Should I Get Paid for This?

[legomom922]

So 2 wks ago I gave my termination to the parents of dcb who was the playpen rocker, and today was suppose to be his last day and I was going to take him to mcdonalds.

I was so sick last night & today, I REALLY could not take any of the kids today, so I called and let them know I was really sick and couldnt do it.

So what should I expect to happen now? I know I wont charge them for today, and they were mad at me this am for such late notice, so should I still expect to be paid for the day I did watch him?

Also, since I gave them a 2 wk notice, and I couldnt work today, can they sue me for anything??

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

You should definitely still plan to be paid for any days he was there! Maybe not for today, like you said, since you were sick, but for all the other days. If he was there, you should get paid, no question about it. I wouldn't think they could sue, even though you did give two week notice but was then sick on the last day. It's just like any other week, with any other parent. Being sick one day out of the two week notice shouldn't make any difference I wouldn't think. The policy is still in effect during their last two weeks, so if you have a sick policy and they signed it, that should take care of it.

[momofboys]

Originally Posted by legomom922

So 2 wks ago I gave my termination to the parents of dcb who was the playpen rocker, and today was suppose to be his last day and I was going to take him to mcdonalds.

I was so sick last night & today, I REALLY could not take any of the kids today, so I called and let them know I was really sick and couldnt do it.

So what should I expect to happen now? I know I wont charge them for today, and they were mad at me this am for such late notice, so should I still expect to be paid for the day I did watch him?

Also, since I gave them a 2 wk notice, and I couldnt work today, can they sue me for anything??

I would not think there would be any cause for suing! But you certainly should be paid for the days you provided care. I adivise in the future you get paid in advance. Then you would not have this worry. I'm assuming they were to pay you today, right? And since you were unable to provide care they conveniently forgot to come pay you. That would make me very angry. They definitely still need to pay you for care given.

[Abigail]

You said you will not charge them today for your sick day, so does that mean you will reimburse them for a day's care or do they pay after-the-fact? I guess I'm not clear on that.

Also, the only way I think you would get in trouble is if you just cancelled care for the terminated child and not the others. If you are really worried about it, you could ask the other parents to sign a form to protect you stating you cancelled care for their child due to your own illness.

If you give unpaid sick days and/or paid sick days for either yourself or a child/parent, do you have them sign a document stating the date and how many days they have remaining?

[legomom922]

My week runs from fri-thurs, and I get paid on Fri. after the fact.

I felt really bad that it was his last day and I could provide the care, but I just couldnt do it. Bad timing...They probably didnt believe me. I had already provided them with their invoice and a statement of what they had paid me all yr, including yesterday, as I sent home all the paperwork on Tues night with them, as he didnt come on wed anyway, so now I'm also afraid since I sent home all this stuff, that they wont pay but yet have a statement saying they did...even though I hadnt signed it yet! And I havent heard from them. So I guess now since I feel better today, I will email her and ask her about it.

[momofboys]

Originally Posted by legomom922

My week runs from fri-thurs, and I get paid on Fri. after the fact.

I felt really bad that it was his last day and I could provide the care, but I just couldnt do it. Bad timing...They probably didnt believe me. I had already provided them with their invoice and a statement of what they had paid me all yr, including yesterday, as I sent home all the paperwork on Tues night with them, as he didnt come on wed anyway, so now I'm also afraid since I sent home all this stuff, that they wont pay but yet have a statement saying they did...even though I hadnt signed it yet! And I havent heard from them. So I guess now since I feel better today, I will email her and ask her about it.

I would do more than e-mail. I would be calling them asap!

[missnikki]

1) I am worried that you have parents pay after the fact, for reasons that are becoming apparent right now
2) Also concerned about sending parents a statement with balances paid on it, when they aren't

If you switch to paying in advance, you could also switch to 'invoices' rather than 'statements'...then you have the amount owed showing as 'owed' rather than 'paid', and if they want a statement, they can get one on request.

[legomom922]

I always put the invoice in their bags on Thurs, and then they pay me on fri.

On tues, I gave them :

1. their final invoice which included thurs

2. a yr end statement that showed an amount that included thurs, however, I DID NOT sign it where it said "chilcare providers signature" exactly for this reason. So just in case they tried to use it, I could use the argument that it is not signed by me.

I had no idea I would have been so sick yesterday, so I was not prepared for this. I just hope now tehy dont try to screw me over... If they do, I will not send them a W-10, and the statement they have is not signed, so I would hope they would lose...

[momofboys]

Originally Posted by legomom922

I always put the invoice in their bags on Thurs, and then they pay me on fri.

On tues, I gave them :

1. their final invoice which included thurs

2. a yr end statement that showed an amount that included thurs, however, I DID NOT sign it where it said "chilcare providers signature" exactly for this reason. So just in case they tried to use it, I could use the argument that it is not signed by me.

I had no idea I would have been so sick yesterday, so I was not prepared for this. I just hope now tehy dont try to screw me over... If they do, I will not send them a W-10, and the statement they have is not signed, so I would hope they would lose...

I am very mad for you. Did you call them or e-mail them? If so did you get to talk with the parents about their lack of payment?!?

[missnikki]

Could it possibly be an oversight? I mean, if dad picked up and saw the invoice, thought mom paid, and vice-versa? Before you get mad, I would say call and let them know they still owe. They may not realize that your statement isn't signed...
Although I doubt it.

