What Forms Of Payments Do You Take?

[TaylorTots]

I take cash or check. I have set up direct transfers into my bank from DCPs that banked at the same bank as me (went in with them, set it up, never gave our account information) so that every payday they could just transfer it over... no different than a cash payment.

I've never had a check bounce and if I did I would be more likely to term the family (I have the option in my contract) than doing away with checks as payment.

[Cradle2crayons]

I only accept cash. I've tried the square etc and just didn't like it.

I don't necessarily have an issue with checks except my bank is 45 minutes away.

[Meyou]

Don't you have email money transfer in the US? In Canada it's a free, practically instant service offered online by all major banks. It takes 10 seconds to send and I normally receive the payment within an hour of the parent sending it, usually less. It deposits directly into my account as soon as I accept. It's soooo easy and totally free.

[Blackcat31]

What is MMK?

MMK is Minute Menu Kids. It's the software most food programs use.

You can purchase it yourself if your food program does not have it available for you or if you do not belong to a food program.

http://www.minutemenu.com/web/index.html

there is also a Pro version'

http://www.minutemenu.com/web/mmkids.html

I accept cash, check, online bank transfers (directly to my account) or money orders


My ONLY requirement I have is that payments are due by Friday 5PM so which ever method a parent uses to pay the money must be AVAILABLE to me NO LATER than Friday 5PM.

If they do a bank transfer, the transfer must be initiated so that I am able to withdraw cash by Friday 5PM if I need/want to. The availability of the money is the sticking point for me. So even if they initiated the transfer by Friday 5PM and for whatever reason the money is not available to me until Monday, then the payment is considered late.

HTH

[Hazel]

I used to take checks but now only take cash. I've had quite a few bounce and although the parents apologized, wrote another check AND my bank doesn't charge fees for this, it is very inconvenient. First of all, for some reason it takes a check 3/4 days to clear (at least!!) and by the time it bounces, the bank sends me a letter or email, I get ANOTHER check from the DCF AND then wait for THAT one to clear it could be well over a week for me to get paid.
I now only take cash. I deposit what cash I would need for bills that must be paid via mail (check) or online and then use cash for everything else.
I had my debit card info stolen at Michaels, Harbor Freight AND Home Depot just in the last few years. I no longer use cards for ANYTHING.
ONE of my families uses the same bank as me and I DO allow them to do a direct deposit into my account every week. Other than that, it's cash only!

[taylorw1210]

Checks and cash. I've not had a bad check, yet - knock on wood!

[melilley]

Checks and cash.
I have had one check bounce.

[Unregistered]

ONLY checks. I've never had one bounce, but I've had parents tell me they got fees, because I cashed it too soon. I told them "I'm sorry, but my policy is checks are cashed the same day I receive them". I actually had a former job try to pay from a closed account. I got that money, too. I don't understand how people are getting bounced checks. Recently anyway. Usually the bank will pay the check and the person who wrote it gets a debt. I also think checks offer a paper trail. I wouldn't use paypal. They charge a fee.

[Cradle2crayons]

ONLY checks. I've never had one bounce, but I've had parents tell me they got fees, because I cashed it too soon. I told them "I'm sorry, but my policy is checks are cashed the same day I receive them". I actually had a former job try to pay from a closed account. I got that money, too. I don't understand how people are getting bounced checks. Recently anyway. Usually the bank will pay the check and the person who wrote it gets a debt. I also think checks offer a paper trail. I wouldn't use paypal. They charge a fee.

From my understanding, they only pay the check if the client has overdraft protection of some sort.

My bank is a very small rural bank that only has two branches in the entire state and isn't located in any other state either. I don't even think they offer overdraft protection because even if they did, I wouldn't get it.

If the person doesn't have overdraft protection of any kind, and the money isn't available in the account then you get no money.

With that being said, years ago My daughter was very sick in he hospital and I had several checks and cash to deposit in order to pay my mortgage. Since I've used this bank for so long, I called up the branch manager and explained my auto draft for a grand was scheduled to come out he next day and I just couldn't make it to the bank. As a courtesy he offered to pay the auto draft and hen two days later I deposited the money. He didn't even charge me an overdraft.

[MyAngels]

You can get a debit card for your PayPal account which lets you get access to your PayPal balance immediately. You can use it to make purchases or withdraw cash at an ATM. I don't know if there are any fees associated with it, though.