I am watching a little girl -RARELY- at my house when her mom substitutes at a half-day preschool. I get paid 5 bucks an hour- I know, not much at all- but, I figured I'm gonna be at home already, what's another little girl (I've got two girls at home already)?
Well, the agreement is that I get paid at the end of the month. I started in October. I got paid on the 17th of November for the days I worked in Oct. I have yet to be paid for the days I worked in November- even though she saw me after the 17th and even mentioned that she got paid the following Monday (what info is that if she won't pay me???) Well, I asked her if I could come by her house or she could come by mine so I could get paid for November. i haven't heard back from her.
We aren't talking about a lot of money, but it could count as 6 dinners worth of money to us that she owes me, and that's not bad, when you think of it in that context! WELL, SINCE she isn't upholding HER end of the deal (getting me the money at the end of each month) I'm thinking about saying that I want the money for EVERYTIME I watch her child, when she picks up her daughter. The reasoning behind the end of the month deal is because that is when SHE gets her paycheck. Now, she has a husband who works, so as far as I'm concerned it isn't any of my business and the time she gets HER money is irrelevant. My husband is worried I babysat her child for free.
I don't know this lady outside of this arrangement. I met her through a friend of a friend who was trying to help her find a babysitter that was willing to only get $5 an hour. LOL. what a deal i got!
Main question: Once I DO get in contact with her again (fingers crossed), should I request immediate payment? Also, what do you all think of this arrangement? Do I sound like I'm being taken advantage of?
Linda: she hasn't needed me in the last two weeks to babysit, so currently I am not watching her, but I'm here when she needs me... so far...
Everyone: thanks for the advice. I don't like un-doing a deal I've made previously, I'm just thinking it is my only choice to make sure I get paid at a decent time, on top of the fact that the deal has been un-done already by her.
I think you may be on to something saying that she may not know that its a big deal that I get the money on time... I'll be more direct and clear.
ADDED: thanks all. I just got in touch with her (because she needs me to babysit tomorrow!), and it was very easy to get her to understand where I was coming from, thank goodness. She's giving me the money and post-dating a check for tomorrow. I'd prefer cash, but I haven't been proven that she writes bad checks, so I'll take her word for it. As long as I physically have proof that shes gonna pay me, I'm relieved.
You are being taken advantage of, and she is being rude by ignoring you. Are you still watching her child?
Tell her you can't watch her daughter again until she pays you in full. Then stick to it.
My mom has done in home daycare for YEARS and it's amazing what people will do to avoid paying her. If you don't get your money and follow through like I mentioned above then she'll think she can continue treating you this way...
Good luck.
When you get in touch with this person again, yes, payment immediately.
Do not provide any more care to this person until they have paid.
Second, you need a contract, in writing, for anyone you provide care for. The contract should state the per hour amount and the date which you expect payment (by the fifth of the following month, for example), and what will happen if she doesn't pay. (Which is likely that you will not provide care; or beyond X amount of days, you will pursue collection of the outstanding amount through small claims court OR a late fee of X amount per day.)
I'd try one more phone call to arrange for payment, then send her a letter letting her know that, even though times are tough for everyone right now, you did provide childcare for her in good faith and want to be paid promptly. What you want to do after that is up to you. And let the friend who referred this woman to you know that the substitute teacher has skipped out on paying and is not a reliable person to connect people with. Caregivers have enough of a hard time as it is, and she's getting you for a bargain. She sounds like someone you really need to be very wary of. In the future, perhaps she will need to do as you suggested and pay at the end of the day. Or if she claims she's desperate, have her pay in advance. It can't be THAT much, right?
Gosh, you know, I don't like to hate on anyone, but I *really* dislike people who do this sort of thing.... fume....
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You get the money, cash, at the door, PERIOD, at drop off, not at the end of the day.
I hate to say it, but most everyone I've ever given any wiggle room to, has stiffed me, or tried to. People resent paying us. No matter how nice they act to our faces, I hear what people say in the check out lines out there, read what people say online. I know what people have said to me about how I'm taking the food right off their table. They care LITTLE that when they don't pay, they are taking the food off MY table.
She should pay each time or pre-pay. Get the money she owes you and then she should pre-pay from now on. If she doesn't want to pay, then she can find someone else which isn't likely. CRAZY!
She would have to pay up before I would agree to watch her child. From then on she would have to pay me each time I watched her child.
I suggest you think of this as a business arrangement and have a business like conversation with her. Tell her you're willing to watch her child at this rate because you would be getting the money promptly. Suggest to her that she could pay you each day or you could raise the price to compensate for the late payment. Perhaps attach a penalty amount for each day she's late.
I would start out by telling her that you wonder if theirs been a misunderstanding. And tell her that you must have the money at the end of the month. Perhaps suggest that she can write a post dated check if getting back to you to make payment is difficult. Sympathize with her if she gives you a hard luck story but stick with your requirement. A phrase I've found helpful is "never the less." "Never the less, I need prompt payment. Put the burden to give you the money on her. Make a consequence for late payments.
It's possible that she is thinking it doesn't matter to you if she's late. She may not pick up on hints such as your message to stop by her house. By letting her know by using direct words that you want your payment by a certain date makes it less likely that she'll ignore the date.
Since you watch her rarely, it would be reasonable that she pays at the time of service. I can see how she'd forget at the end of the month if you'd watched her child at the beginning of the month.
Just call one last time and, if you have to leave a message again, just tell her you need the money to get part of your Christmas. Tell her you need her to pay you as soon as possible or your child will not be able to get the present you had picked out for them.
When you do call give her a deadline so she will know you expect payment by that date. If she does not pay you by that date then you should not be available to watch her child ever again, even if she calls you with a sob story.
immediate payment and i would get paid when she drops off the child.
atms are everywhere now
Yes, this woman is taking advantage of you.
I would wait another week and see if she contacts you to babysit. When she does, don't mention anything about payment, however, when she drops off her daughter, collect the money at that time. Do NOT accept a check. If she doesn't have it, say I'm sorry, but I can no longer provide services. If she does show up with the money she owes you then take the money and advise her, by the way my rate is now $6 an hour and I need to be paid in advance, since I'm watching her for 6 hours today, I'll need $36.
I'm sure your friend already knows, but if she doesn't I'd let her know that this woman isn't paying her debt.
If she doesn't answer her phone, I would send her a certified letter stating that if you don't receive payment within 10 days, you'll file a small claims case. The threat may be enough to get her to pay. I don't know if you'll have any luck in small claims court as you didn't have a written agreement and it will be your word agaisnt hers.
If you don't hear from her, try giving her a call and politely tell her you need payment within the next 2 days.
Print out a bill at the end of each month for her. It will serve as a reminder for her.
