Do I Have To Pay Full Tuition If Child Is Out Sick?

[itlw8]

I understand if there is a contract, but this is clearly a scheme to milk parents for full payment even they are not utilizing the services. If your cable goes out, by law your cable company must pro-rate your bill, and if your child is out for a day or two they should be willing and able to pro-rate your daycare bill. This kind of ridiculous policy encourages parents to bring their sick kids to school, and in turn the whole place turns into a den of sickness. Sorry greedy proprietors, some of us expect to pay ONLY for what we use.

There is a way around this you know... I charge 100 a week for a f/t opening I am there every day I say I will be there I do not call and say sorry I want to go to lunch today. You pay even if you do not come but you do have a f/t discount.

You can choose to pay ONLY for the time you come at $5 an hour but if I do not have room one day sorry the opening is not guarenteed for drop in hourly clients. In the long rung hourly care cost far more than f/t

Besides the cable going out is not the same. You are saying if you do not turn your tv on one day the cable company should not charge you for the service.

If I called and said I was closed to go out to lunch THAT would be like the cable is broken.

[saved4always]

I understand if there is a contract, but this is clearly a scheme to milk parents for full payment even they are not utilizing the services. If your cable goes out, by law your cable company must pro-rate your bill, and if your child is out for a day or two they should be willing and able to pro-rate your daycare bill. This kind of ridiculous policy encourages parents to bring their sick kids to school, and in turn the whole place turns into a den of sickness. Sorry greedy proprietors, some of us expect to pay ONLY for what we use.

Nice attitude. If you want on demand daycare, that is called "drop in care". And, as the pp said, that comes at a premium price and only if there is room for your child that day. If you want guaranteed daycare when you need it, you need to pay for your spot to be kept for you whether your child is there or not, if that is what the contract says. Daycare providers need a steady income just like parents do. You are not the only person with bills and a family to support.

And I am so SICK of ppl like you calling daycare providers "greedy". Many of us make around minimum wage to care for your little darlings. Believe me, no one is getting rich off of watching your kids.

[rmc20021]

I am a daycare provider, and I just happened to come to the parent forum and although I didn't read all the responses, I read the posters comment and I have a couple things I'd like to say to parents.

When I began daycare in 1997 (the first time), I started out charging by the hour and quickly learned that parents were taking advantage of ME...dck going to grandma's for the day, etc. There was no way I could budget my business like that so I went to a flat contractual fee, which is due whether the child is in care or not.

What that entails, and here is an example. My hourly fee is 2.50 per hour. I charge $90.00 per week full (30-45 hours per week). If you work 40 hours per week, plus 30 minutes each way to transport, maximum time would come to 45 hours, meaning you're only paying 2.00 per hour instead of the 2.50...so it's actually cheaper if you go by contract and helps to cover those days your child is going to be missing due to illness.

I also allow each child to 'earn' one free day for each month of care they receive so as to allow them to build credit for times they may be out ill.

BUT...the situation with the poster is that they 'assumed' they were terminated after 10 days of no care. THEN WHY DID THEY GO BACK TO THE DAYCARE AFTER 5 WEEKS THINKING THEY SHOULD HAVE A SPOT AVAILABLE TO THEM!!!!!! And then blame the provider because she didn't tell them they had been terminated!!!!

Sounds to me as though they just showed up, expecting to continue care as if they had not been gone for 10 days and without having to pay for it. I'm sure if the provider had decided to terminate them and was not expecting them back that she would only have charged for the 10 days. But since the family showed up after 5 weeks, expecting to continue care...then yes, they still owe for that time as far as I'm concerned.

Now the part that upsets me is where the poster said their child got sick at the daycare home. Am I to assume this child lived in a bubble and never went any place else other than the daycare, therefor the ONLY possible way he could have picked up the illness was from daycare!!!! There is absolutely no way to tell WHERE this child became ill, where he picked up the germs...grocery store, library, cousin's house, bank, park, McDonald's...any place!!!

