Being taken advantage of

[daycaremom9]

Hi mickyc, just wanted you to know that I was also concerned about losing a client if I told them that I would start charging a late fee. My policy is that I charge a late fee after 10 hours of care. This mom said that she misunderstood and thought she had to pay a late fee after closing time. I knew this wasn't true as we had a long discussion about it before her son starting coming here. I found that before I laid down the law, the mom was coming later and later, not due to work but because she was working out or picking up their supper. I find that if you make your rules clear, fair and enforce them, clients generally will respect them. Good luck!

[nschildcare]

I've had to enforce my late fees with 2 of my families at some point. One family 3 times, the other once. Neither of them left but I was really nervous doing so the first time I did it. It gets easier the more times you do it. And I don't even think twice about charging it anymore. Good luck!