Cazz
01-12-2009, 02:22 PM
I collected my 3 year old mindee from Nursery. She was very reluctant to eat her lunch and within half an hour she was rushing to the toilet but didn't make it - poo everywhere over her and my toilet :( (This was the second time she had been for one since we had been home). Sorry if anyone is eating!
I had no spare clothes so I cleaned her up and got a pair of my dd's pants (which were way too big!) and then phoned mum and said it was unlike her and so I think she may have an upset tummy. Mum got hold of dad (she doesn't drive) and then phoned me back to say they were going home to get clean clothes and then would pick the mindees up.
They pay me weekly in arrears - only come on a Tuesday now so I give them the invoice for that day when they collect. I suppose I was feeling generous (and relieved they were collecting as the last thing I need at the moment is a tummy bug :rolleyes: ) and decided as a goodwill gesture to deduct 1 and a half hours off the bill for each mindee (£9.60 less than it would have been) even though my contract says child illness is full fee - I explained that I normally charge but had done this. To be honest she wasn't as grateful as I would have been but they are very good at paying and always on time (or early) collecting so I wanted to be kind to them as they both left work early.
Now I've had time to think about it I think I've made a big mistake :eek: I've left myself open to them sending the kids if they're slightly unwell (as they know I charge for their non-attendance) - they'll be thinking if I have to phone them to come home from work early they won't have to pay which is the better option for them!
I think I'm too soft for this job. I have got to put a note through their door in the next couple of days to give dad directions to the childminding group Christmas Party on Monday - do you think it would be okay to type a piece on the bottom explaining that my deducting this amount was a one-off and in future I will have to charge for non-attendance or early departure?
I had no spare clothes so I cleaned her up and got a pair of my dd's pants (which were way too big!) and then phoned mum and said it was unlike her and so I think she may have an upset tummy. Mum got hold of dad (she doesn't drive) and then phoned me back to say they were going home to get clean clothes and then would pick the mindees up.
They pay me weekly in arrears - only come on a Tuesday now so I give them the invoice for that day when they collect. I suppose I was feeling generous (and relieved they were collecting as the last thing I need at the moment is a tummy bug :rolleyes: ) and decided as a goodwill gesture to deduct 1 and a half hours off the bill for each mindee (£9.60 less than it would have been) even though my contract says child illness is full fee - I explained that I normally charge but had done this. To be honest she wasn't as grateful as I would have been but they are very good at paying and always on time (or early) collecting so I wanted to be kind to them as they both left work early.
Now I've had time to think about it I think I've made a big mistake :eek: I've left myself open to them sending the kids if they're slightly unwell (as they know I charge for their non-attendance) - they'll be thinking if I have to phone them to come home from work early they won't have to pay which is the better option for them!
I think I'm too soft for this job. I have got to put a note through their door in the next couple of days to give dad directions to the childminding group Christmas Party on Monday - do you think it would be okay to type a piece on the bottom explaining that my deducting this amount was a one-off and in future I will have to charge for non-attendance or early departure?