Flakey parents

[cfred]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Momof4]

Whatever your contract states that's what she has to pay. If it states 1 month's fees are due then demand that she fulfill your LEGAL contract or you can take her to small claims court to collect it. Good luck! What a moron! Sorry that happened to you.

[cfred]

Thanks for the info. I was just reading that I could sell the bill to a collection agency and go after her credit too. I'm not sure I want to take time from work to go to small claims court over $800. I'm just super annoyed as I went out and bought equipment and planned for him to come....even got his Christmas gift. Grrrrrrr! In all honesty, I had a sneaking suspicion that's what she was up to. I can't believe the idiot signed a contract! Unbelievable!

[treeholm]

This is irrelevant, but I happen to have a snake phobia. I would be unable to bring my child into a daycare that had a snake. I know that's irrational, but I can't help it. Of course, if I knew you had a snake, I wouldn't have signed. I had a snake thrown in my face in Grade 5, and it traumatized me deeply. I shuddered when I read your post, so I would have a hard time blaming the poor woman. It does sound, however, as though you are better off without her if you didn't like the son's behaviour or her responses to him. I would have a hard time having a child here if I didn't feel like my parenting methods were in synch with the family's methods or philosophies.

[cfred]

I used to be terrified of snakes as well....to the point of being phobic. Someone was patient with me while I learned about them and very slowly got used to handling them. Having one thrown ioyour face is awful, so I get it. However, there's no chance that he could harm a child. First, he's too small. Second, he can't figure out the lock. But regardless, she signed the contract. I just think it's crappy to keep someone on hold "just in case". So far as being in synch with my methods and procedures....we had talked at length about all that, AND it was in the contract. She was fully aware. I'll look into my options and decide whether or not to do anything about it. I've read about others selling it to collection agency so will look into that if she doesn't want to honour the contract. Really, I just don't think she took the contract seriously.

And yes, I'm just as happy not to have him here. I have a really nice group of children. This little guy was right out of control. I was completely astounded by his behaviour....very, very aggressive. Her reaction was, on the same token, very aggressive.

[sunnydays]

Did you get a deposit? If yes, then keep the deposit and move on is my advice. The child never actually started with you, so I am not sure about the one months fees...I don't think I would bother. Her reasons are fine, it's the fact that she signed and then left you in the lurch. Not cool

[Inspired by Reggio]

WOW ... sadly I had a client like that for my very first home childcare experience .... signed a contract and paid a deposit for TWO children and than used manipulation of emotions of death in family, hospitalization of self so boys had to go to grandparents in another city and so forth to delay start day and being new and thinking with my heart instead of my business hat I allowed her to delay and than the Friday before she was suppose to start she called to say she had gotten into a centre and would not be starting and expected a total refund of her deposit and when I said NO that is not how it works security deposit can only be applied to last two weeks of care ~ she sent them for two weeks to get her monies worth forcing me to either serve them or refund the money if I was the one refusing to serve

Do you have a security deposit that clients have to pay to secure the spot ~ if not I would adopt a policy like that for your program so that the ball is at least in YOUR court should they do something like this so you are not having to chase your money!

I prefer the NON REFUNDABLE security deposit and fees paid in ADVANCE of care because like you I do not have time or financial resources to be chasing clients for fees!

[cfred]

Thanks for all the great advice. I do have a non-refundable security deposit and typically enforce that. with this woman, however, I didn't as she was temporary and I wasn't really expecting to fill the spot any way. I'm not that devastated over the money. I'm more just disgusted by the way some people conduct themselves. I'm unlikely to chase the money hard....just enough to be a pain in her buttt. Last night when I posted here, I had just received the email and was furious. This morning, after some sleep and time to cool off, I realize that, first, I was dreading her child coming here as he was a little stinker, and second, I kind of wondered all along if that's what she was up to. I'm just annoyed because I went to the bother of having 2 interviews with her, put a lot of thought and effort into a contract, just to have her give me the runaround. Oh well.....I suspect wherever she goes, that provider will have issues with her son's behaviour and she'll be left stuck without care

[playfelt]

One way to get around the parent sending them for the two weeks is to remind them that the security deposit was to cover the situation of them not starting care at all and non=refundable. But, if they start care then they would pay for the first week of care as normal on the drop off day and she is free to give me written notice that day if she wishes and mine is 3 weeks notice. The deposit would apply to the last two weeks of care so she would have to pay for at least one more week of care if she wanted to start them in order to use her two weeks deposit.

[Inspired by Reggio]

LOL Playfelt ~ I amended my contract to clarify that 'notice to apply security deposit' cannot be given before a child starts either if you give notice before you start you just FORFEIT that deposit now cause it is not fair to the child or the group to have someone come for just two weeks!