Late collections

[emloujar]

Hi have been reading all great advice on payments. Writting notes to try to make a start on getting this sorted. I can not seem to find out what people do when someone turns up late. eg child parent id due at 5pm stroll in at 5.15 do you charge all of the hour or part. Also what if it is after your normal working hours is that even extra. Two more sorry. How long do you leave it to contact them if late and then contact next on list if you cant get them. Last one What if them being late makes you over numbers is that ok its not our fault but if regular occurance i suppose could cause trouble. Many thanks so much to think about

[sarahnev707]

I give them 10 minutes then charge @ £4/hour and add it up daily, so if they're late today 20 mins (I charge for 10), plus tomorrow 15 mins (I charge for 5).... so I'd be due an extra £1 - does that make sense?

I don't charge extra if it's after my working hours - but no reason why you shouldn't

My 'procedure for uncollected children' says that if i haven't heard from parents within 30 mins of expected pick-up time, I will try to contact them. If I can't, I will contact the emergency contacts (while making sure the child is fed, watered and not concerned etc) - you should state exactly what you'd do in that procedure

If it's regular, you have to speak to the parents cos you're not insured and would be in big doodoo.... it's totally unacceptable that they're putting you in this position and risking your career for their lateness. Perhaps they need to change their contract with you? In which case, you need to drop a child or change another child's hours. Don't ever be seen to be over contracted numbers!!

Sarahx

[angeldelight]

I do charge late fees but have never had to enforce it
I do have it in the contract that I charge for parents collecting late though

I think you have to be sensible and use common sense - is the parent using you and just rolls in when she feels like it ?
Or is there a real reason why they are late and they are really sorry ?

Depends what relationship you have with the parent too - all mine are lovely and are really sorry if they are 10 min late so no I would not charge it then

If a parent kept coming 15 min late every evening though I would speak to them about it and ask if they want to change their contract times
It is unfair for others who turn up on time otherwise

Good luck I am sure you will learn along the way and make up your own mind

Angel xx

[emler]

Like Angel, I put it in my contracts that there will be a charge for late collection but to be honest I haven't had to charge anyone yet. There have only ever been a couple of occasions when parents have arrived slightly late & they have always contacted me before hand to let me know the situation. I chose not to charge them (maybe I'm too soft!)
If parents were regularly arriving late then I would definately charge them though.

Emler x

[susan]

if parents are more than 15 mins late I try to contact them and if more than half hour late and i havent heard from them you are suppost to contact social services where i am to inform them. I also make a charge of £5 for late collection as a deterent which so far up to now has work.

xxx

[lisat]

I have also had late collection happen to me! By the same family as mentioned in another of my threads!!!

Not 15 minutes, not an hour, but 2 and a half hours! For the first hour I couldn't contact parents. I know I should have contacted social care, but felt awful! Finally, Mum rang back to say they'd lost track of time and were on their way to collect baby. No apology, dad just walked in, picked baby up and walked out saying see you monday! Over that weekend I typed out an invoice, printed out another copy of my uncollected child policy and handed it to mum on the monday morning. She rang me from work that day to say, before she pays, she's making sure the contract says she should! It took her 3 weeks to pay, but still haven't had an apology to this day! I charge £5per hour for late collections by the way, which I divide into quarters. if they're 15 mins late, add £1.25 on etc...

Oh the joys of childminding ey?!?!?


Lisa xx

[sarsar3nch]

I have never heard of anyone arriving late before.

How can they forget their child for that amount of time, its heartbreaking.

No apology either, there will always be some parents that are like that I suppose, thankfully most are always mortified if they are even a bit late.

I have to say I would be wary of having one child arriving as another is due to leave for that reason, you may go over numbers.

Sarah

[emloujar]

Many thanks for all your help i think i will charge if they are late

[fionamal]

If the parent phones to say that they are stuck in traffic etc then i dont charge.

If they are just late in coming after 15 mins then i will charge then an extra half hour every 15 mins theyre late

[susi513]

I have some parents that pay a full days rate for 8-6pm and over fives pay a session fee til 6pm. some parents pay til 6 even though they might usually collect much earlier; they like the option of being later if need be (eg stopping at shop/bank on way home, meeting/appointment). So for those that are usually earlier I would waive the charge if they were very rarely late.

Other parents have not been very considerate, eg leaving their home at 6pm, booking mot or eyebrow reshaping after work and not having the courtesey to ask me if its okay to be later than the contracted time. Its because of these people making me late for first aid course and ensuring I've had my share of burnt/dried up dinners I changed my contracts -
£5 per 1/2 hour b4 6pm plus £5 per 15 mins after 6pm. I'm told some nurseries & preschools charge £5 per 5 mins.

My policy is to allow 30 mins for parent to contact me (bearing in mind if they're in a traffic jam & driving they shouldn't be using mobile!) members.aol.com/ukchildminder/uncollected.htm