Prospective Parents Drive Me CRAZY!!!!!

[hannahsstar]

Why is it that you bend over backwards to try and accomodate new prospective parents and their requirements only to be told a week later that they have changed their mind!

It drives me crazy. This family came last week, have rang me 4 times to ask questions and request something different to what I normally offer and then today they ring to say that they are going to keep their children at the nursery even thought they know the new management are having problems!

I have even filled in the contract, got policies and permission forms signed and everything. We even agreed a start date of Monday!

Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me?

[deeb66]

I have had this happen to me several times over the years.

I know how annoying it is and how frustrated you are......it is a pure waste of your time, efforts and paperwork.

I now charge a deposit as soon as the contract is signed. I also charge a sizeable chunk usually around £400 - £500. I also put a clause in the contract that if the child starts as arranged then I will deduct this amount of their first months fee's thereby costing them nothing.

BUT - if they change their mind and that child does not start then they loose their money.

It doesn't happen anymore as people are not willing to loose that kind of money!

[angeldelight]

Poor you

I have had the problem in the past that is why I hold out these days with the signing of contracts until I know for sure
Or I make sure I take a deposit that is none refundable if they change their mind

Some parents do sometimes waster our time

Hope something else comes up for you again soon

Angel xx

[sarah707]

Been there... got the tshirt... time wasters are a fact of the job. The trouble is they can tell us anything and we have to believe them. We have no choice until proven otherwise... now an inbuilt b******t meter... that would be a useful invention!

You need to grow a thick skin I'm afraid...

[peggy]

Why is it that you bend over backwards to try and accomodate new prospective parents and their requirements only to be told a week later that they have changed their mind!

It drives me crazy. This family came last week, have rang me 4 times to ask questions and request something different to what I normally offer and then today they ring to say that they are going to keep their children at the nursery even thought they know the new management are having problems!

I have even filled in the contract, got policies and permission forms signed and everything. We even agreed a start date of Monday!

Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me?

How annoying!! This probably dont make you feel better but i guess its all a bit of a learning curve on how to protect ourselves from financial lost...and if your using an ncma contract they are ****** expensive!

I've only been in this situation once but the woman paid me £20 deposit up front signed contracts and she then backed out, so she lost her deposit.

At present i usually only take a deposit on signing of contract, but your post has made me realise that if they fail to show up for signing of contract then i'm already on to a loser. What i'm thinking is if someone says yes they are interested to ask for a £50 deposit but broken in two parts a £10 admin fee initally then a £40 deposit upon signing of contract?? Then say that £50 is taken off last months fees at the end of contract with adequate notice.

Its a tough call knowing what to do for the best isnt it? I'm sorry these people have messed you around xx

[miffy]

That's really annoying and such a waste of time

Get a deposit next time

Hope you get some more calls soon

Miffy xx

[susi513]

The one that annoyed me most was the lady who said she was desperate - new job/no minder etc. I gave up my Sunday to have her visit and she signed contract and was going to pay by online banking transfer. Wasn't til I phoned her to see if they were ok when child didn't arrive as expected that she said she'd gone with someone else. Whose contract I later discovered she'd already signed before she contacted me !!!!

When they come for interview I give them an application form to return with their deposit and I explain that a place is not reserved until the deposit has cleared to my account and the contract has been signed by all parties.

[LittleMissSparkles]

I learnt from the lovely ladies on here when I started to ALWAYS take one months deposit when signing contracts and if a place is been held prior to contracts been done I ALWAYS take a retainer fee none refundable if they change their minds, makes parents think twice and windles out the none genuine ones xxxx

sorry youve been messed about, did you get a deposit ?

xxx

did you put in a settling in period in your contracts and 4 weeks written notice for termination ....if so you could make her pay you 4 weeks money if you didnt have a settling in period agreed xxx

[Spangles]

I think this happens a lot, I don't take it for granted that I've got the work until the child is on my doorstep the first day!

Sad but true.