Two weeks' notice

[permanentvacation]

Do you require a two weeks' financial notice when a child is going to leave your daycare? If so, how do your parents pay that notice? Do you add it to their rate at the beginning of them attending you daycare? If not, what keeps them from just picking their child up one day and never returning as well as never giving you notice?

[Blackcat31]

Do you require a two weeks' financial notice when a child is going to leave your daycare? If so, how do your parents pay that notice? Do you add it to their rate at the beginning of them attending you daycare? If not, what keeps them from just picking their child up one day and never returning as well as never giving you notice?

Yes, I require written notice of withdrawal.

When parents want to withdraw from my care they are to submit the notice in writing on a Friday WITH payment for the final two weeks.

I do not collect a deposit when families enroll as of now.

What stop's them from just picking up their child and simply returning? Nothing stops them from doing that. I wouldn't be out any money if they did do that as I am pre-pay so I would have already been paid up until that day but most parents in my area wouldn't or don't do that if they plan on using child care again in the future (with ANYONE in my area) as we are a small enough community that if a parent stiffs a daycare provider, most of the other providers are aware of it pretty quickly.

I haven't had issues with that happening in a really long time. Once I started heavily screening new clients and being really picky about who I do and don't enroll, it hasn't been an issue.

[SignMeUp]

Do you require a two weeks' financial notice when a child is going to leave your daycare? Yes.

If so, how do your parents pay that notice? One week as a deposit at enrollment. Second week is paid before their next-to-last week of care.

Do you add it to their rate at the beginning of them attending you daycare? If not, what keeps them from just picking their child up one day and never returning as well as never giving you notice? Integrity

Answers are in purple

[permanentvacation]

I never had a problem in the 'good area' I used to live in. But here, no one wants to pay it and they will just not show up the following Monday and not answer the phone when you call them to find out what's going on.

[permanentvacation]

Integrity! HA! That's very rare in my area!

[Unregistered]

I require one month written notice. If they pick up and never come back I take them to collections.

[permanentvacation]

I looked into using a collections agency once but decided not to bother. It is easy enough to do, or is it more hassle than it's worth?

[permanentvacation]

I think I'd rather add the notice fee into their first weeks' rates.

[jenboo]

Send a certified letter stating you are going to take them to court. From what I hear, that usually does the trick.

[Leigh]

I collect a 2 week deposit and tell parents that it will be applied to the final two weeks of care or in lieu of the final two weeks. I don't call it "deposit" anymore-I call it "final 2-week's payment", and let parents know (and they sign on it) that it is NEVER refundable.

[permanentvacation]

Here's another question

If you collect a two weeks' notice fee from the parent upfront and then you terminate them later, do you still keep their two weeks' notice fee?

If so, how would you justify keeping their fee if you just boot them out? Or do you give them a two weeks' notice of termination? Meaning you tell them they are terminated, but can keep coming for the next 2 weeks.

[permanentvacation]

I don't require a 2 wks notice from them or me. If they want to stop coming, they just don't show up anymore. If I don't want to keep watching the child, I can tell them not to come back anymore. That way, neither of us feel 'stuck' with the arrangement for 2 more weeks even though we no longer want to continue the childcare arrangement.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I stopped being bailed on by implementing a security deposit fee. This fee is the final two weeks notice (if one child) and final four weeks notice (if two children). It has saved me from families just not paying me at LEAST 5 times now. Oh, and another benefit is that families sometimes don't stay their entire final two weeks since it feels "free" to them...so, I end up making money without working. ::

Oh, this fee is how they save a spot here as well. It is only held for two weeks after giving the fee and enrollment form.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Here's another question

If you collect a two weeks' notice fee from the parent upfront and then you terminate them later, do you still keep their two weeks' notice fee?

If so, how would you justify keeping their fee if you just boot them out? Or do you give them a two weeks' notice of termination? Meaning you tell them they are terminated, but can keep coming for the next 2 weeks.

If I am terminating a contract, I give two weeks notice. I can "stick it out" but if I couldn't I would refund it and be done (even though I don't do refunds and it says so 7 times in my handbook and 1 time in my contract).

[Leigh]

Here's another question

If you collect a two weeks' notice fee from the parent upfront and then you terminate them later, do you still keep their two weeks' notice fee?

If so, how would you justify keeping their fee if you just boot them out? Or do you give them a two weeks' notice of termination? Meaning you tell them they are terminated, but can keep coming for the next 2 weeks.

I also have parents sign an agreement that I may terminate at any time without notice, should I deem it necessary. SOME reasons for termination (not limited to these) may be misconduct by parent, aggression by child, failure to maintain timely payments, failure to supply necessary items as needed (change of clothes for kids, etc.). I reserve the sole right to determine whether a refund will be given in the case of termination on my part. I tell parents that basically, if they or their child don't behave, no refund. If I need to term for a reason OTHER than violating our agreement, I would issue a refund, if **I** choose not to give 2 weeks notice. If I offer 2 weeks notice and the parent refuses, I keep the deposit.