Question About Day Care Billing for Absent Days

[e.j.]

For me, it boils down to what you agreed to when you signed the contract. My clients sign an agreement that stipulates they will pay whether the child attends day care or not. This ensures a steady, expected income for me so that I can continue to remain in business and be available to them when they do need child care. Payment ensures that there will be a spot open for that child when they return - guaranteed. They don't pay for a specific spot per se so if they are not attending day care and I have an opening as a result of their absence, I will fill it and charge the other client for the care I give to that client's child. Personally, I don't see a moral or ethical problem with this.

Policies differ among providers. If you are unhappy with your provider's policy, you might want to discuss it with her to see if she'll make an exception for you or you might want to start interviewing to see if you can find another provider who has policies you can agree on.

[KSDC]

She filled my childs spot with a child who is usually in school.

In my state, children under 5 are in a separate category from school aged children. I can add the school age children in on top of the current pre-school set.
So, she may not be "filling your spot". She may be able to legally take the school aged child and yours at the same time.

[daycare]

I guess the question would be how do you know they took your spots??

i had 9 kids out of 14 daily out over the christmas break.
Most of them I was not aware they would be out until right before. A few I did know about.

No matter if the child attends or not, I still have money that Is being spent. I still have to pay for insurance for their child to remain covered and I still have to keep my employees, among other things that I paid for if they are here or not.

[Thriftylady]

How do you know the other family was billed? When I have open spots, I sometimes watch my nephew. I don't get paid for him although he takes up a spot.

This is a good point also. I have my grandson sometimes. His other grandmother watches him most of the time when mom works, but she doesn't do it for a living, she does it to help her daughter. Sometimes she needs a break and asks me to help out. When I have space I do. In fact, I just texted grandma earlier and asked if she wanted me to keep him a couple of days and nights this weekend.

[daycare]

some of my response got cut off, not too sure what happened, but I was also trying to say that with 9 kids out, I would not be able to give 9 families their money back just because I let two kids come over their break and use spots that were not being used.

HOWEVER, if you told me you wanted that time off and I decided to fill it with another child, then you changed your mind, then of course I would have to tell that other child's family that they could not attend because I would not have the space.

So you are paying for the guarantee of always having your spot no matter what.

make sure you read your contract and see what it says.

[MOM OF 4 logged out]

Personally, I never discussed these things with the parents. If a parent told me he/she wanted to take 2 weeks off, I expect the spot to be paid for. If they have not notified me in at least 24 hours that they wanted to use one of those days, I assume they're not coming, and I plan my day. Once the parent notifies me they don't want their spot, while they do have to pay for it, I am not obligated to open my doors. Often times, during holiday weeks, I could have no kids in care at all, and would get a nice break. Then there are times you could easily do a drop-in special for someone who maybe needed the spot unexpectedly. I don't find that unethical, especially when the drop-in spot is asked for last minute. Each parent is responsible for paying their own fees, so the drop-in parent would have to pay for the time they used. Meanwhile, the other parent would be paying for the time they elected to take off where normally, I would have been working.

But none of it is any of the parent's business. When you sign the contract, it's YOUR contract and has nothing to do with anyone else's. Therefore, while it may feel unfair to you, that provider is not obligated to disclose anything about any other family, including who pays what, when.

[Meeko]

Personally, I never discussed these things with the parents. If a parent told me he/she wanted to take 2 weeks off, I expect the spot to be paid for. If they have not notified me in at least 24 hours that they wanted to use one of those days, I assume they're not coming, and I plan my day. Once the parent notifies me they don't want their spot, while they do have to pay for it, I am not obligated to open my doors. Often times, during holiday weeks, I could have no kids in care at all, and would get a nice break. Then there are times you could easily do a drop-in special for someone who maybe needed the spot unexpectedly. I don't find that unethical, especially when the drop-in spot is asked for last minute. Each parent is responsible for paying their own fees, so the drop-in parent would have to pay for the time they used. Meanwhile, the other parent would be paying for the time they elected to take off where normally, I would have been working.

