Advice on Picking Up Late

[jokalima]

Ok, I asked my DH for advice on how to politely say to a family that they were disrespectful and not be rude about it. His answer kinda chocked me, he says that if they are late they are late and I don't have to mind anything else and I will explain why he says that. This family was running late for pickup, no phone call no nothing, at 5:40 ( 10 minutes passed my closing time ) I see their car parking in front of my house, I think to my self "finally" and wait for parent to come to the door, well I waited 5-7 more minutes before they got off their car and came to pickup child, and when parent picked up parent was talking on phone all smiles and giggles, did not even hanged up so he could talk to me .

It really bothers me that #1 knowing he was late, he stills stays inside his car in front of my house talking over the phone. #2- Not even apologize for being late because he is still on phone and # 3 that Sign out time said 5:30 My DH says that they are already late so what do I care if they are outside in their cars, and that I should not bring that up because like he says, they were already late so 5 more minutes in the car means nothing or makes no difference. Do you think he is right? I mean, that specifically that is what makes more angry, knowing that they made me wait even more time while he was outside. Should I bring this up or let it go like my DH says?

Oh and #4 they still owe me a late fee

[Patches]

No I don't think your dh is right! I think you need to bring it up with the parent for sure. It is not ok for that parent to disrespect you like that

[cheerfuldom]

oh you need to bring it up! now! 10 minutes turns into 15 minutes and that turns into 30 minutes and it just goes on and on. if a parent pulls up in my front yard and they are late, i will bring their child out to the car. i have never had a parent ignore me when i am standing right there with their child. i also have a rule that parents cannot be on a cell phone when picking up or dropping off. you need to change your policies effective immediately and charge a late fee. change the sign in sheet and have him initial it. you can put the time on right before the parent signs so that you know it is correct. ignore your DHs advice on this one. i doubt he would be saying the same thing if you worked outside the home and your boss kept you later and later without extra pay.

[Play Care]

Originally Posted by cheerfuldom

oh you need to bring it up! now! 10 minutes turns into 15 minutes and that turns into 30 minutes and it just goes on and on. if a parent pulls up in my front yard and they are late, i will bring their child out to the car. i have never had a parent ignore me when i am standing right there with their child. i also have a rule that parents cannot be on a cell phone when picking up or dropping off. you need to change your policies effective immediately and charge a late fee. change the sign in sheet and have him initial it. you can put the time on right before the parent signs so that you know it is correct. ignore your DHs advice on this one. i doubt he would be saying the same thing if you worked outside the home and your boss kept you later and later without extra pay.

This. Walk the child to the car, tell the parent, "I see you are running late, so I brought you Susie! I close at ____ and there will be a late fee if this happens again. Have a good night!"

[coolconfidentme]

Originally Posted by play care

this. Walk the child to the car, tell the parent, "i see you are running late, so i brought you susie! I close at ____ and there will be a late fee if this happens again. Have a good night!"

like!

[jokalima]

Thanks... he agrees with late fee, and changing the time, something I did right after parent left but did not think about having them initial it. What he says i should not do is tell them it bothered me having them parked outside and me waiting when they were already late plus phone thing.

[Play Care]

Originally Posted by jokalima

Thanks... he agrees with late fee, and changing the time, something I did right after parent left but did not think about having them initial it. What he says i should not do is tell them it bothered me having them parked outside and me waiting when they were already late plus phone thing.

Oh, I see. I kind of agree with that to an extent. I would think bringing the child out to the car would speak for itself. BUT rather then address it like it bothers YOU, make it about the child. Maybe something like "It really upsets children when their parents are running late, and when you pull in you need to come right to the house to pick them up. When they see you sitting in the car it can upset them more, especially since you are already late. All their friends have left on time for the day and they are already anxious wondering if mom or dad is coming for them."

[AnneCordelia]

I would nicely say, "Susan, last night I noticed that you were 12 minutes late picking g up little Johnny. I just wanted to have you initial.the sign out book because you wrote 5:30 on it but it was actually 5:42. Please bring the $12 late fee at pickup. I also would appreciate if you wouldn't be on the phone during pickup as it is or only time of day to communicate about your child's day."

[williams2008]

Originally Posted by Play Care

This. Walk the child to the car, tell the parent, "I see you are running late, so I brought you Susie! I close at ____ and there will be a late fee if this happens again. Have a good night!"

....yep this is what I would do!!

[spud912]

Originally Posted by AnneCordelia

I would nicely say, "Susan, last night I noticed that you were 12 minutes late picking g up little Johnny. I just wanted to have you initial.the sign out book because you wrote 5:30 on it but it was actually 5:42. Please bring the $12 late fee at pickup. I also would appreciate if you wouldn't be on the phone during pickup as it is or only time of day to communicate about your child's day."

