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  • #1

    Soon To Be Holding Fee

    My newest DCM is expecting come 2021. I do not remember the date but it falls Jan/Feb time frame. DCB is just about to age up, leaving an infant opening. I am getting calls for infants currently and have a waiting list.

    I need to get them locked into a contract for the baby to be. I don't have any template for this situation and truly have never successfully added a sibling. Something always happens from DCM becoming a stay-at-home mom to me having a baby to terming. So this will be my first, maybe...

    I have an FMLA policy that allows them to continue bringing DCB, paying a holding fee, or leaving (waiting list). I am emailing them a letter asking them to choose what they want to do. If they choose the waitlist then I am going to start replacing them.

    But if they choose one of the other 2, then I need to explain that they need to hold the baby to be the spot.

    When is the best time to start charging the holding fee?

    What is your soon-to-be holding fee policy?


    Last edited by Alwaysgreener; 11-17-2021, 09:38 PM.
    Tags: holding spot agreement, holding spot fee, holding spot letter
  • #2
    I don't have a holding fee policy. I find holding fees to be an outdated social concept that leaves business women without income in an effort to "be nice".

    My message to DCM would be "Good morning!! I have an infant slot available as of 12/20/21. Let me know if you want it by closing time, this Friday and I will start invoicing it to you on 12/18/21. Thanks!"

    If she says not at this time I'd send "Ok. I will add you to the waitlist. There are currently nine families waiting before you, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are planning to keep big brother here next year or let me know what date his slot will be available for others. Thanks!"

    I would then send the first invoice on the Saturday prior to the open slot. All slots paid in advance. No holding fees. No enrollment fees. No deposits. No fuss. No muss.
    • 3 likes

    Comment

    • Alwaysgreener
      #2.1
      Alwaysgreener commented
      11-18-2021, 07:05 AM
      Editing a comment
      Oh my holding fee is just a discounted weekly rate. So the may pay $75 instead of a $100. I figure the $25 is just money I am not spending on food and supplies because the child is not actually here. It also says you can't just show up to drop off just because you paid, I need to know you are would like to come.
  • #3
    I had the same situation come up recently. Kids were aging out and up and once school started in September I would have an opening. A current family had a baby in August and mentioned that they wanted baby to come full time with sibling after maternity leave. I didn't have an opening until school started. I told them the spot was their under certain conditions. Older sibling normally attended 3 days a week W-F but once baby was born the scheduled changed to 4 days a week T-F. Fine again. No fee for baby space.

    Then school started and I had an open space. If parents wanted the space they paid the full fee. If not, I'd fill with someone else as infant space is hard to find.
    They could leave older sibling in care but I would no longer guarantee space for baby. Parents talked about it and decided to leave older sibling in care 4 days and pay for baby space in full. Oddly they still haven't mentioned a start date for infant, although I have taken the baby a day here and there but nothing full time or on a regular basis.

    I dont care either way as I really don't like baby's in care...lol! and because they are paying in full without question so the space is theirs whether they actually use it or not.

    Like CH said, I wasn''t really wanting to hold it for a partial fee because that only makes finances easier for them not me.

    • 1 like

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    • #4
      no holding fee here unless you pay 100% of the spot....no pay, no spot! Have a dcm due this month but right now her spot will not be available until May 24....told her if I received notice on a child beforehand, I will let her know.

      Comment

      • #5
        How does this sound...

        I wanted to touch base with you regarding your plans for child care for DCB after the birth of the baby. Per the daycare FMLA policy, you have 3 options, please let me know which one you are choosing…

        Option 1 - continued enrollment as normal, nothing changes
        Option 2 - paying a weekly holding fee of $32 a week, your child may not attend
        Option 3 - be placed on a waiting list, a two-week notice in writing is required, your space may not be held and re-enrollment cannot be guaranteed

        If you choose option 1 or 2 and want to reserve a spot for the baby, we will need to get a new contract signed for the baby. Due to the high demand for infant care currently, I am unable to hold an infant spot without payment.

        I will need to know your decision by December 1st so I can let any callers and those on my waiting list the status of my infant opening.

        Please also include the due date/planned delivery date, so that I can prepare either way.

