Why Is It So Hard To Remember To Pay Me???

[momofboys]

I used to use a daycare provider years & years ago & we never once forgot to pay - I mean do you forget your mortgage payment, your electrical bill, etc? I find it unacceptable to "forget" the daycare payment if you are always timely with these other important payments. My current daycare families are pretty good about payment & only one past client did I ever have issues with. Funny thing was that was the client who appeared to be pretty well off - but she was always "forgetting" to bring the check.:confused:

[Cradle2crayons]

I used to use a daycare provider years & years ago & we never once forgot to pay - I mean do you forget your mortgage payment, your electrical bill, etc? I find it unacceptable to "forget" the daycare payment if you are always timely with these other important payments. My current daycare families are pretty good about payment & only one past client did I ever have issues with. Funny thing was that was the client who appeared to be pretty well off - but she was always "forgetting" to bring the check.:confused:

Funny but I have forgot to pay the Internet and water bills a few times but when I used daycare years ago, I never forgot to pay them. I may not be the most organized related to x things, but when it comes to my kids, they each have their own calendar .

[Unregistered]

Im the parent from early who said I truly forget to pay sometimes.The dcp I have now knows that I mean it,I live 2 blocks from her so I will literally run home in 5 min and turn around and come back. But I did used to have parents who I know didn't forget,just wanted more time to pay the bill.Sometimes she tets me,did you forget?I say yep my dh will pay at pick up if I forgot at drop off. I hate that I do it because my kids are very important to me and I know her value.I just get on my way to work with my mind in different places.I should also add that I have anxiety disorder.

[Blackcat31]

Im the parent from early who said I truly forget to pay sometimes.The dcp I have now knows that I mean it,I live 2 blocks from her so I will literally run home in 5 min and turn around and come back. But I did used to have parents who I know didn't forget,just wanted more time to pay the bill.Sometimes she tets me,did you forget?I say yep my dh will pay at pick up if I forgot at drop off. I hate that I do it because my kids are very important to me and I know her value.I just get on my way to work with my mind in different places.I should also add that I have anxiety disorder.

I totally understand forgetting sometimes. We all do it. We are all human.

The difference between you and other forgetful parents is that you are obviously open to communicating.

9 out of 10 times a little communication would have solved the issue entirely.

It's the parents who forget because they don't care, respect and/or appreciate their provider that we vent about.

[Unregistered]

I get payment on Friday for the following week's care. I've learned the hard way to refuse care without payment. Two years ago I was shorted $1,000 by one set of parents and $600 by another. Complicated situations with both of them. Tried small claims court with both but they somehow disappeared into the wind. Without an address to find them you can't move forward with the claim. Never again.

I now had to move the pay day to Thursday, parents were having problems paying on Fridays in advance of care for he following TWO weeks.

[Rockgirl]

I used to feel uncomfortable asking, until my husband pointed something. As soon as I say, "Did you bring your payment?", the awkwardness is on them. They know they owe--I'm not asking for anything crazy--just what I'm owed! Let them deal with feeling uncomfortable--not me.

[DCMom]

Had a parent txt me earlier today:

"Whoops, forgot to give (dcd) the check!" (Dcd was dropping off)

I txted back:

"Whoops, forgot to answer the door."

Silence....then......

"Dcd will bring a check."

Thought so. :-)

Love it! ::

[Jack Sprat]

I now require as of September all new families pre-pay for care. Everyone has been super about it. My one exception is a single mom who gets paid every two weeks. I told her we would make her payday, my payday for the portion that DCF doesn't cover.

This past summer I had one family forget to pay 3 times in 3 months. One of these times was when they took vacation and didn't let me know till the day before and failed to pay 1/2 of the weekly rate as per my contract. I still haven't seen that money and doubt I will.

I hate asking for my check. Makes me feel awkward but, I have learned I hate not being paid for the service I gave them. Be strong! It gets easier.

[TomCopeland]

late payment

I'm so annoyed when parents forget to bring a check on Fridays!! I try to help them remember by emailing weekly statements. Don't get me wrong, I've had parents that have been really good at always bringing a check, but then there are those that can't seem to ever remember... so then they end up paying me on Monday (if they remember!).

I know I'm too nice.. I just feel weird saying "Umm.. did you bring a check?" How do you handle late payments? Am I the only one who feels uncomfortable with this??

One other idea: ask the parent to give you a blank check (no name, no amount, no signature). Keep it in a safe place. The next time the parent says, "I forgot my checkbook!" you say "I've got one!"

The only way fool proof way to avoid this problem is for parent to pay you at least a week in advance.

[My3cents]

I am a parent who is a former dcp.I HATED asking for my $ from parents but I also know that as a parent I honestly forget. So when my kids started with a new sitter. I flat out said. "I will ALWAYS pay you and I ALWAYS have the $ but I honestly am the most forgetful parent ever.PLEASE remind me if I forget to pay you.I will run home and get the money or checkbook." I am just a ding dong.When we had my former provider I would pick up my kids,get in my van,drive home,then I would turn around in the driveway and tell the kids"mommy forgot to give Miss Carla the check put your seat belts back on" It was never intentional I'm just a moron!

I hope that you added your late fee to Miss Carla's check with out her having to ask-

It is humiliating to have to ask to be paid for services you have provided.

I do get that "life" happens, but the best thing is to be paid a week in advance and carry out late fees-

You get to know your clients and who is flighty and truly forgets and who is just prolonging paying you because they don't have the $

I don't run my business to help others out, I run it to provide my family with a steady income. When people forget to pay me or whatever, it throws off all my bills that I have to pay-

I have great parents! but everyone one of them has had an issue when it comes to paying and I too have had issues when it comes to paying others- We all do the best we can but just pay me on time with out me asking, with out me having to chase it down by your toddler. You get to know who is genuine and who is not and then you just have to go from there. Hands down it is one of the most disliked issue for providers.

[My3cents]

I used to be like you and not able to speak up. that was until one day, NOT ONE parent paid me when they were supposed to. That day I typed up an email and sent it out to every parent...

I said something along the lines of........(not ecaxt words)

Today, no one paid their tuition fee. Which I am very shocked, after all, I do send each and everyone of you an invoice on the 15th of each month. As you are all aware, in our contract that you signed when you enrolled, you all agreed to pay a $50 late fee should you pay late. Just like any other business, if you pay late, you are subject to a late fee.

I am very upset that I have been put in this situation as I am here every day right on time each and every single day so that you can go to work. The job that you need to have so that you can provide for your family. NOT once have I ever been late for you, I am always here when you need me. I just don't understand why it should be ok for everyone to pay me when it is convenient for them because if I only opened my childcare business when it was convenient for me, you would be here knocking down my door. You all know that I am very flexible and easy going, a way that I would have liked to have been able to keep it. BUt if I don't make the necessary changes, there won't be a ABC childcare anymore.

Upon arrival on Monday, please attach a $50. late fee to your tuition. If you do not have your tuition, your child will not be able to attend until all childcare fees are paid in full.

Love your DCP

After I sent the letter out, I got a ton of apologies, which I did not respond to. Everyone paid the late fee, and so far other than new enrollments that have taken place since that letter went out two years ago, I have not had anyone pay late.........

bottom line is if you don't take action, don't expect anything to change..........

I remember you going through this! What did you do for your new enrollments that changed or were they just all better clients? Good for you-

I enjoy reading responses from posters that have become stronger and a difference happened because of it. happyface