Contract Questions for Doulas...

[redpajama]

Okay, I'm finally working on a contract--something I've neglected to do for a while. I found some examples online and used them as a guide as I wrote mine. But have some questions.

Regarding fees/refunds, I noticed that different doulas had different policies with regard to this, and I'm curious what others think. Assuming that I collect 50% of my fee as a "retainer" when we sign the contract, and the other 50% at 38 weeks, under what circumstances would a full or partial refund be appropriate (in your opinion)?
What if they don't call me when she goes into labor (for whatever reason)--do I owe them a refund?
What if she schedules a c-section and doesn't want me to attend the birth?
What if they call me and deliver before I'm able to get there (assuming it's because the birth is quick, not because I'm slow to get out-the-door)?
What if your client delivers at 36 weeks, when you weren't yet "on-call," and you were too far away to make it to the birth, or couldn't attend for one-reason-or-another?

I guess I'm just feeling as though, when I start putting all of this stuff in writing (in the contract) that I need to be prepared for how all of these different situations would be handled. And I guess I was surprised by some doulas' policies regarding situations like these. So...what do you think? When does a doula owe her client a full or partial refund?

[gentleheartdoula]

In my contract, I only give refunds for me or my back-up missing the birth due to our errors. I don't give refunds if they don't call because it takes a lot of planning and work on your part to get your life and kids prepared for your absence. I've also had doula friends who refund if they aren't called and the client decides to save the $ and not call. And, you're losing money because of their decision (you could have had a client due in that time frame that would have called).

I think refunding for an elective c-section is also iffy because VBAC moms need tons of prenatal support and may end up with a elective section anyway. And you can still provide postpartum care to her.

I am also debating about the fast labor thing. That's really nobody's fault if I can't make it, but it goes back to the whole preparation and the stress of being on call. That's worth something!

If I do give refunds, its only for half. The rest considered payment for the prenatal visits.

I'm new at this and none of these situations have come up for me yet. It might be interesting to hear from doulas who have more experience with refunds.

What do clients expect?

[memiles]

My refund policies-
*50% due upon signing as a retainer, non-refundable.
*50% due at 37 weeks, when I go on call for their birth. I will go if called for a pre-term birth, hopefully this will never bite me in the butt.

*The second half is refundable only if I miss the birth due to an error on my part. In case of a fast labor or such or scheduled surgical birth, I do allow them to use the money paid for postpartum doula care. One client has taken me up on it for the scheduled c/s, the rest have wanted me to attend the birth and help with early breastfeeding.

[lilsishomemade]

I do not refund for things that are out of my control. I would refund half if I didn't show up to a birth because of something *I* did, but if they decide not to call, decide to do a c/sec, have a fast birth and I can't make it (I have it in my contract that they should give me at least x amt of time after calling before being able to head to their house, because of my kids. So, if they call and that amount of time hasn't passed and they deliver, it's not considered because of me taking my time to leave, does that make sense?), then I don't refund.

[tlcdoula]

What if they don't call me when she goes into labor (for whatever reason)--do I owe them a refund? Then they do not get a refund!

What if she schedules a c-section and doesn't want me to attend the birth? Then she doesn't get a refund!

What if they call me and deliver before I'm able to get there (assuming it's because the birth is quick, not because I'm slow to get out-the-door)? I may or may not give a refund on this one. My contract says I won't, but I might.I think for me it would truly depend on if the labor really was that fast or did they just wait to call me because I require all my clients to call me the second they think they are in labor to give me a heads up.

What if your client delivers at 36 weeks, when you weren't yet "on-call," and you were too far away to make it to the birth, or couldn't attend for one-reason-or-another? If the client delivers early and I am away then my back up would be on call for me so she should call the back up and all fees remain the same. Whenever I am away (or my back up is away) we know it and cover for one another. For example, my back up had a client that was 33 weeks and went into labor while my back up - her doula, was out of town. I attended the birth in her place and all fees remained the same. I wouldn't think of going out of town and not having someone covering for me because you just never know.

[redpajama]

Yeah--I guess this is mostly what I expected and thought. I saw several doulas contracts online that said that if a client didn't call them when she went into labor, they would refund 50% of her money, which surprised me. Same thing with c-sections.