Is $5 per minute too much? Daycare late pickup fee?

Question

I found a daycare that I think looks wonderful. The problem is that in their handbook, they charge $5 per minute when you are late picking up your child. I don't plan on being late, but my husband thinks a rate of $300 an hour is gouging, especially since the daycare is only $115 per week. We understand that the goal is to make parents pickup their kids on time. Is this an average fee? Also, the daycare charges a yearly activity fee of $100 for all ages. My child will be 8 weeks when he/she starts. Is this an average fee?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

You might want to keep looking. Have you tried the local YMCA. They generally have a wonderful daycare for children. You not only get daycare, but you also get a little bit of nursery school. Good Luck and God Bless

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

We chose the YMCA afterall. The price is a little higher per week, but it also includes membership. We don't have to pay for weeks that the baby won't be there either. The after 6 pm charge is $1 per minute.

Answer 2

not very good practice on their part.

Answer 3

I don;t know if it's average or even legal for that matter. But I DO know that it's insane!! I haven't had a child in day care in 10 years but I don;t recall any craziness like that.

Answer 4

I used to work at a daycare and that is about what we charged. If you call way in advance to tell us you would be late then we could usually work something out.

Yeah I mean, The price has got to be steep or else no one would abide. What if it was 1 penny per minute? No one would hesitiate to take a little extra time. You have to draw the line somewhere.

Those daycare teachers are ready to get the hell out of there. Believe me, I've been there. 8 hours a day with 8 toddlers or 8 infants or 8 any age get you worn out fast!

Answer 5

for central Arkansas...this is in line with the quality daycares and their charges
"you get what you pay for"

Answer 6

I think $5 per minute is robbery. Look some where else.

Answer 7

Well, I think $115 per week is a great rate. Especially, for a 8 week old. The $5.00 per minute rate is pretty steep. Normally, it is about a $1.00 per minute or $10.00 for the first minute and $1.00 for each additional. I have never heard of a yearly activity fee. That is something new. I think if you are overall satisfied with the daycare then you should accept their policy and try to make it on time. I paid $225.00 a week for my 4 month year old, so your daycare does sound like a good deal.

Hope that helps :-)

Answer 8

I have never heard of a activity fee before. My sons daycare charges some crazy amount for being late as well. The purpose of the late fee is to make sure you get your child on time, I did a home daycare for a while and you would be surprised at how people do not care about a late fee. I just think that the daycare is trying not to be open past the set time they say.

Answer 9

5$ per minute is a lot I think.

Answer 10

our daycare charges something like that...I can't remember if it's $5, but I know it's something outrageous like that. To me, it's ok....I know these ladies want to get home & I'm sure if I call & let them know ahead of time, they'd be ok w/ it. Luckily, I work 5 min away & they're open until 6:00 so I have an hour to fool around w/.
Your daycare is less a week than mine, but we didn't have to pay that $100 fee.....is yours a chain? Mine is, maybe that's why?

Source(s):

Mother of a 6 month old

Answer 11

My daycare has a $100 yearly activity fee per child and a $1 per minute late charge....Weekly charge is $150-2 snacks and lunch is provided (my kids are 4...infant weekly cost is about $175)....Just don't be late and the $5 charge doesn't mean anything....

Answer 12

that seems like allot of money $5 an min for being late??
i worked in a daycare (in the UK) we only changed £7 if you where late and we used out discretion like if you where a min late then we let you off but let you knew that you could have been charged.
the £7 was there if you where 5 Min's late or 30 Min's late

Answer 13

I think $115 per week for eight weeks old is a reasonable price.
I run a daycare centre myself, $5 per minute ...Wow!I Should have applied that to my centre(ha..ha..ha)....I only charge $5 per 15 minutes. You know what? It can be very tiring and stressful for us who work 10 hourly a day taking care of babies and toddlers. We just hope to reach home on time . We need family time too. If every parent understand our situation, there wouldn't be extra charges needed, cos you will sure come on time to collect your baby. For some parents who would rather hang around with friends, I would say that it's nothing wrong to collect $5 per minute. Anyway, I'm sure ,with prior arrangement, your daycare operator will be able to work out something else.

