Family accepted place verbal now phoning around for places????

[weekendgirl66]

Phone call went well they came to visit Mom seemed thrilled asking when she should pay the deposit to secure the place, she txt me to ask me when i wanted the deposit, ive emailed her the starters pack now just been to baby group to be informed ( it came pout in conversation) She has called one of my friends who is also a Childminder to ask if she has places... I dont get it WHY??... I have called her and left a message asking if she had received my email and if everything is still go for September as i have had other enquirers ( which i have and turned away thinking i was full), no reply and im not expecting one to be honest, Sorry just needed to vent really.

So did she pay the deposit? And did your friend have a place for her?

Perhaps just email her and say that if she does not pay the deposit by X date, the place can no longer be held for her.
And tell enquirers that you may have a place but are waiting to have a final confirmation and would they like you to call them on Y date (day after) to tell them whether or not the place is free.

till you have the deposit you are not full/have spaces if anyone asks

Something has changed. Did you provide references?

She txt me asking when i required the deposit i replied ASAP to secure the place, She hasnt paid, i have txt her to ask her if she still requires the place she hasnt replied and i have a feeling she wont,, Yes she was thrilled with references,, something clearly has changed, just leaves me feeling WHY

I think all you can do is keep it professional, let her know that no contact and no deposit (maybe give her a date a week ahead, in case she is on holiday or something) means place is no longer held for her, and wish her well.

Thank you yes i will , just tops of a very very bad week really, eveything happens for a reason ay

Be professional, send her an email/letter with X number of days to pay or you'll release the place.

I'm not a CM but i run a motorhome hire business and i've had so many cases of people really wanting the motorhomes and then disappearing off the face of the earth.

First year i gave people ages to pay and lost business with an empty van sat on the drive, this year its 5 days to pay or I let it go to someone else. It's not your booking until you've paid (or phoned me to explain why you haven't paid yet!) It's awful having to send the emails but you have a business to run and a mortgage/rent to pay & mouths to feed.

I would forget her and contact some of those other families.

I never consider a place taken until they have signed on the dotted line and paid the deposit.

Once they say yes I arrange a meeting as soon as possible. If they prevaricate I just once politely remind them that the place isn't theirs until the Contract is signed and the Deposit paid.

Never, never consider the place filled until you have the deposit (voice of bitter experience).

We once had a parent that reserved a place with every childminder in town before finally going with a nursery because she didn't want to lose her deposit. Some people are just inconsiderate and selfish.

It is annoying. I have had the same thing happen a couple of times. I think some people say yes they want the place just to keep their options open (as they see it) and then continue looking around. Sometimes they then come back, but trust is lost. I try to be ready with all the figures so that if someone says they want the place, I can immediately say well I will need a deposit of X to secure it, and how would you like to pay that?

The weirdest thing She called me and still wants the place has taken all my details to make deposit payment ( by vouchers so may take a few days) Strange, will await payment of deposit, which is quiet steep so i can understand her wanting to use vouchers ( she has 2 places full time 4 days a week, and accumulated vouchers after maternity leave),, As i say strange..

Just checking ... You are registered with the voucher company she's using ???

I agree with the others, I never ever turn down another enquiry or consider a place gone until the deposit is safely in my bank account. I keep interviewing any interested parents and inform them all that the first to pay the deposit gets the space. I have had several parents confirm verbally and then change their mind/vanish off the face the earth at the last minute.