Requesting Payment - AGAIN.

[gramma]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this

Anyways, I'm a fairly new daycare (although I've been in the field on and off for 14 years), and I have this one family, who is on Subsidy and pays the remainder of the fees. Her portion of the fees is negligible, but I do count on the money in my monthly budget. This mom has consistently paid late since starting and this month she has only paid half. However, this mom did lose her job, and has had some medical issues... normally I am very understanding, but there's always SOMETHING with this lady, some reason she can't pay, and yet they are always going away on road trips on the weekends, and buying new things. I have asked her already to pay what she owes (my parents are required to pre-pay), and it's nearly the end of the month, so now is she not only going to owe for June, but has to pay for July as well. When I reminded her for June at the end of May (when she still had a job) she made tons of excuses, and then says she'll pay me on a certain day, but then doesn't bring her child in on that day. I'm getting really frustrated, how would you guys handle this?

Her child also has extreme anxiety and she does NOTHING about it even though I've found her help, she won't take it. SO ANNOYING!

If she is on subsidy and not paying her share the first thing I would do is call your representative at your town/region to let them know that she is not fulfilling her end of the deal. I used to do subsidy for my region and i had a rep who was assigned to me that I could ask questions etc. Maybe if she finds out that she could lose her subsidy she'll take it more seriously. I would also tell them that you will be refusing care until the amount owing is paid.

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

I'm with Gramma on this one. We all have bills to pay and the point of a subsidy isn't to allow you to pay your caregiver when it suits you. Some people are so inconsiderate !

If she is on subsidy and not paying her share the first thing I would do is call your representative at your town/region to let them know that she is not fulfilling her end of the deal. I used to do subsidy for my region and i had a rep who was assigned to me that I could ask questions etc. Maybe if she finds out that she could lose her subsidy she'll take it more seriously. I would also tell them that you will be refusing care until the amount owing is paid.

[Other Mummy]

Nothing to add here that hasn't been said already...just WOW some people. Here's to better days with a better client in the near future

[Lighthouse1]

So today this parent gave me "notice" via text message. Because when she lost her job, she didn't call subsidy to find out if she needed to do anything for them while she found another job. So now she's not eligible. I reminded her of my (VERY CLEAR) notice of withdrawal and reminded her that she signed the contract stating 1 month's written notice or 1 month's payment in lieu. Well she just went off on me, asking how I can sleep at night, telling me that her son is SCARED of me (even though one of the last times she was here, she told me how she told a mother's group online about my centre and how wonderful it is). She says that I am going to put them out on the streets. I have offered to work something out, but she HONESTLY believes that she doesn't need to pay anything.

As of right this moment, she is owing me $925. Do you guys, through your experience think I should cut my losses or fight her for it?

To be honest, I knew she was going to eventually pull him, and if not, I was going to give her expulsion papers... and We are all more relaxed without them here... But that's a lot of money.. I've only been open since Feb and am not full yet, so I really count on every dollar to meet all my obligations.

Thank you everyone for all your responses! This is a great forum! I don't feel so alone!

[2cuteboys]

That is a lot! I've never been in your situation, so I'm sure that the other ladies will have more to add, but if you think there is any way you'll actually get it, I'd try. If there is no way for her to possibly pay it, I'd cut my losses. If she won't be able to pay you, you'll end up losing more even if you "win."

What an awful situation! I feel for you!

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

WOW - that is a LOT of money. I think given the amount you should gird your loins and fight for at least some of it. I know no one likes a scrap, and I'm sure that it will take a lot of energy/effort that you could surely be expending elsewhere but I really don't think that you should walk away from this kind of stuff. You mentioned that this client was subsidized - am I correct in assuming that there is an agency involved ? If so, would they be able to help you collect your owed pay ? Seems like they should be able to step in an help. My only other thoughts are that if you have a signed contract you could 1) Send it to collections (I've heard from other caregivers that this is usually very successful, and it has the added benefit of putting a black mark on the individuals credit rating) 2) Small claims court. I don't know anything about what's involved with this one, but it seems really wrong for her to skip out on that kind of money. Hope your next family is a thousand times better !

[treeholm]

I would send it to collections. For your own sake, please start collecting money ahead. My parents pay Friday for the following week. No pay, no stay. That way, if they just disappear on me, I have their deposit to cover the following two weeks while I replace them. I got that advice from other, mor experienced caregivers, so I am passing it to you. We need to be able to sleep at night knowing our income is protected.

[zoomama]

I also didn't protect myself and ended up being out $970. I didn't have a contract or anything...just an understood agreement. Now I am in the process of switching my families over to prepayment, and collect a deposit to be used for the last month of care, provided one month's notice is received.

Ugh. How do people sleep at night??? And they think WE are in the wrong!!!

[Lighthouse1]

I do have in my contract to pay by the first of the month for the upcoming month, and all my families have been great about this, with no problems. But this one parent, I guess I was just too accommodating, I knew she was struggling, and because she was on subsidy, so I was for sure receiving that money, I gave her a break and let her pay her portion late, there was lots of excuses why she couldn't pay on time. I am going to look into collections. I really don't want to go to small claims court. Unfortunately subsidy can't help me, it's a government program... and because she didn't tell them she lost her job, they've taken away her subsidy. so it's all up to me. Sigh.

And the funny thing is, if she hadn't gone off the deep end, I would have done what I could to help her out with this. Communication is all it takes with me.

Anyways, again, I thank you all for your comments and support, it's helped me a great deal.

[mamaof4]

Aw lighthouse your a good egg.