Need help with finding my ‘backbone’ :mad:

[Inspired by Reggio]

The financial insecurity is one of the largest challenges to this industry

I am sorry you are going through tough financial times - however I agree that 'loosing' a client should not deter you from standing up for your contract - they need YOU just as much if not more than you need them ... you cannot allow your need for income to let a client take financial advantage of you ... I would rather get a part time job out of the home ONE DAY a week than work ALL WEEK for one client who does not respect me ... because the reality is you could pick up a shift at a restaurant and make the full weeks fees one client brings in between your wages and tips minus the expenses of feeding and caring for that child - there are always other options than allowing someone to abuse you ... life is way to short to work with people who do not value and respect you!!!!!

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Either way her contract clearly states “Unpaid fees are subject to immediate suspension or termination of care unless reasonable arrangements are made and accepted by both parties. Full time and part time fees are based on booked days, not attendance, therefore parents are responsible for fees whether child attends or not. (This also includes sick days, statutory holidays and vacation time).” A list of the statutory holidays is listed below this...

Devil's advocate here but the section in RED above to me is opening you up for a world of conflict in miscommunication. From HER preservative it is quiet possible she sees she is following your contract based on the ambiguity of this wording - she texted you she was not coming due to the weather and therefore likely feels it is 'reasonable' reason not to attend care, she made the arrangement prior to the start of the day and you accepted it by acknowledging that it was ok to come later with payment for the rest of the week - therefore in her mind both parties agreed to this being an 'unpaid day' due to the weather. Not saying her interpretation if FAIR or RIGHT but that wording certainly leaves it up to 'interpretation' and is likely why you are having conflict with her over payment of days

If what you are meaning to say is that payments for the previous weeks care being LATE to you by whatever agreement you have will result in suspension of service / termination of care... aka payments are due by Friday at noon and must be paid in full based on the previous weeks booking otherwise clients risk suspension of service or total termination of the contract - that would close the door to weather there is an option to leaving it 'unpaid' as long as both parties agreed....cause to ME that is what that means ... if both parties agree payment can be left UNPAID.

My other advice to home childcare providers - if your policy is that you get paid for what was booked regardless of attendance - than get paid in advance of service for what was booked ... payment for days booked next week are due on Friday of THIS week

This way it is CLEAR what was booked so no conflict on their part if they show up on Thursday expecting care and you thought they were only booked in Monday and Wednesday this week and it is protection for YOU in that you never have to worry about stuff like this cause if they arrive on Friday with next weeks fees and it is 'short' because of something they misinterpreted in the contract like a stat or vacation day they have planned you get it fixed right then and there before providing any service for the upcoming week - verses providing service and than if they do not pay you are 'out the money' and well we do not have the buffer of big business to afford getting stiffed or to take every Tom Dick and Harry who treats people like that to Small Claims court

I would definitely address it NOW because unfortunately you have sent a precedent the other week by allowing her to 'short change' you and not saying anything .... if you are not good with verbal conflict I would do the email as suggested by another poster but definitely address that this is not acceptable and there has been some sort of misunderstanding about 'booked days' and payment of them - she could be thinking that because she called ahead and canceled it was no longer 'booked'