I have an in home daycare and the parents haven't paid in over a month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you tell her yet, OP??

Yes I sent her an email and a text message. I sent another text and explained at this point I'm really upset. She responded that she's been sleeping all this time and said wow I can't believe you're this upset. She's so immature. Who sleeps until 12 noon when they have a toddler?

[Anonymous]

It is challenging, but moving forward it is best to leave emotions out of your contact with her. Do you have a Parent Handbook and contract? If so use your wording from those sources and enforce them. If you don't have a contract with your clients at this time, I recommend one going forward. At this point it will be difficult to recover a working relationship with this particular client. She does not respect/value you and the service your business provides enough to pay you. Out of curiosity is she working or going out on weekends, where you have provided overtime?

Due to not making payments when payments were due, I would move her to a prepay contract. No pay, no services provided. Overtime weekend care would be paid upfront at time of booking. Chances are now that you begin to enforce policies, she will seek care elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is challenging, but moving forward it is best to leave emotions out of your contact with her. Do you have a Parent Handbook and contract? If so use your wording from those sources and enforce them. If you don't have a contract with your clients at this time, I recommend one going forward. At this point it will be difficult to recover a working relationship with this particular client. She does not respect/value you and the service your business provides enough to pay you. Out of curiosity is she working or going out on weekends, where you have provided overtime?

Due to not making payments when payments were due, I would move her to a prepay contract. No pay, no services provided. Overtime weekend care would be paid upfront at time of booking. Chances are now that you begin to enforce policies, she will seek care elsewhere.

OP here. She's going out on the weekends. I really want to drop her as a client at this point. I will probably have to sue in small claims court. She owes me over 1k.

[Anonymous]

I would send a brief email that her account needs to be paid in full before she can drop her child off for care this week. Sometimes you get lucky and they manage to round up payment. If she rebuttals, keep replying with a simple repeat of "Your account needs to be paid in full before childcare will resume."

Do you have a signed contract with her? If so that will help with collecting payment, should she not show up with payment this week.

This week sounds like a good week to end care. I would not announce that now though. If she knows care will end anyhow, there is little incentive for her to pay what is owed promptly. It's hard, but important to stand firm and not provide and more services risking being owed even more. The longer a client gets behind on payment, the more challenging it becomes for them to ever get caught up.
If she does not pay up this week, I would attempt one more letter letting her know you will be turning her account over to a collection agency should she not pay by a set date you decide on.

[Anonymous]

Also make sure all communication with her is something you can keep a record of. Keep all emails & texts, for her file. Especially if you have documentation where she admits that services were provided. That she admits she was happy with the care you provided and that she owes you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would send a brief email that her account needs to be paid in full before she can drop her child off for care this week. Sometimes you get lucky and they manage to round up payment. If she rebuttals, keep replying with a simple repeat of "Your account needs to be paid in full before childcare will resume."

Do you have a signed contract with her? If so that will help with collecting payment, should she not show up with payment this week.

This week sounds like a good week to end care. I would not announce that now though. If she knows care will end anyhow, there is little incentive for her to pay what is owed promptly. It's hard, but important to stand firm and not provide and more services risking being owed even more. The longer a client gets behind on payment, the more challenging it becomes for them to ever get caught up.
If she does not pay up this week, I would attempt one more letter letting her know you will be turning her account over to a collection agency should she not pay by a set date you decide on.

Op here. She responded and said she doesn't have the money and needs to pay me next check. She also says that I am harassing her for the money and she doesn't want me to take care of her daughter anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would send a brief email that her account needs to be paid in full before she can drop her child off for care this week. Sometimes you get lucky and they manage to round up payment. If she rebuttals, keep replying with a simple repeat of "Your account needs to be paid in full before childcare will resume."

Do you have a signed contract with her? If so that will help with collecting payment, should she not show up with payment this week.

This week sounds like a good week to end care. I would not announce that now though. If she knows care will end anyhow, there is little incentive for her to pay what is owed promptly. It's hard, but important to stand firm and not provide and more services risking being owed even more. The longer a client gets behind on payment, the more challenging it becomes for them to ever get caught up.
If she does not pay up this week, I would attempt one more letter letting her know you will be turning her account over to a collection agency should she not pay by a set date you decide on.

