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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you’d booked a babysitter

157 replies

FanofLeaves · 24/03/2025 07:43

And they’d completed a 7 hour shift for you, entertaining and then putting your small children to bed, and then staying up until you get in at 1am, how soon would you be paying them?

I’m a nanny but I do a bit of babysitting work on the odd weekend for extra cash. Desperately in need of the extra cash at the moment and my bank account is looking pretty bare so am currently getting pissed off looking at my bank account and willing a payment of over £100 (including the uber home I had to get due to public transport having stopped, I don’t drive) to appear.

I sent a text with the amount owed and my bank details, attaching the taxi receipt, at 9:30am yesterday morning.

I think I’m going to either have to ask for some payment to be made in advance, or charging a late fee but this sounds a bit arsey snd I’m worried it might put people off. Then again, if you are say in a restaurant or have had your haircut you pay promptly after receiving that service, you don’t pay it at some point over the next few days!

i’ll send a nudge later this morning but it annoys me that I have to do it.

So I guess my question is, say you’d booked a babysitter, how promptly do you pay them? And would you expect to be charged a late fee for taking 24+ to pay? I get it, we have busy lives, I’m a mum myself, but it just feels like a piss take. I think I’ve had one babysitting gig this year where the money has hit my account before I’m even home, all the others take up to 3 days to make payment.

OP posts:
MixedBananas · 24/03/2025 08:19

I say 24hours allowance max. But if they can pay when they got home before leaving then thats best policy yo avoid any issues on both ends.

Northumberlandgirl · 24/03/2025 08:18

It’s not just babysitters getting paid late. My husband is currently chasing three unpaid bills, one for a job done as a favour before Christmas. No one answering their phones or replying to texts. Small claims court documents will be dropping on their doorsteps this week. Even tradesmen have bills to pay too.

Blondeshavemorefun · 24/03/2025 08:18

I would expect cash that night or payment sent via bacs there and then.

prob worth doing a 50% deposit

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 24/03/2025 08:16

QueenofFox · 24/03/2025 08:12

I usually do that night or the next day but it has occasionally slipped my mind and I've done it 48 hours later. I think within 48 hours is reasonable. I usually order a taxi from my own app so that's paid for upfront. Most jobs don't pay immediately and it's not their problem you don't have cash flow.

This is fair, I know it’s not their fault that I rely on the cash, and obviously they don’t know I’m really in need of it today to get some shopping in 😬

I just hate having to chase.

OP posts:
Bubblesgun · 24/03/2025 08:16

ItsCalledAConversation · 24/03/2025 08:01

Just me but I find you asking for them to pay for your taxi incredibly cheeky.

Nope.
we pay taxis after 11am for an adult babysitter amd after 9.30/10 for a teen if one of her parent cant pick her up.

of course i would expect to pay a taxi home. You ve worked for us, you ve mind my precious, i treat you well.

my daughter is now babysitting our neighbours kids and I am chocked that isnt told to help herself with food or been left a pizza.

we always made sure our babysitters had plenty.

our motto “treat the people the way you would like to be treated”

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 24/03/2025 08:15

agoodfriendofthethree · 24/03/2025 08:13

If you sign up for Square (for free), the app allows you to use your phone as a card reader so you can take contactless card payments on the spot. I think £100 is the upper limit but you could always split it into two if needed I guess. You pay a very small fee but I find it's worth it to be able to receive payment so easily. I hope you get paid soon!

This is really useful info. Incidentally I go to a hairdresser at her home and I’m pretty sure this must be what she uses, I just tap my card on her phone.

OP posts:
agoodfriendofthethree · 24/03/2025 08:13

If you sign up for Square (for free), the app allows you to use your phone as a card reader so you can take contactless card payments on the spot. I think £100 is the upper limit but you could always split it into two if needed I guess. You pay a very small fee but I find it's worth it to be able to receive payment so easily. I hope you get paid soon!

QueenofFox · 24/03/2025 08:12

I usually do that night or the next day but it has occasionally slipped my mind and I've done it 48 hours later. I think within 48 hours is reasonable. I usually order a taxi from my own app so that's paid for upfront. Most jobs don't pay immediately and it's not their problem you don't have cash flow.

Placetobeseen · 24/03/2025 08:10

I think the card payment is a great idea. I have a self employed beauty therapist friend who uses an app on her phone, she doesn't even need a separate device. The customer taps their card on the screen of her phone.

Bubblesgun · 24/03/2025 08:09

FanofLeaves · 24/03/2025 07:43

And they’d completed a 7 hour shift for you, entertaining and then putting your small children to bed, and then staying up until you get in at 1am, how soon would you be paying them?

I’m a nanny but I do a bit of babysitting work on the odd weekend for extra cash. Desperately in need of the extra cash at the moment and my bank account is looking pretty bare so am currently getting pissed off looking at my bank account and willing a payment of over £100 (including the uber home I had to get due to public transport having stopped, I don’t drive) to appear.

I sent a text with the amount owed and my bank details, attaching the taxi receipt, at 9:30am yesterday morning.

