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

[Anonymous]

I'm new to this. It's been 4 weeks. They asked to pay once a month instead of biweekly last months. It's been over a month now. I have sent the invoice. Should I refuse to work unless I receive payment? I feel bad because she's a single mom. I still need to be paid on time. Is there a polite way to ask? I am planning on sending an email tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

You email a reminder, and ask her point-blank in person the next time you see her.

Then you send a letter saying that care will be refused if you don't receive payment by X date.

Then you follow-through.

(And don't do biweekly payments, that seems like such a hassle. Why can't you do quarterly?)

[Anonymous]

My daycare's standard payment is cash each week at the end of the week. She lets me pay by check because I prepay the entire month, at the beginning of the month.
If someone can't come up with the cash for two weeks, its going to be even harder for them to pay for an entire month at once. I don't think you should allow it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daycare's standard payment is cash each week at the end of the week. She lets me pay by check because I prepay the entire month, at the beginning of the month.
If someone can't come up with the cash for two weeks, its going to be even harder for them to pay for an entire month at once. I don't think you should allow it.

OP here: I do a lot of weekend childcare too so she can go out. This month the bill added up a ton. I think she's bad with budgeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You email a reminder, and ask her point-blank in person the next time you see her.

Then you send a letter saying that care will be refused if you don't receive payment by X date.

Then you follow-through.

(And don't do biweekly payments, that seems like such a hassle. Why can't you do quarterly?)

Quarterly? For home daycare?

I can't imagine how that would work? Pay upfront, and then what happens if the situation changes? Expect someone making home daycare wages to wait 3 months to get paid?

[Anonymous]

I would tell her, "hey, I know money is tight but we agreed upon x amount of money per week. I really can't keep watching your daughter for free."

[Anonymous]

After one incidence of lateness, I’d require her to set up direct deposit. You get paid by her payroll. She can designate your bank account. 50% payment each payroll.

[Anonymous]

Do you have anything in your contract regarding payment or lack of payment?

[Anonymous]

I’m a daycare lady. No way. Cash due next time you see them, or no care. Prepay per week. My parents pay me Friday for the next week up front.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you don’t shut this down soon, she’s going to owe you so much money that SHE will have leverage over YOU. She’ll pay you small amounts, not enough to catch up but enough to keep you giving her more time while she uses up more of your services. Then she’ll owe you so much, you’re not going to want to push your luck for fear of never getting paid.

Remember, if you owe the bank $100, you have a problem. You owe the bank a million dollars, they have a problem. She’s treating you like a lender and running up her tab as much as she can before you stop her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don’t shut this down soon, she’s going to owe you so much money that SHE will have leverage over YOU. She’ll pay you small amounts, not enough to catch up but enough to keep you giving her more time while she uses up more of your services. Then she’ll owe you so much, you’re not going to want to push your luck for fear of never getting paid.

Remember, if you owe the bank $100, you have a problem. You owe the bank a million dollars, they have a problem. She’s treating you like a lender and running up her tab as much as she can before you stop her.

This.

I would insist on payment in full and a deposit.

Send the reminder email. On Monday, if she doesn’t pay, she can’t leave her child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don’t shut this down soon, she’s going to owe you so much money that SHE will have leverage over YOU. She’ll pay you small amounts, not enough to catch up but enough to keep you giving her more time while she uses up more of your services. Then she’ll owe you so much, you’re not going to want to push your luck for fear of never getting paid.

Remember, if you owe the bank $100, you have a problem. You owe the bank a million dollars, they have a problem. She’s treating you like a lender and running up her tab as much as she can before you stop her.

This.

I would insist on payment in full and a deposit.

Send the reminder email. On Monday, if she doesn’t pay, she can’t leave her child.

Op here: I sent her a reminder email and said we need to switch to weekly or biweekly payments. I think I am going to ask to be paid in advance. This lady has already caused a lot of stress with other things. I have been thinking about letting her go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a daycare lady. No way. Cash due next time you see them, or no care. Prepay per week. My parents pay me Friday for the next week up front.

This is EXACTLY the way to go, OP. Just DO it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don’t shut this down soon, she’s going to owe you so much money that SHE will have leverage over YOU. She’ll pay you small amounts, not enough to catch up but enough to keep you giving her more time while she uses up more of your services. Then she’ll owe you so much, you’re not going to want to push your luck for fear of never getting paid.

Remember, if you owe the bank $100, you have a problem. You owe the bank a million dollars, they have a problem. She’s treating you like a lender and running up her tab as much as she can before you stop her.

This.

I would insist on payment in full and a deposit.

Send the reminder email. On Monday, if she doesn’t pay, she can’t leave her child.

Op here: I sent her a reminder email and said we need to switch to weekly or biweekly payments. I think I am going to ask to be paid in advance. This lady has already caused a lot of stress with other things. I have been thinking about letting her go.

She isn't going to pay you, so fill that spot with another family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don’t shut this down soon, she’s going to owe you so much money that SHE will have leverage over YOU. She’ll pay you small amounts, not enough to catch up but enough to keep you giving her more time while she uses up more of your services. Then she’ll owe you so much, you’re not going to want to push your luck for fear of never getting paid.

Remember, if you owe the bank $100, you have a problem. You owe the bank a million dollars, they have a problem. She’s treating you like a lender and running up her tab as much as she can before you stop her.

This.

I would insist on payment in full and a deposit.

Send the reminder email. On Monday, if she doesn’t pay, she can’t leave her child.

Op here: I sent her a reminder email and said we need to switch to weekly or biweekly payments. I think I am going to ask to be paid in advance. This lady has already caused a lot of stress with other things. I have been thinking about letting her go.

She isn't going to pay you, so fill that spot with another family.

Then what is she going to do next week for childcare? I have a key to her house. I have been doing a lot of babysitting on the weekends for her. My child is also best friends with her daughter. I don't think she's going to bail out.