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I can understand the parent's dilemma. If she could pick up everyday at 4:30 it would cost her $140 a week but since there is one day she needs a 5:00 pickup then she will be paying $165. (if I understand this correctly)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.
I would ask about this too if I were a parent. It is worth it to ask but I wouldn't be rude. Personally, I would set it up like daycare. Actually I wouldn't do tiered rates at all because I'd rather receive $165 and just be open until 5 p.m. She must be picking up at 4:30 most days anyway so that is an extra $25 a week from this family with only one day till 5.
To me, the issue is more the rudeness. I can absolutely see why if $25 or so off of my previous rate was dangled in front of me it would sting even if I was paying only $3 more than before. This is $25 a week or $100 a month difference.
Just my opinion....don't taze me bro. :
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LaurelComment
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Of course she doesn't think it is fair, because it doesn't work for HER::
I would definitely terminate for the attitude. She has options. She would only be paying $3 more than she does now, or she can find someone else to pick up on that one day a week and pay quite a bit less. But, she doesn't want to do that. She wants to compromise, but only so it works in her favor. Not quite the definition of compromise Unfortunately for her, her situation is one that may not benefit from your new tutition, unless she makes a compromise. You are offering her the compromise that if she can find a way to have dck picked up by 4:30 EVERYDAY, she gets to save $25 a week. If she can't, then she will pay $3 more per week, because that is just the way the cookie crumbles. 
The attittude would piss me off, though. She can find a new daycare according to her, and you have a wait list. Write that letter up and send it! (The pp who said the new fee schedule is not working for her sounded good. Even though it is not meant to work for HER, but for YOU!
) Good luck!
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This is why I don't do the tier method...it confuses the heckouttame.I can understand the parent's dilemma. If she could pick up everyday at 4:30 it would cost her $140 a week but since there is one day she needs a 5:00 pickup then she will be paying $165. (if I understand this correctly)
I would ask about this too if I were a parent. It is worth it to ask but I wouldn't be rude. Personally, I would set it up like daycare. Actually I wouldn't do tiered rates at all because I'd rather receive $165 and just be open until 5 p.m. She must be picking up at 4:30 most days anyway so that is an extra $25 a week from this family with only one day till 5.
To me, the issue is more the rudeness. I can absolutely see why if $25 or so off of my previous rate was dangled in front of me it would sting even if I was paying only $3 more than before. This is $25 a week or $100 a month difference.
Just my opinion....don't taze me bro. ::
Laurel All that registered in my (feebly inadequate) mind was the $3 difference.
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It's me...OP (in my best rap voice...because that rhymes and I'm weird)
I understand everyone's point of view, I really do.
I also appreciate the opposing viewpoints.
Here's the nitty gritty with this particular family though:
Previously, I had a standard flat rate which included 9 hours of care within my operating hours. What was happening, is that everyone signed up stating one set of hours (theirs was 7:45-4:45).
But, like all my other parents, they'd let their child sleep in as late as possible, then bring them in by 8:30, so they could pick up as late as possible (closing previously at 5:30).
I hated this. My choices were either change everyone to contracted times during my open-close, or let THEM chose which timeframes would work and give them the option to lower their rates IF they consistently picked up early. I didn't want to just close at 5pm and call it day- I wanted to give the families that truly needed later pick times the option to have it...but they'd be paying a premium for it.
So, I changed my closing time by 15 minutes and gave everyone a set of options, making it clear that there is NO grace period- if you chose a 4:30 pick up time, make sure you are picking up before 4:30. This rate is SOOOO much lower than my competitors who charge flat rates based on age.
This particular family's drop off & pick up were previously all over the place- not really EVER consistent.
I understand that in a way I'm dangling the carrot in front of them- but that's not really a bad thing, since they obviously want to take advantage of it. They can essentially be at a rate that's almost identical to what they were previously paying ($3 more weekly- which apparently was insulting to her to raise it that much?) and have a guaranteed later pick up time... I still have kids until 5pm most days, so I don't care (and 5pm is still 30 minutes earlier than I was getting done with before).
So, if they want to take advantage of it, but can't do it consistently, why is that my problem? I'm not trying to be snarky. I just don't understand why they should get the bonus lower rate if they can only fulfill the bonus hours 3-4 times per week, when everyone else would fulfill it 5 days per week.
I'm not saying this method is perfect, but it's taken 30 minutes-1 hour off my day so far. I give them the opportunity to change it weekly, so I think that's being flexible to a degree. It's all nice and tidy on my sign in sheet; they write their pick up time right next to their child's name on Mondays and sign in and out every day.
I do not want to break it down by day. For many reasons. So, it's not an option.
This mom has thrown temper tantrums about so many other things, even if I was willing to do special for a family, I wouldn't in her case.
I do like the short and to the point term approach and I'm willing/able to stand my ground. I'm just a little wishy washy when it comes to what happens AFTER the term. Do you just simply state "it's non-negotiable" or do you back up your termination with "why" when you're challenged by a parent about it? Which will definitely happen in this parent's case.Comment
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You don't have to defend your plan to anyone. I think, if anything, you are giving them MORE choice in what they pay each week/month, so they should not be complaining. I see no problem with them asking, but to be rude and aggressive and threaten you with leaving...um, no. Help them out and let them leave, by terming them. Short and sweet..."Due to our recent conversation, I have decided to terminate our contract. Thank you for your business and best of luck to you and your family!" Or something like that.
If you want to give them the option, then be firm. "My tuition is non-negotiable, so either keep a pick up time of 5 and pay XX rate, or find a way to pick up dck early and go with 4:30 as your pick up time at XX rate. If that will not work for you, please supply your written two notice and dck's last day will be XX."
The attitude would bug me, so I would term. Btw, your tuition is very fair, imo. She is either going to pay an extra $12 a month, or she will find a way to pick up at 4:30 and save $100 a month. That is a very fair compromise, imo. (not sure if you allow them to set their time week to week, but if they need to work late sometimes, maybe they could plan to work late two or three nights during the same week and pay the higher amount for that week, but pay the lesser amount for the other 3 weeks and pick up at 4:30. Not sure if you allow them to change the time each week, but if so, that could be a way for them to still save some money, but also get the time they need to get extra work stuff done. Regardless, I would still term)
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It's actually much easier than it appears. I set this up at enrollment and they are required to keep the same consistent schedule throughout their contract. I will allow up to 3 changed per year but after that I charge an additional fee to allow them to change it. So far no one has changed it one time. I like getting off early so I can spend time with my family and since o need assistants, I like the fact that they can get off earlier which means I save money.
It's a win all the way around. But everyone needs to be comfortable with how they run their business, so I understand this doesn't work for everyone.Comment
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I can understand the parent's dilemma. If she could pick up everyday at 4:30 it would cost her $140 a week but since there is one day she needs a 5:00 pickup then she will be paying $165. (if I understand this correctly)
I would ask about this too if I were a parent. It is worth it to ask but I wouldn't be rude. Personally, I would set it up like daycare. Actually I wouldn't do tiered rates at all because I'd rather receive $165 and just be open until 5 p.m. She must be picking up at 4:30 most days anyway so that is an extra $25 a week from this family with only one day till 5.
To me, the issue is more the rudeness. I can absolutely see why if $25 or so off of my previous rate was dangled in front of me it would sting even if I was paying only $3 more than before. This is $25 a week or $100 a month difference.
Just my opinion....don't taze me bro. ::
Laurel
I agree with Laurel. As a parent I would also be irked at paying $25 more a week for 1/2 an hour one day. Obviously, you're not willing to budge, so it sounds like you just want to term (just because she asked?). Sounds like you made up your mind.Comment
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I switched to tiered rates this year (similar to how you made your rates). I had two families start at the later pick up, then they changed to the earlier pick up by changing their work schedules and arranging for other pick up people to come. I had another family that started at the earlier pick up, but after a couple of weeks realized they needed to change to the later pick up because there was one day they were not sure someone could pick up by the earlier time and didn't want to pay the higher late pick up fee. So I agree with you, that it is possible if they really wanted the earlier pick up time, it is all up to the parents in my opinion.Comment
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She's not paying 25 more a week, she is paying $3 more a week. She is just not saving 25 a week, since she can't find a way to pick up at 430 on that one random day a week. That is her problem, not the OPs. Time to put on her big girl panties and figure out a way to make it happen if the savings is important to her or find a different daycare.Comment
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I'm really surprised at the number of posters who are questioning the OPs policy/rate structure. A common theme on this board is that it's important to enforce your policies no matter what they are.
Basically what it comes down to is the policy is in place and the parent can either make it work or she can't. I'd be miffed too if a parent decided it was up to me to work my schedule around hers so that she could save some money. No thanks.
I'd term, too. Short and sweet. No reason, no negotiation.Comment
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True but at the same time it's rather confusing to understand and if that's the case it makes it hard to help.
I'm really surprised at the number of posters who are questioning the OPs policy/rate structure. A common theme on this board is that it's important to enforce your policies no matter what they are.
Basically what it comes down to is the policy is in place and the parent can either make it work or she can't. I'd be miffed too if a parent decided it was up to me to work my schedule around hers so that she could save some money. No thanks.
I'd term, too. Short and sweet. No reason, no negotiation.
But policies can make you or break you and if we could help someone out that may have a policy that isn't fair it would be nice of us to let them know.
By no means am I saying her policies aren't fair I think they are fair, I just think it's a little hard to
Understand, which may be causing this mom to be angry.
Either way the parent signed the contract so it's up to the provider to enforce it. And your right we should help her to enforce itLast edited by daycare; 10-03-2015, 04:00 PM.Comment
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I agree that it is your rate and policies, and you get to set them. But to me, letting them decide each week almost lets them think they can argue it KWIM? I suppose that for some parents it would work great, but some just want to nickle and dime us and apparently you have one of those and that is what she thinks she can do with your structure. You may just have to put her on a flat rate (of your choosing) to get past this issue with her.Comment
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Commenting on bolded part:
I'm really surprised at the number of posters who are questioning the OPs policy/rate structure. A common theme on this board is that it's important to enforce your policies no matter what they are.
Basically what it comes down to is the policy is in place and the parent can either make it work or she can't. I'd be miffed too if a parent decided it was up to me to work my schedule around hers so that she could save some money. No thanks.
I'd term, too. Short and sweet. No reason, no negotiation.
Yes, it is a common theme of this board. As providers it is sooooo important that we have a backbone and can stand up for ourselves with parents that are trying to take advantage. But, I don't think that we should just blindly agree with each other. I think what other posters and I were saying was just that we can see the parent's perspective in this case. Obviously the parent shouldn't have copped an attitude and I would have an issue with that as well.
I simply just don't agree with her policy. I also structure my rates similiarly and haven't had this specific issue come up, but I don't think it makes sense to charge $25 for 1/2 an hour per week. That IS what she's doing based on her new rate structure. The old rate structure no longer applies and seems irrelevant. Obviously this is OP's decision and it seems like she's made it.Comment
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