How To Word This, Is This Fair?

[daycare]

I have a family that has been with me for about 7 years. On second child.

Great family always. they are grandfathered in on an old pay fee rate that says that they can use 9.5 hours of care each day. BUT it does also say that you are set in your contracted hours set of 8-515 anything used outside of that will be at an additional rate.....so it's a little conflicting.
The new contracts are not like this.

This week the families work schedule changed and they asked me if they could drop off a half hour earlier, to which I said yes and did not ask for more money. DCD will be working 4-10, so off on Friday.

After figuring out the difference in time used, they are using only 15min more each day, not actually 30, since now I close at 515pm.

Since I am not asking for more money for the earlier drop off, do you think it would be fair of me to tell DCD that since he has Friday off, that they need to pick up earlier? If it is fair, how should I word this?

I have never asked anyone to do this before.

[AuntTami]

I think that would be fair. Just say something of "hey dad, with your little one arriving earlier in the mornings, you're actually using a bit more time than you're contracted to. Now, I agreed to do it without any extra charge and I still am totally fine with that, but I was hoping that since I scratched your back, maybe you could scratch mine, and you could pick your kiddo up by XXXX time on Friday? I love your kiddo but one less kiddo, in general, makes for an easier day and it's Friday. Who doesn't want an easier Friday?" And then just smile really sweetly and wait for him to respond. He who talks first, loses :-)

[daycare]

hahah I love how you worded that.. scratch your back and mine... that is a funny saying that I don't think I have heard before.....ahhah I love it..

thanks again for responding, I will use that tonight at pick up.

[MarinaVanessa]

I like the response above. As another thought how about asking them to sign a new contract and you can "fix" the issues that you have with their old contract. Talk to them like suggested above and have them sign a new contract with the new terms. Technically since the terms have changed then the old contract is invalid anyway and this way your new contract will reflect the new hours and new terms.

[laundrymom]

I would ask at pick up today
"Hey Paul, We didn't really go into details when you changed hours at work. Are you keeping Sam on Fridays because you are off or are you picking up directly after nap? That way I dont have to increase fees for the additional hours."

I have a family that has been with me for about 7 years. On second child.

Great family always. they are grandfathered in on an old pay fee rate that says that they can use 9.5 hours of care each day. BUT it does also say that you are set in your contracted hours set of 8-515 anything used outside of that will be at an additional rate.....so it's a little conflicting.
The new contracts are not like this.

This week the families work schedule changed and they asked me if they could drop off a half hour earlier, to which I said yes and did not ask for more money. DCD will be working 4-10, so off on Friday.

After figuring out the difference in time used, they are using only 15min more each day, not actually 30, since now I close at 515pm.

Since I am not asking for more money for the earlier drop off, do you think it would be fair of me to tell DCD that since he has Friday off, that they need to pick up earlier? If it is fair, how should I word this?

I have never asked anyone to do this before.

[Play Care]

I would ask at pick up today
"Hey Paul, We didn't really go into details when you changed hours at work. Are you keeping Sam on Fridays because you are off or are you picking up directly after nap? That way I dont have to increase fees for the additional hours."

This.
I never like to infer that I want clients to do me a "favor" because then they see it as negotiable and do it only when they feel like it.

[Crazy8]

I like to keep things professional with no "favors" involved. A change in their contracted hours would void their "grandfathered" status in my book. I would print up one of your new contracts and present it to the parents that since they are changing their schedule we need to sign a new contract for the changes - letting them know that obviously a few things have changed since they first signed 7 years ago and you don't use that contract anymore.
If you are willing to do the extra half hour without charging more (if you still do the up to 9.5 hours thing in your newer contract and that is all they are using) then I'm not sure how you could ask for the earlier pick up on Fridays?? I would just stick to the terms of your current contracts - if they are going over that they need to pay for it or take the overrage off on Fridays.

[Unregistered]

I would just say "With the new schedule, you will be using 15 minutes more each day, so an extra hour and 15 minutes each week, so would it be possible for dcd to pick up at 4 on Fridays to make up for the difference since I am not adding any extra fee for the extra time?" And see what they say. Hopefully they will understand and dcd will emjoy the extra time with his kiddos.

[AuntTami]

Yes, I should have mentioned I'm much more "informal" with my DCP's than most

. I stick to the rules, but my hubby has been a salesmen for MANY years and has taught me tips and tricks that I can use so that I don't have to SOUND as formal; but I still get my point across. Such as the "smile sweetly and keep quiet. He who talks first, loses" .

[Blackcat31]

I would ask at pick up today
"Hey Paul, We didn't really go into details when you changed hours at work. Are you keeping Sam on Fridays because you are off or are you picking up directly after nap? That way I dont have to increase fees for the additional hours."

This.
I never like to infer that I want clients to do me a "favor" because then they see it as negotiable and do it only when they feel like it.

[daycare]

very true and love love love this!!


thank you all for your feed back. I will be sure to tell them tonight at pick up!!