Seriously So Tired Of Late Pays

[lovemykidstoo]

I get paid bi-weekly. I was on vacation last week, so that was not a pay week anyway. To keep with the schedule, I posted on my daycare fb page on Tuesday that this to keep with the schedule that this week would be a pay week. EVeryone saw it. So my Tuesday/Thursday person didn't pay yesterday. I have on my info sheet that people sign that there is a $10 per calendar late fee. I am just sick to death of almost every single pay having a select 3 out of 10 people that are late. I am sick to death of having to remind people that payment is due. How can I word a post regarding this? I want to be firm but not bitchy even though I should be.

[rosieteddy]

I implemented a new payment method when that kept happening to me.I did not want a late fee,I wanted my pay.I gave 2 weeks notice to change payment schedule.I wrote that due to so many late payments all clients will pay pre dated checks for each month at beginning of month.The first Monday of the month I collected all checks for that month.The clients dated them for date I wanted.Eventually I was paid one month ahead.Worked well both ways.

[Blackcat31]

I get paid bi-weekly. I was on vacation last week, so that was not a pay week anyway. To keep with the schedule, I posted on my daycare fb page on Tuesday that this to keep with the schedule that this week would be a pay week. EVeryone saw it. So my Tuesday/Thursday person didn't pay yesterday. I have on my info sheet that people sign that there is a $10 per calendar late fee. I am just sick to death of almost every single pay having a select 3 out of 10 people that are late. I am sick to death of having to remind people that payment is due. How can I word a post regarding this? I want to be firm but not bitchy even though I should be.

When Tuesday/Thursday person arrived on Thursday, did you ask for the payment that was due? Did you/she/he mention it?

If not, why?

I understand that providers don't like confrontation but seriously, if you like being paid then you have to take the lead and stop thinking that it's okay that providers just sit and "wait" for clients to suddenly become financially responsible payers. It's just not going to happen.

9 out of 10 times I don't think it has anything to do with money but more to do with negative behaviors simply because the provider won't or doesn't take a stronger stance. It's like watching a complicated choreographed dance routine for dominance and everyone is too afraid to take the lead.

I don't mean this rude or harshly at all but until you DO something about this, it's not going to change.

In many cases, it would be much less stressful if the provider simple did this job for free. Most are already do (due to their aversion to 'confrontation") .

I have no issues discussing payment openly with clients or in extreme cases straight up holding my hand out and asking where their weekly payment is at drop off.

I like being paid

[Cat Herder]

No pay, No stay.

Stop them at the door during drop off.

They pay or they go home.

[DaveA]

No pay, No stay.

Stop them at the door during drop off.

They pay or they go home.

This times 10.

My contract is written so fees are assessed on Monday if not paid, doubled on Tuesday, and DCF is denied care until paid in full on Wednesday.

[lovemykidstoo]

When Tuesday/Thursday person arrived on Thursday, did you ask for the payment that was due? Did you/she/he mention it?

If not, why?

I understand that providers don't like confrontation but seriously, if you like being paid then you have to take the lead and stop thinking that it's okay that providers just sit and "wait" for clients to suddenly become financially responsible payers. It's just not going to happen.

9 out of 10 times I don't think it has anything to do with money but more to do with negative behaviors simply because the provider won't or doesn't take a stronger stance. It's like watching a complicated choreographed dance routine for dominance and everyone is too afraid to take the lead.

I don't mean this rude or harshly at all but until you DO something about this, it's not going to change.

In many cases, it would be much less stressful if the provider simple did this job for free. Most are already do (due to their aversion to 'confrontation") .

I have no issues discussing payment openly with clients or in extreme cases straight up holding my hand out and asking where their weekly payment is at drop off.

I like being paid

I do ask for payment, trust me. Yesterday was nuts I was trying to leave fast because I had evening plans and when I have so many families with different schedules ie tuesday/thursday, monday, tuesday, friday, monday/friday, full time etc, sometimes I lose track until I sit down and do my books on who has/hasnt' paid. I guess my point of the post is, I am sick to death of telling people that I need to be paid. I would like it to be friday and just get fricken paid without having to remind people. I am not afraid to tell them, but am tired of doing so.

[lovemykidstoo]

and I just got a text from Tuesday/Thursday not to fret that she set a reminder to come on today on her lunch to pay me. I hadn't sent her a reminder yet.

[Blackcat31]

I do ask for payment, trust me. Yesterday was nuts I was trying to leave fast because I had evening plans and when I have so many families with different schedules ie tuesday/thursday, monday, tuesday, friday, monday/friday, full time etc, sometimes I lose track until I sit down and do my books on who has/hasnt' paid. I guess my point of the post is, I am sick to death of telling people that I need to be paid. I would like it to be friday and just get fricken paid without having to remind people. I am not afraid to tell them, but am tired of doing so.

and I just got a text from Tuesday/Thursday not to fret that she set a reminder to come on today on her lunch to pay me. I hadn't sent her a reminder yet.

Will she have a late fee attached?

If not, do so...that removes you having to remind them.
If the late fee is high enough you won't have to remind them ever again.

MUCH of my business is conducted without discussion.

