New DCM Asking for Refund!

[Alwaysgreener]

Ok, so I had a dcg start on January 22nd. On Monday the 25th, I had to call her mom in the middle of the day to come pick her up because she had a fever. Well she ended up being sick all week and so she wasn't here at all except for those few hours on Monday. I just got a text from dcm asking to see if she could get refunded. My contract clearly states that they still pay no matter if the dcg is here or not. It's to hold her spot. I just feel bad that I have only watched her one and a half days total. Would y'all stick to your contract and not refund? I feel like I'm not going to keep this family long because I keep having to reiterate my contract. It's very frustrating because I spent soooo much time on this contract!!

Wait this just happen to me. Dcb was fine here on his first day, but got sick at home. When asked I said no refunds, you pay for spot.

[Josiegirl]

BC her circumstance isn't all that different than others and while I consider this a business, it's a very different kind of business than most. It's extremely personalized. And I have given breaks in the past for different things. Did my income take a hit? Sure, and if I couldn't afford it I definitely wouldn't be doing it. Luckily I haven't had families take advantage in a very long time; I'm lucky to have respectful and appreciative dcfs now. For instance, I have a dcm out on maternity leave until April when her older dd will be returning. All I required from her was 50. to keep her spot open. Why, when I probably could have filled it and kept making $$$$$$? Plain and simple I love the family, love the little girl and now I'll have the baby starting in the summer too. If it was an eh family, I wouldn't have saved her the spot. Twice in recent years I didn't charge dcfs due to a loss in their family, once to the tune of $265.
I remember soon after our ds died, we had to bring our car in to be repaired. We didn't know the mechanic all that well, just somebody we dealt with. He never charged us. I always remembered that. So I guess what I believe in is sort of the 'pay it forward' movement.
As I said, if you can afford it and your dcps treat you right, you treat your dcps right, I believe in karma. Word gets spread around. And as I said, I wouldn't do it for everyone, but the dcfs I know who don't take advantage are the ones who receive my consideration.
Now in the OP's circumstance, the dcfs' first week there so OP doesn't really know yet what kind of dcf they are as far as respect, etc. That's why I mentioned compromise. Maybe reduce that week's rate by half or something.
I believe having this business is about making a living, paying your bills, but I also believe we're in a situation where we can help too. That's the beauty of being self-employed; we get to choose.
JMO

[Play Care]

The only families I give breaks to are ones who have been with me forever and have proven their worth - paying on time, picking up on time, keeping sick kids home, not constantly asking for "special" paying for the rare days *I'm* sick without asking if they have to, etc.

A new parent who just started? They would get snbauser's response. Sympathy without a discount.

[nannyde]

I would tell her the fee is for the slot not attendance. It's not any different than the cable internet company charging when you are on vacation. It's the same as the cell phone company charging whether or not you are using the phone. It's not any different than the landlord expecting full rent if you are gone for two weeks.

It's done in many businesses. I don't get why patents don't have a problem with other companies using pay in advance and pay regardless of use.

I would tell her that she needs to be extra cautious about the baby being around sick people and good hand washing and sanitation when in public now that she's paying for daycare. Be extra vigilant while at the doctor's office. With her attending four hours she was obviously infected before arriving.

No discount but a good opportunity to teach methods to decrease likelihood of exposure.

[MotherNature]

I personally would have just started their week the next week. If the shoe was on the other foot I know I wouldn't be happy.

But I would be very clear that this was a one time thing and be very clear you would not be doing this again.

agreed-this. 4 hrs is nothing...as long as you got paid

[Ariana]

I switched starting weeks with my current family due to sickness but the only reason I did it was because I did not want her here for a full 7 days. She had foot and mouth disease so I didn't want it spreading. To ensure she stayed home I switched her start week to the week after and lost that income. I did this because it worked for me...not the other way around.