[Meeko]

I understand if there is a contract, but this is clearly a scheme to milk parents for full payment even they are not utilizing the services. If your cable goes out, by law your cable company must pro-rate your bill, and if your child is out for a day or two they should be willing and able to pro-rate your daycare bill. This kind of ridiculous policy encourages parents to bring their sick kids to school, and in turn the whole place turns into a den of sickness. Sorry greedy proprietors, some of us expect to pay ONLY for what we use.

I assume you also tell your landlord that as you will be on vacation for two weeks and not actually using the home, that he only gets half the rent? And if you don't watch TV over the weekend, you call and expect a refund from your cable provider?

No? Same here.

If you want the place held open for only YOUR child....you must pay for it.

[julie]

I understand if there is a contract, but this is clearly a scheme to milk parents for full payment even they are not utilizing the services. If your cable goes out, by law your cable company must pro-rate your bill, and if your child is out for a day or two they should be willing and able to pro-rate your daycare bill. This kind of ridiculous policy encourages parents to bring their sick kids to school, and in turn the whole place turns into a den of sickness. Sorry greedy proprietors, some of us expect to pay ONLY for what we use.

No, no scheme here. You are paying for a spot, plain and simple. Your logic with the cable company is flawed. If a service provider is unable to provide a service that you have agreed upon in the contract, then yes, I agree it should be pro-rated as in the cable company. But this is not what is happening here. The care provider was open and able to provide services the entire five weeks the OP was in the hospital. The parent was calling and giving updates which I assume made the provider think she was interested in keeping her spot, otherwise, why call if she was planning to cut and run? The provider also probably thought it was in poor taste to mention money on these phone calls because the kid was still sick in the hospital, and she probably thought the parent would do the right thing after the kid was better. So when she does finally ask for the 5 weeks of missed income which she could have filled with another family in the time she had held the spot, the parent balks, wants a discount and is now planning on leaving with NO NOTICE. I would require payment by the end of the month too if I did something nice and the parent acted like that to me! What did the provider do to deserve that besides hold the space and expect to be paid for it?

It is attitudes like these and situations like these that turn daycare providers from nice, flexible, generous people into purely business women/men with no exceptions. When you open your heart to families and try your best while trying your best to provide an income for your own family and the best people can say is that we are "greedy proprietors" trying to "milk" the parents? Uhhh, if I was trying to be greedy, maybe I would be charging a wee bit more than 3.50 an hour, hon. But good luck with that.

[Blackcat31]

Hey! Speak for yourselves ladies! I AM running a scheme! A giant scheme to milk my daycare parents out of every dime I possibly can!

Seriously, I charge the same rate every day all with no credit for any absences or missed days.

I charge families who attend the least amount of time the most amount of money.

I also charge families for my vacation time. I close for 5 days in the summer and 5 days over Christmas and charge my families for this time.

I don't drive a new car. It's actually 3,000 miles past needing an oil change.

I don't live in a million dollar home. Heck, the value of my home isn't even in the 6 figures area.

I don't have credit cards and have NO idea how people manage to get money back from the IRS because they sure take alot from me at tax time every year.

I recycle everything I can...NOT because I care about the environment....it's so I don't have to pay a fortune for city garbage pick up.

I pay more for medical insurance each month than one daycare family pays me for two months of full time care.

I have never been to Disney Land, Paris or Hawaii.

I have had ONE sick day in 20 years.

I have no plan for retirement other than death.

So yes, it is VERY clear that I am running a scheme to milk my daycare parents for every dime I can....isn't it obvious????

[Former Teacher]

Hey! Speak for yourselves ladies! I AM running a scheme! A giant scheme to milk my daycare parents out of every dime I possibly can!

Seriously, I charge the same rate every day all with no credit for any absences or missed days.

I charge families who attend the least amount of time the most amount of money.

I also charge families for my vacation time. I close for 5 days in the summer and 5 days over Christmas and charge my families for this time.

I don't drive a new car. It's actually 3,000 miles past needing an oil change.

