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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Would You Charge For A Scheduled 5 Minutes After Closing Time? 15?
mamac 01:18 PM 08-17-2013
I had a potential client call that would need pick-up at max 15 minutes after my closing time. She works 5 minutes from my house so in theory she could be there at about 5 after.

Would you charge? And how much? (without looking too money hungry.)

I charge $5/hour for extra scheduled hours and $1/min for late pick-ups without notice. (I won't charge if they call unless it becomes an all the time thing.)
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Blackcat31 01:29 PM 08-17-2013
Would it be every day or just a couple times? Do you have other DCK's until closing?
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mamac 01:57 PM 08-17-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Would it be every day or just a couple times? Do you have other DCK's until closing?
It would be every day.

As of right now, the 2 I have ready to enroll will be a 3:30 and 4:30-5:00 pick up.
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mamac 08:01 AM 08-19-2013
Anyone?
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Blackcat31 08:18 AM 08-19-2013
Originally Posted by mamac:
Anyone?
Sorry....I kind of left you hanging I was traveling and reading posts on my phone...I'm sorry.

What I would do is I would charge them $5 per 15 minutes after your closing time. I would then charge them $1 per minute after that 15 minutes.

I have taken a family on before that needed a bit of extended or early hours and if they were/are full time I didn't think it was a big deal as long as I felt I charged enough to make it worth my time...kiwm?

I would be VERY firm about it though and let them know you ARE giving them something you don't normally do and that if they mess it up or take advantage, it will end immediately.

Hope that helps...
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Play Care 08:28 AM 08-19-2013
I have a $12.00 per 1/2 hour fee for overtime. But it's kind of high to discourage requests
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KDC 08:39 AM 08-19-2013
If you're willing to do it, then I would charge $5/15 minutes and then $1 per minute after that to discourage going past that time. I would consistently hear, "I was on a conference call", or "I got stuck in traffic" or even the "I just hit a dog" excuse. They were on time maybe 1 out of 3 days. I would also do what Black cat said and let them know this is not the norm. and it cuts into your family time, so they need to be respectful.

I would not go past 5. I did it once, and I became somewhat resentful. They took advantage and I had to cut it off. My daughter is in cheerleading and she needed to get to practice by 5:45 and it takes 1/2 to get there. It was really stressful. I found out she was using the time for running to the store or other errands. Once I added a fee she magically showed up at 5.

Good luck!
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mamac 10:35 AM 08-19-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Sorry....I kind of left you hanging I was traveling and reading posts on my phone...I'm sorry. Not a problem! Thanks for taking time out of your vacation to continue to help!
What I would do is I would charge them $5 per 15 minutes after your closing time. I would then charge them $1 per minute after that 15 minutes.

I have taken a family on before that needed a bit of extended or early hours and if they were/are full time I didn't think it was a big deal as long as I felt I charged enough to make it worth my time...kiwm?

I would be VERY firm about it though and let them know you ARE giving them something you don't normally do and that if they mess it up or take advantage, it will end immediately.

Hope that helps...
So you're saying you'd charge an extra $25/wk which would cover an hour and 15 minutes of overtime?

What happens if she is able to show up at 5 minutes after 5 the majority of the time?

I really wouldn't mind doing 15 minutes MAX every day and I'm really certain it wouldn't (or shouldn't, lol) take her longer than that to get here. Now that I think about it she's going overtime anyway if her work hours are 8-5. She's still going to need a little leeway before 8am as well. (I do a max of 9hrs/day for my FT rate.) So do you think if I did an extra $5/day to cover her 1/2hr max of travel to and from work that would be acceptable? It would work out to double my normal hourly rate for extra scheduled hours over my 45 max/wk. (even though the am 15 minutes are within my business hrs and really isn't an issue.)

Hmmm.... I had all my rates figured out as far as unscheduled early arrivals and late pick ups. I never considered the hours before and after my business hours. Ack. I'm guessing I probably shouldn't post those rates though because I'm sure it will result in more people asking for "extra" right?
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mamac 10:43 AM 08-19-2013
Originally Posted by KDC:
If you're willing to do it, then I would charge $5/15 minutes and then $1 per minute after that to discourage going past that time. I would consistently hear, "I was on a conference call", or "I got stuck in traffic" or even the "I just hit a dog" excuse. They were on time maybe 1 out of 3 days. I would also do what Black cat said and let them know this is not the norm. and it cuts into your family time, so they need to be respectful.

I would not go past 5. I did it once, and I became somewhat resentful. They took advantage and I had to cut it off. My daughter is in cheerleading and she needed to get to practice by 5:45 and it takes 1/2 to get there. It was really stressful. I found out she was using the time for running to the store or other errands. Once I added a fee she magically showed up at 5.

Good luck!
Please tell me that you've never actually gotten that one! That's horrible! Even worse if they were lying!

