Child care payment situation, I need opinions please?

Question

I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to do but I was wondering what other parents would think about this. I have a day care in my home, it's nap time for the kids at the moment, and I have a family that is constantly late in paying me. I have contracts and payment policies that everyone must sign before I will watch their kids. I have had many conversations with the family about paying late and have made them include a late payement charge in their fees on several occasions. They haven't paid me yet this week and are asking me to hold their check until Thursday. I'm thinking of telling them they cannot bring their child back to the day care until the check is in the bank and has cleared through my account. I'm so tired of this, I don't know what else to do! I would love opinions on this. Thanks everyone.

The paying in advance is an excellent idea, one that I hadn't thought of. Thank you so so much everyone, this was the boost I needed to tell these folks I've had enough!

Answer 1

I think that's a good Idea, just tell them that you are running a Business here, and then paying you late is affecting your ability to pay Your bills. and tell them that if they don't start paying on time then you are going to have to stop watching their child.

Answer 2

They signed a contract to pay you for a service that you provide to them, this is your job and your income. Granted everyone goes through tough times occasionaly, however being late constantly is not acceptable and should not be tolerated. What my last daycare did (I am now a SAHM) was when we signed our children up for daycare was asked us when it would be conveniant for us to pay her weekly or bi-weekly and we needed to pay her on that friday that we got paid. It didn't happen to us, but one of the parents did the same thing that your having problems with, the first time she told them that they could not bring their child back until their account was brought up to date and she gave them one week to do it if it was not brought up to date in this time frame she would give their child's spot in her daycare to someone else (all licensed daycares in my area have waiting lists because there just aren't enough of them). Which is what ended up happening. I wouldn't let them fall anymore than one week behind if I was you because you will probably never see your money after that. If they do get things caught up to your satisfaction, tell them that next time you will only let it go three days, you will add x amount to their bill for each day and if it is not paid in full by the end of the three days then you will no longer be able to watch their child. You are running a business and you can't let people take advantage of you.

Answer 3

I think that's a good business idea, but being a single mom and trying to pay for childcare is an *** kicker. My fee is $92.00 per week and alot of the times I have to pay late with the additional late fees of course and that just kills my pocket. So pls try and be open minded about the parents' situation, they may really need to pay late and may not be able to afford a late fee. Personally, I think you should tell them if they are not paid up in 2 weeks with all the applicable late fees then they can't bring their child back. Or I know some places that will offer a cash discount. Hope it helps.

Answer 4

I used to watch children in my home and had this happen..a family screwed me over about $400. Dump them today. Sounds mean, but they knew what they had to pay you and when and decided to take advantage of that. If they paid their rent late, they are going to get evicted. Don't let people take advantage of you. Tell them you will keep their spot for X amount of time but they have to pay in full to come back....and if they do return, require advanced payments. (Meaning the money is due Monday for the following week.) If they don't return and don't pay up and you have a signed contract, take them to small claims court.

Good luck hon..it's a rough job!

Answer 5

First try to find out what their payment scheduale is at work. In my household it is one paycheck a month, which would make it VERY hard to stay on a weekly payment scheduale. Than try to find out which is the best payment scheduale for them to pay you. Try working with them. Most people really need the day care. If you can't come up with a reasonable agreement anywhere at all, than stop taking their kids. But try to figure out why they are late with their payments. It may be an easy fix for both you and them. Good luck.

Answer 6

Your contract probably has a paragraph about how many weeks notice you have to give them or they have to give you before ending day care for the child. I think you might want to give them notice. Even if you need the money, it's not really helping since it is late all the time. If the child left the day care you could bring in another child in their spot who hopefully would have more reliable parents.

Answer 7

That is the right thing to do. If you don't stop it now they will continue to pay late. There is a saying "People only do to you what YOU LET them do to you." Don't let them do this to you any longer. If they aren't willing to pay on time find someone else that will. There isn't a preschool or day care around that will allow this and you shouldn't either. Good Luck

Answer 8

Tell them they need to pay in advance with cash or the child will no longer be able to come for care. If they do not do this then terminate them and find another child to fill the spot. With the need for "Day Care" I am sure you will have no problem filling the spot.
Good Luck.

Answer 9

I ran a home daycare for two years, and ran into this problem quite frequently. Parents just don't treat you as a "bill" like they do their gas, electric and phone. You are usually last on the list of important things to pay, and often get the shaft. You have to make a stand. People will only treat you with the respect you command, and as a business, you demand that respect. If you were a center- you'd charge up front for the next week- not charge for the week previous that you've already worked. I finally had to do this to make sure that I was being paid on time. The way I look at it, my time is just as valuable as the people's whose children I watch. I don't do it just for fun (although working with children IS fun)... this is my JOB. I deserve to be paid on time as well as everyone else. If it was them getting stiffed by their boss, you better believe they'd be making a stink about it! Put your foot down and tell them that since they have breached your contract, only cash will be accepted- and you will not be watching their child in the meantime until they get caught up. Like I said, people will treat you with the respect you demand, so demand it. You are depending on these people to pay you for services rendered, and if they can't do that- it isn't your responsibility to become a charity worker. As professionals who work with children, we tend to be weak of heart... we care about the children in our lives and what happens to them. Somehow, we get caught in that, and certain people know that about us and take advantage of it. We don't want to think about not providing that child with care when you probably know they really need you- but you need to take care of your own family too! Don't feel bad about telling them that they need to respect your position as their child's caregiver- they should! After all, you are providing a very valuable service in helping to raise their child! They should realize that and step forward themselves to take care that shorting you never happens. If something came up in life that makes it difficult for them to pay- that is still not your problem. You have to think tough- you are running a business. Monetary flow affects you and your family. So, give the family one more chance- just outline your conditions very specifically. Hand them back the check, ask for cash and make sure that every transaction after that is either cash (or if they want a "receipt", a money order) so that you know money is actually available for you. Make this family pay up front from now on.

Answer 10

Try a ACH company that when you enter the check in it automaticly takes the money out of their account If it bouces its still gives you the money and you wont pay any fees. (Mymerchant.com) I think you lose 2 % pr transaction. Just an idea. or have them pay for the whole month up front or 2 weeks ahead with money order only