This is why people ask for cash

[antelopevalley]

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.

Don't be so passive. Don't wait until the weekend and don't get your DH involved. Ask them to send it now. If it's not in your bank account in 2 hours ask them again. They need to know that you expect and require immediate payment.

Some people just don't get it. My DH was similar with our cleaner once. I normally pay her within 10 minutes of her leaving and the money from us is spent half an hour later on her food shop. He didn't realise and thought paying her could wait until I got home that evening. When she appeared on our doorstep sweaty and frantic an hour later the penny dropped!

Did you not have your debit card in your purse with you? Your account number and sort code are on that.

This isnt your fault. They're wankers. But next time, get your card out and give them details there and then. It is hard to be assertive if you've never really had to do it before but you'll learn.

Send them another reminder text!

Shame they hadn't paid at the time because late payment means full price ... 😉

You shouldn't need a sob story for then to pay you? Why on earth are people suggesting to tell them you need to pay for lunches. It doesn't matter if you're swimming in money. They should be ashamed and I would never look after their kids again.

Cheeky buggers - I’d def.insist on cash on the night next time - if there is a next time.

One advantage of the Olden Days - no simple bank transfers. The very well off couple I babysat for invariably paid cash on the night - and Mr Well Off used to drive me home in his E-Type. Convertible, British Racing Green. 😍

@Everydaydayisaschoolday 😔 this happened to my mum when she was a cleaner growing up. It really is hard for people to understand until they see the reality of service providers.

Fuckers.

Send them a message saying payment needed today. No 'please' or 'sorry for chasing this up'.

Not many banks put the account number and sort code on the debit card. I’ve never had an account with a bank that does.

My dad is a builder. He mostly works on very large residential properties for very wealthy people. I’ve lost track of the number of times growing up when he was stressed to the max because these inconsiderate people wouldn’t pay him on time - quite often owing him thousands. It made life so stressful for my parents as they still had bills to pay for, Christmas to fund etc. Something his rich customers never had to worry about. The stress of it had a big impact on his mental health. It makes me angry thinking about it.

Text them every day - yes I know it's uncomfortable, but only for you atm, make THEM uncomfortable until they pay it.

You have a right to that money.

and for the love of god, sort your own stuff out, don't send your man... if you are old enough to HAVE a partner, you need to be woman enough to sort your own stuff out in your life.

Really? I've just doubled checked mine and every card I have has the account number and sort code on it. I dont think I've ever seen one without.
Learn something new every day!

That is shitty behaviour leaving you to wait.

OP I would be tempted to go and knock on their door and ask for the payment. They are hoping to get away without paying.

@WeAreBob no I did not have my card with me. I did not think I needed it to sit in someone else's house all evening.

Yes, I would drop the 'pleases', 'thank yous' and 'I hope you are wells'.

'Your payment for babysitting on Saturday night is overdue. You have my bank details. Contact me when your payment has been sent so that I can confirm back to you when I receive it.'

Don't be nice. Be straightforward.

Unacceptable. It takes about 30 seconds to transfer money these days.

Haven't read the full thread but the best tip I ever got earlier in life was if they don't pay, send the bill again (or in your case request the payment again) AND ADD INTEREST ONTO IT AS IT IS OVERDUE (this can be added at a rate of your own choosing - I tend to add £5 onto the total). Really bad payers pay up then straight away to avoid further charge (it has never failed me) and, amazingly, they do pay the new inflated sum.

A simple text would suffice OP - "Just checking that you took my bank details correctly as I've yet to receive any money from you and I did expect to be paid on the day".

And never sit for them again. It's ignorant and says that they don't value your worth to them.

None of my cards have this info on them.

I have been known to forget to pay people, a reminder text means I am mortified and hop straight to it.

Part of running a business is chasing payment.

I don’t know why you don’t just send another reminder rather than posting on here?

OK, so you didn't have your details.
In that case make sure you do so in future and consider getting a Sum-Up type device for immediate payment I use one on a market stall I run.
I know there's an initial cost but if you want to run any kind of small business it's a necessity. Then if they say, 'oops, no cash' you just whip it out (the machine! ) and, with a dazzling smile, say 's'okay, I take cards! '

You can now use your mobile no. to link to your account so all you’ll ever need in future is that & not your account details (for them or other people you may choose to babysit for!)

And please keep your DP out of it. Women sending ‘their man’ round to do anything remotely adult difficult embarrass all of us. Aside from the fact that it will look really threatening to the lady who has forgotten to pay you if she’s home alone. Of course they should have paid by now, but it’s very probably an innocent mistake and I don’t think it’s on to scare the life out of her sending your partner round like some kind of heavy when by the sound of it you’ve been too wussy to actually send her a reasonable reminder text. If I were her I would never use you again as a babysitter if that happened and would tell friends about it, so do hear that potential consequence in mind.

I don’t mean to sound like I don’t sympathise with you and think you’re in the right, of course they should have paid you. But silently stewing because you’re too timid to send a polite and clear reminder text or just pick up the phone like an adult, and then going way overboard and sending round your partner with no warning like some kind of bailiff…that’s really weird.

Love this option!

Perhaps post in a local group to warn other people. Where did you meet them?

For goodness sake please don't send your partner round their house to ask for the money. If she's home alone or anything she won't like it and it's unprofessional anyway.

Why not? If I'm out in the daytime when the window cleaner comes he send someone round in the evening to collect the money owed.