[legomom922]

I emailed her at work and told her I had a new revised invoice & statement for her and asked when she would be coming by to pay and to pick up the remainder of DCB's things.

I hope to hear back sometime tonight, and if she doesnt come by to pay today, there is a $10 a day late payment fee.. oh but wait if our contract ended yesterday, can I still charge her a late fee????

[missnikki]

I would wait on the late fee until you hear from her. See how it pans out. It can be a bargaining chip later on ("Your balance was due on ---, and at $10 per day late fee, that brings your total to ---, but i am willing to waive the late fee if payment is received today") , that kinda thing.

[legomom922]

I still haven't heard anything... I am going to give them until monday and if I do not get payment by monday, the I will have to start the threats and get mean!

I know it doesn't look good that I get sick on their last day of care! But I honestly had to take the day off!! I know they are very mad at me for giving them late notice and I inconveinanced them greatly... I get all of that, but I still need my money!!

[momofboys]

Originally Posted by legomom922

I still haven't heard anything... I am going to give them until monday and if I do not get payment by monday, the I will have to start the threats and get mean!

I know it doesn't look good that I get sick on their last day of care! But I honestly had to take the day off!! I know they are very mad at me for giving them late notice and I inconveinanced them greatly... I get all of that, but I still need my money!!

So what if you inconvenienced them? That doesn't mean your services are free!!!! Ughhhh I would be sending them a statement certified mail & in that letter I would let them know you are reporting them to the agency (online, not sure what it is called, Providerwatch?!?) for non-payment. I would also tell them you will be taking them to small claims report for non-payment (even if you never would, it does not hurt to threaten it).

[legomom922]

Well I texted her yesterday and she said she has had car problems and hasnt been able to get over... I will see what happens by Mon, then if I start to get excuses, I will start the treatneing!

[Abigail]

It really bites knowing this is part of the daycare business, but we live and learn. Have you had any other experiences where you now want balances pre-paid? It's not required, but I would recommend it. I'm not by any means saying how to run your business. If you have plenty of good clients then you really have not had a reason to change when parents pay. It is good that so far the invoices are Thursday and payments are Friday. I hope I have parents who will pay overnight too, but I will be a stickler and have things pre-paid.

I would also add to your handbook that text messages are NOT business appropriate or a good means of communication because you never know "my phone must not have gotten it, etc." excuses later. Email, snail-mail, letters handed in person, phone calls, etc are good communication between providers and parents usually. Anyways, that is just my pet-peeve, I hate business text messages...it's like being a teenager again. LOL

Like someone stated above, send a letter that is certified stating how much they owe you, when they needed to pay it, and for what dates it covers. You do not need to add that you couldn't provide care their last day. Certified mail holds up in court and so does your history with this family, all the papers you have. Mention that the balance/statements they have received need to be signed by you, the provider, before they can claim it on their own taxes, etc. Give them a date (less than a week) to get a check paid in full to you for your services provided or they will be turned over to small claims court and reported. Even if you don't plan on going to small claims (Yet, it's easy and I would follow through because they're responsible for all costs related to starting a small claims case), mention it in the certified letter because usually that threat makes them pay up. Email me if you want to know more about small claims and certified mail. I've done this before and won by default because they refused to do anything.

[legomom922]

These were great parents! I really liked them! They never gave me any problems, etc, and always paid. Even after I gave them my notice, things were good, I made them a halloween cake, gave their son a wonderful goody bag with treats and gifts, they sais how thankful they were, and how sorry they are that they are losing me, etc, etc. I thik they are just really hurt right now, and upset that I let them know last minute how sick I was, but they probably think I only blew off that last day, which I didnt, but I think thats the real issue here, and they are making me wait, because they are hurt, and I understand that I really do, but I did not plan on getting sick that day, and I'm really sorry it happened, but I still need to get paid....

[legomom922]

Well still nothing..I emailed her again last night telling her I still am looking for my pay and that her late fees are adding up at $10/day and when does she plan on coming over to settle up. havent heard back yet.. So it doesnt look good. I know they are only doing this to me because they feel I japped them on their last day..

Now what?

[momofboys]

Originally Posted by legomom922

Well still nothing..I emailed her again last night telling her I still am looking for my pay and that her late fees are adding up at $10/day and when does she plan on coming over to settle up. havent heard back yet.. So it doesnt look good. I know they are only doing this to me because they feel I japped them on their last day..

Now what?

Send them a letter today via Certified Mail. Threaten to take them to small claims court. Just b/c you got sick is no reason for them to feel like they should not pay you for the days you did give care. Completely unacceptable IMO on their part. This is a prime example of why I have ALWAYS required payment in advance for any care given. I would change all your clients within the next year to pre-pay. Just include in your contract that payment for care is due in advance for all services. Good luck! I'm sorry they have failed to pay for care given. I am upset for you!

[legomom922]

Ya any new clients I will do pre pay. I have a set of parents now that come on tues/wed, and they pay me every tues because they are not here the rest of the week, although, it is a post dated ck for every fri, which I dont mind that, at least they are giving me the ck first thing tues am.

I never in a million yrs thought this family would do this to me. They must be really mad at me! I just hope now they dont try to retailiate and complain about me me or something, ya know? Just to get even. people can be mean.

I am going to type something up tonight and get ot out in the mail. I think I have been more than fair, by giving them the benefit of the doubt, dont you?