No Call/No Show Fee...

[Former Teacher]

I have a question. While I am no longer working in a child care center ( thank God but that's ANOTHER story! ) I like to read up on other centers policies, particularly home centers since I am now a nanny. This question really doesn't concern me however I am just curious.

I have read several home daycare centers whose policy is that the parent pays regardless of whether the child is there or not. I understand that. What I don't understand (nor IMO agree with) is that some centers charge a no call/no show fee should a parent not call to say that their child will be absent etc.. If the parent is already paying for that space it is there to use it as they wish. I understand that some might only have 1 child a certain day and wouldn't want to be kept waiting (one caregivers words) but you are being paid anyway regardless. You should wait. IMO

[Unregistered]

Parents Must Notify If the Child will be Adsent

I would imagine it is because a provider has to prepare for a creative event or situation. I know when preparing a group event I want to know exactly what I need to purchase and get ready for. I would be VERY helpful if a parent was curtious enough to let me know that their child was a no show especially if I were counting on that child to pair up with another. We have to adapt to the situation but parents need to be active in helping their daycare provide for their child's needs every day.

[Former Teacher]

I agree....

that yes a parent should call just out of courtesy to inform a provider or a daycare whether or not the child would be there. However I do not agree that a parent would be charged EXTRA just because of rudeness on their part. The parent is paying for the space anyway.

[Unregistered]

I watch 3 children from the same family (2 are siblings other 1 is a cousin) Normally they are here around 6:15 am until 5pm. It happened more than once when I got early and nobody called to say the children would not be coming. The grandpa has custody of 1 and his daughter has the 2 siblings) they leave in the same apt building and normally the grandpa brings the kids. It's really frustrating getting up early and preparing breakfast and then they don't show up. I did add a no show fee earlier this year, and now they call if the children will not be here. I deserve a little respect.

[Former Teacher]

Again my opinion

While I totally agree that yes you deserve the respect, I feel that by charging the parents MORE for the lack of calling is absorb. I believe that parents are paying for their spot whether they use it or not. Yes I understand the need to start your day etc. However as far as things would go to waste such as breakfast, then perhaps you shouldn't start things like that until the children arrive. As far as the fact that you have to get up early well that's the joys of being a business owner.

[tymaboy]

I have a no show fee also but I do not charge an additional fee on top of it. I had a family that was really good at this or would be late. I had to redo my policy & added the no show fee & an inconvenience fee for when they showed up late. They would be anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours late. When I redid my policy I put in there that if they where not here within an hour of their scheduled time then I would assume they were not coming & they would be charged for the day & if they showed up after that I would not take them.

Centers & in home care are totally different cuz at a center someone is always there in case a parent & child arrives. With in home we do not have employees & schedule outings according to nap time so if a parent shows up late or unexpected we may not be home - out for a walk, park,store or some other field trip.

[Unregistered]

Yes, I know getting up early is part of my job. But, if you had a day off, and could sleep in until 7/7:30 instead of 5:30 wouldn't you want to?
I treat people like I would want to be treated. I don't expect more of others than I do of myself. If my children were in daycare, I would call the provider/center to inform them if my kids would be late or absent. It's just common courtesy. If I have to add a fee to instill this on the parents, then so be. However, I failed to mention, that I charge 1/2 the daily rate if the kids are not here.

[Unregistered]

Unfortunately, many parents do not have respect for their providers. If some parents treated their employers like they do their providers, they would not have a job.

[lilbiddapopcorn]

Great quote!

Unfortunately, many parents do not have respect for their providers. If some parents treated their employers like they do their providers, they would not have a job.

This is so true.

[Allie]

As a provider there is nothing worse for me to wait all morning for a child that doesn't show up. It's not about the money...it's about my program and the complete and utter disregard for my schedule and time.

If we have planned an outing, it's ruined and we don't get to go. If I've planned an activity based on the arrival time, it's thrown off and the rest of my day is in shambles. It disrupts the other children when we're just "waiting around". It messes up naps, activities, lunchtime, playtime, outside time...I could go on and on. I've missed walks, park trips, puppet shows at the library and one trip to the museum that I paid someone to accompany me all because a parent was too damn lazy to pick up the phone and let me know they will be late or not coming.

Practically everyone has a cell and everyone has a phone at home so there is NO excuse IMO. It takes two seconds to call, email or text me that you aren't coming or will be more than 20 minutes late of your expected arrival time.

Personally I don't charge a fee BUT I do let the parents know exactly what their laziness has done for my day and how it affects the other children.

[Former Teacher]

I don't know maybe I am cruel.....

but I would HATE it when my former director would plan a field trip for the kids, of any age group, and she would wait for the parents to bring their child. We would have to plan to leave the center at 9:30 yet put 9:00 on the permission slip to make sure all the parents would be there. Then my former director would get mad if we are leaving at 9:45 (should've left at 9:30) only to have a phone call from a parent saying they would be there. Then she would wait. She would be furious because WE would be late. The one or 2 times we didn't wait and a parent would bring their child in a 10:15 with a sack lunch, they would be mad at US because we didn't wait, even though the slip THEY READ AND SIGNED said 9:00.

