Holding Fees

[gravy_train]

When I first started I held a spot for about 10 months for a 'friend' of mine. I didn't charge her a holding fee but did request a non-refundable deposit the equivalent of two weeks of care to be used towards the child's last two weeks. During this time I turned away at least ten other potential clients nor did I interview for the spot. Two weeks before she was supposed to start she told me that she found another provider and demanded the deposit back, even after I explained that her last minute decision meant that I lost several thousand dollars and the deposit does not make up for that loss. She threatened 'legal action' and it was very stressful for a while as I kept thinking about I and worrying. So not only did it affect me financially, but it affected me and my family emotionally. I will never let that happen again and I would never hold a spot for anyone for that long - so man things can happen in that amount of time that to me it just isn' worth the risk. In then end you have to do what you think is best but based on my experience there's no way I would consider it.