Red Flags!!

[Shannie]

Hi Ladies,

I finally filled my dayhome spot. The little girl was set to start November 30. The mom sent me a msg asking if everything was still good to go. I said of course and then asked if she would need an invoice or just receipts once a year. I also told her that I would pro rate the 30th for her. She then lost it and doesn't understand that her monthly fee doesn't include the 30th. She is accusing me of ripping her off because now I am asking for more money. I explained that her monthly fee is from the 1-31 in December and that November 30 is an extra day and I thought that I was being more than fair by pro rating it.

She also kept going on about how she is only using 15 days in December and paying FT. Which I explained to her and she signed in the contract. This spot is for FT. The fee is the same every month even if you don't utilize all the days. I told her that if she only wanted to pay the monthly fee she can, but her daughter won't be starting on the 30, she is welcome to start on the 1.

I told her to swing by for her copy of the contract or pop in to talk. She will be coming to talk about it.

This...all before we even begin. She even said to me "I feel that this is a very bad start to a relationship where you watch my daughter". That's uncalled for....it's her mistake. Sure it sucks if she didn't budget for that additional day, but she shouldn't be blaming me.

Ugh...the day started out so well and now I am stressed. What a month for this to happen. BTW she told me that she couldn't afford to bring her daughter to my dayhome then. ga!

[Artsand crafts]

It is easier to charge bi-weekly or a set fee the 1st day of the month. This way you can avoid misunderstandings and parents feeling like they were ripped off, because it is hard to understand for some. I prefer to charge bi-weekly, because if you do the math at the end you charge more per year and since it is pretty easy to understand parents do not feel that they were taken advantage of.

[Shannie]

yes, The fee I have is for the first of the month. Very clearly stated. My fee is per month due on the first of the month every month. Not sure why she thinks the 30th is included in December fees. It is very basic.

[Artsand crafts]

I would tell her that the other option would be bi-weekly if that sounds more transparent to her. If she goes for the 2nd option she will be paying more per year, but she may feel happier because she may understand that model better.

[Artsand crafts]

How much do you charge per month? I charge $500 bi-weekly (or $1,000 every 4 weeks). That is $12,250/year for 49 weeks that I am open and paid for (my 3 weeks unpaid vacation). If I charged $1,000 per month it would be $11,250 ($1,000/month by 12 months minus 15 days vacation at $50/day).

Also $500 bi-weekly sounds easier to put together than $1,000 per month.

[Shannie]

I charge 700/month

[Lee-Bee]

While I don't think this is acceptable to be getting notably upset about I can understand her confusion. If you check the Calendar she is starting the first week of December, it just happens that December 1st is a Tuesday. So, depending on how you look at it and how her paydays work it could be considered paying for an extra day if she is used to biweekly payments. But again, I find it concerning that she is still notably upset about this after you have explained it to her.

I would also suggest switching to biweekly payments or paying by the number of worked days in a month because charging a flat monthly fee means you work extra days for free many months of the year.

[jodaycare]

If she is starting on the 30th, then why would she think that she didn't have to pay for it. It doesn't matter whether she pays monthly or not. I have a family that pays monthly on the first of the month, so I just give her the number of working days each month and she pays.

[MommaL]

Is she regularly only going to be coming about 15 days a month (even though she`s paying full-time fees) or is December just an unusual month because of Christmas. If that is the case, maybe there was some misunderstanding and she thought that she was substituting the November 30 day for one of the days that she would not be coming over Christmas. Of course, she shouldn`t have assumed that and it`s strange that she would get so upset over it. But I can see how it might be confusing, especially with her first day being on a Monday on the last day of the month. Hopefully after you talk to her, it all gets sorted out and ends up being a good relationship.

[Dawn2Dusk]

It makes perfect sense to me. I also do payments per month it doesn't matter when the 1st falls. She is using the 30th so she has to pay for that day. I operate the same way and I think she is definitely in the wrong here. Just stick to your guns and try to explain that you operate monthly not weekly.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I think it just misunderstanding. Your fees from monthly but parent likely not realize extra charge for one day in November because it be Monday and 1st be Tuesday.

Parent find start daycare stressful. They worrying about baby being looked after by stranger, they worrying about go back work and not be with baby, they worry about extra cost on family income. Very stressful. Parent very wary when start daycare and worry if they made right choice for their child. Lot scare story about bad carer and they not know if they make good choice until some week into new arrangement.

She over-react but had been clearly explained before vs presumed she understand there will be one day fee for November, maybe she not feel so blindsided. Could be finances very tight and this cost not planned because mother not realize it due.

I just saying that her reaction might be factor of lot things in her mind.

To prevent happen again, must be clear if someone starting on different date to first that these costs applied. Or like lot of us, charge bi-week where it flat fee and easier for parent understand.

