Don't argue my rates!

[Snowmom]

Part vent and part "help me write a term letter".

I recently changed to tiered rates based on pick up times.
My approach is a bit different since I let families adjust their rate weekly, they just need to commit to a time slot (with it's assigned rate) on Monday mornings when their payment is due. They need to stick to it all week or they WILL get charged $1 per minute in over time fees and be subject to termination ($2 per minute if they arrive after my closing time of 5:15).

I have a dcm who cornered me at pick up today saying she needed to talk to me & come to a compromise.
She & her husband can normally pick up at the earliest rate except there are a few days in the month (1x per week plus a random day in the month) where they need to work late and traffic is a factor. She didn't feel that picking the 5pm rate in those cases was fair, since she would normally be picking up at 4:30 ($25/week difference between 4:30 and 5:00 pick up times.... BUT only $3 per week more than she was paying BEFORE I changed to tiered rates). She was upset that being 1/2 hour late would cost her $30.
She threw vague threats at me like "I don't want to have to find another daycare", "we pay the entire month ahead of time" (they aren't required to), "I don't see why paying an extra $3/week is to my benefit", and a snarky "I'm not sure how you decided these rates".

I stood my ground. Told her these are the options for everyone and I won't do "special" rates for any of my families...it is the way it is. She wouldn't drop it until another parent walked in. She has copped attitude with me in the past about random things as well.

After she left, I thought about the whole ordeal and decided I'm done with her.
I have a waitlist & don't need to deal with this guilt trip crap.

I've had parents ask for discounts before, but never had one insist. There's nothing wrong with ASKING in my opinion, but arguing is a bit insulting.

Help me with how to write this termination letter.
This family has not broken any policies, but I'm not willing to be treated/disrespected in this way.

[daycare]

ok so i also do tiered rates.

just want to clear up my confusion here, (sorry i am easily confused)

so if they pick a 5pm one day is that their pick up rate for the whole week?

[Snowmom]

ok so i also do tiered rates.

just want to clear up my confusion here, (sorry i am easily confused)

so if they pick a 5pm one day is that their pick up rate for the whole week?

I sometimes confuse myself!

They need to choose the timeframe that will work for them the entire week. So, because they know they need the extra time at least one day every week, they would need to choose that later time slot/rate.

My fees are all full-time weekly fees (not by the day).

[daycare]

ok so if I understand this correctly

430 125 week
445 130 week
500 135 week and so on.

so if I need to pick up one day at 500 and the rest of the week at 430 my rate is still 135 week??

if this is the case, I could see why she would be upset. OR you are just going to be working later all that week because of the later time chosen for that one day

[Snowmom]

To help clear it up:

4:30 pick up time is $140/week (which was what she wants to pay)
4:45 pick up time is $150/week
5:00 pick up time is $165/week (which is now $3 higher than the OLD full time 9 hour per day rate they were ALL at before)
5:15 pick up time is $185/week.

$1 per minute overtime fee if you pick up after your weekly contracted time slot.
$2 per minute after closing (5:15).

[daycare]

here is how I do mine. give an example

my rates start at $50 a day for a 430 pick up


430 $50
445 $55
and increse by $5 for every 15 min. I make my families give me their schedule monthly and can only change it with a 30 day advance notice if they choose to decrease their schedule., two week notice if they increase.

so I require the schedule and they put it on their contract

monday 430 $50
Tuesday 500 $60
wedneday 430 $50
thursday 430 $50
Friday 445 $55

then add it all up and this is your weekly rate for the entire month. so $265 week

[daycare]

To help clear it up:

4:30 pick up time is $140/week (which was what she wants to pay)
4:45 pick up time is $150/week
5:00 pick up time is $165/week (which is now $3 higher than the OLD full time 9 hour per day rate they were ALL at before)
5:15 pick up time is $185/week.

$1 per minute overtime fee if you pick up after your weekly contracted time slot.
$2 per minute after closing (5:15).

so what if i wanted to pick up one day at 5 the next at 530??

[Snowmom]

ok so if I understand this correctly

430 125 week
445 130 week
500 135 week and so on.

so if I need to pick up one day at 500 and the rest of the week at 430 my rate is still 135 week??

if this is the case, I could see why she would be upset. OR you are just going to be working later all that week because of the later time chosen for that one day

I'm not saying that I don't understand where she's coming from. But what I'm trying to get across to her is that my rates are what they are. I'm not going to adjust them for one family.
If I do that for one family, why wouldn't I do it for all. kwim?
Also, that would become an accounting nightmare for me.

If she wants to pick the 5pm rate and go home and sleep from 4:30-4:59, I don't care as long as she picks up by 5pm.
The purpose of me switching was to know exactly when my day will end- so I could make plans and be sure my kids could be picked up on time from activities. Working less is a bonus, but not a necessity.

