Would You Enforce A $55.00 Late Pick Up Fee?

[Crunchymom04]

I closed early on Ash Wednesday at 4pm, it is in my contract, I sent a reminder home 2 weeks prior and reminded parents again verbally as the day approach.
In my contract I have a late pick up fee of $1.00 per minuet after 5 min grace period.

I had 1 parent "forget" and not pick up until 5. I text her a little after 4 asking who was picking up because I was closed.

How do I enforce a $55.00 late pick up fee?
Do I enforce the whole $55.00?
That is a lot of money at 1 time for a late fee.

[Pestle]

AbsoLUTEly you enforce a large late fee. The larger it is, the more you enforce it, because they need to feel the sting. This parent had you over a barrel--the parent knew three different ways that early pick up was required, the parent knew they were interfering with your practice of religion, and the parent knew you couldn't just up and leave their kid. The more irresponsibly that parent behaved, the more they forced you into the corner of being responsible way beyond. . . what you're actually responsible for.

And I'm the one who reminded her husband the night before that it was a half day at school, reminded him again when he left for work, called him after he arrived at work to remind him again, and then got an angry call from a middle-school teacher who was the last person at the school, sitting with her preschooler, who hadn't been picked up. 9_9 If that teacher had stolen his shoes when he arrived, I would have supported it.

[childcaremom]

AbsoLUTEly you enforce a large late fee. The larger it is, the more you enforce it, because they need to feel the sting. This parent had you over a barrel--the parent knew three different ways that early pick up was required, the parent knew they were interfering with your practice of religion, and the parent knew you couldn't just up and leave their kid. The more irresponsibly that parent behaved, the more they forced you into the corner of being responsible way beyond. . . what you're actually responsible for.

And I'm the one who reminded her husband the night before that it was a half day at school, reminded him again when he left for work, called him after he arrived at work to remind him again, and then got an angry call from a middle-school teacher who was the last person at the school, sitting with her preschooler, who hadn't been picked up. 9_9 If that teacher had stolen his shoes when he arrived, I would have supported it.

The point of the late fee is to deter parents from being late, or in your case, from being late ever again.

[Mad_Pistachio]

if you were planning to attend the service, and their being late interfered with that, then it is not negotiable, and it shouldn't be. (in case you want to negotiate/lower the fee, of course; which you don't have to)
teaching Sunday School, one thing that made me want to quit is parents picking up after the service started, and I couldn't make it. the class was over by something like 10:40, parents picked up at 11:00 and even later, service starts at 11:00, and the sanctuary is not made of latex and won't stretch to fit me. after leaving the class angry 5 Sundays in a row because I was held back, I decided to not return for another year.

sorry. I just hate it when you have this one service that happens once a year, and you want to attend, and can't because someone plopped their kid onto you.

[LysesKids]

I closed early on Ash Wednesday at 4pm, it is in my contract, I sent a reminder home 2 weeks prior and reminded parents again verbally as the day approach.
In my contract I have a late pick up fee of $1.00 per minuet after 5 min grace period.

I had 1 parent "forget" and not pick up until 5. I text her a little after 4 asking who was picking up because I was closed.

How do I enforce a $55.00 late pick up fee?
Do I enforce the whole $55.00?
That is a lot of money at 1 time for a late fee.

I enforced a $75 late fee once... never had the family leave and now I have another kid in care 2 years later . The dad apologized after getting reamed out by his wife. Dad had the day off and mom had to work late... he fell asleep and forgot about his dd

[Ariana]

If you want to make sure this NEVER happens again you need to enforce it!

[Gemma]

I closed early on Ash Wednesday at 4pm, it is in my contract, I sent a reminder home 2 weeks prior and reminded parents again verbally as the day approach.
In my contract I have a late pick up fee of $1.00 per minuet after 5 min grace period.

I had 1 parent "forget" and not pick up until 5. I text her a little after 4 asking who was picking up because I was closed.

How do I enforce a $55.00 late pick up fee?
Do I enforce the whole $55.00?
That is a lot of money at 1 time for a late fee.

If that's what it totaled, yes you should enforce it....otherwise why having the policy in the first place

If you are uncomfortable with your own policies, dkp will resent them even more, perhaps you should review the late fee policy and restructure it in a way that you can be more comfortable standing by it (?)

[BlueChairBlessings]

Absolutely, just be sure you are willing to accept that the family may leave. Just last month, I posted on here about having a very new family pick up 52 minutes past my very generous 15 min grace. I missed a non-refundable class and I was ticked. They ended up finally paying it, but left. I was okay with that because I knew it would have become an on-going problem. I would have been FURIOUS if I were you.

[lovemydaycare0912]

I have in handbook it must be paid next day at drop off or child cannot attend. That's how I enforce it. They either pay or they pay. Lol.

[mommiebookworm]

Absolutely enforce it. It is so disrespectful.

[Mike]

Ditto. They knew. They pay. The moment you don't enforce something, you're asking for trouble.

[Leigh]

I not only enforce the pick up fee, but I take the child with me and have the parents come to me to pick up their child. I'd have taken the child to church with me and then had them pick up after the service (and the fee would have been higher by then). I've had parents have to track me down in a store before when they've been late, and they hate it. But, they don't hate it as much as I hate having their child in my care after I am closed.

I had one parent who didn't allow their child to watch TV. At 5:30, I'd put the kid in front of the television and go about making dinner for my family. I told her at 5:30, I'm done working, and my family time has started, and the TV can come on. After finding her kid in front of the TV a few times, her kid was always picked up on time. I do what I have to, I guess.

[Kajada]

I once fell asleep while my daughter was at preschool. I was over an hour late picking her up. I was so embarrassed (and I felt terrible to have put my kid and her teacher in that situation) and I gladly paid the 75$ fee. It was an accident, but still 100% my fault. The next time I was tired while she was at school, I made some coffee and avoided the couch!

I haven't had to charge any parents a late fee yet (fingers crossed!) but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to add it to their bill.

[Pestle]

I take the child with me and have the parents come to me to pick up their child.

That's hilarious. How do you protect yourself? Insured to transport and the parents sign a contract that includes permission to transport the kids?

Other ideas, much worse than yours:

"At 5:30, the day care turns into a nightclub. Any children left in my care should be picked up from the drunk tank at the county jail."

"At 5:30, I begin indoctrinating any children left in my care into the Liturgy of the Hours. They will learn to wake at 9pm, midnight, and 3am each night, come stand next to your bed, and chant ecclesiastical Latin."

[Crunchymom04]

Thank you, I have never had to enforce such a high fee before, I have enforced this policy (not with this family) before, I as a parent would be shocked but I am going to enforce it, if they decide to leave I have 2 weeks of pay to find another family! I think I just needed to be reassured that I was doing what needs to be done and not being crazy.