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Original poster

This is why people ask for cash

375 replies

antelopevalley · 29/06/2022 10:37

I did some babysitting on Saturday night. When the couple got back they said sorry they didn't have any cash and they would transfer me the money. It is Tuesday and in spite of giving them my bank details, and a reminder text, still no payment.
If I ever babysit for them again (not sure I will now), I will say I will only do so if they pay cash that evening. Sadly this kind of way of operating seems common amongst middle-class people. It may not be a big deal for you to wait days for a relatively small sum of money, but it is for many others.

OP posts:
Invisibella · 29/06/2022 11:58

StoppinBy · 29/06/2022 11:32

I don't think this is the right thing to do.

Maybe you could send a message along the lines of 'hi, I will be going past your house tomorrow, would it be easier for you if I popped in and picked up cash rather than do a transfer' then you will have broken the ice and they will expect you so you can relax a bit about going round.

I get where you are coming from though.

And yes, they should have paid you before now.

Show quote history

Why is it op’s job to make it easier for them?

SuperTea · 29/06/2022 11:59

I don't think there's any harm in telling them DP will collect on his way home. It's not sending him to be threatening, just collecting what's due and if they don't want the visit they can pay.

As for professional. A babysitter hasn't been paid.

APerfectlyGoodName · 29/06/2022 11:59

My babysitter is paid in cash on the night. We've called to the bank machine while out as often we have little cash.
If we didn't have cash (cash machine not working) , I'd sort out PayPal or something within 24hrs. Keep texting. They should be embarrassed, not you.

MeridianB · 29/06/2022 11:59

It’s terrible behaviour. Call her and say the payment is needed today. I wouldn’t be sitting for them again. And definitely worth telling all other clients in advance that you require cash on the day.

Flyinggeese1234 · 29/06/2022 11:59

BobDear · 29/06/2022 11:53

I second a text but I would actually send more along the lines of:

Hello
Bit embarrassed to have to chase for the babysitting money again. Can you please make the transfer now so i don't find myself in the same position tomorrow as it's really uncomfortable having to ask. Thanks!

Perfect.

Bordesleyhills · 29/06/2022 12:00

So bad - poor you

Lovetogarden2022 · 29/06/2022 12:00

People are arseholes sadly.

whatgift · 29/06/2022 12:01

What @bobdear said

Invisibella · 29/06/2022 12:02

SuperTea · 29/06/2022 11:59

I don't think there's any harm in telling them DP will collect on his way home. It's not sending him to be threatening, just collecting what's due and if they don't want the visit they can pay.

As for professional. A babysitter hasn't been paid.

But she is sending her dp since she is afraid of confrontation though. It sort of goes with adulthood to manage situations like this yourself. Now is a good time to practice.

FayeGovan · 29/06/2022 12:04

This happened to me when i nannied part time for a professional couple. The mum took over at 5pm and never had the money to pay me, i always had to 'pop over' on my day off to get it. They really took the piss. I always turned up for work as frankly the hours suited me. I was actually paying a childminder for a few hours so i could go be a nanny, and i always paid the childminder in time, usually leaving me short till i was paid in my nanny job.

Some people are just arseholes.

silverbubbles · 29/06/2022 12:07

Call and say you wanted to check they were receiving your texts as you have not had a response. Then say please could you transfer the money now.
if it has not been done within the 1hour call again.

nzeire · 29/06/2022 12:07

Oh yuk, how awful!
I did a babysitting job once, when the family popped in another couples kids, so I had 5 instead of 2 that I had accepted… Anyhows, they came home 1 and a half hours later than they said they would and tried to stiff me out of 5 dollars as he only had twenties. The look I gave him was enough for him to hand it over.
I think I said, people usually leave more, not less. wankers.
babysitting was the pits.

ComDummings · 29/06/2022 12:08

They’re disgraceful. Send a blunt message.

BalloonsAndWhistles · 29/06/2022 12:09

MintJulia · 29/06/2022 10:46

Send them another text saying you need to pay your dcs' school lunches

I don’t think she should have to give reasons.

@antelopevalley Just say ‘It’s been 4 days now, you owe me £xxx. Please transfer to my account’

If they haven’t done it in 24 hours then go to the house and wait whilst they do it in front of you. Annoying because you could waste fuel if they’re out.

