Returned Payment

[NillaWafers]

So, I'm not quite sure what to do about this situation. Ok, it seems I don't know what to do in a lot of situations haha!

One of my DCFs pays through MinuteMenu. I got a notice that the payment was returned (and they charged me like 4bucks). My policy on returned payments is a 30 dollar fee, plus whatever bank fees I was charged. I talked to mom this morning and she gave me a story about her quitting work to go to school and her husband going into rehab (YIKES ) so they've been waiting on disability.

Obviously I'm not going to let her daughter attend next week without payment, and she says she should be able to pay the week after. However, I don't want her to get the idea that if she can't pay she can just not come - I would want to fill that space in that case.

As many of you know I'm pregnant and am due the first week of January. I feel it would be really hard to fill that spot anyhow with such upheaval right now (have to take off 2 weeks unpaid, then hubby will be taking PFL for a month). So I told her not paying next week would be fine. What would you do?

ETA: She is paid for this last week, that payment went through fine. Minute Menu starts the payment process Tuesday so that the payment is in my bank by Monday. So basically she is saying she cannot pay for next weeks care.

[daycarediva]

IF you agree to forgive next week, I would write it up. Special circumstances. Have her sign understanding that it was just that week. Make it understood and put it in writing that her child cannot attend, and that if she doesn't return, she would be charged for the week PLUS late fees, yadda yadda.

I wouldn't do it personally. I've seen disability take yearrrsss to pay out. I also feel like she should have come to you with this information before the payment bounced. I'm getting jaded though.

[Unregistered]

If she had approached me ahead of time I may have been willing to make other arrangements. I'm less forgiving when they are aware ahead of time that their family choices will impact my family income, yet nothing is said so that I can prepare.

[daycarediva]

I WOULD charge her the $4, plus $30 plus your bank fee though!!!

[NillaWafers]

Yes I am mostly having qualms because she waited for it to bounce to tell me. She could have avoided a returned check fee and a little bit of headache if she just told me what was going on.

She says her husband is out of rehab and should be returning to work next week which is why they should be able to pay. I know for certain I will not be able to find anyone to fill this spot until late January so I kinda feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot money wise if I just terminate. They've been with me 6 months, I've worked pretty hard to get her daughter acclimated here.

[NillaWafers]

I WOULD charge her the $4, plus $30 plus your bank fee though!!!

DEFINITELY doing that haha. No way am I taking the fees for her

[Blackcat31]

"Dear DCM

I've given this situation some more thought and have decided I am not willing to waive payment for this next week but I am willing to allow you to make payment arrangements to pay for any monies owed (including late fees and bank fees) so that you are able to catch up and retain your space in my program.

Originally I had stated that I would be willing to waive fees for this next week but that was before your previous payment came back returned and thus put my financial obligations at risk.

Had I been apprised of the situation beforehand, I could have taken some preventative measures and been in a situation that would have allowed me to be a bit more flexible in regards to payment.

I am sure you understand.

Sincerely,

Provider"

That ^^^ is how I would handle it.

I would WANT daycare mom to know that had SHE been forthcoming with this entire situation it would have saved you (and her) the stress, headache and the unnecessary management of this whole thing.

That is really what I would be upset about. I fully understand that sh!t happens but I stress continuously (to my clients and my own kids) that it is always easier to keep yourself out of a hole than to dig yourself out of one after the fact.

[NillaWafers]

Ahh. Well she's already paid up for this week. The returned payment is for next week. It processes on Tuesday so it's deposited in my account on Mondays. So the returned payment is for next weeks care, not this last week.

Would you still go about it the same way?

[Blackcat31]

Ahh. Well she's already paid up for this week. The returned payment is for next week. It processes on Tuesday so it's deposited in my account on Mondays. So the returned payment is for next weeks care, not this last week.

Would you still go about it the same way?

Yep.... because she behaved like a child and failed to notify you before it happened.

So if I KNEW without a doubt that she knew her payment attempt would be returned/not accepted but didn't say anything to you, I would not be so generous to waive fees for the week...I might consider waiving late fees but I would be willing to give her a free week of care.

