How Can I top This From Happening?

[daycare]

I only work on contracted hours. however, I have a family that needs to extend their hours. I will be charging them more and they have agreed to the charges.

Currently they are attending from 8:30-6:00 and will need to change it to 7pm.

I agreed that I would charge a lower fee if picked up by 6:30, and would raise the fee by $1.50 after 6:30.

Well the new schedule was supposed to start today and the DCD tells me oh well we figured it out we don't need care this week until 7, but we might next week we will let you know on the days..

So what I see now is them trying to use a window for pick up, which I don't allow. I don't want to be sitting her daily wondering when they are going to pick up. I have a family that is very busy and will need to arrange my schedule to have my older kids picked up from thier activities.

I need to find a way to stop this from happening. Any ideas what I can do so that it does not become an open window pick up and I end up sitting here wondering what time they will be here??

thanks in advance??

[cheerfuldom]

you just need to talk to them and explain that you do not allow for varied pickup times. you need them to pick a for sure time that they will be there and abide by that time. are you open to them letting you know one week in advance or even the morning of? you just need to figure out what you want and tell them this is how its going to be. it sounds like they are assuming that because you can take him till 7 that you are available anytime before 7, you know?

[daycare]

Yes i did think of that too about allowing them to set it up at the start of the week. Lately this famiy has had really bad communication issues so I have been haivng a hard time getting any messages across to them. they have allowed themselves to get so wrapped up in their company that they have pushed everything else aside.

This is what I was thinking I could do..I have raised their rate by $3.50 a day due to needing me to keep the daycare open past normal business hours add $1.50 more if they stay until 7:00. If they say at the start of the week that they will need me until 7, but then show up at 6, do you think that I should still charge them the full fee?

[cheerfuldom]

yup, charge the full fee because you are arranging your schedule to be available if need be otherwise you will have to keep track of crediting for the next week or refunding money already paid. But you know what, it sounds like this little one is already with you a lot so I wouldn't be surprised if they just leave him there till 7 every day and start pushing that time even. you better raise the late fee for them too. i think I would be prepared for this whole situation to not work out from what you have said and be ready to stand firm on whatever your boundaries are.

[wdmmom]

When do you normally close?

I would tell them that if it's going to be a variable schedule (late pickups on occasion) that you aren't able to provide care until 7pm after all.

(This is why I stopped providing care for people that have variable schedules. Pick up and drop off must be the same each day.)

Or...

You tell them that your going rate for after hours is $10.00 an hour for 1 child, $15.00 an hour for 2 children. I'd be willing to guess that they'll be there by closing time every night. ::

[laundrymom]

Wow, hard spot to be in. I hope they realize how awesome it is they got lucky enough for you to accomodate.
I would just tell them. Hey I know it seems like no big deal but I have to rearrange my families lives to be available to you. I have to arrange for my own childrens activities and obligations, as well as giving up important down time for my family. I feel that I am being extremely understanding and helpful. However I don't think you see how much an inconvenience it is. how about this,.... Regular rate for 6 pm pickup. Each additional hour or portion of hour is $5 per kid pr day. Your 7 pm late pickup will cost you an extra 25 dollars a week. After 7 though it's an additional $5 per day.

Here I now charge $15 per hour for extra care. I understand that sometimes extra hours are forced on them but they are doing the same thing to you and you are giving up family time to help them. That costs premium.

[cheerfuldom]

good points from the previous poster. I just plan out don't work after 5:30. Its never worked out for me to accommodate one family that works outside of the general daycare hours. They never appreciate it and always ask for more and don't want to pay extra charges.

[daycare]

yup, charge the full fee because you are arranging your schedule to be available if need be otherwise you will have to keep track of crediting for the next week or refunding money already paid. But you know what, it sounds like this little one is already with you a lot so I wouldn't be surprised if they just leave him there till 7 every day and start pushing that time even. you better raise the late fee for them too. i think I would be prepared for this whole situation to not work out from what you have said and be ready to stand firm on whatever your boundaries are.

Yeah I am starting to see why I should not have done this. But I really could not afford to lose this family and gained a sibling by being able to offer to help out by staying open later. I have always been full to my cap., but this past year has been tuff and I am hardly ever getting calls at all. One of my DCP friends told me that if she does not get some more kids soon, she will be closing after 22 years of business.

So request need to be turned in by Friday of the week before, and then whatever time they write down is what they get charged for....
I think its fair that I do increase the late fees as well.

Is this fair...if they write down 630pm and then show up at 7, I don't just increase the rate by $1.50, I charge them the $1.00 per min late charge per child???

Ugh this seems like its getting difficult. I really want to keep this family , but don't want it to be so difficult to figure this out.

[daycare]

Wow, hard spot to be in. I hope they realize how awesome it is they got lucky enough for you to accomodate.
I would just tell them. Hey I know it seems like no big deal but I have to rearrange my families lives to be available to you. I have to arrange for my own childrens activities and obligations, as well as giving up important down time for my family. I feel that I am being extremely understanding and helpful. However I don't think you see how much an inconvenience it is. how about this,.... Regular rate for 6 pm pickup. Each additional hour or portion of hour is $5 per kid pr day. Your 7 pm late pickup will cost you an extra 25 dollars a week. After 7 though it's an additional $5 per day.

Here I now charge $15 per hour for extra care. I understand that sometimes extra hours are forced on them but they are doing the same thing to you and you are giving up family time to help them. That costs premium.

what I am trying to avoid, is them coming one day at 6, then next at 7, then back to 6, creating varying pick up time all over the place.
The bad part is that I already agreed to this and it was the only reason that they stayed here with me in the first place....

I just need to figure out a fool proof system to enforce...

[cheerfuldom]

charge for anything outside of the agreed weekly schedule. make sure you have the entire plan in writing! i am getting confused just reading about it and more than likely, they will be confused and use that as a reason to get out of extra fees.

[daycare]

charge for anything outside of the agreed weekly schedule. make sure you have the entire plan in writing! i am getting confused just reading about it and more than likely, they will be confused and use that as a reason to get out of extra fees.

...I have to agree... I think that I am just going to go flate fee... I will be open every day until 7pm and fee will be $10.00 more each child no matter what time you pick up...

[Blackcat31]

The way I see it is they aren't paying to stay late, they are paying for the option to stay late if they need to so in essence they are paying for your availability. They should pay the higher rate regardless of if they pick up earlier or not.

Sort of like the other thread that discusses how parents with a varying schedule pay for the axcess of a full time slot whether they use it or not.

[daycare]

The way I see it is they aren't paying to stay late, they are paying for the option to stay late if they need to so in essence they are paying for your availability. They should pay the higher rate regardless of if they pick up earlier or not.

Sort of like the other thread that discusses how parents with a varying schedule pay for the axcess of a full time slot whether they use it or not.

thanks blackcat..... I don't know why I am trying to entertain this kind of payment scheudle for this family... I know better. I have decided that i will be just going flat rate and sticking to it... I like simple!

[Cat Herder]

I'd give them an option A (6 pm) or option B (7pm). This is permanent whether or not they use it daily.

There is not such thing as an option A.5.....

[daycare]

I'd give them an option A (6 pm) or option B (7pm). This is permanent whether or not they use it daily.

There is not such thing as an option A.5.....

gotta love ya!!! you make way too much sense....hahahha.

I wish that ALL parents were that easy.... Lucky for me most of mine are, but I have that one that just likes to haggle me on the price all the time....... This is not the bargin barn or auto auction....The price is what it is, like it or leave it!! hehehe.