Help!!! ASAP!! DCP Asking to Pay Late

[mim]

My problem.
I charge in advance by p/u time the last day of attendance of the week for the next week or weeks. But with this current DCM used to share payment responsibility w DCD. I used to let DCD pay Monday morning at drop off for that current week since that was the ONLY time I ever seen him. Well DCD just quit paying about 6 mos ago. Since then DCM has been paying all of it, but still will pay Monday for his portion and then that Friday for her portion. So payment should be due Monday. Well today DCM text asking if she could just pay DCD portion next Friday with her portion, as she is in a tight spot with taxes not coming in blah blah blah.

No it's not ok, i'm already tight too and DCD hasn't been bringing her on Monday mornings, so I have to wait until the afternoon to even get my money as it is. And I'm right now praying it takes my bank until Tuesday to take out the automatic payments that are due Sunday.


What do I say????????
I just handed out new parent handbooks the middle of January, so I know whe knows it's my paycheck and all the late fees.

[Shell]

Nope, sorry dcm, I know finances are tight, mine are also. I rely on your payments and will need it by (x). Thank you.

[Blackcat31]

My problem.
I charge in advance by p/u time the last day of attendance of the week for the next week or weeks. But with this current DCM used to share payment responsibility w DCD. I used to let DCD pay Monday morning at drop off for that current week since that was the ONLY time I ever seen him. Well DCD just quit paying about 6 mos ago. Since then DCM has been paying all of it, but still will pay Monday for his portion and then that Friday for her portion. So payment should be due Monday. Well today DCM text asking if she could just pay DCD portion next Friday with her portion, as she is in a tight spot with taxes not coming in blah blah blah.

No it's not ok, i'm already tight too and DCD hasn't been bringing her on Monday mornings, so I have to wait until the afternoon to even get my money as it is. And I'm right now praying it takes my bank until Tuesday to take out the automatic payments that are due Sunday.


What do I say????????
I just handed out new parent handbooks the middle of January, so I know whe knows it's my paycheck and all the late fees.

"I understand your situation DCM and I am sympathetic but unfortunately I can only offer you two options. You can either pay on Friday like you normally do without penalty or you can pay next Friday as ONE TIME COURTESY but if you choose that option, I will have to include late fees of $10 per calendar day (or whatever your late payment policy is) as I too have financial obligations that limit my flexibility in regards to timely payments. I'm sure you understand. Let me know which option you will be using."

Then if she does choose next Friday, have her sign and date a short statement as to that being the payment plan.

[Blackcat31]

"I understand your situation DCM and I am sympathetic but unfortunately I can only offer you two options. You can either pay on Friday like you normally do without penalty or you can pay next Friday as ONE TIME COURTESY but if you choose that option, I will have to include late fees of $10 per calendar day (or whatever your late payment policy is) as I too have financial obligations that limit my flexibility in regards to timely payments. I'm sure you understand. Let me know which option you will be using."

Then if she does choose next Friday, have her sign and date a short statement as to that being the payment plan.

Or if you ABSOLUTELY cannot manage the late payment go with this:

"I understand and sympathize with you DCM but unfortunately I am not in the position to be flexible with payments at this time. I will have to have payment in full as scheduled or I will be unable to provide services until payment is made. I am sure you understand."

She can borrow, beg or negotiate with someone else.

[daycare]

this falls under your problems are not my problems....

I would send what BC wrote....it sounds helpful, professional and to the point.

[Controlled Chaos]

I refuse service if they aren't current on payment. Turning away parents and kids at the door feels terrible, but I have never had to do it more than once for any one family. You are one of her most important bills, she needs to pay you on time!

[Thriftylady]

I don't understand why parents always think they can short us. I mean don't they get that they can't work if we don't have the kids?

[daycare]

I refuse service if they aren't current on payment. Turning away parents and kids at the door feels terrible, but I have never had to do it more than once for any one family. You are one of her most important bills, she needs to pay you on time!

yes this!!! I have had to do it as well and I hated every last bit of it, but without you she can't go to work to make money. YOU should be her number one bill that she pays. She can't earn a living if she does not have you to watch her child.

[mim]

Crap! What does this mean?

This is part of my contract and I don't know if I can deny care because of how I worded it. Can I?