I don't live in a million dollar home. Heck, the value of my home isn't even in the 6 figures area.

I don't have credit cards and have NO idea how people manage to get money back from the IRS because they sure take alot from me at tax time every year.

I recycle everything I can...NOT because I care about the environment....it's so I don't have to pay a fortune for city garbage pick up.

I pay more for medical insurance each month than one daycare family pays me for two months of full time care.

I have never been to Disney Land, Paris or Hawaii.

I have had ONE sick day in 20 years.

I have no plan for retirement other than death.

So yes, it is VERY clear that I am running a scheme to milk my daycare parents for every dime I can....isn't it obvious????

::::::::::

The more I read from you BC the more I lovethis you!

[Unregistered]

hey! Speak for yourselves ladies! I am running a scheme! A giant scheme to milk my daycare parents out of every dime i possibly can!

Seriously, i charge the same rate every day all with no credit for any absences or missed days.

I charge families who attend the least amount of time the most amount of money.

I also charge families for my vacation time. I close for 5 days in the summer and 5 days over christmas and charge my families for this time.

I don't drive a new car. It's actually 3,000 miles past needing an oil change.

I don't live in a million dollar home. Heck, the value of my home isn't even in the 6 figures area.

I don't have credit cards and have no idea how people manage to get money back from the irs because they sure take alot from me at tax time every year.

I recycle everything i can...not because i care about the environment....it's so i don't have to pay a fortune for city garbage pick up.

I pay more for medical insurance each month than one daycare family pays me for two months of full time care.

I have never been to disney land, paris or hawaii.

I have had one sick day in 20 years.

I have no plan for retirement other than death.

So yes, it is very clear that i am running a scheme to milk my daycare parents for every dime i can....isn't it obvious????

!!!!

[Unregistered]

fairness

I searched this answer for the reason my daughter became sick and I was asked to pay for the week she was out.
Reading both sides it becomes apparent that there are issues on both ends. I see the daycare's logic now on only having so many available spots (this point was new to me) and not being able to recooperate these losses when a child becomes sick. As far as expenses go the day cost is $40 and they do not provide meals or care supplies. Parents must provide this daily.

I talked with my provider ahead of signing the contract to better understand her policies. I agreed to a weekly pay basis so that I could give notice if my child would be out and daycare requires a two week notice which I agree is fair. They also allow a "drop in rate" for days not planned at an extra $2 each day not planned ahead. This allows for me to have care in the event I said she would be out and plans change. If i cannot plan over even a week ahead for my child being sick how could I agree to paying a month ahead? This way we are both able to plan atleast for vacation purposes etc although there is no planning for a child being sick ever.

At this time I do not get PTO so if my child is contagious she can not be taken anywhere for care so the monies I would have available to pay the daycare are lost on my since I would be out of work. If providers KNOW kids WILL get sick I feel it is only fair to allow some room for this. It IS greedy to know that kids will get sick and expect full payment mainly in the case of providers that charge a monthly rate. If a parent pays a month rate ahead is it not obvious they were planning to bring the child for care otherwise? It is only fair to allow some room for this by requiring proper communication as with some form of advance notice (24-48 hours or more possibly) and /OR a reduction in fees for that week that a notice WAS given. I think this keeps the parents to a degree of responsibility (communication on the parents part and not expecting the daycare to lose money completely). On the daycare end they are able to plan how many kids may be there a day OR even that week and possibly make staff arrangements for the possibility that some other kids may be out as well. I called my provider to let them know my plans and that my child would be out all week (she had the pox). They plan weekly staff in this case and I think it would be fair to reduce that weeks fees (not waive entirely) since the services in fact were not offered but I do expect my child to return (spot reserve) so give and take in this case comes from both ends. They would still have to pay rent to stay open etc but they are also receiving kids at their location so the utilities are not being left on only for my child.

The logic that the daycare will have fees and not use them on their end (as in the case of the phone and cable bill) also applies to the daycare as well do they not??

