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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Parent Shares Termination Notice
littleflitter 08:31 AM 07-19-2016
Hi everyone, you all have the best advice and I'm a bit livid today...

A DCP came in today and "forgot" the contact renewal that was sent last week and due yesterday (these happen every year with me). They had some sort of emergency yesterday and didn't return any texts AFTER I mentioned emailing or dropping off the contact yesterday (due date). I had a notice ready to go if they did not walk in with contact in hand and surprise, surprise, no contact. It's at home.

Of course as this is happening and I have given her the termination notice to sign my next drop off walks in the door. As I'm getting the children situated I see the termination parent show the other the notice with a huge look of surprise.

Now that the parent realized that I'm serious about the due date (which I always am -this should not be a new information I have charged many late fees for this client...) the new contract was emailed within the hour.

So other than calming your blood pressure, what would you do next?
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Thriftylady 08:49 AM 07-19-2016
Well do you want to keep the family? The answer to that changes what I would do. If I did, I would accept the contract, but let mom know from now on I will NOT make exceptions to any policy. If you don't want to keep them, go ahead and stand behind your term.
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Play Care 08:51 AM 07-19-2016
I would keep the term notice standing.

It sounds like despite many additional fees this family has no respect for you or why would they continue to do it? The contract not being brought back in a timely fashion was the last straw. If you waive the term, it will be more of the same. They'll think you waived it because you NEED them, and that gives them the upper hand. Also, if you waive it, be prepared for them to pull on you, to show you who's boss
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MrsSteinel'sHouse 08:59 AM 07-19-2016
Once I have handed a term notice, I never go back on it. I think things would just be uncomfortable. I am sure they started looking for alternative care and that they would term you as soon as possible.
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Blackcat31 08:59 AM 07-19-2016
Originally Posted by Play Care:
I would keep the term notice standing.

It sounds like despite many additional fees this family has no respect for you or why would they continue to do it? The contract not being brought back in a timely fashion was the last straw. If you waive the term, it will be more of the same. They'll think you waived it because you NEED them, and that gives them the upper hand. Also, if you waive it, be prepared for them to pull on you, to show you who's boss

This is what I was thinking too.

It's kind of a good thing that the termed parent showed the other parent because now the other parent will always know you are serious when it comes to due dates.

As for the termed family....are they in care today?

I would be done. Today. They are completely disrespectful towards you and are showing you that they feel their time and their issues are more important or more valuable than you and yours.
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Leigh 09:01 AM 07-19-2016
Originally Posted by littleflitter:
Hi everyone, you all have the best advice and I'm a bit livid today...

A DCP came in today and "forgot" the contact renewal that was sent last week and due yesterday (these happen every year with me). They had some sort of emergency yesterday and didn't return any texts AFTER I mentioned emailing or dropping off the contact yesterday (due date). I had a notice ready to go if they did not walk in with contact in hand and surprise, surprise, no contact. It's at home.

Of course as this is happening and I have given her the termination notice to sign my next drop off walks in the door. As I'm getting the children situated I see the termination parent show the other the notice with a huge look of surprise.

Now that the parent realized that I'm serious about the due date (which I always am -this should not be a new information I have charged many late fees for this client...) the new contract was emailed within the hour.

So other than calming your blood pressure, what would you do next?
I have given up on parents remembering anything. What I do is keep copies of the contract on hand, and have them sign it at my home when it's due. Waiting for them to return it to me is maddening! Email the contract to them, then print a copy for each family to have them sign on the due date when they forget.
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JackandJill 09:05 AM 07-19-2016
Originally Posted by Play Care:
I would keep the term notice standing.