Hope that makes sense.

[daycare]

I'm not saying that I don't understand where she's coming from. But what I'm trying to get across to her is that my rates are what they are. I'm not going to adjust them for one family.
If I do that for one family, why wouldn't I do it for all. kwim?
Also, that would become an accounting nightmare for me.

If she wants to pick the 5pm rate and go home and sleep from 4:30-4:59, I don't care as long as she picks up by 5pm.
The purpose of me switching was to know exactly when my day will end- so I could make plans and be sure my kids could be picked up on time from activities. Working less is a bonus, but not a necessity.

Hope that makes sense.

true...well in that case, i would state a letter keeping it plain and simple.

If you want to keep her I would state this

dcm,

i understand that our new tuition schedule may be a little difficult to understand, however, please pick a time that you would like to pick up and be sure to submit ontime payment.

term letter, I would use the search tab and look for one of BCs famous short sweet and simple to the point letters.

[Snowmom]

so what if i wanted to pick up one day at 5 the next at 530??

Well, 5:30 would be 15 minutes past my closing time.
So $30 in late fees and most likely a termination if it happened more than once.

I'm pretty strict and clear with my families about being late.

I don't do daily rates. Weekly options are what my families are given. Which is also pretty common for FT in my area. I'm actually on the lower side for early pick up times in my area. $140 a week is about $30 a week lower than the average cost of daycare in my county. However my later pick up rates ($185) is higher. So, the earlier rates are a huge benefit to families WHO CAN DO IT.
Simply put, if they can't do it the entire week, I will not offer it.

[daycare]

Well, 5:30 would be 15 minutes past my closing time.
So $30 in late fees and most likely a termination if it happened more than once.

I'm pretty strict and clear with my families about being late.

I don't do daily rates. Weekly options are what my families are given. Which is also pretty common for FT in my area. I'm actually on the lower side for early pick up times in my area. $140 a week is about $30 a week lower than the average cost of daycare in my county. However my later pick up rates ($185) is higher. So, the earlier rates are a huge benefit to families WHO CAN DO IT.
Simply put, if they can't do it the entire week, I will not offer it.

i dont do daily rates either so to speak..

If you think about it if you take the weekly rate, you can break it down by the day.

My rates are based on the number of days you attend which are based off of the pick up time and that becomes your weekly rate. I don't allow people to attend less than 2 days a week.

so if you attend two days with a 430 pick up then it's $100 week. It stays that way unless you ask to change, which I will allow you to change it 3 times a year.

But your rules are your rules. That just means that instead of getting off the rest of the week earlier, you will have to work later do to the fact that they are paying the later pick up time right?

[Hunni Bee]

Dear DCF,

From our conversation on Friday, it became apparent to me that my rates/hours are no longer compatible with your needs. I thank you using my services and wish the best for you and your family.

The last day I will provide care is 10/xx/15.

Sincerely,

Not Taking Your Crap


She seems like an arguer and I wouldn't give her any fodder or wiggle room to try and "negotiate" her way out of getting termed. Let her go to a center where she'll get open hours and can pick up any time she wants on any day, but she'll be paying twice your rate.

[childcaremom]

Dear DCF,

From our conversation on Friday, it became apparent to me that my rates/hours are no longer compatible with your needs. I thank you using my services and wish the best for you and your family.

The last day I will provide care is 10/xx/15.

Sincerely,

Not Taking Your Crap


She seems like an arguer and I wouldn't give her any fodder or wiggle room to try and "negotiate" her way out of getting termed. Let her go to a center where she'll get open hours and can pick up any time she wants on any day, but she'll be paying twice your rate.

I wouldn't entertain any more discussion about this. I might add that any further disrespect about your rates could be cause for immediate termination with refund of fees. That saves you from dealing with comments right up until their last day. Because those are always fun

I love your late fees, btw. $1 past contracted, $2 past closing. I am changing mine in January and will be implementing that doubling.

[Indoorvoice]

I do my rates the same way as you, but my parents got smart quick and figured out that if they want to pay the 4:30 pick up rate, but have one day during their week where they work later, they find someone else to pick up. There's no way I would put up with her comments either. I liked the letter someone else posted about how your "rates no longer work" for her and keep it short and sweet. You've got this!

[Josiegirl]

I don't understand some people. This is a business and we run it the way it works for us. If I went into a business I certainly wouldn't try to negotiate everything and change their rules. If you don't like something about a business you can go elsewhere, why is daycare so much different. Usually everything is spelled out beforehand so it's not as if people are walking into our homes blindly.
What *really* doesn't make sense in this particular case is that it'd only cost her a few dollars more than it was previously, yet she's arguing with you about it. To me it spells disrespect and non-appreciation.