Op here. She responded and said she doesn't have the money and needs to pay me next check. She also says that I am harassing her for the money and she doesn't want me to take care of her daughter anymore.

Let her know she has until next week to pay or you will file in small claims court.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so that's a start. Print her communication with you out and put in her file. It shows she knows she owes money. Is not paying when due, and that she has opted to end care.

Send a brief email along the lines of: I have received your email (or text) indicating that you wish to end our child care arrangement effective immediately. Regarding payment owed for childcare services already provided please make payment of $xxxx by February 17th. Should payment not be received by then, I will be filing in small claims court (or turning account over to collections agency).

Then wait. If nothing received, then send a certified letter of amount owed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so that's a start. Print her communication with you out and put in her file. It shows she knows she owes money. Is not paying when due, and that she has opted to end care.

Send a brief email along the lines of: I have received your email (or text) indicating that you wish to end our child care arrangement effective immediately. Regarding payment owed for childcare services already provided please make payment of $xxxx by February 17th. Should payment not be received by then, I will be filing in small claims court (or turning account over to collections agency).

Then wait. If nothing received, then send a certified letter of amount owed.

Op here. Thanks so much for helping me with this. It has been so stressful. My husband thinks I should show up at her work and complain to the receptionist or manager about the unpaid bill. That seems a bit dramatic. She works at a small company so it could work.

[Anonymous]

^ Don't do that. Do what PP suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would send a brief email that her account needs to be paid in full before she can drop her child off for care this week. Sometimes you get lucky and they manage to round up payment. If she rebuttals, keep replying with a simple repeat of "Your account needs to be paid in full before childcare will resume."

Do you have a signed contract with her? If so that will help with collecting payment, should she not show up with payment this week.

This week sounds like a good week to end care. I would not announce that now though. If she knows care will end anyhow, there is little incentive for her to pay what is owed promptly. It's hard, but important to stand firm and not provide and more services risking being owed even more. The longer a client gets behind on payment, the more challenging it becomes for them to ever get caught up.
If she does not pay up this week, I would attempt one more letter letting her know you will be turning her account over to a collection agency should she not pay by a set date you decide on.

Op here. She responded and said she doesn't have the money and needs to pay me next check. She also says that I am harassing her for the money and she doesn't want me to take care of her daughter anymore.

That is textbook deadbeat. She turns it so she has a problem with YOU trying to get your money. She will never pay, and will act hurt.

Anonymous wrote:And I think you're jumping to conclusions. I don't immediately think the worst of people. I have known this woman for many months. I was never paid in advance when I worked as a nanny. I will change my payment schedule now.

Still feel this way? You wrote it Yesterday.

[Anonymous]

You are welcome. I have been a provider for many years. You learn as you go. Often the hard way!

If you sent acknowledgement that care has ended and a date for payment needing to be paid, I recommend not discussing it any further with her. You have said all that needs to be said, and she can not accuse you of harassment. Should she email you back, the only emails I would respond to at this time are arranging full payment during the time you set. As she is no longer a client she should not show up during business hours to pay. Unless you have a drop box for payment. You do not need a scene in front of other clients, or the other daycare children. An e-transfer would be ideal. If you have items that belong to her like the key and items that belong to the child, I would arrange pick up of them outside or daycare hours, or mail them. If she picks up, have her sign a form saying all personal items have been returned. You can not without these items due to failure to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Don't do that. Do what PP suggested.

She should do that. It will scare her.

[Anonymous]

Do not show up at her place of work.

Keep all that you do very business like and professional.

Now should she not pay and you opt to turn it over to a collection agency, they may very well contact her at home and work frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Don't do that. Do what PP suggested.

She should do that. It will scare her.

It won’t scare her, she’s a deadbeat. Showing up at her work will only give her another excuse to not pay. She was going to pay, but then you harassed her at work, yada, yada, yada