Nicie nice that I am (aka total SUCKER) I tried to work with a parent that I knew I shouldn't cause she is about the biggest idiot I have here! I know it. I allowed it and I am so mad at myself for it......

She asked me on Monday if she could pay me on Monday but asked if I would hold her check until Friday. She is my divorcing parent and the "child support auto deposit was messed up" and she hasn't gotten her money. I said right away I would charge her late fees. She says she would rather pay me $25 than the bank $45 plus for messing up her account. Ok... (here is where I kick myself in the butt over and over)

So Monday comes and she drops off check after I close and am not here. I see she has this weeks check in there AND next weeks check in there with a note to hold both checks until Friday and then I can cash both. There is no agreed upon late fee. I email. I send home notes. I don't get to talk face to face cause dad or gmom is picking up so I am communicating through emails and all. No response. No payment.

Now had she not paid me next week I would openly block her from coming Monday until she paid the fee. But she already paid. Her checks were deposited this morning via atm (they won't clear her bank until Sat). So....do I withhold drop off Monday for not paying the late fee? Give her the money back for next week (although she would owe two weeks payment for terming). How would you handle it since she paid next week early but this week late? I am so pissed I am reading to term her. She is on my last blipping nerve. Now I have no one else to blame here I get it. My fault. But I am done.

She is getting her fees upped to per child for late payment and late pick up and due in cash at the time of due or not allowed back and a noticed being sent home to both parents of the terms. The dad I have no issue with. When he paid it was faithfully on Monday. Unfortunately he no longer directly pays me. But the mom is always paying me late, picking up late, etc. The pick up lates on my nerve too. She gets home early. She lives down the road. I see her there. But she cannot show on time to pick up. And when she does it is with the tude she has the right. I cannot stand this woman! It is ALWAYS an issue of some sort with her. She is either paying late, picking up late, not bringing supplies, not paying the right amount, etc etc etc. My fav is to cry poverty and then turn around and tell me how she went and got her nails and hair done at the spa! If I didn't like the dad and the kids I would so slam the door in the womans face!

So how do I handle the no late fee payment?

*KICK KICK KICK!*

Reply

Take the late fee put of next week's check. Tell her that he cannot come until her full fee for next week is paid. You need $X so child can come to daycare.

Reply

Ahhhhh take the late fee out of next weeks check! Good idea! So then she would be "short" next week. Hummm.

Reply

..and owe another late fee because her payment for the next week hasn't been paid in full.

Unless it technically isn't due yet until the end of this week.... in which case, just charge her the remaining balance due by the regular due date.

I would also not get into the habit of "holding" checks for her without charging a fee. If you can't access the money...then the payment isn't really made. kwim?

Reply

I DID charge her. She just chose to ignore it and not pay it!

I will no longer hold her checks anymore. Payment will be due Monday. Period. I upped her fee to per child rather than per payment too going from another post I had on here about that. She is lazy and has no issue paying late but might think twice if I up her late fee. I rather like someones fee of $30 a day! Man! She would poo bricks on that one!

Just so fed up with this parent!

Reply

If you've notified her, come Monday, I wouldn't allow drop off unless whoever the parent/person dropping off has the amount to cover the balance IN CASH!!

Reply

Everyone's account must be paid IN FULL prior to their child being accepted into care. That includes late fees here.

"Woops, Mary. It appears as though your account is not paid in full. You paid me last week's tuition and late fees but you didn't pay me this week's tuition in full/You paid me last week and this week's tuition but the late fee was not included. I'll need that prior to accepting Jesus into care for the day. "

I JUST termed a Mom like this (full of excuses). She threw fits about everything and I would always ignore the dramatic words/excuses and still make her abide by the policies (yet, she still did this). Later, she would come bouncing back like nothing had happened. Drama mamas are not fun nor are irresponsible ones.

Reply

I would take the late fees out of the second check. Then her second check is short.

I would change my contract to a PER DAY late fee, PER KID (mine is $20 per day)

I would also seriously consider getting payments on Friday before the week, and I always, ALWAYS get payments before Monday morning or they are turned away at the door.

Reply