But none of it is any of the parent's business. When you sign the contract, it's YOUR contract and has nothing to do with anyone else's. Therefore, while it may feel unfair to you, that provider is not obligated to disclose anything about any other family, including who pays what, when.

[Play Care]

Personally, I never discussed these things with the parents. If a parent told me he/she wanted to take 2 weeks off, I expect the spot to be paid for. If they have not notified me in at least 24 hours that they wanted to use one of those days, I assume they're not coming, and I plan my day. Once the parent notifies me they don't want their spot, while they do have to pay for it, I am not obligated to open my doors. Often times, during holiday weeks, I could have no kids in care at all, and would get a nice break. Then there are times you could easily do a drop-in special for someone who maybe needed the spot unexpectedly. I don't find that unethical, especially when the drop-in spot is asked for last minute. Each parent is responsible for paying their own fees, so the drop-in parent would have to pay for the time they used. Meanwhile, the other parent would be paying for the time they elected to take off where normally, I would have been working.

But none of it is any of the parent's business. When you sign the contract, it's YOUR contract and has nothing to do with anyone else's. Therefore, while it may feel unfair to you, that provider is not obligated to disclose anything about any other family, including who pays what, when.

Frankly the questioning it at all leaves a bad taste. It smacks of "I'm the boss!" on the parents end, at least for me.

The only way I can see it being a parents issue is if they believe the provider is over ratio while their child is in attendance or they believe the situation is unsafe regardless of ratios. In this case the child wasn't even in attendance and the provider had a fill in - not even sure if it was their child's "spot."

[Controlled Chaos]

Lots of interesting points.

I have an infant whose family regularly keeps him home extra days when they can. they usually tell me earlier in the week, sometimes the day before. I offer the open spot to a family on my wait list or my nephew. If my nephew comes I chafe half of normal price (mom brings him here so taking disabled twin brother to therapy is easier), if wait list family comes they pay more per day at my drop in rate. All drop ins know if regular drop in rate. It never occurred to me the regular client would take issue. They pay monthly regardless of attendance. Sometimesy kids go out with their grandparents and that gives me space for a drop in too, so parents are used to seeing a few different faces, but again I sort of assumed as long I honor them having priority for the spot it's not their business what happens to it when they're not here.

[daycarediva]

There was no interview they just gave me papers to fill out. She filled my childs spot with a child who is usually in school. A friend of mine who referred me to this place because her child goes there. She owes daycare money as she is behind with her payments. I've been present for conversations about her keeping her child home when she has an other sitter available to save money on daycare. So why is she catching all of these breaks? Because they make it up by charging two families for the same spot? It just seems very unfair to me.

I was JUST accused of double billing for one space by a family. I am legally able to have 6 under 5 and 2 school age. If there is no school, I can have all 8. I have 2 drop ins under age 5 and 1 drop in that is school age. During christmas break I billed the teacher family for the space even though child was out all week. I also contracted to take my drop in SA child. This Mom saw the child here in photos and essentially demanded a refund. Even AFTER I explained the situation- said "well you made extra money so why do I have to pay?" omgggggg lady.

That family is no longer here.

[NoMoreJuice!]

Frankly the questioning it at all leaves a bad taste. It smacks of "I'm the boss!" on the parents end, at least for me.

This was definitely my first thought.

OP, I would advise you to follow your contract and pay for your spot as agreed. There are so many unknowns in this situation that it's unfair for you to jump to conclusions about your provider.

[rosieteddy]

Once a parent gave notice of vacation they lost spot for that time.My contract said paid vacation,there was no changing their mind.Wether I used the spot or not I was not counting on that child attending.All parents were well aware of this on signing the contract. If I chose to offer the space to someone else not their business.Now a parent could just choose to call out each day and cover themselves.(none ever did).We are the boss of our business parents choose us and should read the policies.