Childcare providers: What is a reasonable late fee?

[phathui5]

For the first time, I have a parent who's consistantly late and not at all apologetic about it. On Tuesday, when she showed up 28 minutes late to pick up her kid, she told me that her pickup time is more of a range and she could be up to 20 minutes before or after (she's only come "before" once in four months).

She also made a comment about how she didn't realize that I was "waiting with baited breath." So I'm feeling like she doesn't respect my time or the fact that when she's late, I can't get off work even though my "hours" are up.

Can you help me come up with a reasonable late fee?

[just_lily]

My late fee in my contracts is $20 an hour. I have heard of more. I guess it all depends on how much you really don't want people to be late.

I have never had to charge it though. The only times a parent has been really late they have called to make sure it was ok, and it was always exceptional circumstances (like Grandma in the hospital), so I didn't have a problem with it.

I do have "hours" though... from 7:30am to 5:30pm. So I am ok with a parent being 45 minutes late if they were supposed to be here at 4pm, but really annoyed if a 5:30 pickup is even 15 minutes late.

It does annoy me though when people are late, for drop offs or pick ups. Whenever anybody comes to our door it involves dogs barking and kids yelling and general chaos. So I will put off going to the bathroom myself, or changing a diaper, etc. if I am expecting someone to show up any minute. But I figure it all just comes with the territory.

Ugh.

[habitat]

This woman is NOT respecting your time.

By what formula do you charge (weekly, daily, by the hour?)

If she's paying by the hour, I would simply say that you have to bill her for every hour her child is in your care.

If she's paying by the day or week, I would kindly ask her to work with you to establish a time that by which she can commit to picking him up. I would also tell her that you have a new late policy. Maybe $20-$25 per hour seems good if there are still other kids there. Once it's after your "hours" (when you're supposed to be using your time to focus on yourself and your family), I would charge $1 per minute. Ideally, you'd type it all out and have all the parents sign one so it doesn't look like you're just picking on her. To the other parents, explain that it's a way to help keep pick-up times consistent, and genuinely thank them for doing that so well for you already and that you're only asking them to sign to keep everything fair amongst your clients. You can also stipulate that 1 mistake up to a 1/2 hour over-time is allowed per month, or something like that. Also, make sure that the parents know that they can approach you if they have a particular concern or emergency.

Let us know how it goes.



Good luck!

[April411]

At the preschool where I work they charge the parents 50 cents for every minute. They invoice the parents weekly and if they do not pay their late fees they are discharged.There are a few parents who can't make it at the pick up time so they have made an agreement with the director to pay a certain amount for the extra time that their child is in care. You should probably say to your parent, " I have noticed you have been picking up your child at x time for the last week. I'd like to remind you that my hours are from x time to x time. If you are unable to pick her up on time we can we can agree to a set fee for the extra time your child is in care." You can suggest a fee of something like $10. If the parents respects you she will be willing to compensate you for your time.

[moondiapers]

I used to charge $5 for every 15min late, or portion there of....but now it's $1 per minute.

[shelley4]

i do $5 for every 15 mins late, but it's very common around here to charge $1 per minute.

[nalo]

The daycare I used to work at (very high quality) took their teachers' time very seriously and wanted them to get to leave on time. They charged a dollar per minute for late fees. 10 minutes late = $10 fee. It won't happen very often with this type of fee!!

[yitlan]

$1 per minute if it's after your closing time or if it causes you to be overbooked/have too many kids. Now, if she's just late and you are still open and watching other kids, definitely charge her for the time and maybe tack on to that a more modest late fee?