Only a Week In and Payment Issues...Ugh!

[providerandmomof4]

I am already having trouble with a new dcp regarding pmnt..and its only her second pmnt! Pmnts are due on friday- prepmnt for upcoming week. I checked my acct yesterday and no pmnt. She kept dcb out yesterday and when she called i questioned her? She said she called it in but wasnt home so didnt have my conf #(state assist, they call pmnt in via phone system). She drops off today with my conf # and i call to check it, she didnt bothet to call itin until today. I' m mad...she flat out lied. We have gone over and over as to when pmnts are due:confused::confused:

Just dont get it....should i call her on the lie?

[Blackcat31]

I am already having trouble with a new dcp regarding pmnt..and its only her second pmnt! Pmnts are due on friday- prepmnt for upcoming week. I checked my acct yesterday and no pmnt. She kept dcb out yesterday and when she called i questioned her? She said she called it in but wasnt home so didnt have my conf #(state assist, they call pmnt in via phone system). She drops off today with my conf # and i call to check it, she didnt bothet to call itin until today. I' m mad...she flat out lied. We have gone over and over as to when pmnts are due:confused::confused:

Just dont get it....should i call her on the lie?

I wouldn't call her out on her lie but I would certainly attach a late fee beginning on the due date.

Attach fees to the behavior and weirdly the behavior somehow fixes itself.

If she asks, simply say that is when you received confirmation so there is nothing you can do to change it. My contract states late fees are automatic and cannot be discounted or waived.

So in other words...don't bother asking.

[MarinaVanessa]

I would do as BC says ... if however you aren't able to charge the client fees because they are State Paid (which in some some states you can't charge extra fees) or if you don't have late payment fees in your contract (add them now if you can !!!) then I'd talk to her about it.

"Hi Susan, I called in today to verify the payment and was notified that the payment didn't get called in until today which will detain my payment by an extra 4 days. I know that sometimes things happen and that we forget but I need you to make sure to call the payments in on time okay? Great! Thanks!"

I wouldn't "confront" her about the lying, I'd just remind her to make her calls on time.

[AmyKidsCo]

I would do as BC says ... if however you aren't able to charge the client fees because they are State Paid (which in some some states you can't charge extra fees) or if you don't have late payment fees in your contract (add them now if you can !!!) then I'd talk to her about it.

"Hi Susan, I called in today to verify the payment and was notified that the payment didn't get called in until today which will detain my payment by an extra 4 days. I know that sometimes things happen and that we forget but I need you to make sure to call the payments in on time okay? Great! Thanks!"

I wouldn't "confront" her about the lying, I'd just remind her to make her calls on time.

You'll catch more flies with honey...

[providerandmomof4]

It's just so weird. She asked me last Wednesday, when the payment was due? I said on Friday, before 5pm. Then she said that she liked to pay early, I said that would be great. Then...no payment. I mean, we've had a discussion about payment several times now. At interview I went into great detail about payment on Friday and if your child doesn't come on Friday then it should be earlier. Here's our phone conversation yesterday...it was imho ridiculous!!

Her: ___ isn't coming today...I'm off work.
Me: Okay, that's fine. By the way, about your payment- she cuts me off.
Her: Oh yea, I'll get that called in tomorrow.
Me: Ummm, I'm sorry, I thought I was clear that payments need to be made on Friday before 5pm? You still haven't called in your payment?
Her: Oh! Yea! I called it in; I just don't have your confirmation #. I'm not at home. I'm sorry, I'm used to being in a center, where they swipe my card.
Me: Okay? Well, I would be willing to wave my late charges this time, but only this time. Now you are aware of how this works...agreed?
Her: Yes, now I understand.

And then she still didn't call it in until today! Just blows my mind. If she didn't have that conf#, I was all ready to send her on down the road. I have a scary feeling that she thinks my policies don't apply to her. I feel like I should say something to the extent of:

Dear dcm,
Just wanted to make sure there are no more misunderstandings about payment. As we discussed, they are due on Friday by 5....and so on..

And perhaps make some sort of stipulation as to her termination if it happens again, as I am not about to continue to chase her payments. kwim?

[Blackcat31]

It's just so weird. She asked me last Wednesday, when the payment was due? I said on Friday, before 5pm. Then she said that she liked to pay early, I said that would be great. Then...no payment. I mean, we've had a discussion about payment several times now. At interview I went into great detail about payment on Friday and if your child doesn't come on Friday then it should be earlier. Here's our phone conversation yesterday...it was imho ridiculous!!

Her: ___ isn't coming today...I'm off work.
Me: Okay, that's fine. By the way, about your payment- she cuts me off.
Her: Oh yea, I'll get that called in tomorrow.
Me: Ummm, I'm sorry, I thought I was clear that payments need to be made on Friday before 5pm? You still haven't called in your payment?
Her: Oh! Yea! I called it in; I just don't have your confirmation #. I'm not at home. I'm sorry, I'm used to being in a center, where they swipe my card.
Me: Okay? Well, I would be willing to wave my late charges this time, but only this time. Now you are aware of how this works...agreed?
Her: Yes, now I understand.

And then she still didn't call it in until today! Just blows my mind. If she didn't have that conf#, I was all ready to send her on down the road. I have a scary feeling that she thinks my policies don't apply to her. I feel like I should say something to the extent of:

Dear dcm,
Just wanted to make sure there are no more misunderstandings about payment. As we discussed, they are due on Friday by 5....and so on..

And perhaps make some sort of stipulation as to her termination if it happens again, as I am not about to continue to chase her payments. kwim?

I think you are right about her thinking your policies don't apply to her.

I would absolutely write her a "warning" letter. I'd tell her that this time was her ONE and ONLY get-out-of-jail-free card.

Any time she does not provide the confirmation number to you by Friday at 5PM, attach a late fee starting at 5:01.

The second time she is late, double the late fee.

The third time she is late, term her.

I'd put that plan-of-action in the warning letter so she knows UP FRONT what the consequence will be for paying late.

I'm sorry this is happening to you....it DOES **** to have to chase your paycheck down. I have definitely been there too. I have implemented several policies over the years to put a stop to it and so far so good so don't give up hope!

One of the things I would recommend that you NOT do next time is offer to waive the late fees. I understand that you probably did it because you weren't sure if DCM fully understood your polices but I am betting she did and now just got herself a little "special"..kwim?

If she didn't FULLY understand your payment policies, then she should have asked for clarification. It shouldn't be your job to follow people around making sure they "get it".

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I think you are right about her thinking your policies don't apply to her.

I would absolutely write her a "warning" letter. I'd tell her that this time was her ONE and ONLY get-out-of-jail-free card.

Any time she does not provide the confirmation number to you by Friday at 5PM, attach a late fee starting at 5:01.

The second time she is late, double the late fee.

The third time she is late, term her.

I'd put that plan-of-action in the warning letter so she knows UP FRONT what the consequence will be for paying late.

I'm sorry this is happening to you....it DOES **** to have to chase your paycheck down. I have definitely been there too. I have implemented several policies over the years to put a stop to it and so far so good so don't give up hope!

One of the things I would recommend that you NOT do next time is offer to waive the late fees. I understand that you probably did it because you weren't sure if DCM fully understood your polices but I am betting she did and now just got herself a little "special"..kwim?

If she didn't FULLY understand your payment policies, then she should have asked for clarification. It shouldn't be your job to follow people around making sure they "get it".

I love BlackCat. Do as she says. ::