Perfect

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wouldn't let them bring the child back until that late fee was paid, to be quite honest. If it continued, I would increase that late fee to $2.00/minute, $3.00/minute, $10.00/minute.

[Meeko]

I close at 6PM. At that very second (if I have late kids) I put away the regular sign in/out sheet and it is replaced with a completely different one in a bright red folder. The top of the page has a huge "Late Pick and Fees" header. This is the one they must sign out on if they are late. In fact, I usually write in the time as they walk through the door and have them sign it. I fill in the fees right then and there ($1 per minute). I sign it too. Fees are due by that coming Friday. If they are not paid, their child doesn't come on Monday and no refunds on tuition.

I give them no room to try and be sneaky and claim later that they were on time.

Also, in and out times are only taken from the clock in my entry...NOT their clock/watch/phone.

I would be livid if a parent was already late and then sat in their car talking on their phone! I wouldn't take the kids to the car either. I would stand where they could see me waving the red folder with a mad face!!! They need to get OFF the phone and come GET their child.

[jokalima]

Nice idea the red folder one. Gonna think about doing that

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I use checkinkids.com (free) and it has big red words that come up and say they are late and how much they owe. Parents can use it on a computer of yours or an iPad.

You enter in your closing time and how much you charge for late fees.

[blessed mom]

Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist

I use checkinkids.com (free) and it has big red words that come up and say they are late and how much they owe. Parents can use it on a computer of yours or an iPad.

You enter in your closing time and how much you charge for late fees.

Can you use it on an android?

[Lucy]

Oh, that just makes me mad. I'm the type that doesn't want my husband involved in my DC at all, so I would've never asked him in the first place. I realize every relationship is different, but only I run my business, not him. If he even dares to comment on any little thing, I tell him to please not tell me what to do (he used to, but hasn't in a long time!!).

That being said... the DC Dad makes me mad too!!! If someone ever comes in my house on their phone, which has only happened a couple times at most, I would just talk to them as if I didn't see that "thing" held up to their cheek. I would go on about the child's day, what he ate, when he went potty, what toys he played with, the cute things he said, etc., etc. I would talk on and on WAY more than I would normally.

As far as being late, you're darn right I would say something!!! First, if I saw them in the car outside, I would have the kid ready with shoes and coat on and any belongings in their hand, and stand on the porch, driveway, whatever with them. If it happened often and ticked me off enough, I would even stand next to the driver's door.

Your case is different because he's coming after closing time, but if people make a habit out of coming late and it's NOT after closing time, I say (and I had to say this recently) "do you need me to change your pickup time to 4:30 (for example... if their pickup time is usually 4:00 but they are coming 4:15, 4:20, etc)? It's $10 a day more. I had to say that to a dad a few months ago. He's never been late since!!

[Play Care]

Originally Posted by Meeko

I close at 6PM. At that very second (if I have late kids) I put away the regular sign in/out sheet and it is replaced with a completely different one in a bright red folder. The top of the page has a huge "Late Pick and Fees" header. This is the one they must sign out on if they are late. In fact, I usually write in the time as they walk through the door and have them sign it. I fill in the fees right then and there ($1 per minute). I sign it too. Fees are due by that coming Friday. If they are not paid, their child doesn't come on Monday and no refunds on tuition.

I give them no room to try and be sneaky and claim later that they were on time.

Also, in and out times are only taken from the clock in my entry...NOT their clock/watch/phone.

I would be livid if a parent was already late and then sat in their car talking on their phone! I wouldn't take the kids to the car either. I would stand where they could see me waving the red folder with a mad face!!! They need to get OFF the phone and come GET their child.

I LOVE the red folder! If we had to have parents sign in/out I would so use that!

[jokalima]

I was checking the electronic sign in/out but I am not sure how to use it with my policy. It asks for my late fee and I have 2, it is 10.00, but after the 3rd time is 15.00 all the time, so any idea on how to use this?

BTW late again today, but did pay late fees, did not see Dad today so I thought it was not right to trouble mom with what she did not do, when I see him i will talk to him.

[jokalima]

Another question, does it keep it in a record? Like once that day is done can i have access to it if i need it in the future?

[Brooksie]

Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist

I use checkinkids.com (free) and it has big red words that come up and say they are late and how much they owe. Parents can use it on a computer of yours or an iPad.

You enter in your closing time and how much you charge for late fees.

THIS is awesome. Might have to try that!

[saved4always]

Nope, I do not think your husband is right. If that happened to me, I would put the child in his coat, gather his things and deliver him out to the car to his parent. And I would interupt the phone conversation to let the parent know he/she is late. No way I would let that go. It is rude enough to pick up after closing. To then sit in the car gabbing on the phone just shows that this parent is very inconsiderate and does not value your time. Maybe you should have a new late pick up policy...$10 extra for every 5 minutes after close or $5 extra for each minute. And make it clear that the charges continue to add up until the door closes behind them when they leave.