Contracted Hours, Showing Up Late, But DC Still Open?

[Christian Mother]

You have it all addressed here. Which gives me a really good point in making to my parents when they've gone past 15min of what they are allowed before there is a late fee assessed. I've never given one but I have been mad enough to almost go there. I don't like giving them but each of my parents signed a contract with there own hrs. Regardless of whether children are here or not. And I have told parents that yes, so and so is here and they will be paying a late fee just as you would if you are late. heheh!! That way they know no one is getting away with anything. But, I would stick firm to you policies. Refusal to pay late fees means no pay no play. I would remind them by either a call or email to explain this to them so they know the following week what is exspected of them.

[AmandasFCC]

I tell them that hours contracted for a reason: I sometimes have children in the evenings who are scheduled AROUND other children's leaving times. Just because the daycare is still open for business does not mean you get to be here the entire time.

[Crystal]

I allow parents to pick up late (up until my close time) IF they call and let me know they are running late. If they don't call, I would charge them. This policy has prevented any late pick ups in more than 14 years. My parents are never late because they respect that I am willing to help them when they are in a bind and they don't want to lose that privelege. They also don't take advanatge of my generousity and I can honestly say that in 14 years the "call that I'm going to be late" has only happened a handful of times.

My response to the parent who said you were still open anyway and kids were there would have been "You assumed that I still had children here, if they had happened to be picked up early, your tardiness would have caused me to work later than I was required to. Therefore, I am standing by decision to enforce the late fee that has been addressed in your contract. " My response to refusing to pay the late fees would have been a termination letter.....you let em' get away with disrepecting you like that, then you can trust that somewhere down the road it will happen again. I would NEVER allow a parent to walk on me like that.

I think you should enforce the late fee and the "no pay, no play" policy. If you don't stick by it, they'll take advantage again.

[wdmmom]

Late fees go into effect the minute they are beyond their designated pick up time. Parents contract hours with me and they designate their drop off time and pick up time. Their rate is solely based on this so failure to comply results in additional fees.

I only allow a 10 hour maximum and when I've had their kid already here for 10 hours is enough! It's a pain for them to be here any longer regardless of whether other children are presently in my care or not. The children that are in my care until closing pay additional for that later pick up. You come when you say you will or you pay. Simple!

[nannyde]

They were very mad and their response was: "I don't see why i am getting a late fee, your DC is still open, there are kids still here and it's not like I am causing any harm."

Answer: It's not like you are causing harm. It's that you aren't paying for it. The people that are here past X (their pick up time) are paying an extra ten dollars per day for that late pick up. If you want we can change your contract to an additional ten dollars per day and then you can pick up by X time.

[momma2girls]

So I work on contracted hours. My daycare is open from 7:45-6:00.

I have one family that is contracted from 8:30-5:30 3 days week

This family all of a sudden has started coming late to pick up. The first time I waived the late fee, second time, I handed them a late fee slip.

They were very mad and their response was: "I don't see why i am getting a late fee, your DC is still open, there are kids still here and it's not like I am causing any harm."

My response was, that we have a contract and you have agreed to a certain time fame, based on what you are paying for DC. If you need to change your contract, please follow the PHB guidelines of asking for a contract change.

they have refused to pay me on 3 occasions and so today I will let them know that if the fees are not paid by tomorrow that the NO pay NO play clause will go into effect.

For those of you that work on contracted hours and have a similar situation, do you charge?

yep, my suggestion for you- is definately take out your open and closing times. Place in the contract- work contracted hrs. work and commute times only.

[daycare]

I do have that in my contract. it states the exact times they are to use the DC
EX. 8:30am to 5:30 monday, wed and Friday. I dont state what the hours of operation are in the contract at all....

[momma2girls]

I do have that in my contract. it states the exact times they are to use the DC
EX. 8:30am to 5:30 monday, wed and Friday. I dont state what the hours of operation are in the contract at all....

Then when they come later than their contracted times, they are considered late, and their late fees should start. They know what their contracted pick up and drop off times are. Good luck!!

[Crystal]

Ask yourself, "why did I create these policies?" when you answer that question, you will know that you should charge the late fees. you will also know that any parent who questions those policies, shortly after having agreed to them, will continue to do so, UNLESS you enforce the policies from the get-go.

[momma2girls]

Ask yourself, "why did I create these policies?" when you answer that question, you will know that you should charge the late fees. you will also know that any parent who questions those policies, shortly after having agreed to them, will continue to do so, UNLESS you enforce the policies from the get-go.

Live and learn with daycare!!!

[daycare]

The worst part about all of this is that this family has been here for 2.5 years.
This is way out of character for this family to act like this. I think there are so issues at home but would never ask.

I told DCD at pickup that I would not excuse their late fees and that just like DC fees I will charge late fees of $10.00 per day until all fees are paid in full. The DCD was mad, but rules are rules I told him.
DCM called last night to ask if she could pay the late fees on Monday. I said I will let you pay them on monday, but you guys need to refresh yourself with the rules and policies of the DC, it's been awhile since you read them.

You could tell she was mad. I then emailed her another copy of the PHB.

[countrymom]

yep, my suggestion for you- is definately take out your open and closing times. Place in the contract- work contracted hrs. work and commute times only.

thank you, thats perfect working. But I'm only open from 7-5pm so how do I go about that. I get alot of "what time are you opened till" how do I answer that, and what happens when people ask me at interview time.

[wdmmom]

thank you, thats perfect working. But I'm only open from 7-5pm so how do I go about that. I get alot of "what time are you opened till" how do I answer that, and what happens when people ask me at interview time.

You tell them that you don't have set hours. You are open and available for current families for the contracted hours they need childcare. That way it eliminates anyone being beyond their designated pick up time.

Be the first one to ask..."What hours are you needing childcare?" and "Is that Monday through Friday?" If they tell you that they need care 730am to 445pm than you rate them based on 46.25 hours each week.

If they tell you they need 7am to 3pm you rate them based on a 40 hour week. (I give a small discount to families that pick up at or before 4pm...early departure discount.)

If they are there beyond 3pm pick up time, you need to have it set up that it's a $1.00 per minute late fee unless it's a pre-arranged later day. Parents want to play, they pay. Parents work over, you work over...they get paid, you get paid.

[daycare]

This is what I have in my PHB

The ***X DC operates daily Monday through Friday from 7:45Am to 6:00 Pm. The hours that your child will care attend will be determined during your trial period, and agreed to in your contract. Pleas abide by the times set forth in your agreed contract.

[bice99]

Contracted Hours

thank you, thats perfect working. But I'm only open from 7-5pm so how do I go about that. I get alot of "what time are you opened till" how do I answer that, and what happens when people ask me at interview time.

I just updated my handbook and now it says that my rates are for up to 9 hours of care per day. I've always been open 7-5 and end up with the same problem you have. So now families have contracted hours for up to 9 hours. If they need that last hour, it's written into their contract with and extra $5/day included. If they just need it once in awhile, they have to request 24 hrs in advance, pay $5/hr and I can say, "no."