Parent asking for too much information?

[Suzie_Homemaker]

the interview went great and shortly after they gave me the response that they wanted me to provide care for their children.

Did you not provider a contract, detailing start date, expectations and daily rate for signing?

friday when payment was due there was a confusion regarding the rates and pretty much accused me of changing the numbers saying we verbally agreed to one thing during the original interview and now I changed them.

A contract with rates and start date that had been signed would have avoided this.

On Friday, when fees were due, had you already provided care without a contract or were fees due in advance for starting on Monday?

later on sent me an email requesting all that information.

Did you ask why he wanted it?

What would you do at this point?

I would respond that your SIN will be given on the receipt at year end so he can claim his child care tax credit. I would state that you are not willing to provide the other information as it's wholly inappropriate, it was not a condition you agreed to when care was arranged, and that it gives out all of the sensitive data which we are always reminded to keep safe and private. I would ask why he feels it will be helpful and what purposes he intends using it for? (I still would not give it).

I have never had this kind of issue before with past customers, everyone I have chosen to work with has just accepted what I had to offer and not any more questions asked so this is all new to me.

It is common for parent to check out their carer but that usually happen with police check that you have to get, they can't without your permission and by talking to past clients/references. The information on your license, your SIN without a receipt, and your household members information, is not information that he should be given.

I do not exactly have a formal contract, I have written a document stating rates, hours of operation, payment types and frequency, and how I should be notified of their schedule, schedule changes and emergencies, it might as well be a contract, all its missing is signatures from both parties.

It is the signatures which make it a contract. Without signatures, it just a piece of paper, with your wishes on, and has no legal standing. It might as well be blank.

We had a verbal agreement on the hours, scheduling and rates (at least I thought we did) I did not ask for any personal information aside from contacts and emergency contacts.

The problem with verbal agreement is two people can have different opinion on what was agreed, as you now see. When it verbal, you can't prove what was said and a judge has to guess what more likely. Now, if you close at 6pm, and he come at 7pm, how can you prove that he misunderstood? How can you claim late fees if you can't prove he was late?

One of the parents is a government worker, and I believe they may be able to access people's information, maybe they just decided to keep a close eye on me since they feel I have tried to cheat them somehow...

This would be totally unacceptable to use work privileges to personal information for own benefit. This likely an offense that will get them dismissed. This not okay whatever their reasons. If one can access your information, their ability to do so is only given for them to do their job. It not given for them to use for own benefit.

Before yesterday evening even when he paid me before I saw the amount it has been nothing but compliments coming from them, 100% positive situation, now I just don't know
I've never stolen a penny from anyone and keep track of time down to the minute of when children are dropped off and picked up. I do the best I can so I am not over charging but also not losing money

Don't let people make you feel this way. It your home not just a day care. If they not behaving as they should, let them go.

How do you guys charge customers? Weekly, daily or hourly rates and how do you determine how to charge somebody?

I charge a daily rate. Children are registered for care on set days. They pay for the days reserved for the child even if they don't come. My hours are 7.30am to 4.30pm. If they come early, I am not open. If they pick up late, they pay for being late as I can not just leave their child and head off for own errands. I multiply my daily fee by the number of days a child is registered each week. I then double it for a two-weekly payment schedule. Fees are paid in advance, on the first day of the pay period at drop off or before. No fee = no care.

I currently have my own system that has been working out just fine for previous customers. Do you have contracts for customers?

It not matter what you charge or how your system works. But a signed contract before they start care which details what fees are, when they are due etc is vital to make sure there no misunderstanding.

Cover all basics so no misunderstand later.

Who is contract between? Your name and parent name.
Who is contract of care for? Child name.
Hours and Days that you have contracted to be available for client
When fees due
How they pay - e-mail, cash, cheque
Amount of fees
Late Payment policy and penalty if you have
Late pickup policy and penalty if you have
Vacation Policy - for you and them - How much notice? Are fees still due?
Illness Policy - for you and them - Can their child come if sick? Do they pay if not allowed to come? What if you sick?
What is provided by them and what is provided by you
Circumstance you terminate with no notice
Notice period for them to leave your care - you and them

It very easy to not have contract and for lot of people, it all work okay but contract very important when something go wrong. When contrat written and signed and copy for both side, it very simple to refer back to agreement. When people in your care for years, it not so easy to remember detail of conversation and if client not remember that they cannot bring sick child, pay late, come late, pay vacation, it can be upsetting to be told when they not remember. Written contract tells everyone what was agreed.