Learned my lesson!

[monkeymama]

When I made changes to my contract this year I added a two week deposit to cover last 2 weeks of care. However, I did not have old clients sign the new contract. Ive posted before about dcg who wasnt adjusting well. Mom and I had a talk on Friday and I decided to term them. Mom was not happy at all. They didnt show up or pay me today. Not cool. So glad I have this in effect for future families so I dont get screwed over again.

[mimi]

Sorry this happened to you. Every lesson we learn and pass on to other providers gives us a heads up on how to run our businesses more effectively. Thanks, hard lesson to learn especially when you least expect to. ;)

[Mum2Boo]

Sorry this is happened to your Monkeymama :( I haven't asked for a security deposit from any of my families either. However after reading various posts on this site I will be doing from any future families I take on.

[Skysue]

Best thing as well is to terminate on last day of care for the week after you get paid. Most employers let people go on a Thursday or Friday to allow people cooling off space over the weekend.

[monkeymama]

Skysue- that is what I did. Termed Friday night after I recieved payment. However, my contract states payment is still required for 2 weeks notice. Just recieved nasty message from dcm that they will not be coming or paying. Just disappointed that they would act so awful.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I take a two week security deposit upon enrollment to protect myself from a client leaving without notice and for no 'reason' that I had control over ... to give me time to interview and fill the space without being out the income from that space or to adjust my family budget to the loss of that income.

However I will admit that if I ever had a child in care who was not adjusting and it was ME who was terminating the child because I did not feel the child was thriving I would refund their deposit in lieu of notice and just have the child be GONE. I just could not expect a client to continue to send their child to care for two weeks after I have told them their child is not thriving in my program to the point I felt termination was the best option ~ to me that just goes against every mama bears instinct to protect your baby ... not saying the child is at 'risk' in the program but if someone has said 'I do not want your child here anymore' how could you keep dropping them off to them just to get your 'monies worth' so to speak and I would hate to put a client in the position where they felt they 'had to to get their monies worth' :(

IMO I refund the money in lieu of notice than they can use that to take a few days off work and find alternative arrangements and that is just best for everyone!

[gramma]

[QUOTE=monkeymama;385 13]When I made changes to my contract this year I added a two week deposit to cover last 2 weeks of care. However, I did not have old clients sign the new contract. Ive posted before about dcg who wasnt adjusting well. Mom and I had a talk on Friday and I decided to term them. Mom was not happy at all. They didnt show up or pay me today.


I'm in the same boat as you are monkeymama. Its a crappy lesson to learn. I've been doing this for 18 years nearly and I have never had anyone screw me out of money whether i terminated them, or they left me.

[monkeymama]

Reggio- I appreciate the feedback but this was not me not wanting their child here. This has been months of parents realizing their childs issues and despite many conversations not doing anything to assist the situation. As already stated, I have a 2 week deposit that I have recieved from all new clients. Obviously I am not going to ask a long term client for a deposit when they have been with me a considerable amount of time. This was not new information to this mom. Many providers before me have said it, and come September a kindergarten teacher is going to say it as well. I guess it was "mama bear" instinct but unfortunately that is only hurting her child.

[monkeymama]

gramma- thank you. This is my first time as well. Horrible that people can turn on you so quickly. Ive learned my lesson thats for sure.

[mimi]

You could let her know you will be using her email as proof of non payment and that you will be consulting with a collection agency regarding her refusal to pay. You could send a registered letter to this effect. Sometimes people just need a little reminder that they need to uphold the terms of their signed agreements. Just a thought :)

[Inspired by Reggio]

Oh my apologizes Monkeymama when you said you terminated because the child was 'not adjusting' I thought you meant this was a relatively NEW client who snuck in under the wire of the security deposit change .... a client whose infant child was not transitioning to childcare ~ did not realize you were terminating because the child has BEHAVIOR in your program and the client is not helping to resolve it ... do not blame you for wishing you had a deposit to keep in lieu of notice for having dealt with that for however long :(

If I came across a client like that I would do what we did in my one centre and make them sign a 'behavior management contract' aka their child would be put on probation with clear goals for what was needed to occur between now and the time frame I felt was reasonable to see improvement or service would have to cease at that time .... these worked wonders in centre care to get parents motivated to change behavior at HOME and ensure the child was motivated to change them at daycare as well ~ and than if they got pissy and felt it was 'unfair' to have to sign such an agreement well than they were free not to sign it and we would accept that refusal as their 'two weeks notice' and they could just be DONE and forfeit their deposit if they did not want to attend and work with the program ;)

[apples and bananas]

You could let her know you will be using her email as proof of non payment and that you will be consulting with a collection agency regarding her refusal to pay. You could send a registered letter to this effect. Sometimes people just need a little reminder that they need to uphold the terms of their signed agreements. Just a thought :)

I agree... this is what I'd do. Make it look like you've consulted credit bureau assistance, or legal assistance. Might scare them into paying.

[Crayola kiddies]

If you got payment on Friday was this not for the next two weeks or do you not get paid in advance?

[Momof4]

Sorry Monkeymama, I had a client skip out without paying me for the last week of care without any notice when I was new at this. We live and learn in this business. But it's too bad that the #1 priority has to be - Cover Your Butt! Sad really that we don't get the respect we so richly deserve from too many people.

[Smitty]

I just got screwed! 2 weeks. Funny how you see the other Ugly side of people. Horrible.

[cocota]

Hi Inspired by Reggie,

I am new here. I read some posts by you. I really agree on what you said! I can tell that you are such a great person in heart.

All the best,
Li

[monkeymama]

thank you everyone for your responses/ suggestions. I am in the process of filling dcg spot so have decided to just let this all go. Im still disappointed that the parents chose to react this way but I cant change anything now.

[sierra]

I agree with you compleatly as this is my policy as well. Children should not have to suffer through unhappy days because of money disputes.