"The only forms of payment I accept are cash and state subsidy and are due in advance.
Payment is due by pick up time the last day your child is scheduled to attend for the period ahead. If the due date falls
on any day the daycare is closed, payment is due the business day before the closure. If payment is not made on time,
late fees will apply.
Late fees accrue at $10/day with the first $10 late fee charged 5min after pick up time the day it is due.
***I will not remind you of your payment.***
Fees go up with each occurrence: $10 1st occurrence, $20 2nd occurrence, $30 3rd occurrence.
Late fees must be paid at the same time the payment is made or your child will not be allowed to attend and fees will still accrue until all fees are paid. You are still responsible to pay for the days your child cannot attend due to late payments. Late fees continue to accrue on weekends, holidays or any day the daycare is closed.
**Late charges are strictly enforced**"

What can I or can't I enforce?

[Thriftylady]

Well that is tough, I might change the wording a bit. But at some point you have to deny service if they keep up the non-payment.

[Blackcat31]

Crap! What does this mean?

This is part of my contract and I don't know if I can deny care because of how I worded it. Can I?

"The only forms of payment I accept are cash and state subsidy and are due in advance.
Payment is due by pick up time the last day your child is scheduled to attend for the period ahead. If the due date falls
on any day the daycare is closed, payment is due the business day before the closure. If payment is not made on time,
late fees will apply.
Late fees accrue at $10/day with the first $10 late fee charged 5min after pick up time the day it is due.
***I will not remind you of your payment.***
Fees go up with each occurrence: $10 1st occurrence, $20 2nd occurrence, $30 3rd occurrence.
Late fees must be paid at the same time the payment is made or your child will not be allowed to attend and fees will still accrue until all fees are paid. You are still responsible to pay for the days your child cannot attend due to late payments. Late fees continue to accrue on weekends, holidays or any day the daycare is closed.
**Late charges are strictly enforced**"

What can I or can't I enforce?

It sounds like you CAN enforce the no pay = no stay rule because you said "You are still responsible to pay for the days your child cannot attend due to late payments".

Also.... duh, why would anyone think they can still use services if they haven't paid? To me, it's almost a given and shouldn't have to be written out...kwim?

I know parents will try to bend the rules but that doesn't mean they are bendable. I think you should say no (nicely) or say yes WITH late fees AND a signed agreement about when the payment will be made.

Up to you as only you know what the fall out will be from either choice.

Good luck! These kinds of situations ****.

[mim]

Thank you all for your help. I am still deciding if I can or cannot. Ill update later. Once I finally decide.

[daycare]

It sounds like you CAN enforce the no pay = no stay rule because you said "You are still responsible to pay for the days your child cannot attend due to late payments".

Also.... duh, why would anyone think they can still use services if they haven't paid? To me, it's almost a given and shouldn't have to be written out...kwim?

I know parents will try to bend the rules but that doesn't mean they are bendable. I think you should say no (nicely) or say yes WITH late fees AND a signed agreement about when the payment will be made.

Up to you as only you know what the fall out will be from either choice.

Good luck! These kinds of situations ****.

agree the way I read it it says if you don't pay all fees in full then your child can not attend daycare. so that = no pay no stay.

I would perhaps maybe reword your contract so that it reads a little easier.

I often get very WORDY when I am trying to say something. I read it over and over and find where I can remove words to make it shorter and straight to the point.

Like failure to pay= NO stay................

[mim]

Or if you ABSOLUTELY cannot manage the late payment go with this:

"I understand but unfortunately I am not in the position to be flexible with payments at this time. I will have to have payment in full as scheduled. I hope you understand"

She can borrow, beg or negotiate with someone else.

So I sent this and she replied with.
"Ok, I will have to have my parents watch her until I can pay then."

What do I say now?
Something like, ok I'm sorry for that however I hope you understand that I rely on each parents payment for my income and asking me to wait a week is like your employer asking you to wait a week after pay day to receive your paycheck."

or what?

[Thriftylady]

Well I would say something like...

"I hope you understand you are responsible for all fees with no discount even if your child is not here. You will also be responsible for paying the two week notice fee, for two full weeks after I have your notice in writing. If Sally is absent for X days without payment, I will have no choice but to fill her spot with a child off of my waiting list".

Don't know if you have a waiting list, but either does she and I am betting she won't want to loose her spot. I mean if her parents were willing to do it full time, they already would be. Get a few other responses before you just use mine though, I don't always word stuff the best.