40 Minutes Late - What Would You Charge?

[Meyou]

I would charge $40 too. $1 per minute late.

[momma2girls]

I like what you do I'll have to change mine...to bad I just handed out the new handbooks.... I only do $2.50 every 15 mins per child. So of course some of the parents soak up that 15 mins for all its worth.

I have $5.00 per 15 min. I have never actually charged this though.
I think the $2.50 is reasonable, but I know families that would abuse this over and over again, for that price. I would definately increase this!!

[Cat Herder]

I had a family today that was 40 minutes late
Dad has come late before but called and has also payed late recently so I do want to charge something.

What would you charge?

Just to clarify...Dad called and came late once (no fee because he called), came late and paid the second time, then was 40 minutes late this time....Right?

So 3 occurrences, same family??

Why would you feel guilty for making them follow your policy that they signed and agreed to.

Did I read it wrong?

I don't want to come off as "mean" but that is how I read it when I posted "charge them" above.

Now, IMHO, $5 a minute is extreme but $40 is cheap after the 3rd offense and still being "new".

[daycare]

I had a family that was always late.
The first time it happened I wrote a friendly reminder letter reminding them of the rules and their contract times. I let them know that this time no charge bit next time they will be charged.
After this, I would call or text them when they were running late and say your late fees are starting to incur please promptly retrieve your child from DC to avoid excessive late fees. I would charge a $1 a min but this family wasn't phased by it, so every time they were late I added $.50 to the minute rate. Before they left the DC they were paying $6.50 a min late fee.
They made me money. I was sad I had to term. Lol but hated that they never picked up on time.

[SimpleMom]

$40.00 and they I only give three times like this before I term. I usually give 3 grace periods and then charge--except if they don't call or show up for 40 minutes. I let them know that,too.

I've only had to do that once.

[jojosmommy]

I wouldn't charge them $200. I would charge them $40 and tell them if they want to split it because they both claim it was the other persons fault that is their issue to deal with. I would do what the previous poster said and explain that you COULD charge them $200 that but are choosing not to. I would also tell them that had you been home and not your husband you would have started calling emergency contacts to have the child picked up.

Tell them that since they have done it before, they have 15 min (which will be charged and due at pick up) and after that you will start calling people to have the child picked up. Nobody I know wants to look like a schmuck to their neighbors/friends/family or who ever they have chosen as emergency people.