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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Normal Closing Times And Max Hours Per Day
Checkinkids.com 04:20 AM 03-31-2011
I have a question to all Day Care providers. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time? What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
morgan24 04:42 AM 03-31-2011
I don't have a open and close time. I do contracted hours. For example one dcg hours are 7:30-3:30 if they come after 3:30 I charge my late fee. I do $10.00 for each 15 minutes. I will do earlier or later if they give me a couple of days notice for no charge. When I interview I make it clear that it does not matter if someone else has a later pick up time that does not mean I will be available for them later. The are to drop off and pick up within their contracted hours.
momatheart 04:58 AM 03-31-2011
I love the idea of contracted hours. (Wish we had used those)
Our center uses a dollar a min you are late past the closing time.
Since we (I mostly) will enforce that even a min late I hardly EVER have a late pick up. Being nit picky to the min helps. We also moved our clock ahead a few minutes and let them know that the close time is to the daycare clock NOT your clock. We did this because we KNOW that the latest parent can pick up 15 min before our closing time. I also open at that daycare clock as well but I do not let them know that. LOL since they are probably looking at their own clock at home for leaving. I have had a few right there waiting for me to unlock before. But not very often.
Our center uses a dollar a min you are late past the closing time.
Since we (I mostly) will enforce that even a min late I hardly EVER have a late pick up. Being nit picky to the min helps. We also moved our clock ahead a few minutes and let them know that the close time is to the daycare clock NOT your clock. We did this because we KNOW that the latest parent can pick up 15 min before our closing time. I also open at that daycare clock as well but I do not let them know that. LOL since they are probably looking at their own clock at home for leaving. I have had a few right there waiting for me to unlock before. But not very often.
Cat Herder 05:10 AM 03-31-2011
Q. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time?
A. Closing Time, which equals 10 hours a day available time.
Q. What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
A. I charge $1.00 per minute if they are late WITHOUT a phone call. Fee must be paid at pick-up or at drop off the next morning, cash only. Family will be turned away at the door if they don't have cash in hand. I know it is a trivial amount, it is meant to be inconvienient, I do not want a repeat.
Sidenote: I also call "Mother Hen" style..... "Are you OK? I have been worried! Was your cell phone dead??"
I am very reasonable, easy to work with and fully understand traffic/employer drama/car trouble but I offer childcare services to ADULTS so if there is a pattern of this I have ZERO empathy.
A. Closing Time, which equals 10 hours a day available time.
Q. What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
A. I charge $1.00 per minute if they are late WITHOUT a phone call. Fee must be paid at pick-up or at drop off the next morning, cash only. Family will be turned away at the door if they don't have cash in hand. I know it is a trivial amount, it is meant to be inconvienient, I do not want a repeat.
Sidenote: I also call "Mother Hen" style..... "Are you OK? I have been worried! Was your cell phone dead??"
I am very reasonable, easy to work with and fully understand traffic/employer drama/car trouble but I offer childcare services to ADULTS so if there is a pattern of this I have ZERO empathy.
nannyde 05:26 AM 03-31-2011
My hours are contracted for a max of nine hours a day.
The late fee is a dollar a minute but I never charge it. If they are persistently late I would term.
The late fee is a dollar a minute but I never charge it. If they are persistently late I would term.
momatheart 05:40 AM 03-31-2011
Originally Posted by nannyde:
My hours are contracted for a max of nine hours a day.
The late fee is a dollar a minute but I never charge it. If they are persistently late I would term.
NannyD I think your years of experience have gotten you to the point of really laying in all out in there in an interview process and establishing respect right off the bat with parents. My hours are contracted for a max of nine hours a day.
The late fee is a dollar a minute but I never charge it. If they are persistently late I would term.
To me a persistently late parent does not respect the provider or their business.
My Daycare 05:44 AM 03-31-2011
Both...
If they are late beyond their contracted time, then I charge $5/hr beginning with the 1st minute after that time.
If they are late past closing time, the fee is $15 for the 1st minute and $1 for every $5 min. after that.
I also don't contract anyone for over 9.5 hrs/day.