Like I said in my title, I maybe cruel but life goes on. If you plan on a trip, or a walk, you shouldn't deprive the other children in care because of rudeness on the parents. Now something major like a play or museum when they are expecting more then yes you could call and change reservations and just say you are now bringing such and such number. But I think its not fair to revolve your day and the children's day around the inconsiderate parents...JMO

[Unregistered]

I don't have no show fee as it hasn't been an issue. Parents do pay even if their child is not here. If they decide not to use it, it's up to them. If they are taking a placement in my daycare, they need to pay for the whole thing.

As far as parents throwing off the schedule when not showing or showing late and not giving respect to call, that's a tough one. It is difficult. I really don't let it stop my scheduled activities. If we are going on a field trip, I give them written notice of the trip and departure/return time. If they are not here, I typically wait about 10 minutes and go.

For walks and parks: I have a sign I post on my door that states we are on a walk or at the park (with directions to the park) and if I have waited about 10 minutes after their normal arrival time, we go.

I do have a late pick-up fee that's $1.00/min late. I don't have issues with late pick-ups. If someone is going to be late and it's out of their control they respect my time and policies and call ahead. Usually, the fee is waived if it's not a normal occurance and if it's unavoidable.

[Unregistered]

Yes, I know getting up early is part of my job. But, if you had a day off, and could sleep in until 7/7:30 instead of 5:30 wouldn't you want to?
I treat people like I would want to be treated. I don't expect more of others than I do of myself. If my children were in daycare, I would call the provider/center to inform them if my kids would be late or absent. It's just common courtesy. If I have to add a fee to instill this on the parents, then so be. However, I failed to mention, that I charge 1/2 the daily rate if the kids are not here.

All this wining is inane. You people are trying to double charge for services. If they don't show up and you get paid, forget about it. Don't charge them am additional fee because you didn't have to work. That is idiocy.

You get paid to provide a service, not have convenience for yourself. Wake up, cook the pancakes, and eat them yourself if no one shows up. Otherwise, go work on an assembly line and you can have a reasonable set schedule.

[Unregistered]

All this wining is inane. You people are trying to double charge for services. If they don't show up and you get paid, forget about it. Don't charge them am additional fee because you didn't have to work. That is idiocy.

You get paid to provide a service, not have convenience for yourself. Wake up, cook the pancakes, and eat them yourself if no one shows up. Otherwise, go work on an assembly line and you can have a reasonable set schedule.

No one wants the money, they want the parents to be considerate enough to call if they are going to be late or not show up. Unfortunately a lot of people only think about the way they negatively affect other people when it hits them in the pocket book. The inane whining comes when we wait and then leave for a field trip and then am welcomed home with nasty messages on the answering machine about how pissed someone is that we left without them.

I don't charge a fee, but I do carry on as though I'm not expecting the person. But some providers have been burned enough that they feel the need to offer some financial encouragement for politeness and common courtesy and if they want to be compensated for being inconvenienced so be it. Us people like our schedules as reasonable as we can keep them.

[AmandasFCC]

I agree!

but I would HATE it when my former director would plan a field trip for the kids, of any age group, and she would wait for the parents to bring their child. We would have to plan to leave the center at 9:30 yet put 9:00 on the permission slip to make sure all the parents would be there. Then my former director would get mad if we are leaving at 9:45 (should've left at 9:30) only to have a phone call from a parent saying they would be there. Then she would wait. She would be furious because WE would be late. The one or 2 times we didn't wait and a parent would bring their child in a 10:15 with a sack lunch, they would be mad at US because we didn't wait, even though the slip THEY READ AND SIGNED said 9:00.

Like I said in my title, I maybe cruel but life goes on. If you plan on a trip, or a walk, you shouldn't deprive the other children in care because of rudeness on the parents. Now something major like a play or museum when they are expecting more then yes you could call and change reservations and just say you are now bringing such and such number. But I think its not fair to revolve your day and the children's day around the inconsiderate parents...JMO

I agree 100%. If the parents have been notified of an outing or something for that day, I don't think I'd wait. they know when they're supposed to be here. They signed the form. I'm not ruining the other kids' days because you're irresponsible. The parents of my daycare kids don't get refunds for the days that they are no-shows (luckily, since I'm new, I haven't had any no-shows yet but I'm sure it'll come). This is stated in my policy booklet. In the case of an outing that they had to pay for, they wouldn't get that refunded either. Period.

As for charging an inconvenience fee ... I dunno about that. But then I also don't make parents pay to hold a space unless their schedules are irratic, like so many other places do. I tend to agree with the statement that they are already paying for the day anyway so there's no sense adding an additional fee to that.

I understand that it's a huge pain in the butt to get up early when you don't have to - I'd be furious to be getting up at 5:30 only to have someone not show up, and the parents would definitely hear about it the following day. But still, you're getting paid for the day anyway, so if it were me I'd just be glad to have a quieter day and take the free money as it is without adding another fee on top of it.

.... I hope that makes sense .....