No Show Clients & Morning Wake Up Calls?

[PitterPatter]

What do u do when your clients don't show up? I don't get paid unless they are here and I have a couple clients that can't always wake up on time. I used to give them a courtesy call and they would jump out of bed. Then 1 day I was so busy, I too lost track of time and 1 DCM was angry and actually asked me why I didn't call her. I told her that I do run a daycare and I lost track of time with other kids. She was mad and said "now I am late for work and if I get fired u lose a kid!" I have never called her again after being scolded!

Now today I have 2 no shows and they are the only kids scheduled for the day. I thought about calling but I don't really think it's my resposibility. Sure I am doing nothing right now but if I start giving mnorning wake up calls again it will probably become expected again. Even now I sit here waiting for a phone call from a DCM scolding me because I didn't call to wake her up. What would u do?

[kitkat]

If it's a responsible familiy and it's out of the ordinary for them to not show up, then I'd call after being 1/2 hour late b/c I'd be worried about them. However, if it's a family that is not very responsible, I probably wouldn't call. I would give them x amount of time and if they didn't show up, then I'd go on with my day. It has never happened to me, but I think that's what I'd do for the irresponsible family. The responsible family part actually did happen...I called and left a message at home b/c it was so unusual to not get a call or for them to be late. Dad called me on his cell to say mom was in a car accident and they are on their way from the accident. I'm glad I called b/c I was worried.

[laundrymom]

I actuallyhave in my contract that if they are later than an hour, with no call I consider it as a paid day off and will make alternative plans outside of daycare.

[wdmmom]

I had a family that was suppose to be in at 615am daily. The rest of the crew wouldn't come until 7am or later. After getting up too many days at the crack of dawn and not getting informed that DCG wasn't coming, I implemented a $10 convenience fee to be charged in addition to their daily rate if the didn't call, email or text before their child's scheduled drop off time. I've only had to charge it once! ::::

[PitterPatter]

The DCM that has scolded me is late a lot! She has told me she sets her alarm for 15 minutes before she has to go out the door and that's why she's late a lot. THAT to me is irresponsible right there! She has a toddler to get ready that alone took me more than 15 minutes. So she is always late at her job by a few minutes at least she has to be there at 9:00. These hour or more late days are usually only a few times a month but still. She is even late picking up once a week or so and when it comes to pay day she will haggle about the last dollar when in fact technically she owes me for many late fees which I keep letting go because she's having money troubles. Her scheduled day here is already a 10 hour day. I stay open later everyday just for her so anything over that 10 hr mark just ticks me off and now this.

Yesterday she made me miss my Drs Appt because she never showed up or even called. I schedule all appts after daycare so as not to impose on parents for early pick ups and such. When I sent a text asking if she was coming to pick her kid up her reply was "yep" I replied back "ok how soon I have a Dr appt now?". She ignored it and walked in all cheery 20 minutes later walked right past me and greeted her kid with a cheery hello. Then whens he sees me standing there pissed and I say I missed my appointment! she says " oh sorry" takes her kid and says see ya tomorrow. Well now is tomorrow where is she? Not here! I should make her pay the $25 fee I now have to pay the Dr for not showing up on time.

Sorry turned into a vent.

[wdmmom]

Oh, and because they are no call, no shows, do what you want today! I know if my families didn't show up or call, I'd be out and about doing whatever my heart desired!

No point in hanging out all day waiting!!! Do what you want...and if you get a call do what they did to you.

If they call and say they are in your driveway, say...

"Oh, sorry. You didn't call this morning so I was under the impression that Johnny Boy was staying home with you and considering I don't have anyone else in attendance, I made other plans for the day."

That oughta give them a clue!!!::::::

[cheerfuldom]

I think you need to revamp your contract so that this type of situation is not allowed. I would require payment whether they are there or not and put other limits so you are not stuck being at the beck and call of your daycare families. I agree that this DCM is outrageous but you are sort of setting yourself up for this type of thing when your policies are not bullet proof.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I actuallyhave in my contract that if they are later than an hour, with no call I consider it as a paid day off and will make alternative plans outside of daycare.

Absolutely YES to this, and YES, I definitely think you should charge her the $25 for the doctor fee.

[PitterPatter]

I think you need to revamp your contract so that this type of situation is not allowed. I would require payment whether they are there or not and put other limits so you are not stuck being at the beck and call of your daycare families. I agree that this DCM is outrageous but you are sort of setting yourself up for this type of thing when your policies are not bullet proof.

I am not allowed to charge for days not here. They are state paid. I have been doing this for 5 years and it wasn't until last yr they started allowing the late pick up fees.

I have also discussed with the resource center about the late/no show clients. I explain sometimes we have planned a zoo trip and a client has been a no show do I have to wait around or can we go on the trip? They say I have to wait. If they are scheduled to come and I leave and they complain I could lose my certificate.

[SilverSabre25]

I am not allowed to charge for days not here. They are state paid. I have been doing this for 5 years and it wasn't until last yr they started allowing the late pick up fees.