Closing time is when the last parent is contracted to leave.
I have only been doing this for half a year already, so no one has been late yet. For me, enforcing it is something I am scared to do, but must do and plan to do when the time comes.
If they are late beyond their contracted time, then I charge $5/hr beginning with the 1st minute after that time.
If they are late past closing time, the fee is $15 for the 1st minute and $1 for every $5 min. after that.
I also don't contract anyone for over 9.5 hrs/day.
Closing time is when the last parent is contracted to leave.
I have only been doing this for half a year already, so no one has been late yet. For me, enforcing it is something I am scared to do, but must do and plan to do when the time comes.
momatheart 05:58 AM 03-31-2011
Enforcing it can be scarey. I usually put a sign on my sign out sheet that states they are late and the cash fee is due. Then I don't have to say anything verbal.
I will also have the child dressed and ready to leave. They can sit with a book or something until mom or dad get there but hey 5min before they are due to pick up that child is getting ready.
I think too if you have the child ready when mom or dad show up it makes for a faster pick up and less chit chat. Hand them the board with the paper on it say the time is such and such sign here and then say have a nice evening. See you in the morning.
I have had parents come up with money in hand even after a min of being late.
I will also have the child dressed and ready to leave. They can sit with a book or something until mom or dad get there but hey 5min before they are due to pick up that child is getting ready.
I think too if you have the child ready when mom or dad show up it makes for a faster pick up and less chit chat. Hand them the board with the paper on it say the time is such and such sign here and then say have a nice evening. See you in the morning.
I have had parents come up with money in hand even after a min of being late.
momma2girls 07:13 AM 03-31-2011
I do the same thing- contracted daycare hrs. only- up to 9 hrs. per day.
I also have the children ready to go. I start 5 min. before contracted pick up times!!
I also have the children ready to go. I start 5 min. before contracted pick up times!!
Cat Herder 08:35 AM 03-31-2011
Originally Posted by My Daycare:
. For me, enforcing it is something I am scared to do, but must do and plan to do when the time comes.
No need to be scared. Just remind yourself that it is a "rudeness" and "disrespect of your family" Fee.. For me, enforcing it is something I am scared to do, but must do and plan to do when the time comes.
Being rude and interfering in your families time SHOULD be expensive and inconvenient for them.
They should be the one scared while they are approaching your door if they did not even have to common courtesy to call you.
What would their Momma say????
texascare 08:46 AM 03-31-2011
My contract states $15.00 for every 10 mins after 5:30 which is closing time.
newtodaycare22 09:23 AM 03-31-2011
I am open 7am-5pm. My kids can come anytime within that period. Contracted hours would not fly around here.
I charge 1.00 per minute after 5:00. If they call ahead of time and let me know, and it's less than 10 minutes, I don't charge them. If they don't call, I totally enforce it. I write the time on the sign out sheet and have parents intial daily. When they are late, I circle the time and write the fee next to it. They notice and I don't even have to say anything. I've only had it happen 1 time with any set of parents.
I'm also flexible if they give me a heads up about being late. I kept a girl an additional hour for the week (no chrage), when her mom was in the hospital with a newborn-I do have a soul
I charge 1.00 per minute after 5:00. If they call ahead of time and let me know, and it's less than 10 minutes, I don't charge them. If they don't call, I totally enforce it. I write the time on the sign out sheet and have parents intial daily. When they are late, I circle the time and write the fee next to it. They notice and I don't even have to say anything. I've only had it happen 1 time with any set of parents.
I'm also flexible if they give me a heads up about being late. I kept a girl an additional hour for the week (no chrage), when her mom was in the hospital with a newborn-I do have a soul
PitterPatter 09:26 AM 03-31-2011
Originally Posted by Checkinkids.com:
I have a question to all Day Care providers. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time? What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
My basic hours are 8:30 - 6:30pmI have a question to all Day Care providers. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time? What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
I require each parent to have their own contracted time frame. I allow 30 minutes drive time after work hours. If they are late for pick up the contract states they are to pay $5 per hour after the initial 30 minutes.
