Bad feeling

Well, I had a child lines up for mid March and parent's cancelled at the last minutes, unfortunately, they lost their $200.00 deposit. I had an interview last night to fill the spot at first the parents told me that she has off every second Friday doesn't mind paying me anyways. In the evening, I receive an e-mail that they were wondering, if I would do 8 days, I say no, would you do 9, and I said yes.

This morning she asked me to send her my references, I send her 2 references and then she asked me to give her past references. I decided to change my hours for this family, I normally work 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. sometimes 5:30 p.m. every second week but the family that arrives at 5:30 p.m. pay me for my time. If, I take this family, they would arrive at 6:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Why, do I get this feeling that this family is going to drive me crazy.

Are you sure you even want to extend your hours in the first place? I would think very carefully about extending your hours...6:30-5:30 is a VERY long day, not only for you but for the child too. I am asking because I have done it before where I agreed to having a DCB here from 6:45-5:30 and I sooooo regretted it later on. Nowadays I stick to my hours and I don't extend for anyone, ever, even if it's only by 5-10 mins.

Thanks for the advise Fun&care, I'm not a morning person, getting up at 6:00 a.m. will be hard for me for sure.

Have you already committed to this?

I had a bad feeling about a mom during our initial meeting and remember saying to my husband "I think she is going to be the first family I will have to terminate" ........and I was right!! I wish I had gone with my gut but in the end I did learn a few lessons and it all worked out in the end but still....I should have listened to myself from the beginning LOL

If you are already hesitant about taking this family on, I would move on and find another family (unless finances don't allow, I understand that!) but IMO, it's just not worth the grief!

So you think this will be a pest client but you still cut your days to save them money and also add on time every day? Why?

It funny how the ones which lose your money 'cause they want 4 days a week, also need longer hours. I not accommodate these people any more. These are my hours and if you need longer, go somewhere who works longer. If you want to come here, then you need to come in my business hours. I not increase my day for client, esp for free. Pretty sure they would not work longer day for free if I wanted them to either.

I completely agree with the others. If you can, I would walk away from this before you're committed.

Unfortunately, I need the income, I'm down to 3 kids. I recently, change my rate to $38.00 a day on all new clients, this particular client, I would charge $40.00 a day. I advertise on Kijji, I have a website, I wish, I had lot of inquiries it comes and goes. I also have a feeling that if I don't take these clients it will be at least May/June until I find a replacement. It's our business, and we seen to be always at client's mercy grrr

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Originally Posted by pink

Unfortunately, I need the income, I'm down to 3 kids. I recently, change my rate to $38.00 a day on all new clients, this particular client, I would charge $40.00 a day. I advertise on Kijji, I have a website, I wish, I had lot of inquiries it comes and goes. I also have a feeling that if I don't take these clients it will be at least May/June until I find a replacement. It's our business, and we seen to be always at client's mercy grrr

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Is it possible to take the 6am start on a 3 month trial? I did just this myself some year back for same reason - three vacancy and beginning to panic. But it was super hard.

For me, not such issue in summer time but when Christmas come and the snow, it mean getting up really early to get all done before 6am.

If you cannot take on trial, make sure your contact permits you to give notice. Then when things pick up a bit, you have option to decide if you want to keep this client or replace with someone who not need such early start.

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Originally Posted by pink

Unfortunately, I need the income, I'm down to 3 kids. I recently, change my rate to $38.00 a day on all new clients, this particular client, I would charge $40.00 a day. I advertise on Kijji, I have a website, I wish, I had lot of inquiries it comes and goes. I also have a feeling that if I don't take these clients it will be at least May/June until I find a replacement. It's our business, and we seen to be always at client's mercy grrr

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I understand needing to take a client to make money so I totally feel for you!! I like Suzie's suggestion to put them on a 3 month trial. If you are finding that it's not working out for you, you can term and use the different schedule as a reason. Hopefully by than you will have some other inquiries and can fill it with someone who doesn't need extended hours.

It is very common where I live for parents to work an extra hour a day in order to get alternate Fridays off. For that reason since they get their full pay check plus a day off I deserve to be paid for the full week even on the weeks they only come 4 days. Either charge a surcharge for the extra time per day but let them come on the Friday or charge the regular rate but let them know you expect them to keep the child home on the Fridays because they are using the time on the other days and then tell them what the extra fee will be for the extra day of care should they need it - even if it is just an extra $20 it sends home the message.

