Short Paid Again!

[Former Teacher]

Oh I can't begin to tell you how many parents I have stopped at the door for nonpayment. Being Assistant Director, the director/owner always came in late and left early, I had to be the one who did the dirty work.

I just firmly told them that they had to pay before I could admit them. There were several parents who would tell me things like "oh ok let me just leave so and so here and I will go home and get my checkbook" etc. Well, I wasn't born yesterday haha. I would tell them again firmly, NO CHILDCARE until payment is paid. Which means you take the kid back with you until you can pay (in nicer words of course )

You just have to be firm. You are running a business. If you let one walk all over you, they all will.

Good luck!

[judytrickett]

NO PAY- NO STAY! It's that simple. They pay for their arrears and that week in advance or you turn them away at the door. And yes, I'm serious. Turn them away and tell them they can come back WHEN they have FULL payment.

[Unregistered]

You said that mom came and paid you but that they havent paid their late fees so no mom didnt pay you, she is being disrespectfull by not adding the late fees and most likely will not pay them if you dont inforce it, you need to have an invoice ready thanking her for her partial payment she made on such and such day with a reminder that the late fees now equal $x amount and that the daily late fee will be added untill payment is made in full. State very clearly that if payment isnt made in CASH by pickup time that day(insert date) that child/ren will not be allowed into care the next day or whenever they are scheduled again, also state that if payment isnt recieved in full within 3 business days after this notice that childcare will be terminated for lack of co-operation on the parents part and non payment and if payment including all late fees havent been paid within 14 days of invoice that you will start the collection process and any fees you pay in your attempt to collect this debt from them will be added onto their bill.
Stand firm and dont do childcare for them untill ALL FEES INCLUDING the late fee is paid or they will never take you seriously..Good luck

[melissa ann]

Well, this week they need childcare for 2 days. I do have a 3 day min. rate. I gave them their bill slip today. I"m scheduled to have the kids today and tomorrow. I also gave them the Nov newsletter. In it, I reminded them of the 3day min rate, and that that rate is required when 2 of the kids will not be here for a week in Nov. since they already used their vacation week. Also, they owe me $5 for a pair of pants one of the dcb wore home 2 weeks ago. I remind them when they need to replace supplies, but they never have any clothes here. I put in my handbook that if they return the clothes within 1 week, no fee will be charged. If not, I will charge $5. I am closed for Thanksgiving and day after, which I do not charge for. IF I'm closed there are no childcare fees.

My daughter goes to preschool. I enrolled her because she's always been with me and I thought this would be a good transition before she goes to school next year. Right now she goes 3 days/week 2 hours/day. Now, I pay a monthly rate. This does not changed when she is sick and doesn't attend or for closings because of holidays/weather. I understand that. If my dcp complain about paying for 3 days and only attending 2, I will tell them I don't get a discount when my daughter doesn'g go preschool. I am paying for her spot. Maybe I get it because I do childcare. Parents need to wake up and smell the coffee.

[melissa ann]

Well, this morning the kids came and the first the grandpa said was if I could watch the kids tomorrow since they have to pay for 3 days anyway. I said yes. I planned on that anyway. Friday I wouldn't, though. I also received the pants back plus outfits for everyone. At pick-up time, he asked about the day after Thanksgiving. He knows I'm closed. He said that he works at Walmart and his daughter works at a restaurant and have to work. Well, I already knew that. He said if I was opened last year. I said no. Ihad relatives come in from another state. It's not my fault they are in the retail/restuarant business and have to work holidays. I always cook Thanksgiving dinner and on black friday, we decorate for Christmas. Plus, this year I do have a doctor apt on Black Friday. They always try to make me feel guilty for being closed for holidays.

[kitkat]

Way to go for standing firm with this family! I know it can be hard, but you did it

[KiddieCare]

Good job! It felt good huh? When i have a family tell me that they will only be here X amount of days in a week i ask for it in writing by them, then put it in their file,and tell them that if they change their mind and want the children to attend the other days (just cuz the are paid for) they are not garunteed those spots, the way i see it is if a parent says they'll only be here 2 days in a certain week then i can accept a drop in client or if i have no other kids close for the day, so pretty much if they tell me they aint coming i will make plans for that and usually wont let them change their mind..I'd make sure to have this family put everything in writing, their schedules any vacations ect..I also make copies of any notices i give to parents and file it so i can keep track of whats going on with who..

[melissa ann]

Yesterday morning, grandpa paid me his share and when his daughter picked them up, she paid the rest, in full. She didn't remember her complete schedule for the week so while she was here, she called her place of work to find out.
I'm still on the lookout for new prospects. The family I have now just dropped their previous daycare provder because of issues they were having. Should have seen the warning signs from the start w/them but I was working hard trying to get families for like 6 months and I was just too anxious to get started.
I know I wil have issues too w/Christmas and New Year's. I'm closed Christmas Eve(we have Church service at 4 and even if I close early, they won't be here in time) and New Year's Eve. It's all in the handbook though. Last year I was closed for Christmas Eve but not New year's eve. If I could count on them to pick them up early, I would be open. But I can't. Grandpa likes to get almost the full 11 hours that I'm open/day. Anything less, he feels he's getting ripped off. At $18/day I'm getting ripped off.
Thanks everyone for your support.