I do daycare for the state and usually have clients who recieve free daycare through welfare so they sometimes take advantage which is why I began the fee policy last year. Being that the clients may only pay $1 or $2 per day for care I allow the fee to be paid at time of payment, usually every 2 weeks. Then I add all inof on the reciept. Working for the state I am not allowed to make them pay in advance and until last year we weren't even allowed to charge ANY fees. We were always told if they didnt pick up or pay on time we have the option to terminate them but we would have to give 30 days notice (not fair when u arent getting paid, here's 30 more days of free care because it's the law @@). Sucks working for state sometimes. Plus side is I know I will get 80% - 90% of my money as it comes from state the next month.
nannyde 09:33 AM 03-31-2011
Originally Posted by momatheart:
NannyD I think your years of experience have gotten you to the point of really laying in all out in there in an interview process and establishing respect right off the bat with parents.
To me a persistently late parent does not respect the provider or their business.
YupNannyD I think your years of experience have gotten you to the point of really laying in all out in there in an interview process and establishing respect right off the bat with parents.
To me a persistently late parent does not respect the provider or their business.
My late policy is: "don't do it"
There's times when stuff actually happens and they can't help it. I never charge for that. I don't have anyone here who is rude to me about anything. I'm actually very easy to get along with.
daycare 02:22 PM 03-31-2011
9.5 hours max per day
5 min grace period dropping off and picking up after contracted times. Late fee is $1.00 per min. I hardly have parents late anymore. Maybe once every few months. Which I will allow a free pass if I know it's a legit reason and not always happening. Case by case
Also if they inform me and are more than 20 min late I will make them still pay the late fee regardless of legit reason or not.
5 min grace period dropping off and picking up after contracted times. Late fee is $1.00 per min. I hardly have parents late anymore. Maybe once every few months. Which I will allow a free pass if I know it's a legit reason and not always happening. Case by case
Also if they inform me and are more than 20 min late I will make them still pay the late fee regardless of legit reason or not.
Checkinkids.com 01:13 PM 04-01-2011
This is some really great insight. It looks like I'm going to add in the option to set late fees according to closing time or by total time spent. And add in a setting for the increment to calculate the fee - (like every 10, 5, 1 min). Thanks a lot for all of your input - this will help me build some useful software.
frgsonmysox 01:53 PM 12-30-2011
Right now I'm planning to do 9 hour a day contracted hours, with $10 late fee per 15 minute increment, to be rounded UP. So if you are 16 minutes late you owe $20, not $10.
PitterPatter 05:10 PM 12-30-2011
Originally Posted by Checkinkids.com:
I have a question to all Day Care providers. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time? What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
I base it on my closing time. I charge $5 per hour late. Now I hand out coupon books with 2 of every coupon so they get 2 late fee waivers. I do have trouble enforcing it sometimes so if I don't get the fee paid, that parent gets no more favors /waivers from me and no more coupon books for Christmas or their B-days. My coupon books are worth $60 each in savings every year so if they dog me for $5 they lose $60 in a way. So far since Christmas 1 client has used 3 coupons and it's not even New Years yet lol. I have a question to all Day Care providers. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time? What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
.... I hate it when an old post pops up and I don't pay attention to the date. Oh well consider it an update.
Christian Mother 07:08 PM 12-30-2011
Originally Posted by Checkinkids.com:
I have a question to all Day Care providers. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time? What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?
I have a schedule for each parent. Each parent contract out between 8-10 hrs if they go over there contracted hrs they are charged $5 an hr starting on the very min. they go over. If I see that they are continually going over there hrs...we will have a meeting to adjust them. If I care for a child more then 10 hrs each day which is my max I charge $5 the min they go over. Now, if a parent is late based on that my closing time is 4:30pm then I will charge $5 the min they go over. Sometimes I will not charge specially if this parent has notified me of a emergency or if it was a scheduled lateness. Sometime they have a scheduled doctors apt or what not and it's only a few times every 6 mos and I can plan knowing that they will be late. I have no problem with that.I have a question to all Day Care providers. Do you charge a late fee based on max hours per day or based on your closing time? What is your late fee and how do you enforce it?