        Thank you for understanding
        • 1 like

        Comment

        • GirlMomma
          #5.1
          GirlMomma commented
          11-19-2021, 04:46 AM
          Editing a comment
          Looks good to me!
        • Alwaysgreener
          #5.2
          Alwaysgreener commented
          11-20-2021, 09:55 PM
          Editing a comment
          Thank you Girlmomma
      • #6
        Ugh. They are asking if the holding fee pays for both spots and can dcb attend one day a week.

        My response

        When you choose option 2 to hold the spot, the holding fee just holds the one spot at a discounted rate. DCB would not be able to attend unless an additional $16 for that day is paid. With the current rate of inflation and the current high demand for infant spots, I am unable to hold any spot without payment.

        Is my response clear? Should I add any more?

        Comment

        • livinglife
          #6.1
          livinglife commented
          11-22-2021, 04:17 AM
          Editing a comment
          I'd leave out the inflation rate and high demand portion. You don't owe them that type of explanation and it's none of their business.

          Everything else is clear.

          Tbh, I highly doubt these people don't already assume that they'd have to pay for both the son to attend and the holding fee for the other baby. Their question reminds me of the times I've been asked a question by a parent that feels like they're trying to bargain with me or slip by an obvious policy. I think it gets worse with sibling groups because many parents don't have the money to pay for childcare for two kids, or just don't want to, but completely ignore that and decide to have another kid before the 2nd one is in public school.
      • #7
        Originally posted by Alwaysgreener View Post
        Ugh. They are asking if the holding fee pays for both spots and can dcb attend one day a week.

        My response

        When you choose option 2 to hold the spot, the holding fee just holds the one spot at a discounted rate. DCB would not be able to attend unless an additional $16 for that day is paid. With the current rate of inflation and the current high demand for infant spots, I am unable to hold any spot without payment.

        Is my response clear? Should I add any more?
        Agreed; yes or no works best.....no explanation needed! Clients do not hear it anyway...

        Comment

        • #8
          Originally posted by Alwaysgreener View Post
          Ugh. They are asking if the holding fee pays for both spots and can dcb attend one day a week.

          My response

          When you choose option 2 to hold the spot, the holding fee just holds the one spot at a discounted rate. DCB would not be able to attend unless an additional $16 for that day is paid. With the current rate of inflation and the current high demand for infant spots, I am unable to hold any spot without payment.

          Is my response clear? Should I add any more?
          To be honest, I am kind of confused.

          I think you should address the fees directly.

          For eample:
          • Option #1 Pay $X to hold spot for DCB with NO attendance. $X covers DCB space ONLY. I will hold space at this rate for a max of X weeks.
          • Option #2 Continue paying $X per week with DCB attending as normal AND pay $X for baby's space beginning on 12/1/2021 (or whatever date your infant space becomes available).
          • Option #3 Withdraw from care and risk loss of DCB's space as well as available space for infant.

          I would include a comment about infant space being in high demand and people being on wait list wanting infant space as this info will not only help them understand your position but push them to make a choice about their plans now so you know.

          Just my opinion.

          Comment

          • #9
            They did not let me know, (I gave them until December 1). Dcm even said at pick up that they would let me know by via email that night and there is still no email.

            Now what do I do?

            Comment

            • Blackcat31
              #9.1
              Blackcat31 commented
              12-02-2021, 07:31 AM
              Editing a comment
              Move on. No answer is their answer I guess. If you have other families wanting infant space, I'd contact them but no way would I hold a space, worry about a space or try to revisit the topic with a family that isn't willing to communicate in a timely manner (especially when given a deadline) and considering they know infant space is hard to come by.

              Most families that need infant space completely understand that they need to act fast to secure space if they find it. This family didn't do that. I think that is their answer.

              I probably wouldn't say a word about it and let it be. Their loss.
            • Alwaysgreener
              #9.2
              Alwaysgreener commented
              12-02-2021, 09:31 AM
              Editing a comment
              They responded after I posted with option two. I was hoping for option one, to keep him on my schedule but oh well I will get to sleep in on Monday again.
          • #10
            I believe you have every right to move on and fill the spots. If they’re a decent family, maybe give them until the EOB today to let you know.
            • 1 like

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