What Would You Charge For Missing Bus?

[MamaJ]

I have a boy starting Kindergarten who I will be getting on/off the bus along with my son (go to same school). I have a feeling that mom might be late and miss the bus (everyone is late at some point, right?).

If she's late and he misses the bus....and she asks if I'll drive him to school, what should I charge for that? The school is 5 minutes away, but I'd have to pack up two 2 year olds, and after January my own newborn.

Or, I could just refuse and say no transportation regardless.

Just want to be prepared for if/when this happens so I have a response ready. It's something I didn't think to put in her contract.

(if it helps I'm charging him $14/day for before school ...he'll be here for 20 minutes) and after school where he'll be here for 1.5 hours).

[mismatchedsocks]

If he misses the bus, I would tell mom to take to school. There is no driving to school, hence the bus!

[JenNJ]

I would not offer it. If she is late, the natural consequence is that she needs to drive him to school.

If you do offer this, make it an extraordinary amount to discourage her lateness. I would drive him to school for $5 per child and $5 for gas. So 2 toddlers, your newborn, and the K child + gas money = $25 per drop off.

[Crazy8]

I don't transport daycare children under any circumstances so if I they missed the bus the parent has 2 options - take the child to school themselves (even if it means coming back to get him) OR paying me $45 for the day to keep him at my house. And if I'm at my max. that wouldn't even be an option.

[MG&Lsmom]

I wouldn't transport for missing the bus. If the bus has already gone, no reason she can't just keep driving right to the school.

[wdmmom]

I'm with the other posters. If the child misses the bus, the parent is responsible for toting him/her to school. I wouldn't even entertain the idea of transportation unless you can and you set the fee really high to discourage it. ($25 for the first occurance, $50 for the second occurance, etc.)

[TBird]

If he misses the bus, I would tell mom to take to school. There is no driving to school, hence the bus!

AMEN. If she's late, she should go straight to school.

[MamaJ]

Ok thanks. She couldn't just drive him herself, because the bus comes at 7:55, and mom has to be to work at 8am so she drops DCB off at 7:30 ish.

School doesn't start until 8:43, so if she missed the bus, she'd have to be really late for work....which is why i'm anticipating her asking me.

let's just hope it doesn't happen. Perhaps I should discuss with her ahead of time, so that she's not caught off guard in case she does miss the bus one day.

[SilverSabre25]

let's just hope it doesn't happen. Perhaps I should discuss with her ahead of time, so that she's not caught off guard in case she does miss the bus one day.

This. And what the others said about her needing to drive him in that event.

[CheekyChick]

I would tell her now that you do NOT offer transportation services. If she is late, she should bring him to school.

[PitterPatter]

Ok thanks. She couldn't just drive him herself, because the bus comes at 7:55, and mom has to be to work at 8am so she drops DCB off at 7:30 ish.

School doesn't start until 8:43, so if she missed the bus, she'd have to be really late for work....which is why i'm anticipating her asking me.

let's just hope it doesn't happen. Perhaps I should discuss with her ahead of time, so that she's not caught off guard in case she does miss the bus one day.

Ohhh can I say it for a change ladies??

Don't let her make her problem your problem!!

Havinging that "what if" discussion in advance is a great idea! If she's late then she will have to explain herself but she needs to drive him to school. Not your problem. That would be too much to ask of a provider and when we slap a charge on things like that the parents think we are the rude ones. I only transport for field trips.

Hope she doesn't ask! Have a great day!

[nannyde]

I would just tell her that you don't have the insurance to cover school transporting. If she would like that the policy is an extra $1000 per year.

[sassysue]

Ok thanks. She couldn't just drive him herself, because the bus comes at 7:55, and mom has to be to work at 8am so she drops DCB off at 7:30 ish.

School doesn't start until 8:43, so if she missed the bus, she'd have to be really late for work....which is why i'm anticipating her asking me.

let's just hope it doesn't happen. Perhaps I should discuss with her ahead of time, so that she's not caught off guard in case she does miss the bus one day.

Pardon me for being blunt but... who gives a flying rat's *@# if she's late for work? How is that your problem? Politely asking,why would you even consider dragging all your babies out for someone else's lack of responsibility? Maybe I'm just mean but that wouldn't even cross my mind.If she's late,she's late-NOT YOUR PROBLEM!!

[mismatchedsocks]

Ok thanks. She couldn't just drive him herself, because the bus comes at 7:55, and mom has to be to work at 8am so she drops DCB off at 7:30 ish.

School doesn't start until 8:43, so if she missed the bus, she'd have to be really late for work....which is why i'm anticipating her asking me.

let's just hope it doesn't happen. Perhaps I should discuss with her ahead of time, so that she's not caught off guard in case she does miss the bus one day.

If mom has to be to work at 8, and the bus comes at 755 and he is not there, mom is late for work anyway, and since its her son, her lateness, then she can be a few more minutes late to work to take kid to school. If you offer it, I guarantee she will take you up on it.
I personally would not bring up to her, but if it happens and she calls say no sorry you cannot take to the bus. Bet it doesnt happen often.

[AnneCordelia]

I agree with the others. She needs to make sure she's not late and all will be well. It's her responsibility to get him either to your house with enough time to catch the bus or to get him to school.

I also would be prepared for her to ask for a refund for the 'before' care if she misses the bus. I would say no because I was prepared and scheduled to take him.