Accounting Error On My Part

[daycare]

I did this last year too and did it again...ggggeeeeerrr

my policies state that if you are full time, you can apply for a 1 time 50% of of one week of care when you take 5 consecutive days of vacation time off.

this benefit is for full time children only..

I am balancing my books for may, june and july.

I just noticed that in May one of my families went on a vacation and I made the mistake on their invoice of giving them the entire week credit instead of %50.

I was wondering why the DCM came rushing in to pay me 20 days early because I accidentally credited an additional $105.00 off that she should not have gotten.

During the time I was dealing with the news of my move and was really stressed out and made a mistake, but I just now caught it.

Should I let it go and eat my mistake or bring it up now that I noticed the error and make them pay it?

I also feel really sad knowing that a DCP would take advantage of my error like that. Goes to show what kind of people they are.

[Blackcat31]

Personally, I'd let it go. It was your mistake.

Although I agree DCM knew full well what was happening, I think since it was so long ago already...you might just have to take the high road and chalk it up as a loss.

I would however, try to work it into a convo with the DCM... just so that she is aware of the over sight.

[spinnymarie]

I agree that I'd both bring it up and eat it.
I'd add it on to this months' invoice as a note:

Just a note, I noticed in my accounting review that I forgot to charge you the agreed upon 50% for your vacation week this year. Next year it will go back to being a 50% charge for that week!

[spud912]

I agree that I'd both bring it up and eat it.
I'd add it on to this months' invoice as a note:

Just a note, I noticed in my accounting review that I forgot to charge you the agreed upon 50% for your vacation week this year. Next year it will go back to being a 50% charge for that week!

What she said

[daycare]

thanks ladies.....I was pretty certain that I was just going to eat it.

I have decided that since everyone likes to Complain that I take off 5 days per year that I am not going to provide this discount service anymore moving forward....

I am just going to decide if I want to give it to them when I want to give it to them.


I just wanted to get reassurance that I was letting it go was the right thing to do.

[KiddieCahoots]

I agree with BC.
Not exactly the same thing, but kind of similar.
In the early years I had totally forgotten a holiday, didn't remind any of my families the week prior....nothing.
One of my families showed up and dcm was acting strange. Two hours after opening, and they were the only family that had arrived, I'd finally realized my mistake. Didn't feel I had the right to call them to come and pick up, I'd already welcomed them in, so ****ed it up to a loss, and keep better records after that.

[Unregistered]

I agree with BC.
Not exactly the same thing, but kind of similar.
In the early years I had totally forgotten a holiday, didn't remind any of my families the week prior....nothing.
One of my families showed up and dcm was acting strange. Two hours after opening, and they were the only family that had arrived, I'd finally realized my mistake. Didn't feel I had the right to call them to come and pick up, I'd already welcomed them in, so ****ed it up to a loss, and keep better records after that.

I forgot about one of my declared holidays for about three years straight. Ended up full every time and then realized. Still forgot the next year :O
But apparently the third year was the charm. I have never forgotten again. Can't believe every one of them took advantage of my oversight! Sheeeesh!

[rosieteddy]

what do you mean that you would decide on case by case?I would take a pd week if I were you.Just let them know with a contract notice.

[earlystart]

I guess I'm the odd one out, but I would totally tell the parents I caught my mistake and send them a new invoice. I would be offended that they tried to take advantage of my mistake. Just because I made a mistake in invoicing doesn't get them off the hook for paying me what I'm owed according to our contract. Just my 2 cents. If it was something small like I forgot to charge a late fee then I would let it go, but this is 50% of their weekly tuition, that's substantial, yet not so huge that you can't expect the family to be able to pay you back. You could even offer to let them make payments until they are up to date. Of course I would apologize and explain that I had a lot on my mind at the time. But it's not 100% my job to tell the parents how much to pay me each tuition check, the responsibility partially falls on them - they can always refer to the contract/policies or ask me "so how much will my tuition be for my upcoming vacation?" and I happily calculate it for them.

[Naptime yet?]

I had a parent overpay me by $10, which I honestly didn't catch until dcd brought it up to me the following week. I credited them, but the suspicious/paranoid part of me thought it was a test & I failed by "keeping" their money

[Unregistered]

I would eat it in this case, but it would forever change how I viewed the family, as they were most likely aware they 'got away' with short changing you. Why be pleased to short change the person caring for your child? Early drop offs or Late pick up would no longer be permitted even with notice. Any attempts at extra or special would be denied, or would have a fee attached. I would hold them strictly to all conditions in the handbook, with no flexibility.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I guess I'm the odd one out, but I would totally tell the parents I caught my mistake and send them a new invoice. I would be offended that they tried to take advantage of my mistake. Just because I made a mistake in invoicing doesn't get them off the hook for paying me what I'm owed according to our contract. Just my 2 cents. If it was something small like I forgot to charge a late fee then I would let it go, but this is 50% of their weekly tuition, that's substantial, yet not so huge that you can't expect the family to be able to pay you back. You could even offer to let them make payments until they are up to date. Of course I would apologize and explain that I had a lot on my mind at the time. But it's not 100% my job to tell the parents how much to pay me each tuition check, the responsibility partially falls on them - they can always refer to the contract/policies or ask me "so how much will my tuition be for my upcoming vacation?" and I happily calculate it for them.

I've got to say I agree here. To me that is stealing and I don't like that.

[MOM OF 4]

I guess I'm the odd one out, but I would totally tell the parents I caught my mistake and send them a new invoice. I would be offended that they tried to take advantage of my mistake. Just because I made a mistake in invoicing doesn't get them off the hook for paying me what I'm owed according to our contract. Just my 2 cents. If it was something small like I forgot to charge a late fee then I would let it go, but this is 50% of their weekly tuition, that's substantial, yet not so huge that you can't expect the family to be able to pay you back. You could even offer to let them make payments until they are up to date. Of course I would apologize and explain that I had a lot on my mind at the time. But it's not 100% my job to tell the parents how much to pay me each tuition check, the responsibility partially falls on them - they can always refer to the contract/policies or ask me "so how much will my tuition be for my upcoming vacation?" and I happily calculate it for them.

I actually agree here. While you might just want to eat it, I have to agree with this whole post.

Think of it this way...

Walmart- you- shopping.

You put the BIG ole thing of toilet paper at the bottom of cart, the cashier totally misses ringing it up. You check your receipt and notice she never charged you. What is the RIGHT thing to do? It's to go back in and get it paid for. Just because they are human and made a mistake by missing it, doesn't make it OK to take the toilet paper home having never paid for it.