[daycare]

this is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy old???? 2009

[Unregistered]

Daycare

Explain to me why when the daycare accepts payment from the state (BCAP)for services that they are only paying day to day. How is that fair? I find this to be ridiculous. At least these facilities should prorate the cost.

[dolores]

Explain to me why when the daycare accepts payment from the state (BCAP)for services that they are only paying day to day. How is that fair? I find this to be ridiculous. At least these facilities should prorate the cost.

Because payment is for spot (which is being held up for child) and not attendance. This should be noted in contract. It is like rent/mortgage. Let's say you go away on vacation for a week, you still have to pay the month's rent/mortgage and not just for the days you were home.

[Blackcat31]

Explain to me why when the daycare accepts payment from the state (BCAP)for services that they are only paying day to day. How is that fair? I find this to be ridiculous. At least these facilities should prorate the cost.

This is something you should discuss with the facility that you attend.
Is it written into their contract that you pay regardless of absences and you signed the agreement then it's fair.

If they only charge parents for attendance and it's written that way in the contract then you need to talk to their billing department.

It all depends on what your contract says.

I don't understand why parents don't read what they are signing....until they have a complaint.

[Vesta]

Explain to me why when the daycare accepts payment from the state (BCAP)for services that they are only paying day to day. How is that fair? I find this to be ridiculous. At least these facilities should prorate the cost.

Because centers and individuals make the decision to bite the bullet and acquiesce to the states rules to their detriment in order to keep state clients. I don’t think it’s right they don’t get paid for the days the child is out sick.
A slot is a slot.
It’s part of the reason I no longer work with the state.
I read the rules, I didn’t agree with them, so I chose not to participate.
Between that and just getting paid after the fact when the state can manage to scrounge up the money, it’s not worth the paperwork and anxiety.

[Mariposa]

When I did billing as a Director for childcare..it took me a couple of hours a week in my already packed day...if I took off charges for every time a child was sick (or "sick"...."I don't have to pay for my sick child, so I'll just claim they;re sick" says Mommy) I would a) spend WAY more than 2 hours on billing b) would not know how many kids are expected in the day so I could not 1) plan staff 2) plan food 3) plan activities. This requires planning, shopping, spending, creating. For your kid not to show so I have to reimburse. With funds I spent expecting their arrival.


Companies. WOULD. NOT. STAY. IN. BUSINESS.

I get it--it seems like you're not getting anything in return, it is "expensive" for you to pay.
Here's what your tuition covers:

1) overhead--rent, electricity, garbage.
2) staffing...UNDERPAID staff. And not just your child's teacher. the Cook, the Director, direct staff, office staff, maintenance.
3) Supplies. You know, paper and paint.
4) Food. The abundance of food USDA requires.
5) Space so you can return and not be like Hurricane Katrina dad.
6) Respect to your provider because forking out money is very hard for us humans to do. Paying someone is a sign of respect in our world.


I just started my in-home. I do get kids get sick, it's out of our control. What I personally do is provide a 50% refund since I charge for the month ahead, after 3 days based off my discretion--both sick or vacation. 2 days is normal for small illnesses. 3 or more mean something more serious. However, it's my discretion--if I feel a parent is pulling one on me, or they take too many vacations, I don't give the discount. (Ex: If you're camping each weekend vs the one planned vacation that year).
the 50% I keep pays my admin cost. Your kid may not be here, but I'm still working for the next time your child is here.

So far I'm really lucky my child care is not crucial to my household income, so I can do this. If I could not, I would not provide a discount. But I still almost choked when I saw how much money I lost off a child's absence last month because of my discount. I totally died a little inside--but I know parents appreciate it, so it's better in the long run.

It's a cruddy situation. Parents sometimes make too much for state subsidies, but not enough to pay daycare. Providers don't get paid much. We really need to revamp our system for more free care and treat birth-5 as an important part of their education and make it free. And have adequate funding for staff.

Thanks for reading. I'm on a lot of soapboxes tonight.