Should I Give Her A Refund?

[JaydensMommy]

Should I call licensing?

Would you guys call licensing in this situation? If so, what should I say?

[PitterPatter]

Would you guys call licensing in this situation? If so, what should I say?

I called when a DCM was irate because I gave a 2 week notice then a week later a $10 fee when she didn't pay on time. She went off screaming cussing, name calling, and threatening my daycare in front of neighbors I actually had to call the police to get her to leave. She left before they arrived. I freaked of course. I called my monitor and gave him a heads up of the whole issue and I called CCRC as well because that's who paid for her daycare. Nothing ever came of it. In fact she called me 3 weeks later aplogizing in a few dif voicemails. Finally I took another call and she asked if she could come back. I said no maam and she had the nerve to ask why. :: After I basically told her her actions were unacceptable she laughed at me, said whatever and hung up. Still haven't heard a peep from the state or anyone else.

I would just call and give them a heads up.

[Cat Herder]

Would you guys call licensing in this situation? If so, what should I say?

I am required to update my roster so I just call to let them know "there has been a change".

I tell them "I have an opening I will be filling with ****" or let them know they can give out my info for a client in medical need or with special need.

When they ask why, and they always do, I tell them the facts of the termination with no emotion, extra info or hurt feelings involved.

Often they offer some night training at the local college on Behavior Management, Working with Parents or Classroom Management, which I gladly accept since I love free dinner, door prizes and a "girls night out"...plus I know that is what they want for their files. Never been a real problem.

[nannyde]

Would you guys call licensing in this situation? If so, what should I say?

I have never made that call. The few times I have had to term I just got ready for an inspection.

In my state they inspect even if the person calls and complains about something that is completely legal and in the Iowa Code. Even if the inspectors KNOW that the provider is in compliance (meaning that the parent is complaining about something we MUST do or CAN do)...... if your name comes up you will be inspected.

If someone called and told them I have blonde hair they would come and inspect.

A few years ago I had a lady call me who had just received temporary custody of her neice who had been removed from her sisters home. She asked for an interview and needed immediate care. I set up an interview for the next day.

In the middle of nap I get a knock on my door and it's the mother of this child, her girl friend and her boy friend. I answered the door by opening up the front window and said "may I help you?".

The girl tells me that she's the Mom of the kid who might come to my day care. She tells me her sister told her she was interviewing me tomorrow and her DHS worker told her that she could come at ANY time and INSPECT my home because her kid might come here. She told me the DHS worker told her that I'm required by law to allow the parents access to my home.

I had never met the mom.
I had never met the aunt.
I had never met the kid.
The Mom or the aunt had NEVER seen me care for any kid at any time.

I litterally did not know these people from Adam. The ONLY time I had had any contact with any of them was a phone call that day from the aunt.

I told the Mom that I could not allow her in my home at this time. I couldn't allow her and her two friends to come in. I told her it wasn't safe for me to allow total strangers in my house because one of them has a child that I "may" care for some time in the future.

Not to mention that this mom had JUST had her kid removed from her... obviously there was something seriously wrong.

The Mom called her DHS worker and complained that I would not allow her to come in and inspect my home.

Well you guessed it.......

a couple of days later I got inspected by the DHS. "Random" inspection.

I got inspected because I refused to allow a total stranger who hadn't ever even met me....did NOT have a kid in my house.. had NEVER seen me care for a kid... had two friends with her.. and had just had her kid removed.

Now I don't know if the DHS worker really told her she could come at any time to inspect me but either way... it didn't matter. I still got inspected over it.

I was completely minding my own business .... and because I "happened" to be the provider who agreed to meet the aunt the next day... and because I stuck to my guns and said NO to a parent... I got my arse inspected.

In the end, it doesn't matter who complains or what their complaint is. In my state you can get inspected for having your name mentioned even if the content of the mention is one hundred percent safe and compliant with the law.

Oh one more inspection story: I took a training on infants. I was scheduled to do eight classes but only needed four to finish what I needed for my registration.

I attended four weeks in a row and completely disagreed with pretty much their entire content. When I finished what I had to do I had to tell the instructor that I wasn't coming back for the next four classes so they could take me off of their roster and allow someone else in the class.

When I told her I wasn't coming back she asked why. I told her in no uncertain terms that I totally disagreed with this training and I felt it was harmful to providers to train them in this way. I told her I couldn't respect training that they couldn't even FILM unless they had one adult for one child. I asked her if she happened to notice that the techniques they were promoting REQUIRED one to one care and her entire audience were GROUP child care providers.

She of course got offended and asked me pretty much how I could possibly analyze their stuff and how would "I" know whether or not the techniques were solid or good. I told her I had been in child care nearly thirty years and that I have a college education and am a nurse. I am as educated as you are and I have more experience. I think it's a SHAME that you guys are teaching this content.... blah blah blah.

