How Would You Respond?

[Unregistered]

I have had a family of two children since August. They had requested to pay the full month in advance, which is fine. But the past three months have been paid late, and only after I send a reminder text. I invoiced the next payment which is due this Friday. Every month I make a point to let him know I am going to charge a late fee if the payment is not received by 5 pm on the due date. Well I finally did and tacked it on to the payment coming up. His texts me and says he is confused-what is the late fee for? I let him know that he was two days late last month. He responds with says sorry, I guess it was because I forgot over thanksgiving weekend. I am thinking, well whatever, forget all you want but I am going to charge you for it, and I bet you won't be forgetting any more!
Well I obviously can not say that to him. How would you respond? Do I point out that last month was not the first time? Do I just ignore it? Apologize? What would you do?

[Blackcat31]

I have had a family of two children since August. They had requested to pay the full month in advance, which is fine. But the past three months have been paid late, and only after I send a reminder text. I invoiced the next payment which is due this Friday. Every month I make a point to let him know I am going to charge a late fee if the payment is not received by 5 pm on the due date. Well I finally did and tacked it on to the payment coming up. His texts me and says he is confused-what is the late fee for? I let him know that he was two days late last month. He responds with says sorry, I guess it was because I forgot over thanksgiving weekend. I am thinking, well whatever, forget all you want but I am going to charge you for it, and I bet you won't be forgetting any more!
Well I obviously can not say that to him. How would you respond? Do I point out that last month was not the first time? Do I just ignore it? Apologize? What would you do?

Apologize for what?

I would respond with something like "Previous late payments have not had a late fee attached as they were waived as a courtesy but after 2 or more late payments, fees can no longer be waived. I understand forgetting over a holiday weekend but being paid in a timely manner is something I fully expect my clients to manage without too much reminding on my end. Reminder texts are a courtesy and not always something that will precede a payment due. For future reference, ANY late payments WILL have a late fee automatically added and services will be suspended until all fees are paid in full."

[AmyKidsCo]

Apologize for what?

I would respond with something like "Previous late payments have not had a late fee attached as they were waived as a courtesy but after 2 or more late payments, fees can no longer be waived. I understand forgetting over a holiday weekend but being paid in a timely manner is something I fully expect my clients to manage without too much reminding on my end. Reminder texts are a courtesy and not always something that will precede a payment due. For future reference, ANY late payments WILL have a late fee automatically added and services will be suspended until all fees are paid in full."

I also have in my policies something like "Failure to enforce a policy does not mean that the policy is no longer in effect."

[Unregistered]

Last time this happened to me I texted dcf in the morning with there total due by end of business, including the late fee, smile face and a 'thx!'
This is a family I use to remind. Done with that crap! I was very straight forward about payments be paid on Friday or late fee's will apply. Period.