Having To Ask To Be Paid..

[Denali]

I don't give an advance notice (like an invoice) but if they don't have it at pick up, I ask "and tuition for next week?" before they leave.

Often times it is either:

1) they aren't used to paying in advance and forgot or
2) it's in their pocket and they just forgot.

I hate asking. I shouldn’t have to ask. It drives up my anxiety terribly. But I myself have been really happy when I get those “hey payment is due soon.” (This is in addition to the paper bill I get) Messages from Bank of America or the electric company instead of just waiting it out and getting slapped with late payment fees.

I feel like they are going the extra mile for me.

It is my responsibility, yes, but I feel they are trying to help me avoid the extra fees. Now if I still forget/don’t pay that’s on me, and I pay without a word. Ultimately it’s my job to pay on time, but I’m most definitely grateful that someone reminded me.

I can be pretty forgetful about some things sometimes, so any help is greatly appreciated. I have so much going on with scheduling, doctor appointments, therapy appointments, and my training for daycare that things slip my mind. Especially those things that are only due/happening once a month...

Now, there are people that purposely try and “forget” but they are easy to figure out. They typically have other problems as a daycare family.

Once you’ve gotten to know the parents you’ll know if you should remind them because they honestly just forgot vs the parents that try and avoid paying. 👍

[LysesKids]

I have parents who pay monthly, some pay biweekly, and some pay weekly. One even pays weekly then monthly so its always changing. Of course i keep track of when payments are due, but how many of you remind parents of payment? I feel like every monday im saying "did you bring a check?". Half the time its "i forgot ill bring it at pickup". Sometimes mornings are chaotic or a child is having a hard time at drop of, so I dont think about asking for my check and dont realize they didnt pay me until an hour later after drop of. I shouldnt have to remind people to pay their bills. Especially when I have other things to think about in the morning.
A parent who paid for 3 weeks, 3 weeks ago, owes today and i forgot to ask for my check. Im sure he doesnt realize he owes me since his wife usually gives him the check to give to me and they dont always pay the same way. (Sometimes monthly, sometimes weekly).
Do any of you have to ask for your check?
I feel like texting DCD letting him know payment is due, but why should I? When I ask at pickup and he doesnt have his checkbook..its not my fault and he will have to pay the late fee if he brings it tomorrow. Am I wrong?

This is part of why I accept CC on my phone thru SQUARE APP ; You forgot the Cash/Check, pull out your Debit /CC card

I also don't give options on how often they pay... you pay monthly on the first; If you need a month or 2 to get there, then bi-monthly on 1st & 15th. I explain to my families, you pay Mortgage/Rent, Auto, Cable, Phone etc by the month. I'm a business service as well, so I get paid by the month also

[Alwaysgreener]

What do you use for invoices? I have been using Brightwheel but want something different.

I created my own, it is on a quarter sheet of paper that I hand to the families that pay in cash or check. I only really pass this out if I feel that I may have an issue with payments with the family or if the amount is different than normal.

With families that pay by Venmo, if they have not paid by Thursday morning, I send them a request that morning for payment.

If you want to see my invoice, pm me. Otherwise, I would recommend checking out WAVE.com, it is free and you can create your own there and print or email them out. You can also use their other features for free.

[Alwaysgreener]

I hate asking. I shouldn’t have to ask. It drives up my anxiety terribly. But I myself have been really happy when I get those “hey payment is due soon.” (This is in addition to the paper bill I get) Messages from Bank of America or the electric company instead of just waiting it out and getting slapped with late payment fees.

I feel like they are going the extra mile for me.

It is my responsibility, yes, but I feel they are trying to help me avoid the extra fees. Now if I still forget/don’t pay that’s on me, and I pay without a word. Ultimately it’s my job to pay on time, but I’m most definitely grateful that someone reminded me.

I can be pretty forgetful about some things sometimes, so any help is greatly appreciated. I have so much going on with scheduling, doctor appointments, therapy appointments, and my training for daycare that things slip my mind. Especially those things that are only due/happening once a month...

Now, there are people that purposely try and “forget” but they are easy to figure out. They typically have other problems as a daycare family.

Once you’ve gotten to know the parents you’ll know if you should remind them because they honestly just forgot vs the parents that try and avoid paying. 👍

I agree.

[Meeko]

Love Venmo. Last month I had a dad pay me while he was sitting on a beach in Bali and a mom pay me from Disneyland. I like easy!

[Ms. Alison]

I agree with Meeko. Love Venmo!

Also, I have an ongoing payment spreadsheet (Receipt/Invoice) that I created in Excel. It shows upcoming payments, as well as what's already been paid. Parents get the updated email weekly or bi-weekly, whichever I am able to do based on my schedule. If there is a payment due I write DUE in bold letters where the paid amount is supposed to be. I usually get a Venmo payment almost immediately. If they pay via check, they email me with apologies and bring a check Monday with several weeks of tuition ahead of time. Emailing the invoice is a nice way to avoid awkward conversations of payment reminders.

Payments are due every Friday, the week prior to services rendered.

Good luck!

[Leigh]

Today, in a FB group, I saw a response to a chasing-my-paycheck post.

The responder suggested that OP (who had several parents owing back tuition) post a sign on her door saying that she was opening late, and that it happens. Sometimes, people forget things. She'll open when she gets around to it and feels like opening. She knows the parents will understand, because they are late with their payments and asked her to understand that they "haven't gotten around to it".

That's genius, IMO.

[Alwaysgreener]

Today, in a FB group, I saw a response to a chasing-my-paycheck post.

The responder suggested that OP (who had several parents owing back tuition) post a sign on her door saying that she was opening late, and that it happens. Sometimes, people forget things. She'll open when she gets around to it and feels like opening. She knows the parents will understand, because they are late with their payments and asked her to understand that they "haven't gotten around to it".

That's genius, IMO.

Love it