My rules in regards to payment and/or scheduling have natural (and stiff) consequences. NONE of which are waived or disregarded. That alone creates a firm but simple guideline for payment and thus reduces me having to say a single word.

Case in point, a DCD (new-ish clients) just dropped off (mom does 99% of drop offs/pick ups). No payment.
It's due at pickup which is 3:30 for this family.

I didn't say a word but 5 minutes after DCD dropped off, he returned with a check. Said DCM (who is out of town) texted him and told him to remember to pay today.

They couldn't afford the late fee come Monday and they really need daycare so those consequences influenced their memory skills so they didn't forget to pay, didn't need reminding or discussion from me. Win-win

I think it takes a bit of time but if you have set consequences with little room for anything but timely payments, you won't have to continue discussing or reminding parents. You just have to enforce your rules and make sure that whatever your consequences are they are influential enough to actually motivate the client to follow the policy every single time.

[lovemykidstoo]

Will she have a late fee attached?

If not, do so...that removes you having to remind them.
If the late fee is high enough you won't have to remind them ever again.

MUCH of my business is conducted without discussion.

My rules in regards to payment and/or scheduling have natural (and stiff) consequences. NONE of which are waived or disregarded. That alone creates a firm but simple guideline for payment and thus reduces me having to say a single word.

Case in point, a DCD (new-ish clients) just dropped off (mom does 99% of drop offs/pick ups). No payment.
It's due at pickup which is 3:30 for this family.

I didn't say a word but 5 minutes after DCD dropped off, he returned with a check. Said DCM (who is out of town) texted him and told him to remember to pay today.

They couldn't afford the late fee come Monday and they really need daycare so those consequences influenced their memory skills so they didn't forget to pay, didn't need reminding or discussion from me. Win-win

I think it takes a bit of time but if you have set consequences with little room for anything but timely payments, you won't have to continue discussing or reminding parents. You just have to enforce your rules and make sure that whatever your consequences are they are influential enough to actually motivate the client to follow the policy every single time.

Absolutely she's adding in the late fee. I charge $10 per day. Apparently not high enough .

[Cat Herder]

Absolutely she's adding in the late fee. I charge $10 per day. Apparently not high enough .

To some people that simply means you allow late payments.

If you truly want it to stop you must send them home. It only needs to happen once. They get with the program or move on.

[LysesKids]

I do ask for payment, trust me. Yesterday was nuts I was trying to leave fast because I had evening plans and when I have so many families with different schedules ie tuesday/thursday, monday, tuesday, friday, monday/friday, full time etc, sometimes I lose track until I sit down and do my books on who has/hasnt' paid. I guess my point of the post is, I am sick to death of telling people that I need to be paid. I would like it to be friday and just get fricken paid without having to remind people. I am not afraid to tell them, but am tired of doing so.

I have 2 set days for pay each month with the exception of Drop-ins... the 1st or 1st & 15th . No pay, no stay & if you don't pay the contract fees it automatically switches to Pay by the day/Drop-in care ( which is a higher fee per day) if you are even one day late and my contract states that in Bold... I want my $$ and it's paid before I care for your child. Only had one issue in all the years I have done it this way... I don't want the late fee, I want to be paid on time so my bills get paid

[lovemykidstoo]

I have 2 set days for pay each month with the exception of Drop-ins... the 1st or 1st & 15th . No pay, no stay & if you don't pay the contract fees it automatically switches to Pay by the day/Drop-in care ( which is a higher fee per day) if you are even one day late and my contract states that in Bold... I want my $$ and it's paid before I care for your child. Only had one issue in all the years I have done it this way... I don't want the late fee, I want to be paid on time so my bills get paid

Exactly, I don't want the late fees either. I just want people to be responsible and pay me on time. Maybe I'll forget to be here Monday morning when they drop off . See how they like it when I "forget". I think the people I have would never be able to remember twice a month. Although one time I did have someone that paid me every 2 months. It was nice that I had the money, but then had to be disciplined so I didn't spend it. They put it all in 1 check.

[Ariana]

Maybe $10 is not incentive enough. Try raising the price for every offence. First is $10, second is $50 and third offence is $100. Anything after that is immediate termination. Give everyone a revised copy “due to consistent late payments I have ammended my contract as follows” and then have then sign and date it.

Might be time to play hard ball if this is a consistent problem.

[Annalee]

To some people that simply means you allow late payments.

If you truly want it to stop you must send them home. It only needs to happen once. They get with the program or move on.

A provider friend shared with me if you have a late fee for payment in the contract, it means you will accept late payments just like if you have a late fee for pickup, parents will think they can be late.....so true!

[Blackcat31]

Maybe $10 is not incentive enough. Try raising the price for every offence. First is $10, second is $50 and third offence is $100. Anything after that is immediate termination. Give everyone a revised copy “due to consistent late payments I have ammended my contract as follows” and then have then sign and date it.

Might be time to play hard ball if this is a consistent problem.

My late payment fees are structured like that.
First late payment is $10 per calendar day
Second late payment is $20 per calendar day
Third late payment is immediate termination.

I haven't had issue with late payments in a really long time. I am also very clear with clients that I do not have polices that are waivable or flexible.