Charging When Schools Out for Snow?

[momma2girls]

Now, I'm just getting mad. I called about an hour ago and got the voice mail. I left a message saying that I needed to know when she was coming by tonight to pay me. I told her that I needed to be paid and that I had no been paid for last week either.

I might call again about 8:00 and if I get the voice mail again I'll let her know that I'll be inforcing my late fee of $10 per day late. (Do you could just Sat and Sun or do you count friday too?)

All I have to say is that she better not come rolling in with a check, because for one my contract says Cash only, I'm not dealing with bouncing checks and two the banks are closed.

I have it in my contract- $10.00 a day late fee inc. Sat. and Sun.

[Persephone]

I just called again and she said "I just got up" Yeah right. She said she will be right over with the payment.

I'm betting if I wouldn't have called I wouldn't be getting it tonight!

[momofboys]

I just called again and she said "I just got up" Yeah right. She said she will be right over with the payment.

I'm betting if I wouldn't have called I wouldn't be getting it tonight!

Save yourself the stress & tell her outright that you deserve to be paid on the same day every week. If no payment is rendered, no services are provided. Plain & simple. Sorry you had to deal with this! So ridiculous & what rude parents. How would they feel if they had to wait for their pay?

[momma2girls]

I had one family that gave me a 2 week notice, and they couldn't afford to pay me for it. So I gave them a couple of weeks to pay for it without late fees. Needless to say myself being nice, they didn't pay!!! I had to take the family to court, late fees were racking way up!! Then the family lied to me and said they were moving out of state and I wouldn't be able to find them, so good luck trying to get their money. I knew they were lying to me all along!! I had to settle out of court for the 2 weeks and that was it!!! WOW!!! You be nice to families and look where it gets you!!!!!!!!!!!
Another thing was they bounced a check, and I tried for hrs. using different phones to get them to answer it. I left message after message that they needed to pay me immediately inc. my returned fee for the check. It was funny, because as soon as I told them that they would have to pay for any of our checks out there that would bounce because of her $250.00 check bouncing per contract. They called back instantly and brought the cash to me immediately. It was cash from then on!! I should have given them their 2 week notice then!!!

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

Familys like this are so frustrating..I used to pay for daycare and I would NEVER be late on paying, it's just plain rude!

There are always familys out there like this...I have one family where I feel like I'm chasing after my money all the time and their child is so so so difficult, which makes it even more frustrating...when they are late I feel like they don't appreciate all the hard work I put into their child, like I'm at the bottom of their priorities.

They gave me a bad check the second week of care...when I called her about it, was a Friday night, she said she would be over in the morning to give me cash (after telling me she doesn't know how this is even possible that her check bounced, blah blah blah)...well I waited, and waited that morning...had to text her to find out when she was coming. So I'm waiting all moring long and couldn't go anywhere because I wanted my money. Finally shows up at 11:45.

Then when it was Christmas break from school the child didn't come because mom's a school teacher...payments are due on Friday as per my contract and didn't get paid until Sunday.

There were a couple more times she said she would be by a certain time and I waited and waited...they did come but it wasn't when they said and I'm stuck at home waiting when I have places I need to go.

So I feel your frustration. It's just plain rude and I can't understand how some people think.

[momofboys]

Familys like this are so frustrating..I used to pay for daycare and I would NEVER be late on paying, it's just plain rude!

There are always familys out there like this...I have one family where I feel like I'm chasing after my money all the time and their child is so so so difficult, which makes it even more frustrating...when they are late I feel like they don't appreciate all the hard work I put into their child, like I'm at the bottom of their priorities.

They gave me a bad check the second week of care...when I called her about it, was a Friday night, she said she would be over in the morning to give me cash (after telling me she doesn't know how this is even possible that her check bounced, blah blah blah)...well I waited, and waited that morning...had to text her to find out when she was coming. So I'm waiting all moring long and couldn't go anywhere because I wanted my money. Finally shows up at 11:45.

Then when it was Christmas break from school the child didn't come because mom's a school teacher...payments are due on Friday as per my contract and didn't get paid until Sunday.

There were a couple more times she said she would be by a certain time and I waited and waited...they did come but it wasn't when they said and I'm stuck at home waiting when I have places I need to go.

So I feel your frustration. It's just plain rude and I can't understand how some people think.

Are you talking about waiting around to be paid? I would put a stop to that right now! You need to ask them how they would feel if they didn't know when they would be paid? I would make them pay in advance from now on.

[Persephone]

Are you talking about waiting around to be paid? I would put a stop to that right now! You need to ask them how they would feel if they didn't know when they would be paid? I would make them pay in advance from now on.

Let me ask this. How do people react when you go to payments at the start of the week? I can see her getting pretty pissed off because she'd have to double up the payment the first week, paying for the last week and then paying for the first week. I know that could be really hard for some people with money being tight.