I think I’m going to either have to ask for some payment to be made in advance, or charging a late fee but this sounds a bit arsey snd I’m worried it might put people off. Then again, if you are say in a restaurant or have had your haircut you pay promptly after receiving that service, you don’t pay it at some point over the next few days!

i’ll send a nudge later this morning but it annoys me that I have to do it.

So I guess my question is, say you’d booked a babysitter, how promptly do you pay them? And would you expect to be charged a late fee for taking 24+ to pay? I get it, we have busy lives, I’m a mum myself, but it just feels like a piss take. I think I’ve had one babysitting gig this year where the money has hit my account before I’m even home, all the others take up to 3 days to make payment.

We always give cash on the night or a revolut on the night. Sometimes we re so tired (drunk 🤣) that we do it the next morning. I have never paid later than 24hrs after the babysitting.

we order the uber on our account always - unless she specifically says no - so that she doesnt have to use any of her money.

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 24/03/2025 08:08

Whyherewego · 24/03/2025 08:01

Have you got Revolut bank? I can send a payment request from Revolut. This creates a link and the person can then input their bank details immediately. And I'd do it there and then that evening

I hadn’t heard of this so I’ll check it out, thanks!

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 24/03/2025 08:07

I'm also a nanny who babysits and also find a few days is the standard time for payment. I just factor that in and don't let it bother me tbh. As far as I know that's what's all the nannies in this area do. I think you'll shoot yourself in the foot with a late payment fee.

HelloCheekyCat · 24/03/2025 08:07

you want to be paid at the end of your babysitting then by all means produce a card payment machine like hairdressers or restaurants do

I actually think this is a brilliant idea (but I think the suggestion was actually meant to be sarcastic 😆)
You don't even need a card machine, there are apps for phones which do the same job. Our window cleaner has it so if people don't want to do a bank transfer the can use contactless/Apple pay/google pay

Monzo also do the links like Revolut, I paid for a birthday cake that way, it's easier than logging into a banking app and setting up a new payee

I think taking 3 days to pay for something is really cheeky personAlly.

ACynicalDad · 24/03/2025 08:06

ItsCalledAConversation · 24/03/2025 08:01

Just me but I find you asking for them to pay for your taxi incredibly cheeky.

At 3 in the afternoon maybe but if they have been out after public transport ends I see no problem.

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 24/03/2025 08:06

ItsCalledAConversation · 24/03/2025 08:01

Just me but I find you asking for them to pay for your taxi incredibly cheeky.

Can I ask why?

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 24/03/2025 08:05

ItsCalledAConversation · 24/03/2025 08:01

Just me but I find you asking for them to pay for your taxi incredibly cheeky.

Yep, that's just you. It's completely standard to pay for a babysitters taxi home.

User211211 · 24/03/2025 08:04

We just pay cash at the end of the night - bank transfer has never occurred to me. If our babysitter needed a taxi home, I’d probably just ask how much it was going to be and also give her the cash for that. But then I live in a town where cash is still used a lot - it might be different if you live in a place where everything is automatically card/bank transfer has never.

itsgettingweird · 24/03/2025 08:04

I think you need to charge expected costs upfront (so if booked 9-1 they pay you those hours) with extras (overtime and taxis etc) to be paid within 48 hours of invoice.

faerietales · 24/03/2025 08:02

I would expect payment as soon as they got back from their night out - it takes seconds to send it via online banking.

stanleypops66 · 24/03/2025 08:01

I would be paying you on my way home from a night out.

Whyherewego · 24/03/2025 08:01

Have you got Revolut bank? I can send a payment request from Revolut. This creates a link and the person can then input their bank details immediately. And I'd do it there and then that evening

ItsCalledAConversation · 24/03/2025 08:01

Just me but I find you asking for them to pay for your taxi incredibly cheeky.

Jshrbt · 24/03/2025 08:00

Definitely within 24 hours; maybe next time put “please pay on receipt of message” etc

DisplayPurposesOnly · 24/03/2025 07:58

For anything I'm invoiced I usually pay within 24hrs but three days is reasonable.

If you want to be paid at the end of your babysitting then by all means produce a card payment machine like hairdressers or restaurants do.

I don't do banking via a phone app so I need to log onto a PC for a bank transfer. And if you're a new payee then I'll need two-factor authentication.

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 24/03/2025 07:58

No one seems to offer cash these days, and I found when I did get paid in cash it was often short as say they’d agreed to be back at 12, they’d get back at 12:30 but only had the cash for the hours they’d planned to be out. Then I’d still have to chase them if I got an uber (which I always state I will expect if I finish after 11)

You're right I should just ask to be paid there and then, it just feels so awkward, I hate hanging around at the end of the night when I just want to go (I find it excruciating hanging back for the Uber while one of them makes polite chit chat and is obviously a bit worse for wear 🤣) but that’s when I should be getting paid. I think I’m just always a bit embarrassed to say, that’s going to be £110 please, including the taxi.

Not sure why though, it’s not like they’re not able to add up what they need to pay in their own heads.

OP posts: