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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>When Do You Send Out Final Payment Reminders
Kcole1075 10:33 AM 03-13-2014
I had a mom term last week but she termed and never brought dcb again. I sent her a termination papers to sign via email but got no responce.

It was a week ago today. I have not seen my final two weeks payment (now everyone will do deposits for final two weeks I am learning my lesson) and I have not heard from her. She said last week he would pick up his stuff when she paid me usually she paid on monday.

I am wanting to send ( mail) reminder about her final balance but is it too soon?
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TaylorTots 10:53 AM 03-13-2014
Nope, not if she is not communicating with you.

Send it certified include the date which payment is due (maybe date it out a week from when you mail) and that small claims will be filed the following day including additional late fees. Keep a copy for your records, keep your certified documentation.

2 weeks deposit is really hard on some of my families so I don't do that - but I make it clear if you do not honor our contract, I will take you to small claims.
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Kcole1075 11:05 AM 03-13-2014
Next week would have been her last week so I am wondering if she was just going to pay then but I am not willing to let this go.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:11 AM 03-13-2014
Originally Posted by TaylorTots:
Nope, not if she is not communicating with you.

Send it certified include the date which payment is due (maybe date it out a week from when you mail) and that small claims will be filed the following day including additional late fees. Keep a copy for your records, keep your certified documentation.

2 weeks deposit is really hard on some of my families so I don't do that - but I make it clear if you do not honor our contract, I will take you to small claims.
I have had no issue with parents bringing in 2 weeks deposit fee. Even the somewhat struggling single parents.
It came in handy three times last year alone.

Send certified mail now.
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Leigh 11:25 AM 03-13-2014
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I have had no issue with parents bringing in 2 weeks deposit fee. Even the somewhat struggling single parents.
It came in handy three times last year alone.

Send certified mail now.
I have also not had an issue with it. I will give them up to 8 weeks to come up with it, provided they sign a written schedule of when and how much they will pay each of those weeks. Most of them come up with 2 weeks ahead of time.
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TaylorTots 11:38 AM 03-13-2014
I guess I'm in the minority by not requiring a deposit for the final two weeks. It's not common in my area with providers to require such. A payment plan over 8 weeks to come up with it is a good plan.
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Cat Herder 12:23 PM 03-13-2014
Have you already given this client her tax forms?

If not I'd probably give it another week before sending the certified letter.

My thought is she WILL contact you soon for her tax stuff. By having a two week delay before confronting her/ticking her off, if she then decides to file a complaint it will be more obvious why she did so.
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blandino 12:42 PM 03-13-2014
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I have had no issue with parents bringing in 2 weeks deposit fee. Even the somewhat struggling single parents.
It came in handy three times last year alone.

Send certified mail now.
I wish that was the case here. In my area, it's unheard of to take two weeks deposit. I think I would definitely lose potential clients if I decided to. Because I have definitely thought of it. But I can't name one daycare locally that does it.

I think it is a lot of money to ask of a family. A two week deposit for me would be $300-$320, and then if they are starting immediately they would also need the first weeks's tuition, and we have a small registration fee. But that would be nearing $500.00. If you have time to plan, it's doable, but if something happens where you are left needing immediate care by surprise, $500.00 seems like more than most families could feasibly do. Or even a DCM on maternity leave, $500.00 is going to seem like a lot when they are trying to budget for the loss of income.
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Kcole1075 12:45 PM 03-13-2014
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
Have you already given this client her tax forms?

If not I'd probably give it another week before sending the certified letter.

My thought is she WILL contact you soon for her tax stuff. By having a two week delay before confronting her/ticking her off, if she then decides to file a complaint it will be more obvious why she did so.
She asked for it in January. But then texted right back saying she didnt need it..


Your right about the gap in time showing that she is just ticked off because of the money.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 06:02 PM 03-13-2014
Originally Posted by TaylorTots:
I guess I'm in the minority by not requiring a deposit for the final two weeks. It's not common in my area with providers to require such. A payment plan over 8 weeks to come up with it is a good plan.
No one here does it but it doesn't matter.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 06:04 PM 03-13-2014
Originally Posted by blandino:
I wish that was the case here. In my area, it's unheard of to take two weeks deposit. I think I would definitely lose potential clients if I decided to. Because I have definitely thought of it. But I can't name one daycare locally that does it.

I think it is a lot of money to ask of a family. A two week deposit for me would be $300-$320, and then if they are starting immediately they would also need the first weeks's tuition, and we have a small registration fee. But that would be nearing $500.00. If you have time to plan, it's doable, but if something happens where you are left needing immediate care by surprise, $500.00 seems like more than most families could feasibly do. Or even a DCM on maternity leave, $500.00 is going to seem like a lot when they are trying to budget for the loss of income.
Mine is $290, no registration fee, first two weeks paid before starting. It holds their spot for 2 weeks and pays for final two weeks in care. I would have lost a lot of income if I had NOT done this.
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blandino 07:24 PM 03-13-2014
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Mine is $290, no registration fee, first two weeks paid before starting. It holds their spot for 2 weeks and pays for final two weeks in care. I would have lost a lot of income if I had NOT done this.
I take your second week of daycare as a deposit. And with the deposit is a small (30.00) registration fee. I really didn't come up with it ,clearly, as a safeguard for the last two weeks of care. My main concern and reason I started doing it, was to reserve openings for people. I was having people just cancel right before they were starting or just not show up, and I had turned away others for the spot. That was my biggest concern when implementing it. Now I am VERY clear that your spot isn't reserved until you have paid your deposit. But you have covered both bases

Yes, yours would be $290, but then if they were starting immediately would it be the first week of tuition due also... So $435.00 all together ?

Also, weird question. Do you have a trial period ? What if they decide to leave during it ? I would almost feel like people might be hesitant to give me two weeks worth of daycare fees if I could end things without notice in the first two weeks.

Not trying to argue, just thinking out loud.
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Tags:collection agency, collections, false allegations, false complaint, final two weeks, payment, small claims, small claims court
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