Quote Originally Posted by apples and bananas View Post
My honest opinion is that it does sound a little harsh. If I'm a client that is always on time then sharpening the late fee may feel like you're looking for more money.
I disagree with the above. I think that if I am a client that is always on time, I wouldn't worry about you changing the policy. After all, you wouldn't be breaking the policy, why be concerned about the consequences for someone who does break the policy? I would think about a policy change "Oh, someone must be breaking her policy!" and pat myself on the back for it not being me. Oh, and maybe go and get my a provider a coffee because I appreciate her very, very, much. Well, that's wishful thinking, but doesn't hurt to put it out there!

My late fees are $1.00 a minute. There is no grace period. My contract says that I can enforce them at anytime so to be prepared. However, if there is a huge blizzard and if some people are stuck on the roads or an emergency comes up, I am not a heartless person. Some of these things are just part of where I live and I expect them on some level. All of my current clients would be considerate enough to phone and warn me on days like that. I think late fees are more of an "inconsideration fee". I would charge someone that didn't phone and then came waltzing up my drive 3 minutes late, rather than the parent that apologized profusely and sprinted up my drive 8 minutes. I would charge the 3 minute late one even though she was earlier than the other one, because she came with the expectation that I had nowhere to be and that my time was not as valuable as hers. The 8 minute one, maybe I wouldn't charge (depends on the reason) because the respect was there for my time and for me.