I'd like to do this but I know both families that I watch right now are tight on money.

[momma2girls]

Let me ask this. How do people react when you go to payments at the start of the week? I can see her getting pretty pissed off because she'd have to double up the payment the first week, paying for the last week and then paying for the first week. I know that could be really hard for some people with money being tight.

I'd like to do this but I know both families that I watch right now are tight on money.

I started doing this when I actually moved in to this area, so they were all new families.
Maybe 1/2 on Mon. and 1/2 on that Fri. then the next week, do all on Mon. from then on.
I really can't think of anything else.
I know it will save alot of hardships with many things by doing it this way!!!

[Unregistered]

But how pissed are you that you just had to jump through hoops to get your payment? Always, always have them pay before services rendered. Rent is for the current month, not the previous. They are renting a space from you for their child. If not, then you are basically loaning them childcare. Money out of your pocket to feed, house, and provide a quality environment. Why would you do this for free? The "hope" that you will be reimbursed for your services?
Explain that you can't keep guessing when you are going to get paid because the electric company doesn't wait for their payment and you can't watch their child when you don't have electricity.

[momofboys]

Let me ask this. How do people react when you go to payments at the start of the week? I can see her getting pretty pissed off because she'd have to double up the payment the first week, paying for the last week and then paying for the first week. I know that could be really hard for some people with money being tight.

I'd like to do this but I know both families that I watch right now are tight on money.

My families have always paid either on Friday for the next week or for Monday the week that services are being given. It's just paying for one week. There's no "double paying". But I can understand how the parent would feel that way, in essence they are behind in paying you so it would just be catching up. Here's my question, are your families paying AFTER they have received the care? That's just something I would not allow. It's too easy to not pay then & then they are behind a week or two. I would just let them know it is not fair to you to not know when you are getting paid. You don't have to make them do it twice. . . . just say from now on ALL payments are due on Friday at drop-off. I personally would just worry about making sure they pay you at drop-off or pick-up & let them know if they don't you can't provide services. It's too easy for them to go somewhere else & save a buck by not paying you for what you already provided. Sorry you've had to deal with this, I'm sure it's stressful.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

what I do sometimes to help them out is the first week they pay one week plus one day, they do this each week for 10 weeks , at the end, they are 2 weeks "ahead" and that is my 2 week deposit. Most My parents pay a 2 week deposit prior to starting care then pay for the week ahead. So typically on the first day of care they pay me for 3 weeks care. Unless I make an arrangement like desecribed before. Then if they get snippy and leave, or are late,.. I already have that money.

Let me ask this. How do people react when you go to payments at the start of the week? I can see her getting pretty pissed off because she'd have to double up the payment the first week, paying for the last week and then paying for the first week. I know that could be really hard for some people with money being tight.

I'd like to do this but I know both families that I watch right now are tight on money.

[momofboys]

Let me ask this. How do people react when you go to payments at the start of the week? I can see her getting pretty pissed off because she'd have to double up the payment the first week, paying for the last week and then paying for the first week. I know that could be really hard for some people with money being tight.

I'd like to do this but I know both families that I watch right now are tight on money.

I didn't quite answer your question. I currently only have one family (family 2 is starting next week!) so there was no changing the way they paid me. They always paid me ahead of time so there was no reaction per se. Good luck!!!!

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

they are no tighter on money than you are. =-) they work,.. and get paid,.. so should you.

I'd like to do this but I know both families that I watch right now are tight on money.

[tymaboy]

I think it would be a good idea for you to update/revise your policy. Make it clear what days they are to pay for- snow days, vacation, sick etc. I do not charge for snow days or vac days unless they take more then a weeks vac. I do not charge for days that I take off, but I have all this stated in my policy. I also get paid on Friday or the last day the child was in care. If the kid ends up sick on a Friday then they must pay on Monday, unless they were only in care for a few days the week before then I will just tell them to wait till Friday. Some providers this does not work for them but for me I have never had a problem.

I do not know if this link will work but this is my policy I have tried to cover all possible situations that may arise. The sad thing is a lot of what is in it has happened & that is why it is so long. If you want to use any parts of it go ahead.

[Unregistered]

I make my dcp pay every friday in advance of care, if its late i charge $20 a day starting within the first hour payment was due, and its do at DROP OFF not pick up..I charge everyday for late fees including sat and sun. When i went to pre payment i gave a months written notice and that was that, I didnt really care if the parents liked it, i was tired of stressing about if i was gonna get paid. Now i dont. And there is nooooooo way i would set around waiting for payment, charge the late fee if its not on time and if they have to drop it off later because they didnt when they were suppose to they will have to wait untill my daycare is open. I have it stated that evenings and weekends i am closed and payments will not be accepted during that time but they will be charged the daily late fee. I've had no real issues since starting this. Good luck