It sounds like despite many additional fees this family has no respect for you or why would they continue to do it? The contract not being brought back in a timely fashion was the last straw. If you waive the term, it will be more of the same. They'll think you waived it because you NEED them, and that gives them the upper hand. Also, if you waive it, be prepared for them to pull on you, to show you who's boss
This is why I would still term!
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littleflitter 10:02 AM 07-19-2016
I will probably carry through with the term notice. This was kind of the last straw because of a late payment last month that I was not happy about. I'm just tired of it and you're all right- I'm being disrespected. And after filling my most recent opening, I'm not hurting for interested families. What a pain though.

At this point I think the notice is going to be over the fact that the parent put my relationship with another client in jeopardy more than the late contract. The other parent has no knowledge of the situation, why in the world would you drag HER into this? SO immature. Now I will spend more time on this doing damage control with the other parent(who now probably thinks I give termination notices on a surprise basis from this interaction ).
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Annalee 10:07 AM 07-19-2016
Originally Posted by littleflitter:
I will probably carry through with the term notice. This was kind of the last straw because of a late payment last month that I was not happy about. I'm just tired of it and you're all right- I'm being disrespected. And after filling my most recent opening, I'm not hurting for interested families. What a pain though.

At this point I think the notice is going to be over the fact that the parent put my relationship with another client in jeopardy more than the late contract. The other parent has no knowledge of the situation, why in the world would you drag HER into this? SO immature. Now I will spend more time on this doing damage control with the other parent(who now probably thinks I give termination notices on a surprise basis from this interaction ).
I terminated a client in November and she worked with one of my other clients....about three weeks after the termination the client still in care, said "I noticed xxxx doesn't come here.....and she says you served yucky food, and she is going to leave her kids with the grandparents".....ethically or not, I replied with "I terminated her on xxx date and she didn't want her kids to eat my food and WOULD NOT bring in her food and the kids are now in the daycare center down the road".....she replied with "gotcha"....
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redmaple 10:09 AM 07-19-2016
I would just follow through on the notice for what the notice was originally issued for, and not bother mentioning involving other clients.

If the other client questions it, I would give a vague response indicating that routinely not following policies or heeding warnings result in making hard business decisions at times.
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laundrymom 10:12 AM 07-19-2016
I wouldn't worry about damage control. I would just casually apologize to them for having been dragged into someone else's situation.
And you've given the term notice. That's water over the bridge. On the last day of care, send their items home. I wouldn't even mention it to them.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:49 AM 07-19-2016
Originally Posted by laundrymom:
I wouldn't worry about damage control. I would just casually apologize to them for having been dragged into someone else's situation.
And you've given the term notice. That's water over the bridge. On the last day of care, send their items home. I wouldn't even mention it to them.
Yep.
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Unregistered 03:26 AM 07-20-2016
Once you gave the termination to the parent it was theirs to do with what they wanted. If they wanted to make it bill board size and post it in the center of town they can. You shouldn't have to do damage control.
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AmyKidsCo 12:14 PM 07-20-2016
Personally I'm the one who's always forgetting things so if I wanted to keep the family I'd offer "one more" chance. But if you don't want to keep them stick to the termination.

Since I'm always forgetting things I would've had a second copy for them to sign when they walked in the door, or not have an end date on the contract so it'll still be in effect even if the renewal is late.

ITA that once you hand over the notice they can share it however they want.
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daycarediva 09:19 AM 07-22-2016
Originally Posted by Play Care:
I would keep the term notice standing.

It sounds like despite many additional fees this family has no respect for you or why would they continue to do it? The contract not being brought back in a timely fashion was the last straw. If you waive the term, it will be more of the same. They'll think you waived it because you NEED them, and that gives them the upper hand. Also, if you waive it, be prepared for them to pull on you, to show you who's boss
Originally Posted by MrsSteinel'sHouse:
Once I have handed a term notice, I never go back on it. I think things would just be uncomfortable. I am sure they started looking for alternative care and that they would term you as soon as possible.


IF the other parent asks about it, I would simply say something along the lines of being an understanding person but that there were numerous issues with policy violations and that you cannot continue to operate with late forms and late payments.
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Tags:parents - don't cooperate, termination notice
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