Late payment issues

[SillyGirl_C]

Don't give them a break. They need to know the contract will be upheld. Send a friendly reminder and start charging late fees. My stance is that if you bend one rule, the others also look flexible. If they had been there for years, some slack is earned. In this case, by the book. For the record...I am a parent and if my daycare charged me a late fee, well then...guess I shouldn't ne late next time

[Busy ECE mommy]

@Lee Bee-I have had 3 cheques so far from this family, and there were no issues with getting it on time for the deposit and November's cheques(3 in total) , and all the cheques cleared fine, so I have not had to deal with late payment fees before with them. The issue is that I was supposed to have 2 December cheques(post dated) for the 1st and 15th, that did not arrive. So even though I'm supposed to have all of them in advance, they weren't technically late until the 1st came and went. I just like to be in control of when the cheques go in, especially if it's a day they don't attend or a weekend/holiday/during my vacation or child's vacation etc. The late payment fees are very clearly highlighted in my contract and on a separate fee schedule for each child. It was also explained during the interview, and they have read my policies on my website. It was my fault for not getting the cheques up front when he started. It is not a case of waiving the late fee last time, and now choosing to enforce it in this instance, thereby creating confusion.

Update: I played hardball with them via email last night after my closing hours, and told them that I would charge the late fees if I didn't have the money last night. They got emails to 2 accounts(mom and dad's). She emailed me about 1 hr later, and said she forgot, and could write the cheque right then. I had to pick it up at their house( 5 mins away) as her kids were in bed, but at least I got it! She apologized profusely. I don't feel bad for being tough on payments, because I have bills to pay too. Oh the joys of being your own boss.....

[bright sparks]

@Lee Bee-I have had 3 cheques so far from this family, and there were no issues with getting it on time for the deposit and November's cheques(3 in total) , and all the cheques cleared fine, so I have not had to deal with late payment fees before with them. The issue is that I was supposed to have 2 December cheques(post dated) for the 1st and 15th, that did not arrive. So even though I'm supposed to have all of them in advance, they weren't technically late until the 1st came and went. I just like to be in control of when the cheques go in, especially if it's a day they don't attend or a weekend/holiday/during my vacation or child's vacation etc. The late payment fees are very clearly highlighted in my contract and on a separate fee schedule for each child. It was also explained during the interview, and they have read my policies on my website. It was my fault for not getting the cheques up front when he started. It is not a case of waiving the late fee last time, and now choosing to enforce it in this instance, thereby creating confusion.

Update: I played hardball with them via email last night after my closing hours, and told them that I would charge the late fees if I didn't have the money last night. They got emails to 2 accounts(mom and dad's). She emailed me about 1 hr later, and said she forgot, and could write the cheque right then. I had to pick it up at their house( 5 mins away) as her kids were in bed, but at least I got it! She apologized profusely. I don't feel bad for being tough on payments, because I have bills to pay too. Oh the joys of being your own boss.....

I'm sure there will be many a provider thinking or saying "Why should you pick it up. I wouldn't pick payment up if I were in your shoes!" I'm just going to say that I am glad you found a solution and quite honestly it sounds like this parent had a human moment, GOD FORBID! Yes it could have screwed your budget up which isn't okay, but it didn't and these things do happen and hopefully from now on she will be better organized. I would be asking for 3 months minimum of post dated cheques to avoid a monthly chase for payment. I do that specifically to give the parents one less thing to think about so regularly and plenty of time to forget should they lose themselves for a moment without payment being late.

[Rachael]

I don't take cheque now but when I first opened I did.

I would require 3 - 6 months in advance, all post dated. Once I got down to just having one or two remaining, I'd request the next batch by e-mail, reminding the parent of the date needed on the first one of the new batch.

Maybe that would be worth thinking about vs having to ask on a monthly basis?

Hi <parent name>, just letting you know that once I deposit today's fees, I only have one cheque remaining for <child's name>. Can you please let me have the next batch of cheques sometime this week please.

The only I have left is dated <date of remaining cheque> so the first one from the new batch needs to be dated <next pay date> and will cover fees from <next pay date> to <final day in pay period>.

Thanks
Rachael

[Busy ECE mommy]

Yes for all my other clients, I have done 4-6months in advance of post dated cheques. It was completely my fault for not getting them before he started, as I felt "pushy" because I felt that perhaps they didn't comprehend my full policies due to a language issue. I'll ask for many months worth in the future.