It would just bother me that she was only concerned about herself and didn't give it a thought how it would effect you.....and if she did and still didn't say anything then that is even worse.

It just makes me feel so bad that as providers we are so caring and understanding by nature and parents have to go and mess that up by acting, basically like a child...you know, not owning anything until you are actually caught. It's just such a childish and selfish move.

So, yes.. I would still have some sort of consequence because of her actions or lack of actions beforehand.

I'm sorry you are dealing with this.

[NillaWafers]

I was definitely planning on charging her my returned check fee, plus the 3 dollars MinuteMenu charged me for the failed payment.

Would you let the child still attend though? If I were to split up next weeks tuition, plus late payment fee ( I think I'm at 20/day!) you would definitely expect them to drop off their child yeah?

To be honest I'll be 36 weeks pregnant and the thought of only having two kids is tempting even if I don't get money haha - I'm flipping exhausted.

ETA: I'm also worried that if I do allow them to do a payment plan, they'll end up skipping out on me in the end - then I'll have provided a week of free care.

[daycare]

IF you agree to forgive next week, I would write it up. Special circumstances. Have her sign understanding that it was just that week. Make it understood and put it in writing that her child cannot attend, and that if she doesn't return, she would be charged for the week PLUS late fees, yadda yadda.

I wouldn't do it personally. I've seen disability take yearrrsss to pay out. I also feel like she should have come to you with this information before the payment bounced. I'm getting jaded though.

THIS...I am sooo bothered by people who are not proactive. they knew they didn't have the money, they should have came to you before hand and talked to you about it. It is not a surprise that their check is not there, they both knew it would not be on time.

I would not do it either. I would let them go and just take a break with your new little bundle of joy that is coming. One less thing for you to have to worry about.

[NillaWafers]

What I ended up doing is saying that she doesn't have to bring her next week. She apologized and said she honestly thought the disability would have come through.

I told her that if she still cannot pay the week after I will consider this next week (7th) and the week after (14th) her "two weeks" and we will go through the termination process. At least she knows I'm serious about terminating.

I will be writing this all up and having her sign it at pickup today.

[daycare]

What I ended up doing is saying that she doesn't have to bring her next week. She apologized and said she honestly thought the disability would have come through.

I told her that if she still cannot pay the week after I will consider this next week (7th) and the week after (14th) her "two weeks deposit" and we will go through the termination process. At least she knows I'm serious about terminating.

I will be writing this all up and having her sign it at pickup today.

very genrous of you. Glad you were able to figure something out. I know that times can be hard, especially around this time of year.

keeping my finger crossed for you....

[Thriftylady]

I think you are being more than generous. What kind of disability are they waiting for? If it is through a job it may not take long. If it is through the government it can take years IF the approve it and I know for a fact they won't in cases of drug or alcohol addiction, they don't consider those disabilities. I applied a few years ago after my psychiatrist suggested it based on my PTSD, depression and fibromyalgia. After over 2 years it was denied even though a doctor was behind me filing. Luckily they kept working with me and got me to a point where I can do daycare again. I still can't go work a job where I have to either sit or stand all day. But luckily I was able to go back into daycare and that isn't an issue. But I spent a couple of years, where I honestly could hardly get out of bed each day.

[NillaWafers]

I think you are being more than generous. What kind of disability are they waiting for? If it is through a job it may not take long. If it is through the government it can take years IF the approve it and I know for a fact they won't in cases of drug or alcohol addiction, they don't consider those disabilities. I applied a few years ago after my psychiatrist suggested it based on my PTSD, depression and fibromyalgia. After over 2 years it was denied even though a doctor was behind me filing. Luckily they kept working with me and got me to a point where I can do daycare again. I still can't go work a job where I have to either sit or stand all day. But luckily I was able to go back into daycare and that isn't an issue. But I spent a couple of years, where I honestly could hardly get out of bed each day.

I am pretty sure it is through his job and CA SDI. She did say he was in rehab last month, not quite sure how that works with the state. Either way, if she doesn't pay by the 14th they are terminated. Kinda a bummer before Christmas but whatcha gonna do!