I already know I'd be super po'd if she was here past 15 minutes so I plan on making it very clear she'd better be on time even though I have no scheduled appointments to go to. I am pretty clear when I interview them that I want clients who want to be parents, not someone who is looking for an all day "babysitter" so they can have extra time away from their kids. Hopefully she calls back. This is the first one I haven't actually interviewed. Just a quick phone call with my info e-mailed to her. Fingers crossed! And if not, at least I'll be prepared for the next person that wants "extra".
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EntropyControlSpecialist 10:46 AM 08-19-2013
I would charge $1.50 per day. I do $1.50 for up to 15 min., $3.00 for up to 30, $4.50 for up to 45 minutes, and $6.00 per day for up to 60 minutes. After that 60 minutes is up it's an additional $1.00/minute late charge.
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melilley 10:56 AM 08-19-2013
I currently have a family who is sometimes 5-15 minutes late and I don't charge. When they interviewed mom asked if it was ok and I agreed. She works 5 minutes down the road at a center and when she has to close, it's the same as my closing time so she would be late. It sounded like she would need late pick up everyday, but he's been coming since March and has only been picked up after 6 maybe two times. I really don't mind. Plus he's never here for more than 9 hours in a day, the three days he comes here. And mom works at a center and knows what it's like for a parent to drop their kids off all day long and doesn't agree with it so she makes his time here as short as they can so I know she's not going around doing things after work.
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Laurel 10:57 AM 08-19-2013
Originally Posted by mamac:
I had a potential client call that would need pick-up at max 15 minutes after my closing time. She works 5 minutes from my house so in theory she could be there at about 5 after.

Would you charge? And how much? (without looking too money hungry.)

I charge $5/hour for extra scheduled hours and $1/min for late pick-ups without notice. (I won't charge if they call unless it becomes an all the time thing.)
I close at 5:30 but one needs till 6:00. I charge $10 a week extra to stay open till 6:00. If they come earlier on any given day, it is still $10 a week.

But, be warned. Before I started this they were getting here late like at 5:35 or 5:40. So now that they pay for a half hour they get here at 5:55 to 5:59. Funny how they could make it here by 5:40 before but now don't make it till about 6:00, sometimes on the dot. Occasionally (very occasionally) they come at 3:30 though and still pay the same so that is cool.

Laurel
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Blackcat31 10:59 AM 08-19-2013
Originally Posted by mamac:
So you're saying you'd charge an extra $25/wk which would cover an hour and 15 minutes of overtime?

yes, I would charge her $5 (per 15 minutes) for every day that she is scheduled to pick up beyond your closing time.

What happens if she is able to show up at 5 minutes after 5 the
majority of the time?

Oh, well. If she scheduled PAST your closing time, I'd personally be willing to allow that 15 minutes (for $5) but if she still managed to pick up earlier, I would still charge because you did NOT know she would be early and you were still available for her to be later...kwim?

If she ends up making it before close time....BONUS for you!


I really wouldn't mind doing 15 minutes MAX every day and I'm really certain it wouldn't (or shouldn't, lol) take her longer than that to get here. Now that I think about it she's going overtime anyway if her work hours are 8-5. She's still going to need a little leeway before 8am as well. (I do a max of 9hrs/day for my FT rate.) So do you think if I did an extra $5/day to cover her 1/2hr max of travel to and from work that would be acceptable? It would work out to double my normal hourly rate for extra scheduled hours over my 45 max/wk. (even though the am 15 minutes are within my business hrs and really isn't an issue.)

When you work longer hours you deserve MORE pay.

Hmmm.... I had all my rates figured out as far as unscheduled early arrivals and late pick ups. I never considered the hours before and after my business hours. Ack. I'm guessing I probably shouldn't post those rates though because I'm sure it will result in more people asking for "extra" right?
(I answered in blue above too)


I wouldn't tell anyone else you are doing this for that very reason. As a matter of fact I would really ONLY consider this IF the family is a great fit and if you really really really need to enroll kids.

This will sound bad, but I've done a lot of things temporarily because financially I have had to but the minute I get a call for hours that BETTER meet my times, I take them. I gotta do what works best for me. Even if that is temporary or permanent.

HTH

*Oh, and I am not on vacation...yet. We were just driving to Sam's Club which is an hour away from my house and a boring drive so I usually read the forum while DH drives.
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sharlan 11:00 AM 08-19-2013
I currently have two moms that can't meet my 5:30 closing. The 5:30 closing would have been a deal breaker for both. Both could make it by 5:45 so I allow them that. Starting at 5:46, I charge $1 a minute.
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Blackcat31 11:01 AM 08-19-2013
Originally Posted by Laurel:

But, be warned. Before I started this they were getting here late like at 5:35 or 5:40. So now that they pay for a half hour they get here at 5:55 to 5:59. Funny how they could make it here by 5:40 before but now don't make it till about 6:00, sometimes on the dot. Occasionally (very occasionally) they come at 3:30 though and still pay the same so that is cool.

Laurel
THAT ^^^^^ is exactly why I suggested doing it in 15 minute intervals and then charging your late fee after 15 minutes.

Seems people will stretch every bit of time you allow so giving too big of a chunk of time will probably backfire like Laurel said happened to her.
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