I have also discussed with the resource center about the late/no show clients. I explain sometimes we have planned a zoo trip and a client has been a no show do I have to wait around or can we go on the trip? They say I have to wait. If they are scheduled to come and I leave and they complain I could lose my certificate.

Pitter, are you also the one where you're not allowed to take a day off (not even a national holiday like Christmas) without providing back-up care for the parents?

If so, man...your state ****s. I'm sorry, but that's just awful! I can't believe it! Making everyone else's day miserable because of one person's irresponsibility is just...reprehensible. What a dumb policy. No offense.

[PitterPatter]

Pitter, are you also the one where you're not allowed to take a day off (not even a national holiday like Christmas) without providing back-up care for the parents?

If so, man...your state ****s. I'm sorry, but that's just awful! I can't believe it! Making everyone else's day miserable because of one person's irresponsibility is just...reprehensible. What a dumb policy. No offense.

Yes that's me too. I know it ****s!

Oh well I will just change into old clothes and do some more spring cleaning.

[Meeko]

I'm still not sure that you can't legally do something about the state telling you how to run your day care.

The state is helping low income people to pay their day care. OK. That's between them and the parent.

But if there is a late fee, an inconvenience fee, etc.....that is between YOU and the parent and is no business of the state at all.

I feel they have no more business telling you you can't charge for this and that...than they have telling Walmart that they must drop prices just for welfare recipients.

If the state wants to help parents pay for groceries in the way of food stamps...then that's OK...but they can't tell the grocery store they have to stay open later just for welfare recipients, or have special deals only for welfare folks.

I see no difference other than the fact that Walmart wouldn't stand for it. You day care providers need to get together and take a stand. Write letters by the dozen. Call local news channels and have them do an article (state leaders hate to be embarrassed). One provider doesn't have a voice (and they take advantage of that). But in numbers you can make a noise. Have the self-pay parents back you all up. have THEM write letters and make noise.

It won't change as long as you all sit there and take it.

[momma2girls]

I actuallyhave in my contract that if they are later than an hour, with no call I consider it as a paid day off and will make alternative plans outside of daycare.

I added the same thing about 2 yrs. ago, I was sick and tired of waiting all am for families to come. Now after one hr. I go on walks, etc.. if they come oh well. I had one family contracted for 7:45 and he showed up at 10:00 and I wasn't here, no phone call, no nothing, they were really mad!!!

[PitterPatter]

I'm still not sure that you can't legally do something about the state telling you how to run your day care.

The state is helping low income people to pay their day care. OK. That's between them and the parent.

But if there is a late fee, an inconvenience fee, etc.....that is between YOU and the parent and is no business of the state at all.

I feel they have no more business telling you you can't charge for this and that...than they have telling Walmart that they must drop prices just for welfare recipients.

If the state wants to help parents pay for groceries in the way of food stamps...then that's OK...but they can't tell the grocery store they have to stay open later just for welfare recipients, or have special deals only for welfare folks.

I see no difference other than the fact that Walmart wouldn't stand for it. You day care providers need to get together and take a stand. Write letters by the dozen. Call local news channels and have them do an article (state leaders hate to be embarrassed). One provider doesn't have a voice (and they take advantage of that). But in numbers you can make a noise. Have the self-pay parents back you all up. have THEM write letters and make noise.

It won't change as long as you all sit there and take it.

They aren't running my daycare I have the option to not accept state paid clients. It's very unfair but I have come to see how I am stuck. I have triple checked into this and it is true for STATE paid clients. They say it is MY OPTION to sign up with the proram and if I do I am required to follow THEIR RULES if at any time I decide it is unfair I have the option to drop out of the state program and no longer accecpt state paid clients. I can do whatever I want with private paying clients but state pay I have to follow the state regs.

When L brought this up at a recent class some other people didn't know it was true so we all discussed it with the trainer. Some people say they don't care as they don't have family anyway. Other sat there looking mad. Others like myself voiced our opinion but were told we can go home right then and hand out 2 week notices if we don't want to participate any longer.

After class I told a couple upset people we should write a letter about it being unfair and all sign it to start with. They opted out because they NEED the income (so do I as I am a single Mom living only on my income) and they didn't want to rick the boat. So here I sit and have just accepted it. Come Thanksgiving & Christmas I will be taking the day off and not providing back up and if a parent needs care I will simply tell them they have to provide it themselves. (I know for a fact 1 does work on Christmas) If they complain to the state and state comes in then I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I provide excellent care for these kids tho so I am hoping no one calls in to complain and maybe the state just won't know.

[daycare]

this used to happen to me when I had a family who was sch. for 615am and then would call me at 6:20 to tell me that their kids would not be here until 9:00 or so. They did it to me all the time I would get so mad. I woke up for nothing again. I didnt know what to do, because they were calling, just waiting til the last min to call me. I ended up terming the family.

any suggestions on how to handle the above situation?


I always make sure to remind families that they are scheduled with contracted hours. Sometimes I print them out give them a reminder.

In my PHB it states that any family that does not report by 8am late or absent will be charged for a full day. For those that show up, but late, and don't report that they will be late will get a $15.00 charge.

Like Nannyde says once you attach money to it, the parents start to wake up and smell the coffee...