Paying fees.

[LittleVoice]

As a childminder and I love my job. For me it's not just a job, it's something I am passionate about too but boy am I getting blooming annoyed at some of the parents, well one in particular who thinks it's ok not to pay me on time.

Payment is due today and she can't pay me as her sky DD has come out so she will have to pay me next week as her rent is due out on Monday. I add late payment fees on which she pays but that's beside the point.

It really bugs me that childcare is one of the last bills to be paid yet in the real world if parents didn't have childcare they couldn't work and what would they do then?

Seriously thinking of having a few last minute "sick" days next week to drop her in it but I won't because I'm not that kind of person, nor do I want to live with letting so wine down.

For me it's this aspect that spoils the job for me.
Grrr rant over!!

[tess1981]

Time for a policy update... no fee = no cure. If they turn up say I can't keep x until u pay

[rickysmiths]

I hate this too and over the last five years my Fees and Payments Policy has got tougher and tougher.

I use the Pacey Contracts and it has a section for non payment and withdrawing childcare. I put in that if fees are one week late then childcare ceases until the fees are paid. I also have a late fee which is added for every day they are late. I give them 3 chances and then I implement everything.

I had one pay late last week , was going to drop the fees in the next day and did not so I just waited to see what happened , didn't hear a thing on Sunday so I wrote a letter explaining that not paying was not acceptable and would she please add £5 to the bill and £5 for every day that she doesn't pay me and I put it through her door. I got the fees the same day with the late and she paid on time this week.

I think you have to put your business head on and get tough. Why is Sky more important than the care of her child so she can work. If she can't afford all her bills maybe she needs to get rid of Sky? It makes me laugh we have never had Sky, it is far too expensive and we would never have the time to watch it!!

[Kiddleywinks]

Check your contracts, implement the late fee, and then if still not paid, no fees = no childcare.

No good deed goes unpunished, so stop being nice and take control

If you don't stick to your own rules, parents definitely won't

[moggy]

Increase your late-fee, it is obviously not enough if they are choosing to pay the late fee.

She is making choices- pay Sky?, pay rent?, pay you? She feels you are the easiest/cheapest to pay late, so she pays you late.
If you get tougher she will have to change her priorities.

[Kirsty90]

I would definitely increase your late fees if she's just willing to pay them! It's awful that some parents put us to the bottom of the pile when it comes to payment xx

[bunyip]

Hi Little Voice

You said it yourself, "if parents didn't have childcare they couldn't work and what would they do then?"

So the solution is clear - make childcare the first priority, before Sky, the salon, the overseas holiday, and all the other "essentials" of modern life.

Call a contract review asap and implement payment in advance, on time, every time. No payment = no childcare + no exceptions.

Be clear you will turn them away at the door if they don't pay.

[Hatchlings]

I hate this too and over the last five years my Fees and Payments Policy has got tougher and tougher.

I use the Pacey Contracts and it has a section for non payment and withdrawing childcare. I put in that if fees are one week late then childcare ceases until the fees are paid. I also have a late fee which is added for every day they are late. I give them 3 chances and then I implement everything.

I had one pay late last week , was going to drop the fees in the next day and did not so I just waited to see what happened , didn't hear a thing on Sunday so I wrote a letter explaining that not paying was not acceptable and would she please add £5 to the bill and £5 for every day that she doesn't pay me and I put it through her door. I got the fees the same day with the late and she paid on time this week.

I think you have to put your business head on and get tough. Why is Sky more important than the care of her child so she can work. If she can't afford all her bills maybe she needs to get rid of Sky? It makes me laugh we have never had Sky, it is far too expensive and we would never have the time to watch it!!

I am sorry to say there are lots of parents who feel we do it totally for the job satisfaction & 90% of you as a person you do but like us all we have bills to pay & DD that are due. I had the same from a set of parents they would pay me on day 10 or 12 after i sent the invoice so i use the pacey contracts & showed them the section & also then i had a policy for late payment i do the same as rickysmiths really if they are 5 days late I send a reminder saying after 7 days late a fee of £10 will be charged per day they late & the childcare contract will be put on hold till full payment, needless to say they are always on time they pay the last possiable due date but its always there ha. Good luck