In Home Childcare Underpayment

I have been the mother having to pay for day care I didn't use. It stings but i knew it was only fair. In essence, she did receive something for her money. she received the ability to bring her kids on those days if she could. You held her slot. As Dawn said it is business. I would remind her of the agreement and explain that you are not able to fill the spots she has held for her children on a random basis and therefore operate at a loss for the days you don't get paid. If the agreement no longer suits her then she can make arrangements elsewhere.

C., I think you are just going to have to tell her when she walks in "Susie, you only paid me half of what you owe yesterday. I need for you to pay me the rest today." She'll say "But the kids weren't here" and you'll say, "We have an agreement that you will pay me for 6 days every two weeks even if they aren't here all 6 days."

If she says no, then you need to find other kids to take her place. You can't worry about the hard feelings - this is business.

Dawn

you tell her that she is paying you to hold their spot in the event that they aren't there for any reason other than YOU cancelling. i'd expect payment when she drops them off next.

You're paying for the spot, not the time that they're there. I've never heard of anything different. Just remind her of your agreement and if she doesn't pay for the spots you had open for her then she cannot bring the children back until she is paid up in full. It's business.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

this is standard policy at ALL daycares that I've ever known of ... home run or not. If you haven't given her anything in writing before, you should come up with a written or typed form that shows policies and rates. Have you sign it and give a copy to her and keep original. That way, everything's in black and white in case the memory fades.

In the future write her a bill and (add the money owed).

Just remind her about your agreement and from that point put it in writing. If she questions it, let her know that there is no such thing as "daycare that wasn't used". As long as you have agreed to care for her children then they are holding spots in your daycare and she is using that care.

i did that when i was a clueless new mother. it sounds so silly now, but i assumed that due to my changing (retail) schedule i could just pay for the hours my son was actually there.
the daycare mom handled it perfectly. she was very professional and very clear, but not in the least nasty. she met me at the door when i came to pick brian up and said 'your check last week was a little short.' i gaped at her, and she said 'i expect the agreed-upon rate even if you pick him up early.' i apologized profusely and she was fine.
just tell her.
khairete
S.

You will have kids to fill that space if you lose her so remind her that her payment has not been made and when can you expect it.

I had a concrete policy that I was paid for the week before the kids could stay. I could not feed them and pay my staff if I did not get paid. It's very simple, either she pays or the kids can't come. She will not find a caregiver as good and flexible as you.

I would also caution you to decide beforehand. If someone has a changing schedule they still get only 10 hours of care per day. They still only get 5 days per week. That is the weekly pay rate.

If they need extra care that is listed as $XX per day. They must pay that fee plus the regular weekly rate on Monday for the following week or their children cannot stay. If she does not pay she is gone.

If her kids were in a typical state run daycare, she would have to pay whether her kids were there or not. Usually, you get either one or two weeks a year as your vacation weeks where you don't have to pay. Other than that, you pay if your kid attends or not.
I agree with Saramy and Dawn. She needs to pay you.

Do you have a written contract? I would refer to that when telling her that she mistakenly only paid half of what she owes.

Talk to her. What you say depends on if you have a contract or just a verbal agreement and how she responds. Pointblank, ask when she will have the other half. If she doesn't answer in a way that you are agreeable with, you push further...why not? when is acceptable, etc. Take it from there.