Answer 14

The daycare center would have to pay me $5 per minute to love, feed, nurture and bond with my EIGHT WEEK OLD baby.

Perhaps you could spend your time working out a way not to dump your newborn into daycare and actually parent the child. Now that would be time and money well spent.

Answer 15

Sounds like gouging to me. The day care we have used charges 1.00 per min after 10 min of being late. The first 2x are free up to 15 min. then 1.00 per min after. I would question the activity fee for a child under 1, thats for sure. There must be another daycare in the area you can try.

Source(s):

32 weeks preggie w/twins and mom to 5

Answer 16

I'm pretty sure I read that in the handbook for our local daycare also. Although I think it's for the number of minutes you are late past closing time, not how many minutes late you are picking up your child in general. At least at our daycare anyway. I never had to worry about it, I was charged a certain rate for the day, so if I didn't stop at exactly the same time every day, there's no reason for any late charge cuz they are being paid for the day anyway.

I don't know about the activity fee, our daycare doesn't have that to my knowledge, but that's the only daycare I know about. I paid $25 for registration, which you don't get back, and that ensures a spot for my daughter. I use the local daycare on an as-needed basis, as I already have a regular babysitter. But there was no mention of a fee like that in our handbook. FYI - our daycare for my 3 yr. old is $34 a day.

Answer 17

I think it is pricey. Our current center doesn't have a policy; our previous center charged $2/minute.

That said, I'd check how it is applied. Our old Center was open 'til 6:30. I rarely picked up my son later than 6. On the two occassions that I was close to missing pick-up, I called both times and they didn't charge me. The director told me that it was something she could apply at her discretion to help discourage habitual late-comers.

Now, if this Center closes quite close to your planned pick-up time, or if the penalty is automatic, I would look elsewhere. But if neither of those things are true, it might not be an issue.

We paid a $75 fee at our current Center. I can't remember the fee at our last Center, but it was either the same or more.

Answer 18

omg that is insane!! Its not very fair to be honest! Look in further and check if there are any other "hidden" charges, maybe its not as wonderful as it seems!

Answer 19

i think it's fair, just bc they have their time to leave just like others at other jobs. what if u had to wait until 5 oclock everyday to know when u could leave bc of other's selfishness? what if u have things u need to do for u and urs? sound like u aren't really considering other's feelings.

Answer 20

Ours charges $1 per minute for late pick-up. BUT that is only applied after 6:30pm when they close. They are VERY flexible throughout the day. For example, I am going to he a half hour late today because of a work meeting, but I told them that when I dropped her off (2 year old) and it is no problem.
If they fee is beyond your pick-up time (like if you are just late getting there) that is INSANE. But if that is after closing time, I think it is great incentive to be picked up on time.

We have no annual activity fee. they let parents know ahead of time about any feild trips and the child brings the money with them that day only if they are going.

Answer 21

I do daycare. That crazy amount is pretty much to prove a point... be there when you are expected to be there to pick up your child - or else you will pay big. Around here they do like $5.00 extra an hour or something like that. I personally don't do anything - because the people I do daycare for are wonderful, and they come when they are supposed to. If they will be late - they let me know in the morning, and ask if it is okay. If you feel like there might be days you might be late - I'd look elsewhere - or else talk to them in advance. Whats in a contract isn't always followed to a T - you have to know how your daycare provider thinks. So, talk to the daycare provider, and ask about this specific thing. Ask if she always does this - or only if it becomes a constant problem with a parent.
to help you understand why they do this: Daycare parents also have families, children to care for, meals to cook, childrens activities to go to - what you need to understand is - they also have lives... so, when a parent goes to the grocery store, instead of picking up the child (when its already closing time) that is taking away family time for the provider. So - I do understand why daycares do this - and they are hoping it doesn't have to be used - in other words, they aren't doing it for the money - they are doing it for family time.
Hope that makes sense.
Personally, If i was bringing my child to a daycare - I would not choose this one - because of the activity fee of $100. Or, else I would come right out and ask - at what age does the activity fee start? See if she says 8 weeks-- because once that comes out of her mouth - maybe she'll figure out how stupid it is to charge an 8 week yr old 'activity fee's.