Why Does this Bother Me? - He Forgets Payment

[Unregistered]

One of my daycare parents always well several occassions "forgets" to bring my payment. I've let it slide and tell him each time I'll need it in the morning this time, I said the last time which was two weeks ago that next time I'll have to charge the late fee. Well today AGAIN he didn't have payment he says oh I forgot, I said well with the new year I'm needing to reinforce my late fee, I said you can bring it back or there will be a late fee tomorrow, well he said I'll bring it back and turned around and walked away, I could tell he was mad then when he brought it back he said nothing and he wrote the check big and sloppy not his normal. I know I shouldn't be bothered by it but it does bother me. Why can someone get mad when they know they owe it? Makes me so angry how people can be. He only lives a couple blocks away so it's not like I inconvenienced him in any way, oh plus he doesn't even work. I know I let it slide probablly too many times and thats my fault but i figured new year I'm sticking to it.

[gbcc]

I just posted a thread about this. We finally decide to stick up for ourselves and enforce our policies. Which they read and sign and we are made to look like the bad guys in the situation.

I just let a parent go tonight because she has issues with me enforcing the policy that she read and signed. Last month I missed 3 appointments because she came 15-25 minutes late. I say I will enforce the policy and there is an issue.

I hate looking like a money hungry jerk when it is really that they don't respect us.

[originalkat]

Good Job

It is never fun to enforce a policy that someone has not had to do in the past. He could have been embarrassed. I had a parent who normally is fun-loving and friendly...but when I reminded him about the tuition check (he thought his wife paid) he got really weird like I was accusing him of not paying or something. I think it just made him feel uncomfortable and I havent had an issue since.

I bet he won't forget anymore though. It is just good to vent when things like that happen though. Good job following through with your policy.

[momma2girls]

stick by your rules, and they will respect you more for it!!!! you shouldn't have a problem with it again, if you do charge the late fees!!! Good for you!!

[tymaboy]

Dont feel bad. Parents need to understand that this is our business & we need to do what is best for us just like they do what is best for them & their family. I am sure he will remember from now on & if he does not charge him then that will do it.

[Childminder]

Good for you! I need to do this too. I'll use you as inspiration.

[Carole's Daycare]

We deserve to be paid

I have had families "forget" to pay- we all have, but it sounds like this guy makes a habit of it. When I've had a person "forget" the first time I let him drop off but remind them they have to pay at pick up, or the bill will be.... whatever plus the late fee if I wait until tomorrow. If indeed the spouse picks up or I have to wait til the next day- I have the receipt made out already for the amount plus the late fee. If they dont have it they have to leave- my contract clearly has a no pay no stay policy. The next week/bi-weekly due date I put a note on the door prior to pickup "friendly reminder- daycare payments are due tomorrow, please dont forget- my elec, curriculum, ins or whatever is due". After a rash of this happening a few years ago I made sure I'm pay in advance, no pay no stay, and I politely remind people right up front during the interview that if their boss forgot to pay them, their bills would be unpaid and there would be no food in the house. The same applies to me . I have expenses such as curriculum, food, higher utiities, daycare insurance that all must be paid. If he's not working, why are the kids at daycare?

[Unregistered]

Thanks I feel better, this guy isnt' embarrassed, he's very strange and makes me uncomfortable to begin with and he also not alot but enough times has been late picking up and I'm really strict on my closing time and I reminded him he needed to be here no later than 5 and again I didn't charge the late fee but I finally said next time I will need to charge the late fee and he hasn't been late since and that's been a few months so hopefully he'll do the same with this. Thanks for letting me vent, I don't understand people like this because I know they wouldn't like it if they went into their work and they said oh we forgot we will pay you tomorrow.

This guy made an extremly rude comment to me about 5 months ago and I almost terminated him. At drop off time I always acknowledge the child and parent but I'll say hi how are you? Did you have a nice weekend? Well he obviously was annoyed because he turned around to leave and said, you ask too many questions are you writing a book and left. I was so angry, I just kept thinking why wouldn't someone want me to talk with their child, it's not like I was inquiring what they ate for dinner when did you go to bed and stuff, it was the basic hi how are you. I was so annoyed I called him shortly later and said I don't understand your comment and as I started talking he hung up on me, that really made me angry and I really thought about terminating him but I like their son and I like his wife even though I don't see her often so I said nothing at drop off and pick up I took the bag and started to close the door, he finally apologized but he's just weird and can be a jerk, but I'm sticking to my policy and hopefully at a $10 late fee he'll only have to do it once. Thanks again