I have another question regarding late pickups! I have always been easy going about late pickups. However, I have two daycare dads that are habitually late. I close at 6pm, and just yesterday, both were late. One didn't arrive until 6:15 and the other 6:30! No call or text. I was very irritated! I feel this is a sign of disrespect for myself and my family! I've been open since 6:30 am and to work until 6:30 makes for a super long day!!!

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Man I feel your pain. I have two children who are picked up almost 3 out of 5 days late....every single week. If there was a reason...my car broke down, there was an accident and it held up traffic, etc...no biggie. But when it is cause they took a nap and didn't get up or they had to make a phone call or they were getting trash together for the dump or............ Just pushes my limits of restraint. To ME that is just disrespectful. Clearly they feel they are justified and within rights and think I have no life.

My fav is being late and sitting outside talking on their cell!

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You have two options:

1). Stop being flexible about pick up times and enforce your rules. If you aren't following your rules, why should anyone else?

2). Ignore it and let it keep happening (but then you can't complain about it because you allow it)

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Charge late fees every time period !!!!

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Absolutely. I charge $1.00 even if you are "only" 1 minute late. I'm $1.00/minute per child past my closing time.

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I have one family who is late at least 1x per week. Nothing more then 10 mins. (yet), but when I posted a similar question/comment the advice I got was to think about how much time they are using every week/month/year that they are getting FREE!? It was a good point and one I didn't consider. When I added up those 2-6 mins. for each time this one family was late in the past, it was pretty upsetting!

I think even 15 mins. is totally unacceptable and I would be giving them at least written notice to remind them of your closing AND that you will enforce late charges next time. I know it's tough, but 30 mins. late for one pick-up?! I don't think so!!

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Yup...charge a late pickup fee. I just did the fist time a couple weeks ago and although it was hard for me to do and I was afraid they might leave...they paid and I haven't had any more problems out of them.

They make sure they let me know their schedule in advance as well...something else they were pretty lax about. It just took that one time of me showing them I meant business and they have been much better about everything.

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Mine just pays the late fee. Then does it again the following week

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Use a graduated scale for late fees. Helps nip the above issue altogether

First offense = $1 per minute
Second offense = $2 per minute
Third offense = $3 per minute
ANY additional offenses = termination.

Being late without asking/okaying with the provider is just plain disrespectful.

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This is my biggest peeve and since I work through an agency, late charges aren't an option. This is what worked for me: I got all of the children dressed for outside, ready to go when the one child was to be picked up at 4:15. At 4:20 we left, with or without the child who was to be picked up at 4:15. My husband was home to tell the parents we had gone for a walk and we'd be back by 5:00 in time for the next child's pickup time. The parents can arrive on time or they can cool their jets in my driveway, their choice. It only happened a couple of times, turns out they don't like sitting around waiting for me

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This is what I do now. I have taken that suggestion from this forum. Yesterday my dcm was almost late came at 5:29 and asked if she owed me for a late fee. This is what I like, knows my policies, and willing to pay. Event bough I don't even want the money. I just don't want them to be late.

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I had this problem last year around this time.
These lovely ladies on this forum gave me a nice letter to send home letting everyone know I'm enforcing all policies from here on out, including the $1/minute per child late fee. This is also when I started making parents sign in and out.
If anyone would like to borrow this letter PM me your email address.

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I'm to oddball around here, I think. I don't charge a late fee. I just make it very, very clear that I won't tolerate late pickups. They risk termination if they are late and they know it.

I can't even remember the last time someone was late .

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This is me too. I don't want their $1, I want my family time. My contract states that late pickups will not be tolerated and services will be terminated if children are not picked up by 5:15pm. If I have anyone showing up close to that time (but not late) they are apoligizing profusely.

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Here's a similar question I have. I have been tired of of families coming and going as they please, so I specified a change from business to contracted hours. I have a DCM that is a sub, so her hours can change day to day she's here. She always gives a general "9 or 10 to 3:30 or 4" (that was the text given for yesterday, each day is something similar to that with very broad times)
So yesterday I needed to leave at 4, which was the time she said she'd be picking up, so I had her baby in the carseat, 2 year old in her shoes/coat, and my girls in their coats by 3:55. 4:10 she gets here. I inform her I will be assessing the late fee. She asked if she could add it to the next check. Fast forward to today when I get THE email... DCD and I talked and we thought you were open 7:30-5:45... we know it is your business to run as you want... may not be a good fit for us... life happens, and we might need to look elsewhere... We will give 2 weeks if we decide to find a new provider...
I JUST lost my PT boy and incoming newborn- whom I have been holding a spot for since October and was set to start next month -and am down to my one PT boy and 2 Drop In families. So frustrated- the only calls I seem to get are from pregnant moms, and I have changed my contract to say I will only hold a spot for 4 weeks, and then I need 1/2 tuition to hold longer than that. SO, to my question, for those of you that have contracted hours, but the pickup is earlier than your latest allowable pickup time, do you still charge a late fee? Or just if they come REALLY late or after your official close time. I hate it, but I may be in such a financial bind that I will have to give in completely just to try not to lose the family. But MAN I hate the come and go as they please schedules- I tell everyone during interviews that I nurse, lock up my dogs, ect and just need to know when to expect people for drop-offs and pick-ups. My contract even states that I consider drop-offs and pick-ups as appointments.
Well, that turned into a vent, huh?

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I only stick to contracted hours for clients with state subsidy. Private pay parents I feel are paying for my full center hours. As long as they don't go over a certain amount of hours a week and aren't past your closing time I wouldn't charge. Of course I understand charging if she knew you needed to leave at 4pm.

It's such a slippery slope because private pay can and will take their money elsewhere.

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It sounds as though you are willing to work with her hours changing from day to day but just want her schedule in advance. I think DCM should be accountable for that, if she tells you a pick up time then you are planning you day around that and I don't think she should be able to just show up whenever she feels like it. It's not asking too much for a parent to be on time with a schedule SHE gives you!

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My policy in my PARENT HANDBOOK is $1 per minute past my closing time of 5:30...

At the end of last year I sent an email to all of my daycare clients.. wishing them a HAPPY NEW YEAR.. AND reminding them of a few policies...

This is a portion of it...
I would appreciate it...as we begin this new year...
if you would read and refresh yourself with my PARENT HANDBOOK ... which can be found on my
website (link below).

Highlights are:

PAYMENT is due IN ADVANCE each week on Friday.
Late fee of $10 per day.

Closing time is 5:30 p.m. LATE FEE FOR ANYTHING PAST 5:30 is

A MILLION DOLLARS.. YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT.. PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE...

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