Just need to let some of my frustration out.....

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

@ Five Little Monkeys : I have families provide me with a non refundable deposit of two weeks dues when they sign a contract with me. It demonstrates that they are serious about the space, and my contract states that if they choose to not begin care (renage on the contract) the entire sum of the deposit remains with me. If they start up with (as all of my daycare families do) the funds are applied to their child's last two weeks of care - whenever that may be. I found that once parents had already paid for their child's last two weeks of care, they became a lot better about providing two weeks notice. I continued interviewing families because they took so long (over 3 weeks) to return their signed contract and deposit cheque to me. I've learned from hard experience that until I have a signed contract and the deposit dues - nothing is for certain. I had tried contacting her several times (and via several ways - e-mail, phone, texting) and she never returned my calls/messages. I figured that they something funny was going on, and I decided that I'd better keep advertising/interviewing - they weren't giving me any indication that they were serious about things. (IMO) I agree with you about the possibility of the bounced cheque being a one off kind of thing - I do get that financial fluidity can be the first thing to go when you're at home on mat leave and down to one income - BUT she still hasn't come by with the deposit (almost a week later) - if she wanted me to believe that this really was an unfortunate "oops" then she really should try to fix it as quickly as possible.

[Rachael]

... I am seriously considering letting them go before they even start...as I have another family that's a good fit I'll be letting them go...as I have another family that's a good fit I'll be letting them go

I've learned from hard experience that until I have a signed contract and the deposit dues - nothing is for certain/

If you don't have a signed contract AND a deposit, then they have not fullfilled your requirements to hold a place. Therefore, they are not clients and therefore they do not require 'letting go' as you don't have them!

I don't understand what the issue is.

I'd try one more time to contact her, tell her that the cheque bounced and therefore, you are not holding a place for her and wish her all the best.