I Hate Having A Back Bone..

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  • DancingQueen
    Daycare.com Member
    • Sep 2010
    • 580

    I Hate Having A Back Bone..

    I just told a dcm that I have to charge them a $5.00 late fee.
    Dad picked up 12 minutes late. This is his 2nd late in the last few weeks. The first was not hsi fault and it was his freebie.

    Problem for me is that dad doesnt' pay a penny to me. But he picks up every single day. They are not together and do not get along at all. MOM pays everything. So he has ZERO incentive to arrive on time. So I feel horrible charging her the $5.00 because it really isn't her fault

    He's such an *(&(*

    When they originally enrolled he said he got out of work at 4:30. He works 20 minutes away (if that). So I gave them until 5. But he can usually be there at 4:50
    But he likes to push the limits.

    Tonight I asked why he was late and he said "stepped out of work a little later than usual"

    Not good enough reason.
  • DancingQueen
    Daycare.com Member
    • Sep 2010
    • 580

    #2
    oh - and the part I think I did wrong was I didn't say anything to him at pick up about a late fee <eek> I don't know .. maybe I should have but since I deal with mom with all things.. I just handed her over (and rushed out the door for my meeting I was running late for).. and told mom later on about it.

    Comment

    • kendallina
      Advanced Daycare.com Member
      • Jul 2010
      • 1660

      #3
      Ugh, that really ****s. Yeh, I would definitely tell dad if he does it again. Even if he doesn't have to pay it, he should be made to feel guilty about it. And you did the right thing about charging a late fee,don't feel guilty about it. Mom needs to get on his butt about being on time.

      Comment

      • legomom922
        Advanced Daycare.com Member
        • Jul 2010
        • 1020

        #4
        Do you know if they have some support order in place by a court? Because usually, the court will order that the non-custodial parent pays a certain % of health and daycare expenses. So while he may not be the one writing you the checks, he *may* be writing her some type of a reimbursement ck? Unless you have knowledge that he doesnt pay anything to her at all. That would be really odd though if he didn't, and out of all my friends, neighbors etc, I have never heard of anyone escaping that charge!

        Comment

        • DancingQueen
          Daycare.com Member
          • Sep 2010
          • 580

          #5
          he pays for 1/2 of daycare. But he pays her. So maybe she'll be able to get it that way? I hope so.

          Comment

          • Former Teacher
            Advanced Daycare.com Member
            • Apr 2009
            • 1331

            #6
            Originally posted by DancingQueen
            I just told a dcm that I have to charge them a $5.00 late fee.
            Dad picked up 12 minutes late. This is his 2nd late in the last few weeks. The first was not hsi fault and it was his freebie.

            Problem for me is that dad doesnt' pay a penny to me. But he picks up every single day. They are not together and do not get along at all. MOM pays everything. So he has ZERO incentive to arrive on time. So I feel horrible charging her the $5.00 because it really isn't her fault

            He's such an *(&(*

            When they originally enrolled he said he got out of work at 4:30. He works 20 minutes away (if that). So I gave them until 5. But he can usually be there at 4:50
            But he likes to push the limits.

            Tonight I asked why he was late and he said "stepped out of work a little later than usual"

            Not good enough reason.
            At my former center-the parents paid late fees regardless of who picked the child(ren) up. Once a mom was out of town, dad had to work, and so the aunt was going to pick up the girl. She "lost track of time" so she was late. Yeah 24 mins late. It was a $24.00 late fee. Dad was very embarrassed but he paid it the following morning.

            I know how you feel about charging the mom because of how the father doesn't pay you etc.. However maybe when she is tired of paying late fees, she will find someone else who is more responsible to pick up her child.

            Good Luck!

            Comment

            • Mom&Provider
              Daycare.com Member
              • Dec 2010
              • 378

              #7
              Don't feel bad, it's in your contract and you already gave him a free pass.

              I would have mentioned it to Dad when he arrived, but if Mom has always paid, I can see why you felt odd about it - so next time you know! Mom has to deal with Dad to get the money from him directly anyway and I would be concerned that I'd have to run after Dad for it, so yeah, I would have given the bill to Mom too.

              Comment

              • MyAngels
                Member
                • Aug 2010
                • 4217

                #8
                Maybe you should implement a policy that whoever picks up late pays the late fee .

