Help

[GirlMomma]

A returning/new client gave me a start date. They call me today and say they can’t start on that date and gave me a different date. I have an enrolled family needing drop in care for a sibling so I took them so I wouldn’t miss out on the income. That family already paid me.

Client calls back an hour later and says they will start on the original date now…? I don’t have the space. She only paid me a non-refundable deposit to hold the spot.

WWYD??

[GirlMomma]

Here’s more to add:

I have one on vacation, which will allow me to take the sibling to fill that spot.

The problem is I have one every other week. DCP pays full tuition whether the child is here or not. Next week is supposed to be the off week, which is why the new/returning family could start on 8/1. The child’s last day is 8/8, school starts on 8/9. I have an assistant for 8/8 so I’m not over ratio. DCP mentioned the child may be here next week, but won’t give me a solid answer - divorced parents can’t figure it out. I’ve been asking all week long for an answer about next week and still nothing. I just told DCP that I need an answer by EOB today.

If you can’t tell, I’m at the point of telling the DCP that’s aging out I am done today and they can figure something else out for next week and the one day the following week - refund them for next week. That would honestly solve the entire problem, but I also don’t want to burn bridges… even though I don’t want this client back.

[GirlMomma]

Blackcat31 saving this for the future. Would you refund?

[Blackcat31]

Nope. I don't issue refund unless it's an extremely weird situation beyond my or the DC families control. This was totally in their control.

[GirlMomma]

Blackcat31 thank you! I’ll have to make sure that’s in my handbook

[BaileeB]

I would tell the person who called and went back and forth on the date that you have a waitlist and you called the next person and filled the spot and they can start on the new start date they gave you. Explain to them that it is a business and when they called and told you they would not be starting, you had to make up for the income so you filled the spot. Explain that her non-refundable deposit will still hold the spot for the new start date but that it isn’t possible for you to take them on the original start date anymore.
Dont feel bad, it isn’t your fault that they are going back and forth and that you made a decision so you wouldn’t miss out on income. They should have had their stuff figured out before they called and changed the plans.

[GirlMomma]

BaileeB that’s where I’m at. I’ve been asking for months if we were going to do a different schedule at school… I’ve been asking for the last day for weeks. It is always changing & its frustrating.

[Alwaysgreener]

I agree with BaileeB first advice. I think you should tell the returning family they can't keep changing things. The returning family is returning because they like your care the first time around and if they are going to leave you because they can't make up their mind over your response to their indecisiveness and maybe they should find other care.

[GirlMomma]

Alwaysgreener I see your point, thank you!

[Blackcat31]

I too would tell starting family that they can't start on the original start date because THEY changed times/dates and can't go back on it now as you filled the spot etc or whatever you want to tell them. It will be a good lesson for them to learn you are a business and you went by what they told you. They won't make that mistake again.

[GirlMomma]

I too would tell starting family that they can't start on the original start date because THEY changed times/dates and can't go back on it now as you filled the spot etc or whatever you want to tell them. It will be a good lesson for them to learn you are a business and you went by what they told you. They won't make that mistake again.

That’s what DH said, too.

So the kid aging out is coming next week. I told the new family that in the hour I was told a different start date than we originally planned on, I filled the spot. They just said “oh okay.”

We’ll see if they start on 8/8. They put a deposit down for the spot - they’d be silly to lose that.