To pay the babysitter?

[Gorgeouscombes]

DH & I have a long planned night out. Babysitter is booked. We’ve not had a paid babysitter before (don’t go out much and if we do normally family would look after the DCs).
Then DC has a vomiting episode and we can’t go. Parent 1 thinks we should pay the babysitter who has kept her evening free for us. Parent 2 thinks this is unnecessary- the babysitter had several hours notice of the cancellation and the arrangement was to pay by the hour. 0 hours = 0 £.
Who is right? And what have you done in these circumstances?

Pay for at least 2 hours.

Absolutely you should pay at least half. People who have to give up their free evenings to babysit other people's children do so because they are desperate for the money so she will have budgeted for that.

I’d probably offer a small amount. Depends on what “several hours notice” means.

Would they have gotten another job if you hadn’t booked them in. if so yes you pay

I’d give her half

I'd pay at least half. She could have taken another baby-sitting job!

Pay babysitter for 2-4 hours (whatever is the lower end of what was indicated when booked). I only wouldn’t pay if I gave well in advance of 24 hours notice of cancellation. Several hours notice is not enough and still means they haven’t been able to take on other babysitting work nor arrange any planned social activities of their own.
it’s the decent and moral thing to do AND may make the sitter more likely to take a booking from you in future or help you out in a bind.

I'm a babysitter.
If you're cancelling 24 hours or less before the booking then you should pay. If you're being stingy pay 50%.

If you don't pay at all I'd just never accept a booking from you again.

Definitely pay. You had budgeted for an evening out so you’re still saving money compared to your expected expenditure tonight.

I would pay at least half.

You should pay at least half.

I’d pay £20 as a minimum

It depends a bit who it is.

If an adult, they probably really need the cash, so pay half. If a local teen, mine when they babysat tended to see it as the luck of the draw. Apologise and that's enough - but if it happens again, it would be wise to pay something or they'll start refusing your bookings.

I’d pay for at least a couple of hours, they could have missed another booking for you.

I'd still pay especially if it's less than 24 hours notice. They could have done another baby sitting job and have kept their night free for you. Xxxx

Less than 24h notice you should pay

I think you should pay unless she is able to fill the slot which is unlikely as I would assume several hours means you've cancelled earlier that day. It's annoying but just one of those things.

Nothing worse than having turned down invitations or work then get dumped last minute definitely pay it's not their fault and if you ever need them again they will agree to do it.

Of course you pay

You should pay.

I’d pay her, she could’ve found other work that evening but giving her only several hours notice I think it’s unlikely.

Depends how much notice you gave which doesn’t sound much. Accepting you didn’t have notice of illness, babysitter had booked you into diary and made a commitment to you.

If the role was reversed how would you have felt if you had booked tickets say to the theatre, concert etc all non refundable at several hours notice and babysitter had cancelled with a few hours notice? You would have missed concert etc with no refund.

I would rebook the babysitter for when the child is better.

Of course you should pay her. She may well have been depending on that money.

Your H is a tight sod. I’d pay her.