Late Payment Policy

[AfterSchoolMom]

I have a huge problem with parents paying late and flat refusing to pay late fees, so I am going to change my payment policy. I'm going to get rid of the late fees, but will be more strict. What does everyone think of this?

"After two calendar days, your child will not be allowed to return to care until payment is made in full (you will be required to pay for these days as well). More than two late payments will result in the loss of your child’s place in my home with no refunds given."

[lvt77]

I say if your firm enough to do that then do it... I have no back bone...

[AfterSchoolMom]

At this point, I feel like I've got nothing to lose anyway.... so I think it'll be easier to stick to this than it has been to try and get them to pay late fees.

[Blackcat31]

Seriously? What do you mean they flat out refuse to pay late fees? Like they keep paying the bill but will seriously leave their children with you and not pay the late fee part of the bill? I am honestly floored at the disrespect. I would change my policy to no care until bill is paid in full INCLUDING LATE FEES. Wow, I can't believe how disrespecful people can be and I don't mean just parents...just that I am assumming late fees were outlined into your conract and they agreed so what is the problem now that you are enforcing the contract?

[dEHmom]

Maybe I'm not catching something here, but......

If they are late on their payment, you allow them to go 2 additional days with care, and then if they still don't pay, you won't give them a refund? If they are behind on payments, where would a refund even come into the picture?

Personally no pay no stay. If you don't pay me on friday or monday morning for mondays care at the very least, don't bother taking your kids shoes off. If you show up on tuesday morning and you don't have payment I don't even open my door. SORRY! if you arrange with me at least a few days in advance and I AGREE to it, then maybe there is an exception.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Blackcat, yes, you've got it right. They just ignore the late fees and pretty much pay whenever they want. I've tried to enforce fees and I've tried sending out reminders when fees are due...and they just ignore me. I've changed the payment day and have started to accept checks for the first time ever to help them to remember to pay on time, and still timely payments are an exception rather than the rule.

[missnikki]

If you don't pay me on friday or monday morning for mondays care at the very least, don't bother taking your kids shoes off... if you arrange with me at least a few days in advance and I AGREE to it, then maybe there is an exception.

Yup.

If you tell me you have a problem before it's a problem, then no problem. If you avoid me and sob story me while I am supposed to watch your child for free, go kick rocks!

[AfterSchoolMom]

Maybe I'm not catching something here, but......

If they are late on their payment, you allow them to go 2 additional days with care, and then if they still don't pay, you won't give them a refund? If they are behind on payments, where would a refund even come into the picture?

Personally no pay no stay. If you don't pay me on friday or monday morning for mondays care at the very least, don't bother taking your kids shoes off. If you show up on tuesday morning and you don't have payment I don't even open my door. SORRY! if you arrange with me at least a few days in advance and I AGREE to it, then maybe there is an exception.

Right now my payment day is Thursday for the following week. Are you saying that if they don't pay Thursday, I shouldn't let them in on Friday w/o money? I know that a good portion of people here do that.

I included the part about the refund because I anticipate someone getting angry and pulling their child and then trying to get money back from me because of it. Just trying to cover my rear end.

[dEHmom]

I am simply just implying that all my care is prepaid unless you've discussed alternate arrangements and I've agreed example, you know you next paycheque is smaller because..........and you'll catch up or whatever.
If I agree then fine, but if you don't discuss this ahead of time, too bad. If you don't prepay you don't bring your child until you do.

So if they are paid up until a thursday, and don't pay you thursday night, or friday morning, then say sorry, and close the door.

[Blackcat31]

Again..wow! I so feel for you because it is so hard when people just disregard what you say. It is easy to say yes, you should lock the door and not let them in if they don't pay in full but no matter how tough we all say we are on here there is still a human element involved in the business. Most of us do this because we love kids not because we are business tycoons with hearts made of titanium...most of us have hearts of gold and unfortunately that is our downfall as well. I would however, maybe try to talk with the parents and say, "why do you feel you can just ignore the late fees?" Maybe if you put them on the spot and ask them, maybe they will explain their actions....maybe they don't feel late fees really matter because you aren't enforcing them. Can you afford to lose some people if you get tough? If not that will definately change how you handle this situation.....

[dEHmom]

Again..wow! I so feel for you because it is so hard when people just disregard what you say. It is easy to say yes, you should lock the door and not let them in if they don't pay in full but no matter how tough we all say we are on here there is still a human element involved in the business. Most of us do this because we love kids not because we are business tycoons with hearts made of titanium...most of us have hearts of gold and unfortunately that is our downfall as well. I would however, maybe try to talk with the parents and say, "why do you feel you can just ignore the late fees?" Maybe if you put them on the spot and ask them, maybe they will explain their actions....maybe they don't feel late fees really matter because you aren't enforcing them. Can you afford to lose some people if you get tough? If not that will definately change how you handle this situation.....

Exactly, I am a lot of talk!
Point is show some respect and let me know ahead of time that you're going to make a late payment. Or phone me when you get home and admit that you forgot to take it out of your wallet! But please don't just assume that it's ok to not pay me for a week becasue you're short. That then makes me short, and makes my payments late.
It's all a matter of respecting one another and if you can't respect me by paying me on time, or at least discussing with me, then I won't care for your child anymore, and you won't be paying bills on time either because you'll be sitting at home with your kid.

[e.j.]

"After two calendar days, your child will not be allowed to return to care until payment is made in full (you will be required to pay for these days as well). More than two late payments will result in the loss of your child’s place in my home with no refunds given."

If they're supposed to pay on Thursday for the following week, I can understand why you might give them the 2 days. I'd even give them til Monday morning at drop off. I would keep the late fees, though. If at drop off on Monday, they still haven't paid you (all late fees included) I'd go into "No Pay/No Stay" mode.

[legomom922]

If they're supposed to pay on Thursday for the following week, I can understand why you might give them the 2 days. I'd even give them til Monday morning at drop off. I would keep the late fees, though. If at drop off on Monday, they still haven't paid you (all late fees included) I'd go into "No Pay/No Stay" mode.

I agree with this except for giving them until monday am. I would give them until Fri drop off, BUT if they do not pay at drop off, you dont watch the child, and I would charge the late fee for anytime after your closing time on Thurs!

You have to stop letting these parents dictate the rules here. Put your foot down. I would a notice in their backpack, that says you now enforcing your policies as of such & such date, & that the late fees will apply and no pay no stay rule will apply to anyone who does not pay by fri drop off. Period.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Yeah, I tried that, and that was the day that I found out they were looking for another provider.

It is SUPER hard to get new families, so I'm between a rock and a hard place.

[SandeeAR]

If you switched to prepay, it would do away with that problem altogether.


Sorry, none of the answers showed up until after I posted. (I had been away from the computer with this thread open) I see you are already prepay. And yes, if they don't pay by drop off Friday morning, don't keep the kids. They are taking advantage of you, b/c you let them and they know they can get away with it.

You have to remember, this is BUSINESS first. Do you think your mortgage company or landlord would let you stay in your house, if you were always late?