I wouldn't do the extra hour in the morning either, but I too understand the need to pay your bills!

I agree with Suzies suggestion too, 3 month trial. Also perhaps you could allow them to come just the four days, but up your daily rate even more than $2. to open a whole extra hour in the morning should be an extra $10, that way you will actually make more, and only work (have to get up!) 4 days a week? The clients are getting what they need, and you are being fairly compensated. Honestly $2 for an extra hour a day, is not enough....even if you charge them $45/day you would be even working 8 days then $40 working 9

I used to open at 6:30 for a pair of siblings when my usual opening time was 7:30am. I was in night school too and it was a killer!! They paid an extra $10 per child per day, which was a steal to be honest. I provided breakfast and they were allowed to come in their pj's because changing them wasn't a big deal with no other children to take care of....one of them was old enough to dress themselves too. I honestly hated it because that extra hour made the day way to long and, they eventually left to go with a provider who only operated on the school calendar year so they saved a lot of money annually. This was that family everyone has had where you bend over backwards for them, for them to eventually put themselves first and leave. That is why I never did anything outside my normal contracted hours again. We should put ourselves first and they should put themselves first and if we aren't compatible then they need to go elsewhere. It rarely goes well. If you are changing your business hours for them, it isn't just about paying the extra time, but paying a premium for a premium service. Even when I was down to 3 kids for nearly a year and couldn't fill my spots and I was DESPERATE barely keeping afloat, I just cut back in other ways and managed to hang in there until I filled my spots with regular hour clients. I also got a second job doing data entry during naptime which helped a lot. If the day isn't too long for you then I would do 4 days, why come 5 when they don't need 5. They should just pay you for the early drop off/late pick up or both.

My regular hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m., if I take this family it would be 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., My regular rate is $38.00 a day and I was going to charge $40.00 a day, not for 9 days, if I decide to take them, it's only fair that they pay me for 10 days@40.00 per day. Do you agree?

you are charging them for 10 days, but they are only using 9? I would avoid wording it like that with them, they might think that they are entitled to 10 day of care?

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Originally Posted by pink

My regular hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m., if I take this family it would be 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., My regular rate is $38.00 a day and I was going to charge $40.00 a day, not for 9 days, if I decide to take them, it's only fair that they pay me for 10 days@40.00 per day. Do you agree?

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I would take them for only the days they need and charge them a much higher amount for early drop off. The norm for early drop off is usually $5 for every 30 minutes early or late when it is a pre-arranged thing. $2 for an extra 1 hour...that parent is laughing all the way home.

Also do the math for a minute...Your regular hours are 7-5, that is 10 hours at $38 so $3.80 an hour. You are charging them an additional $2 for an extra 1 hour which is less than your standard rate to begin with, let alone a premium service that you would be offering. Their rate should be in my opinion $45-$50 a day. They need extended care, they pay what it is worth.

If you charge them for 5 days a week, every week, then they are entitled to come every single one of those days with early drop off and late pick up on those days too because you are charging them for it. Set a flat rate for "their" week and outline the days and hours care is available to them. Or, charge them daily outlining daily rate plus extended hours premium rate and include that their spot is 9 days in a 2 week period with specifics on the days and hours.

I still think bad idea.

Parent need to understand that they pay on days reserved not days attended. They need all 5 days on some week but only 4 on other week but if you take this person, it will be impossible for you to find another client who just work one day every two week to make up the spot. They need to pay for all 10 days - period.

If you charge $38 a day, then 10 days care adds to $380. Regular hours is 10 hour day which is $3.80 an hour. But if they come for longer hours, you charge $40 a day. 30 mins extra in morning and 30 mins extra at end of day is one whole hour extra a day. But you only charging $2 for that extra hour? Why charge almost half for extra time? Most people charge double for extra time not half. Not super cheap.

This parent has tricky needs but this parent must pay for thier own need. Not up to provider to lose out to fix their family needs.

