreed upon, or $70 for the daily fee. IF you want to be nicer than you're already being.

If you do charge $70 you could also tell her that from now on you would have to charge her the daily rate every time. No going back and forth. If she wants to switch then I'd let her switch but it would be every single time. She doesn't get to pay hourly when it comes out to less money and then daily when it comes out to less money. She needs to choose one or the other. Well she already did so you wouldn't have to change at all but if you do then on days she only comes for 2 or 3 hours she pays for the whole day.

Laurel

[itlw8]

I guess they will either bring the children later or pick them up earlier if they only want to pay $50

[sweet_cakes]

I received a text message at about 9:00 last night saying that DCD would be dropping them off at about 10:15am. Great, works for me. But if the meeting was so important that I needed to open early then why the sudden time change?

Care for this family is super sporadic. When mom and I originally spoke I gave her daily pricing and she asked if I offered hourly because she would need care so infrequently. So, I did. The first time I cared for the children was the middle of May. Then no further care as given until last week. Given their infrequency I think an hourly rate is more then fair. If she wants to bring them at least once a week, I would happily switch them to daily. But I will not allow flip flopping on plans.

I do need to add a clause about switching - any recommendations on how to word that so families know they can cannot flip flop back and forth?

And THANK YOU for confirming what I was already thinking. Sometimes it helps to hear that

[cheerfuldom]

I received a text message at about 9:00 last night saying that DCD would be dropping them off at about 10:15am. Great, works for me. But if the meeting was so important that I needed to open early then why the sudden time change?

Care for this family is super sporadic. When mom and I originally spoke I gave her daily pricing and she asked if I offered hourly because she would need care so infrequently. So, I did. The first time I cared for the children was the middle of May. Then no further care as given until last week. Given their infrequency I think an hourly rate is more then fair. If she wants to bring them at least once a week, I would happily switch them to daily. But I will not allow flip flopping on plans.

I do need to add a clause about switching - any recommendations on how to word that so families know they can cannot flip flop back and forth?

And THANK YOU for confirming what I was already thinking. Sometimes it helps to hear that

It is always an emergency until you charge a fee for the inconvenience and then suddenly they work something out. I am not surprised at all.

[starz0123]

I offer daily rate for Permanent Bookings only ie regular attendance & nominated sessions booked in advance (2 week written notice to change or cancel a permanent booking and avoid paying the session)

Casual bookings are ad-hoc require minimum notice (subject to availability) I charge an hourly rate (higher fee) than permanent booking to reflect inconsistence income.

If a parent is unhappy about hourly fee they are more than welcome to change to permanent booking if I have an opening otherwise I can put them down on waiting list for openings until then I have casual vacancies.