Feel badly treated and like giving up CM

[bigwigdig]

I work so hard to ensure dc have a great time and are comfortable with me and i love the kids. But i've had such a crappy week with parents taking the mickey. I am new to this and i've been too soft on letting parents off payment when their dc don't come etc. This has now backfired in that they think they can just decide on the day that their dc aren't coming turn up late etc. and i feel really used. Help me get my business head on - i feel like giving up.

Oh dear. Don't want to sound patronising, but you really have learnt the hard way. I was the same as you when I started out. I felt embarrassed asking for fees - now I see it as they should be the ones feeling embarrassed by me having to ask.

You should firstly introduce a late collection fee. Some childminders charge a set £5 for example. I charge double fee rounded to the next 15mins. Certainly makes parents more punctual - and makes you feel a little less annoyed too.

As for late fees - I charge £5 per day late payment fee. Having said that, I usually overlook the charge for my established families. They take the mickey too - 2 of my families haven't paid what was due on 1st March

I have really toughened up. Some parents really do take advantage. However, some families are a pleasure to work with and it makes the job worthwhile.

I personally think you should sit and list yourself all the issues you want to change. You need to put it all in a letter to your families stating this and what new policies are now in place. Do it NOW saying 'As from 1st April...' Gives them all 4 weeks notice about policy change. You could say it is to do with the new financial year?!

Good luck.

Don't give up!

I don't know how long you have had these parents, but you might say you need to have a contract review and then go through what is and isn't acceptable in terms of flexibility, swapping days etc. (If they haven't been with you long you could suggest that this is all very routine following a few weeks/months of checking out how well the contract terms fit the family's needs). Maybe even suggest that if what they want is more than you are willing to offer for your current prices, then this is what you would charge for the arrangements they do want, and do new contracts accordingly. You can always give notice to any persistent mickey-takers and start afresh with some new families - this time you will know to lay down the ground rules more firmly.

Thank you for being so lovely. I am genuinely thinking about giving notice to one unreliable mickey taker as i feel i don't need the hassle. Great idea about sending out letters as well bigpaws. But still feeling incredibly p----d off and worried my enthusiasm is fading.

I know how you feel. I have lovely parents but I hate it when they come late and tell me what a hard day they have had. I have started putting the kids in their coats and sticking the telly on if they are late - I have my family to think about after all.
Def renew your policies and contract and if the parents don't like it - well they can look elsewhere but I am sure they won't. I know it's hard to give up a child but believe me the parents would not think twice about leaving you in the lurch if something better came along.
I have just updated my policy on drop off and pick up - all it was was a simple 'please let me know if you are coming at a different time to normal' and has anyone let me know??? No - they are still coming earlier in the morning and late in the evening. Fair enough they are entitled to as they pay me for my full working hours however long they take but I have my routine based on what hours they are meant to come. It's a pain when you are giving dinner and parents turn up to collect

I can sympathise. I have one mum in particular who is currently taking the piss big time. 25 mins late yesterday. Called at pick up time to say she hadn't left the office yet - no explanation as to why not.... It is hard as she was a friend prior to me looking after her child. I think i need to introduce really harsh late fees, as if it is not ridiculously expensive, she'll be happy to just pay it as she has loads of cash. She made my dds bed time late and i was not impressed!

it is hard but after 12 years of minding I've got tough!I tell myself that, if they were at a nursery,preschool,after school club etc then the parents wouldn't be able or allowed to take the mickey,so why should I??