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Originally Posted by pink

Unfortunately, I need the income, I'm down to 3 kids. I recently, change my rate to $38.00 a day on all new clients, this particular client, I would charge $40.00 a day. I advertise on Kijji, I have a website, I wish, I had lot of inquiries it comes and goes. I also have a feeling that if I don't take these clients it will be at least May/June until I find a replacement. It's our business, and we seen to be always at client's mercy grrr

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I understand, that really stinks. If you are going to take this client, try o make it as easy for you as possible. have them bring breakfast, so all you have to do is plate ( or what about charging them an early start/ breakfast fee), when they come in have them lay down until your regular start time. ect.
When i open early for a family, it is an extra 20 dollars, no questions. They also know hat said child must lay down and either read a book, or watch cartoons, and hat I open he door in my jammies. :). Every time this has happened, parents aways have a cup of coffee with them, and are always very very grateful.

I honestly think that if I told them $45.00 they will walk away, what would make me happy that they pay me $40.00 x10 days and only bring her for 9 and the 10th days is for the surplus time they are taking.

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Originally Posted by pink

I honestly think that if I told them $45.00 they will walk away, what would make me happy that they pay me $40.00 x10 days and only bring her for 9 and the 10th days is for the surplus time they are taking.

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but if you do that, have it clearly in writting that they are not entilted to come that 10th day.
I would just spell it out, 44.45/day for 9 days. It works out to that same amount, but you are not stuck having to take their child on day 10.
I think you should charge more, do the math for them, if your hourly rate is 3.8/hour, then to charge them that for 10 days ywould be $418!! So $45/day for 9 days is still a steal! Honestly if this family thinks that paying you fairly is unacceptable, then let them walk.

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Originally Posted by pink

I honestly think that if I told them $45.00 they will walk away, what would make me happy that they pay me $40.00 x10 days and only bring her for 9 and the 10th days is for the surplus time they are taking.

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At the end of the day it is down to what you are comfortable with, but you are short changing yourself. If they are not willing to pay you what you are worth then they aren't the kind of family you need. That being said, it is up to us to set that price and if all you think it is worth is an extra $2 then it doesn't matter what any of us would do, because we each run our business' differently. I understand the needed the money situation, but nearly every bad decision I have made in this business as a result of only doing it because I needed the money, resulted in a bad family entering my daycare. Some were bad left right and centre, and others were great for a time and eventually I felt like I was screwed when in reality I allowed them to use me that way. Be sure to word this agreement in such a way that they are only entitled to 9 days of care not the 10 you are charging them. That is where I think you are going to have problems in the future. If you are charging them for 10 days, you are legally obliged to allow them access to that service for 10 days. It will be fine until they realize this and ask to use it, you say no, they don't like it and leave anyway...that is a possible scenario. Perhaps as others have said, don't put the 9/10 day wording into the contract. Give them their contracted including specified days and hours for the flat fee which is the equivalent of the 10 days @$40 per day. Also I would add a clause that this is a flat rate and should they decide to drop off later or pick up earlier any day for any reason, there will not be a reduction in fees. This is another issue I've faced, like when it is a stat holiday and they don't want to pay for the extended hours when I'm closed with pay but just regular hours pay.

You must do what work for you. Being in tough spot due to finance is not nice place because easy to agree to things you don't want just to get income.

Make sure you document details if you take this family but I do think a trial of three months best idea. If you worried that it might scare them off, please make sure your contacts allow you to give notice not just them.

When things pick up a bit you can decide if you want to keep this family or if you want to look for someone who does not need extra long day. Once you have replacement, you can give notice and say you finding day too long and time notice so they leave just as new person begin.

Don't feel bad about doing this. If parent didn't want your service they would give notice and not feeling bad so you have same right too.

Exactly Suzie_Homemaker people only look out for themselves. They are in the process of calling my references, if they decide to come, I will look for a replacement as soon as possible.

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Originally Posted by pink

Exactly Suzie_Homemaker people only look out for themselves. They are in the process of calling my references, if they decide to come, I will look for a replacement as soon as possible.

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Sounds like a plan. I hope it works out for you until another family comes along :)

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Originally Posted by pink

I honestly think that if I told them $45.00 they will walk away, what would make me happy that they pay me $40.00 x10 days and only bring her for 9 and the 10th days is for the surplus time they are taking.

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Be very careful, and do as others have suggested, with the wording. I had a client who I have the same arrangement 4 years ago, and about a month in they started to want to bring said child on the off day. They might think that there is a wiggle room since they are technically paying for that day.

After all the worrying about starting at 6:30 a.m., I heard that the family called my references, but still haven't called me. It's a good thing, I really don't want to change my hours, oh well, good for me.