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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Refund Policy
EAP 10:25 AM 04-01-2013
I only require two weeks notice for termination - but most of my families pay a month in advance - I don't want to end up having to give a refund - does anyone have a policy in their handbook that addresses this or should I eliminate monthly payments and only accept up to two weeks of payments?
EntropyControlSpecialist 10:32 AM 04-01-2013
I accept bi-weekly and monthly (4 weeks) and have it in many places (the contract once, the parent handbook in multiple places, the agreement that states they read the parent handbook) that a refund will not be issued in any event including termination.
I had to do this after getting burned.
I had to do this after getting burned.
MarinaVanessa 10:50 AM 04-01-2013
Originally Posted by EAP:
I only require two weeks notice for termination - but most of my families pay a month in advance - I don't want to end up having to give a refund - does anyone have a policy in their handbook that addresses this or should I eliminate monthly payments and only accept up to two weeks of payments?
If your termination policy 2 weeks and a client pays a month in advance then gives you a 2 week term notice, then you are obligated to pay the remainder back.I only require two weeks notice for termination - but most of my families pay a month in advance - I don't want to end up having to give a refund - does anyone have a policy in their handbook that addresses this or should I eliminate monthly payments and only accept up to two weeks of payments?
Either change your policy to include a NO REFUND policy or stop accepting a month of payment in advance ... whichever you want to do.
I personally would not feel right keeping any money that I had not earned other than my 2 week term notice period. Even if the client did not bring their child the 2 week term period allows me to not lose income during those 2 weeks while I look for a replacement client so that I feel is fair ... keeping an additional week or 2 of child care fees past the 2 week term period doesn't feel right to me especially if I won't be taking care of the child during that time.
EAP 10:59 AM 04-01-2013
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
If your termination policy 2 weeks and a client pays a month in advance then gives you a 2 week term notice, then you are obligated to pay the remainder back.
Either change your policy to include a NO REFUND policy or stop accepting a month of payment in advance ... whichever you want to do.
I personally would not feel right keeping any money that I had not earned other than my 2 week term notice period. Even if the client did not bring their child the 2 week term period allows me to not lose income during those 2 weeks while I look for a replacement client so that I feel is fair ... keeping an additional week or 2 of child care fees passed the 2 week term period doesn't feel right to me especially if I won't be taking care of the child during that time.
I agree about feeling wrong - but I also don't want to do refunds if I can avoid it.If your termination policy 2 weeks and a client pays a month in advance then gives you a 2 week term notice, then you are obligated to pay the remainder back.
Either change your policy to include a NO REFUND policy or stop accepting a month of payment in advance ... whichever you want to do.
I personally would not feel right keeping any money that I had not earned other than my 2 week term notice period. Even if the client did not bring their child the 2 week term period allows me to not lose income during those 2 weeks while I look for a replacement client so that I feel is fair ... keeping an additional week or 2 of child care fees passed the 2 week term period doesn't feel right to me especially if I won't be taking care of the child during that time.
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:11 AM 04-01-2013
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
If your termination policy 2 weeks and a client pays a month in advance then gives you a 2 week term notice, then you are obligated to pay the remainder back.
Either change your policy to include a NO REFUND policy or stop accepting a month of payment in advance ... whichever you want to do.
I personally would not feel right keeping any money that I had not earned other than my 2 week term notice period. Even if the client did not bring their child the 2 week term period allows me to not lose income during those 2 weeks while I look for a replacement client so that I feel is fair ... keeping an additional week or 2 of child care fees passed the 2 week term period doesn't feel right to me especially if I won't be taking care of the child during that time.
In that case, I would give back the 2 weeks beyond their final 2 weeks notice. It doesn't state that I will nor would I ever include that in my contract/parent handbook/etc. but I would. I've done similar things in the past.If your termination policy 2 weeks and a client pays a month in advance then gives you a 2 week term notice, then you are obligated to pay the remainder back.
Either change your policy to include a NO REFUND policy or stop accepting a month of payment in advance ... whichever you want to do.
I personally would not feel right keeping any money that I had not earned other than my 2 week term notice period. Even if the client did not bring their child the 2 week term period allows me to not lose income during those 2 weeks while I look for a replacement client so that I feel is fair ... keeping an additional week or 2 of child care fees passed the 2 week term period doesn't feel right to me especially if I won't be taking care of the child during that time.
AmyKidsCo 12:37 PM 04-01-2013
I also have in my policies that tuition fees are not refundable. Period. My thought is that if they're really concerned about it they should wait until half-way through the month before giving their 2 weeks notice. 
daycaremum 06:15 AM 04-02-2013
What is so bad about giving a refund of money that the deserve back? Perhaps it is a budgeting issue? I don't spend money that I haven't "earned" yet. What I mean by that is that I wouldn't spend all the money that they pay in advance, perhaps you should have a reserve for just in case situations.
To have savings is a good idea regardless of what you do for a living.
To have savings is a good idea regardless of what you do for a living.
itlw8 06:25 AM 04-02-2013
I do refund the money BUT I make sure it has cleared first so they may need to wait a few weeks to get the refund. Just like going to Walmart the check has to clear unless they paid in cash.
EAP 10:30 AM 04-02-2013
Originally Posted by daycaremum:
What is so bad about giving a refund of money that the deserve back? Perhaps it is a budgetplace.ssue? I don't spend money that I haven't "earned" yet. What I mean by that is that I wouldn't spend all the money that they pay in advance, perhaps you should have a reserve for just in case situations.
To have savings is a good idea regardless of what you do for a living.
Not a budget issue - but thanks for the concern??What is so bad about giving a refund of money that the deserve back? Perhaps it is a budgetplace.ssue? I don't spend money that I haven't "earned" yet. What I mean by that is that I wouldn't spend all the money that they pay in advance, perhaps you should have a reserve for just in case situations.
To have savings is a good idea regardless of what you do for a living.
Just don't want to get into a back and forth with money and families and wanted to know what policies people have in place.
MNMum 11:36 AM 04-02-2013
Originally Posted by daycaremum:
What is so bad about giving a refund of money that the deserve back? Perhaps it is a budgeting issue? I don't spend money that I haven't "earned" yet. What I mean by that is that I wouldn't spend all the money that they pay in advance, perhaps you should have a reserve for just in case situations.
To have savings is a good idea regardless of what you do for a living.
I agree with this.What is so bad about giving a refund of money that the deserve back? Perhaps it is a budgeting issue? I don't spend money that I haven't "earned" yet. What I mean by that is that I wouldn't spend all the money that they pay in advance, perhaps you should have a reserve for just in case situations.
To have savings is a good idea regardless of what you do for a living.