Originally Posted by cillybean83:
i've gone through soooo much bs with parents over payment. it's always something, baby daddy drama, work drama, so and so needed this or that, I don't care anymore. We have a business arrangement, payment is non-negotiable, I don't care if you lost your job, or daddy didn't pay child support, or you got mugged on the way home, etc etc (i've heard it all!) that doesn't change the fact that MY bills need to be paid, and my daycare isn't a charity. See, the thing about it is this, while the money issues may be legit, they are still making decisions about who gets paid and who doesnt...Jr. still has huggies diapers, mom still has her iphone, the car is still getting gas in it, etc etc...don't let YOUR payday be an OPTION for anyone!
I like this!!! Yes, why is child care a negotiable expense? I highly doubt that the guy sitting in the nice cozy office at the bank gives a flying you-know-what if you didn't recieve your child support, I bet the lady that works the front desk at the utility company never waives anyone's late fee because someone had to pay Verizon before the light bill. Why can parents not view child care expenses as a priority?
The only answer I can come up with is simply, "because we allow them to think otherwise."
When I started in this business, I put up with all kinds of BS. I heard every story out there. I even allowed a mom to go 6 months without paying one single cent towards her bill because of some big sob story she gave me and I fell for!! Then I found out that during this same time, she took her two older kids to Disney Land and seemed to eat at McD's every night. I started to think, why am I always the last one to get paid? And sadly the answer really was because I allowed it to be that way. So I started billing on a pre-pay basis and made absolutely zero exceptions to added late fees and no-pay no stay rules. It has been a very very very looong time since I have had any issues with payment from anyone. 75% of my clients are on assistance and even they pay their bill on time EVERY time.
I do have to admit that I had one mom not too long ago who asked if she could pay me on Monday evening of the next week verses the Friday before when it was due and I did let her. But I did it because her kids have been with me over 5 years and had never been late one single time before. I did allow her children to stay on Monday and she paid me at pick up as promised but in my defense, she also paid me the late fee. (I didnt even ask for it but she didn't ask me to waive it either..)