Good day turned bad !!!!!!!

[Secondtimearound]

Had a very good day today !! I have one dcg out with eye infection , sitting waiting for my first drop off ( my part timer I terminated because wanted me to be on call 15 days of the month ) 5 min before she is to be here I get a text , oh not coming !!!! Ugh that sucks !!! But back to bed until 8 am !!!!dd sleeps in !!! Next drop off 8:30 , had a wonderful day with only 4 dck did tons of organizing and cleaning in the playroom !!! Kids played so well except for one !! But nap went well !! Had 2 1/2 hours to scrub through my house !!!! Then realized no one dropped off payment so I texted everyone a friendly reminder !!!! Yup good day gone bad !!!!!!!!!
Soo ticked !!! Was told by text , yes will bring cheque , ok next um don't have it , next can I pay 1/2 today and 1/2 next week ? So I ask well when will you have it ????? And get I can't afford it , she wants to cancel her full time daughter and for me to keep the b&a dcg !! Her friend can do for cheaper but can not accommodate the older girl how much would I charge for just the one !!!!! I have her a phenomenal price for both girls and she is complaining ????? So I said $300 if I decide to do it (I'm only charging $125 now !!! Why ?? Because I'm a pushover !!!) soo she then decides she can pay most of it tonight and the rest tomorrow !!!!!
Then the 1/2 payment one drops off half and says oh I will pay on the 3rd so sorry dad is helping pay daycare and that's his payday , so basically worked out !! The one that is bringing the cheque shows up , um mom was to stop by with cash !! Didn't she come ??? So mom texts a curt message family emerg have to come tomorrow !!! I said that is my day off I will be out !!! Yes we will too we will meet up with you !!!!! Then get a text , we want to cut down days to save money , ei screwed up their pay check blah blah blah , she wants her rate cut down , and has a total she wants to pay !! So now I'm done !!!! I said , no !!! If you want to go part time you will lose your spot , you will have to fit in where I have openings , because I have another family who wants a full time spot ( total lie but bloody hell ) so she says she wants to subtract Christmas Eve , Christmas Day and Boxing Day plus the Friday but doesn't want to lose her full time spot ? I texted back and said no !!!! Full time rate is set !! I'm taking those days off , and so no comment yet !!!!!
I spent the whole night with rude abrupt text messages not because of one thing I did !!!! I am so ticked !!!!
If I could afford to quit the two dcms I would !!!! Truly rude !!!
I do have 2 interviews lined up and I pray I can get them and let these two go !!! I mean really ?????
Why is it such a friggin surprise I want to be paid !!!!! And dcd said dcm was out hitting all the Black Friday sales , same one who can't pay because ei screwed up payments !!!
I know I'm rambling prob not making sense but sooo frustrated !!!!!

[mickyc]

OK first of all you need to revisit your contract ASAP!! You need to enforce a late fee for late payment. Also payment needs to be paid Friday at drop off!! I have no problem asking for a cheque. If they don't bring a cheque that Friday morning they cannot leave their child. I sure hope you are getting your pay 2 weeks ahead as well! My late pick up fee of $15 starts Friday at noon and continues everyday until payment is received. No payment or late payment is grounds for termination. You need a solid contract and need to stick to it.

I would tell all your parents that your spots are all full-time and if they want part-time hours that they are still required to pay full-time. Do you get paid for your stats? That should be another thing in your contract that all stats are paid at regular fee.

I would spend the weekend redoing your contract and hand it all to them Monday morning. You need to get strict and fast. Everyone must follow the same rules and do not EVER do anyone any favours.

My families wouldn't even ask to not pay, pay later or pay half etc. They would be out the door and I would never look back. If you would like to see my contract send me a message and I can email it to you.

Also quit texting everyone. Tell them to phone you and talk that way. Do not negotiate either. They should also be required to give you 2 weeks notice before pulling their child so the one who wants only b/a school care should be paying for 2 more weeks for the other child. Hopefully that is in your contract as well.

Good luck!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Ugh that sucks!! I hate having to ask for my paycheque but I will if I have too!! Sounds like you need to get more strict though.

I also have a group of parents that seem to be a bit flaky. I used to send text reminders the week of payment but started writing their totals on the monthly newsletter. They seem to forget more often now so I am going to go back to texting. I get paid 2 weeks in advance so if they for whatever reason don't pay me I am not out any money. If they wanted to pay half that would be fine but they are not allowed to bring their child to dc until it is paid in full.

[Secondtimearound]

Well the only smart thing I do is they pay the month in advance . For me it's the lack of respect and the level of aminosity that occurs whenever these young girls are told no !! I feel no trust in them at all !!!!
There are tons of dayhomes in my area !!! Lots to choose from !!! And they know it !!! I have no leaverage !!! Basically I'm not out money but I'm down money and right now I really need to keep them but its almost 11 and I haven't heard from them so I'm soposed to chase them again ?
My dd and I agreed last night we could terminate but literally yesterday morning everything is sunshine and roses and payment time turned into major drama!!! The second dcm is 23 two kids and from the start I picked up very unreliable so I expected to see her behaviour !!!
It's my fault for being too nice and expecting them to live up to their word . My contract is basically useless , just what they owe basically so maybe just tough love and see who sticks !! I'm a newbie (4 months) terminated one already , two are causing trouble , and two are golden !! Yay me ugh !!!

[Fun&care]

Nobody should have to ask or remind parents that it's payday. That is THEIR responsibility, not yours. Nobody else has to remind their employer to pay them and if they did it would be a pretty big deal. I don't remind anymore. If they forget, they pay the late fee.

[Secondtimearound]

Yes I got tough !! Sent a text because by noon they hadn't contacted me to pay so I just informed calmly that if payment wasn't made in full by today that their spot was terminated . She was still trying to set a payment . I informed her that a detailed contract would be issued and a pay increase to start in jan ( my fee was way !! Too low )
So long story short - they are gone . I'm not out any money ! I have a spot open and I'm not a 'newbie' anymore !!! Lesson learnt !!!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Fun&care...I understand your point but I don't look at my parents as my employer. I provide a service and send out a bill when payment is due. No different than a contractor, hair dresser, nail salon etc. I do agree that they should remember when payment is due but my payments change due to stat and holidays so I don't mind sending out a text/bill to remind them that it's payment and how much they owe. I would rather do this than have Friday come along and have to wait while they go back home to get money.

It's annoying but part of the job. Talk to any contractor and I can bet that almost all have the same issue.

[mimi]

I agree 5 Little Monkeys, we are our own business. It just pi$$es me off when I have to remind a parent, who child comes the same four days every week, that they have short changed me because they can't add or shows disrespect by obviously not taking a moment and correctly adding up the days. My little contributory vent

[mickyc]

I have no issues with asking "Did you remember to bring a cheque with you today". I have had parents honestly forget. They go home asap and get me one or their child cannot stay for the day. I have had parents have to go home and come back. They never forget again. I even have a family leave a cheque book at my house, I fill in the amount and leave it out for them to sign, they sign it at drop off and all is good. I have another parent give me 6 months worth of post dated cheques. The problem with that is if something every happens where I have to close then I have to reimburse them.

I don't fool around on payday, I need money at drop off and that is that. My husband goes to the bank at 11am and won't be happy if he has to make 2 trips. I also have a calendar on my bulletin board where the kids hang their coats. I also post all paydays on there.