                Comment

                • DancingQueen
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • Sep 2010
                  • 580

                  #9
                  Well - she has a court order that says he has to pay 1/2 of all daycare expenses.
                  So I told her I will add her late fees to her online billing with a note that includes dates and times of offense so that if she needs documentation for court she'll have it.
                  She said it is total fair that I'm charging and she is fine with it.

                  Comment

                  • MARSTELAC
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Sep 2010
                    • 278

                    #10
                    That is what I just changed my contract to....if "open early" fees apply in the a.m., that parent has to have cash/checkbook ready to pay the fee, if "stay late" fees apply in the p.m., the person who is picking up has to have cash/checkbook ready to pay that fee. I also have a fee for anything over 10 hours in a day (within my open business hours)that will be added to the invoice. I want these parents to think twice about dropping the kids early, picking up late, and having them here over 10 hours a day. It's so confusing with divorced/separated parents!

                    Comment

                    • DancingQueen
                      Daycare.com Member
                      • Sep 2010
                      • 580

                      #11
                      this is the same dad that lied to me and brought dcg to her old provider while dcm was away. dcm said this morning "I'll just pay the late fees - I'm not even going to say anything to him because he still is trying to get me to agree to have her go to the other provider - and there wouldn't be a late fee there because they are open until 6pm" so she said - she'll pay it and please don't say anything

                      Comment

                      • Crystal
                        Advanced Daycare.com Member
                        • Dec 2009
                        • 4002

                        #12
                        When they originally enrolled he said he got out of work at 4:30. He works 20 minutes away (if that). So I gave them until 5. But he can usually be there at 4:50
                        But he likes to push the limits.


                        Because HE told you this, I would charge HIM, not her. His answer of "stepped out of work a little later than usual" would have gotten the response that because he stepped out a little late, he is now a little late picking up his child and there is now a late fee of $5.00, payable before his child returns to care.

                        Parents only take advanttage if we let them, and he is taking advantage of you. He needs to be told that HE cannot disrespect you in this way.

                        Comment

                        • Live and Learn
                          Daycare.com Member
                          • Sep 2010
                          • 956

                          #13
                          Here late fee are due at pickup....raise your late fee!!!....
                          good luck.

                          Comment

                          • MarinaVanessa
                            Family Childcare Home
                            • Jan 2010
                            • 7211

                            #14
                            if he knows that DC mom pays a late fee when he is late he may be doing this on purpose. In any case it's disrespectul to you on his part. The problem here is not that you have a backbone but who you show it to. Please, please please tell me that you close at 5pm and that this is your last DC kid. Or at least that this is your last DC kid. If so, do what I've done... leave. And take his kid with you.

                            I'm being serious.

                            "Oh, I absolutely had to go (fit any excuse here) and just could not wait. I'm at (wherever you are). You can come pick here to pick up your child"

                            It works, I promise. The more they do it even after being reminded the farther away I go. Just make sure to take your cell phone with you and wait for a call. Leave a note on the door with something vague like "Had to rush out. You weren't here by 5pm. Call me. (***) ***-***x." I use this only as a last resort after having talks with the offending parent. It always makes me feel better.

                            Comment

                            • momofboys
                              Advanced Daycare Member
                              • Dec 2009
                              • 2560

                              #15
                              Originally posted by MarinaVanessa
                              if he knows that DC mom pays a late fee when he is late he may be doing this on purpose. In any case it's disrespectul to you on his part. The problem here is not that you have a backbone but who you show it to. Please, please please tell me that you close at 5pm and that this is your last DC kid. Or at least that this is your last DC kid. If so, do what I've done... leave. And take his kid with you.

                              I'm being serious.

                              "Oh, I absolutely had to go (fit any excuse here) and just could not wait. I'm at (wherever you are). You can come pick here to pick up your child"

                              It works, I promise. The more they do it even after being reminded the farther away I go. Just make sure to take your cell phone with you and wait for a call. Leave a note on the door with something vague like "Had to rush out. You weren't here by 5pm. Call me. (***) ***-***x." I use this only as a last resort after having talks with the offending parent. It always makes me feel better.
                              Love it! ::::

                              Comment

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