When friends become SCs... (help needed)

[Android Kaeli]

I'd say a late fee as well, but make it high enough that it'll deter any other problems in the future. Tell your wife that it should be $50 per ten minutes over and, no, I'm not joking -- tell every parent that starting on X day, for every ten minutes they are late picking up their kid, they will be charged an extra $50.

[Primer]

Perhaps when your wife needs to run errands after 6:15, she can take the child with her on the errands? That way the child is not unattended, your wife gets her errands done, and the friend gets inconvienced in not being able to pick up the child on her own disfunctional schedule. Or maybe just drop the child of at the friend's house police station while running her errands.

Or post a sign that says: Any child remaining after 6:15 gets a free puppy and espresso. And really do it.

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one considering taking the kid along on the errands. Turn off all the lights, lock up the house, and leave. Don't let the mom know that the kid is safe with you, but don't show back up at home till after 8:00. If once doesn't do the trick, then yes, definitely charge an exorbitant late fee and or turn the child over to CPS or the police as having been abandoned.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one considering taking the kid along on the errands. Turn off all the lights, lock up the house, and leave. Don't let the mom know that the kid is safe with you, but don't show back up at home till after 8:00. If once doesn't do the trick, then yes, definitely charge an exorbitant late fee and or turn the child over to CPS or the police as having been abandoned.

Actually my wife mentioned this very approach earlier today. It may be the best way to drive the point home (no pun intended).

[EricKei]

If this can be solved by reasoning with the friend -- who is definitely taking advantage of your wife -- that would likely be best. If that doesn't work, then yeah, applying a late fee to everyone is the way to go, so that noone can claim to have been singled out

[plantlvr]

All great advice seen, but i don't get the 'take the kid with you' bit. Why should the caretaker have to do this? It's not her fault mommy isn't there AGAIN.
I say give the 'friend' a 2 week notice that she's quitting being the childs daycare because of her lateness, maybe that will snap some sense in her.

[Teefies2]

I also agree with all the business advice that has been given and the novelty approaches EXCEPT the person who said turn out the lights and/or take the kid with you on errands. You will then be accused of kidnapping - guaranteed - and you do NOT want to go there

[Ironclad Alibi]

All great advice seen, but i don't get the 'take the kid with you' bit. Why should the caretaker have to do this? It's not her fault mommy isn't there AGAIN.

I suggested the caretaker do this because she has errands that need to be run, and the only options are to take the child with her, or don't run the errands. And not running the errands causes problems.

I also agree with all the business advice that has been given and the novelty approaches EXCEPT the person who said turn out the lights and/or take the kid with you on errands. You will then be accused of kidnapping - guaranteed - and you do NOT want to go there

Since the child was entrusted to her care, it would not be considered kidnapping. If anything, it could be considered child abandonment since the mother did not pick up the child at the appointed time, just like when a child is left unattended at a store.

Keep in mind I made my suggestion because the caretaker did not want to alienate the mother by charging late fees or having a talk with her, both of which I agree are better approaches to solving the problem.

[Kheldarson]

Actually, to add onto IA's suggestion, just to cover all bases and such, when Friend drops off their kid, mention that you will be running errands in the afternoon after close of business. Period. Any child not picked up will be going with you until you get back. That way, should Friend get mad about coming to get child late and nobody being there, you will have given fair warning and no threats of kidnapping charges can be held anyway.

[Geek King]

Since the child was entrusted to her care, it would not be considered kidnapping.

Do you really want to put the OP in the position where it could be reported to the authorities like that? Depending on local laws, it could even be kidnapping since the entrusted caretaker is not returning the child at the agreed time, and is actually taking the child elsewhere on purpose to avoid returning the child.

Not an argument I'd want to be making to an officer of the law. Or a judge.

Talk to the friend. Charge late fees. Worse-come-worse, fire the customer. There is no need to get cute with this and possibly lose the childcare business.

[emax4]

Why not avoid all the confusion and go right to an officer or lawyer (or just CYS) and ask them the best way to handle it? Explain the situation and the tardiness of the parent, explain that you don't want to have to drop the kid off to the police or CYS. By going right to the authorities first, that should prove to them that you're legit enough and to not assume that what you really want to do is the right thing. They should see that you want to keep your business and not get in trouble by having to handle someone else's responsibility.

[Andara Bledin]

I also agree with all the business advice that has been given and the novelty approaches EXCEPT the person who said turn out the lights and/or take the kid with you on errands. You will then be accused of kidnapping - guaranteed - and you do NOT want to go there

Very much this. Also, unless whatever insurance also covers taking the children out of the house via car, it would likely open up a whole new can of liability worms.

I would go with the suggestion to speak to her about it, and if she cannot be more considerate than either set up late fees or fire her as a client.

^-.-^