Well long story short.. I had a DHS inspector at my house by ten thirty the next morning. She made a complaint on me and they took it.

She had never seen me take care of kids.
Never been in my home.
Didn't know a single one of my clients.

Knew NOTHING of me other than what I told her and they still took the complaint.

I got a hundred percent on BOTH inspections. I knew when the Mom of the kid who I was going to interview the next day left my house that the DHS would be knocking at my door. I knew the day I told the trainer that I didn't agree with thier infant training that they would come knocking at my door.

Both of the inspections were "random" but they came when I had a pretty good idea they were coming.

I've had one inspection because of my content on this site. I just pretty much lay in wait for it now.

So girlfriend just gear up. You might get lucky and it might not happen. Just get your jazz in line and if they come.... answer the door with "come on in... I've been expecting you".

[Unregistered]

Seriously.... In our area we can barely even get our licensors to come out before our license expires and we get kicked off the food program. Never had a random inspection, nor has anyone I know of.

[JaydensMommy]

Thanks for your advice Nan. I think I will just prepare myself but try not to worry about it.

[mom2many]

I have to agree with Nan on this one...I've only had a couple of disgruntled parents call licensing with bogus complaints, when I was forced to term them. Once I even gave them the "heads up" to expect a call when DCD cussed me and my 5 year old daughter out on the morning I termed him. It didn't matter what he had done...I was guilty of all of his charges, until they did an investigation.
Just be prepared for them to come out and realize they are only doing their jobs. It's unfortunate that people will sometimes retaliate like this, but try not to let it stress you out.

[Squirrel]

I've never had a surprise inspection. I called my licensor once because of a client who was irate because I refused care due to non-payment and then even more so since I termed him on the spot. She told me they pretty much filter it out and only look into real accusations. Either way I am always ready for an inspection and have everything good to go since my food program person can show up at any time. Though I'm usually good at psychically determining when she's showing up.

[MarinaVanessa]

I would offer the money back. You feel you can not provide services to this family anymore and therefore need to return the money she has offered in exchange for you providing services.

The DCM gave her money to watch her kids for the next two-weeks and then the DC provider gave the DCM a two weeks notice. The money that was given to the DC provider would cover the two-weeks period and the DC provider was willing to take care of the kids during this time so why would she need to return the money if she has done exactly what is required of her?

The DCM was the one that decided not to take her kids to DC at all. The daycare provider didn't say that DC child couldn't finish off their two-week termination period. The mom decided to leave before the time was up and the contract says that clients have to pay for the final two-weeks regardless of whether or not they decide to take the kids so there's no way that the DC provider is required to give the money back.

She paid 2 weeks ahead assuming you would hold up your end of the bargain. Unless you expect people to pay every morning I think it is unfair not to return the money.

She did hold up her end of the bargain. She gave the mom a 2 week notice of termination and was willing to take care of the kids during that time like the contract says. The mom didn't want to stay and that's her choice but she needs to pay for that time, it's in their contract and this policy is very common.

If anyone told me they wanted me to find another provider- even if they were honest and told me the truth I would expect that they would not want my kid back not even one more day and would then not charge me.

If you were my client and you thought this, you would be "expecting" wrong. If I did not want to take care of your child "even one more day" I would terminate your child immediately. Why would I give you a two-weeks notice then?

Sounds like you want time to fill the spot which I think is unfair.

The two-weeks termination period is a common policy in family daycare homes. It makes sure that the parent has enough time to find another DC provider so that they aren't left having to miss work all of a sudden AND gives the DC provider time to find a client to take their space. It's a policy that protects BOTH people, not just the provider.

[Cat Herder]

Seriously.... In our area we can barely even get our licensors to come out before our license expires and we get kicked off the food program. Never had a random inspection, nor has anyone I know of.

I want to move where you live....

[ShortyMom]

saying "he does well at home" and then saying "well he does cry but gets over it quickly" lets you know that she IS aware of what you are talking about but the difference at home is that the parents do a mad scramble to give him whatever he wants so he "gets over it quickly".

I am guessing this is the case, too. Some parents tend to baby their children (especially if this is their only/first) more than they realise (it's natural!), whereas you the provider not only have more children to care for, but have "been around the block", so to speak, and know that giving a child everything they need right away/picking them up/etc just to avoid crying doesn't help child or provider. My friend runs a daycare and in all the cases of fussy baby, this is the case. Especially if mom tends to pick baby up at every little whimper at home. Children "test" all providers, at every age. My daughter gives her father and maternal grandmother (we are separated) attitude that would NEVER fly at home, only because he lets her and she can get what she wants from them if she throws a big enough fit (and she is five).