[Artsand crafts]

I charge 700/month

If you charge bi-weekly at $35/day or $175/week multiplied by 52 weeks that is $9,100/year

When you charge $700/month multiplied by 12 months is $8,400

You can run your numbers with the number of unpaid days you have in both options and getting paid bi-weekly will always be more per year. So, if clients are happy because they can understand their payments better and you will be making more per year this would be a much better option imo.

[Shannie]

Thanks ladies. mom fully understood that her spot was FT and that payments for the month are due the first for that month. She is only using 15 days in December because of her holidays. We went over, more than once that the spot is FT and she is required to pay the month fees regardless of the days that are actually being used. I spoke with her Friday. She came to my home crying because she just assumed that I would throw in the extra day because she isn't using the Full amount of days in December. I explained that it is the same for my other dayhome boy and I am not throwing free days in. She doesn't think that's fair. I told her it's not fair to assume that I would work for free. She also then explained that the dayhome she is currently using is keeping her deposit, making her pay for an extra 2 weeks (not sure of everything that's going on there) and that her husband is living a province away right now and cannot get a transfer and they need to sell their home. Yikes! I agreed that I wouldn't be adding any extra kids to my line up for awhile, however, I do need to think of the what if's on my end. Her stating in our messaging that she is better off staying home, that she cannot afford my fees and now that she is trying to sell her house. I am afraid that she may just jump ship without notice.

If this is all happening before day one, I am nervous to see what comes when she is actually in my care.

[flowerchild]

Wow. I think whatever you do, keep your boundaries firm. And do NOT provide any care until you are paid in advance. No exceptions. If the cost of one day of daycare is going to send her over the edge like this, I'd be really concerned that there wasn't going to be money to pay for daycare.

Hopefully you just caught her on a bad day and that was the "last straw" and she'll have pulled herself together by Monday.

Do you know why she's leaving her current daycare?

[Shannie]

She is leaving because she doesn't like the number of children that her current provider has. 8 in total (including her own 3). I totally get that that's why she would leave. I drive my daughter to school so I can only have 5 max and my daughter is gone all day. So currently I have 3 FT. I think that I will look to get one more child. Just in case this doesn't work out. I have that feeling.

[Van]

Wow it sounds like she will move as her husband has moved out of prov. and they are selling their house - so the question to ask yourself is DO YOU REALLY NEED THIS FAMILY FOR THE TEMP. TIME TILL SHE SELLS HER HOUSE AND MOVES TO BE WITH HER HUSBAND? it might be better to go for a more settled family for the long term

[Shannie]

Good morning ladies! So, today was suppose to be start day for this family. I was awake early as this girl starts half an hour before my other child. No show. I messaged the mom who said "I'm sorry, I though that you understood that we wouldn't be starting until the first.".....um.....I did give her the option of starting on the 1st when we had our talk about fees. All she said is that she understood the fees. She never told me that she would be changing the start date. All this headache and confusion before we even start....I am going to be redoing my dayhome ad today and adding another child, just in case they do move. But I am thinking that I may end up giving her notice. I feel completely disrespected. I have a feeling that she discussed the start date with her husband and just never told me. *sigh* what a way to start a Monday!

[33 Daiseys]

I would let her know that since you made plan, and changed you day to suit her ie start day, that today will be added to her bill. F***** that poop. I hate it when people try to take advantage like that.
I would have an add up and take a child immediately. What does she think that you should not be able to earn a decent living? That is so uhhhhhhhgrrrrrrrr. I hope you fill both both spots with loving easy goning families so you can enjoy your holidays:)

[Shannie]

Thanks so much 33 Daiseys. At drop off today (day one) I got a check for the month and 30 days notice. So much for bending over backwards. She probably didn't need childcare this month and was trying to get out of it, my guess anyways. So the hunt is on and many a lesson learned!

[superfun]

She quit on her first day? Did I just read that right?

[5 Little Monkeys]

That's what I was thinking too super fun. How rude.... Lol

[Crayola kiddies]

something tells me this is not going to be a nice month.....if it was me i would not accept the cheque and today would be her last day ......who knows what she will pull this month ....

[babydom]

I was just going to say that. Give cheque back and say bye bye. Lol

[Shannie]

yes. dropped off her daughter, a check for the month and a 30 days notice letter...Great. I can't afford this month to not have that income. So, whatever. Her daughter has been a doll today. Super well behaved. onto trying to fill this spot, when I could have done that a month ago but turned people down because I had signed this one on.

[Van]

So annoying!!!! first day and last month !!!
The next family will be so much nicer:)

[Shannie]

oh I am hoping so! lol

[torontokids]

It can only get better! The next family will seem like a dream!