Aguanatural · 29/06/2022 12:09

SuperTea · 29/06/2022 11:59

I don't think there's any harm in telling them DP will collect on his way home. It's not sending him to be threatening, just collecting what's due and if they don't want the visit they can pay.

As for professional. A babysitter hasn't been paid.

@SuperTea what do you mean by your last sentence?

Trifecta · 29/06/2022 12:12

I had this happen to me as a teenager but I was too passive/embarrassed to ask for payment. I was watching three children in the evenings so parents could go to the gym and they were to pay me on Friday. Friday came, no payment. The next Friday came and they paid only for the current week. They had form for this, it was not an oversight. Looking back, I wonder how I could have been so passive. I’d be beating their door down now.

SuperTea · 29/06/2022 12:14

Aguanatural · 29/06/2022 12:09

@SuperTea what do you mean by your last sentence?

Show quote history

I don't think the onus is on the babysitter to be professional where payment is concerned.

YouCantSpellAmericaWithoutErica · 29/06/2022 12:18

Bloody hell don’t send your partner round- it will possibly look like you’re intending to intimidate them and anyway, you need to sort this yourself.

keep reminding them every single day, at least once a day that they haven’t paid you. And then never do anything for them again ever. And tell them why that is. Utter cunts.

TortugaRumCakeQueen · 29/06/2022 12:25

Annoying as this is, I would not be sending multiple reminders at this point. They 100% should have paid on the night, but chasing and chasing and chasing at this stage, just makes you look utterly desperate, and unprofessional (as irritating as that is).

I look after dogs for a living. I ask for cash, for this very reason, however, there are regular occurrences of people collecting their dog and saying "oh, I have no cash, I'll transfer it later". 95% of people do it the same day. The 5% that take longer are always affluent. Funny isn't it? I usually leave it one week before chasing by text.

Babysitting isn't a salaried job, so it's not like you were counting on this money. Suggestions of posting on FB, or threatening court, or kicking their door down, are just ridiculous and completely unprofessional. My advice would be to wait until Saturday before texting again. Keep it light :

"Hi X. Hope you're well. Just balancing my books, and I see that I haven't received payment for the babysitting service provided last weekend"

Then consider not working for them again!

SmileyPiuPiu · 29/06/2022 12:27

BobDear · 29/06/2022 11:53

I second a text but I would actually send more along the lines of:

Hello
Bit embarrassed to have to chase for the babysitting money again. Can you please make the transfer now so i don't find myself in the same position tomorrow as it's really uncomfortable having to ask. Thanks!

That's good

MinnieGirl · 29/06/2022 12:29

Flamingle18 · 29/06/2022 11:29

I’m a cleaner for a married couple who are both very high earners. Every week payment is 4 or 5 days late and sometimes I have to ask for it again the next time I go a week later. I’m going to say this week that payment needs to be done on the day. It’s so frustrating and rude!

As it’s persistent, I would tell them that in future, payment will be required 48 hours in advance or you will have to cancel. And if it arrives after the 48 hours, you will accept it for the following week. They will soon pay, decent cleaners are hard to find!

stayingpositiveifpossible · 29/06/2022 12:30

charge them a daily interest rate.
APR 39 per cent

Psychgrad · 29/06/2022 12:33

Just ask them again, they may have forgotten. Silly of them but I’ve forgotten to pay our dog walker a few times and he’s had to remind me. I wouldn’t let it get to the point of him having to text me multiple times though, they should send after the first reminder.

Psychgrad · 29/06/2022 12:37

In future use Bubble, it’s an app for babysitting bookings and parents pay through the company so it’s more urgent I guess. Never had a late payment in there. I did bring a mother to court for not paying me for a babysitting job, and I won so if you have to do this I can give you pointers. Text them to remind them before you jump to conclusions though.

Suedomin · 29/06/2022 12:38

Are you 100% sure you have them the correct details and didn't transpose a number or that they haven't transferred the money to you but made a mistake with the bank account. It's very easily done .
How well do you know them? Are they people who you think would try not to pay you? Have you been in touch with them since the weekend to check they have the correct details? If I was you I would send a message saying something like. The payment for my babysiting hasn't come into my account yet. Can you confirm the account number you sent it to.
E