Daycare provider charging different rates per families

[Anonymous]

Op, how are you planning to do this? Your stated you were going to confront the provider, so I'm wondering what you want/hope the outcome to be.
I'm assuming you want your price lowered to what you perceive the other persons rate to be.
A couple things to consider about the fall out about an angry confrontation

1. If the provider says no, won't discuss the other persons rate with you (which are you sure was accurate?), are you going to leave?
2. From number 1, do you have another care situation ready to go? If things get ugly, are you prepared to walk in there and leave your child there every day still? What if she gives you 1 week and you have to find other care, is it worth it?
3. If it gets back to the other parent that you told your mutual provider that she is telling people she pays a lot less, that may be another confrontation and lost relationship

I would tread carefully and be very polite and questioning the rate in a civil and thoughtful manner if you are insisting on doing anything at all (which I wouldn't based on one conversation with someone, but that's me)

[Anonymous]

OP: So hey provider, I was talking to Mrs XYZ and she mentioned she was paying $400 less that I am. What's up with that?

Provider: So, when is your last day?

OP: *walks away tail between legs*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Maybe, just maybe, the other mom didn’t have the price right. Perhaps her husband pays and she is unaware of the total amount. You just don’t know.

What troubles me about your post is the use of the word, “confront,” which implies an angry discussion.
If you believe that you should be paying the same amount, have a discussion with the care provider.
And, it could be, if the other mom is right, that she will insist that the other family pay more each month.
Would that make you happy?

I think the other mom might have gotten it wrong, too. Maybe the otter mom pays every 2 weeks, instead of every month. Then that would mean you two pay about the same. Or Are there extra possible costs that maybe the other mom didn't factor in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MYOB
If you're happy with the care and the price, get over it. If you're not, find another slot. I have no idea what anyone else pays our in-home provider and I don't care. I'm happy with the care and the price I pay.

Exactly, it's her home, her business. What her agreement is with other parents isn't her business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: So hey provider, I was talking to Mrs XYZ and she mentioned she was paying $400 less that I am. What's up with that?

Provider: So, when is your last day?

OP: *walks away tail between legs*

No as a provider I would say my contracts with another parent are between me and them. Hours, prices, age of child..difficulty, supplies is reflective of my pricing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you care op? Were you happy with the care and service before you found this out? You have no idea the financial background of this family. They could be using vouchers, they could have been in financial trouble and they Gabe her a break, they could barter services to make up the difference. Who cares. Its none of your business.

You sound like a nightmare

You always hear complaints about babysitters, centers, etc. but you seldom hear the other side of the coin. Horrible parents, kids with behavior problems because of lack of parenting. Providers have a lot of good stories, and I will tell you there are more good providers then there are parents out there.

[Anonymous]

VOUCHERS!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Op you can decide how much you will pay for daycare and then find a provider that fits your needs. Don't try to negotiate a deal with a provider! They set their rates, you take it or leave it. What other families pay is not part of the equation.
Treat your current provider as if she is caring for your child while you are at work - because she is - until you find a more suitable arrangement. a parent who is confrontational to a daycare provider and then leaves her child there anyway is not thinking about best interest of the child. And i say this as a parent and a former daycare provider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op you can decide how much you will pay for daycare and then find a provider that fits your needs. Don't try to negotiate a deal with a provider! They set their rates, you take it or leave it. What other families pay is not part of the equation.
Treat your current provider as if she is caring for your child while you are at work - because she is - until you find a more suitable arrangement. a parent who is confrontational to a daycare provider and then leaves her child there anyway is not thinking about best interest of the child. And i say this as a parent and a former daycare provider.

She already did and liked the daycare until she found out what the other lady was paying, lol. Might happen at the next daycare. I also happen to think she misunderstood what the other lady was paying though it really doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't think you are crazy for being upset, but I do think others have good points about whether or not you should do anything with this information (or misinformation). If you are happy with the care and the rate is comparable for the area, I would let sleeping dogs lie. And try to negotiate if you have a second child and are going to put him or her there, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't think you are crazy for being upset, but I do think others have good points about whether or not you should do anything with this information (or misinformation). If you are happy with the care and the rate is comparable for the area, I would let sleeping dogs lie. And try to negotiate if you have a second child and are going to put him or her there, too.

+1. OP, I agree with this approach.

I would be mad as hell if someone was paying that much less for the same level of service. That said, what would you do if that really is the case? If your rate got adjusted to equal the other family's, I would fear that the provider then hold some kind of grudge against me/child if s/he is now all of a sudden earning $400 less on a monthly basis regardless of whether it was justified or not in the first place. Obviously, if you are willing to pick up and leave, then I would absolutely get to the bottom of this and put up a stink about it.

Please update us on what you end up doing.

[Anonymous]

Some have company discounts if you are employed by someone they are "partnered" with.

[Anonymous]

If you approached me asking about the agreement I have with another family, I would tell you to mind your own f**king business. Who do you think you are?
This is an agreement between a business and an individual.
Do you go to your bank and say "well my friend only has a 3% interest rate and I pay 5%"? It's none of your business.
If you don't like it, ask to pay a lower rate and prepare to be dropped by the provider. You're already only paying $400/month for care. You're like a child.

[Anonymous]

They might pay less if they are gov't? We got a teacher rate bc we didn't go in the summer/holidays/snow days etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you approached me asking about the agreement I have with another family, I would tell you to mind your own f**king business. Who do you think you are?
This is an agreement between a business and an individual.
Do you go to your bank and say "well my friend only has a 3% interest rate and I pay 5%"? It's none of your business.
If you don't like it, ask to pay a lower rate and prepare to be dropped by the provider.

+1 million!! I mean, really.... people can be so ridiculous.