cm club to soft and dont know what to do now

[dmo]

as some of you already know i look after two little girls aged 6mths and 3 yrs for a single dad whos wife had left him

anyway he claims tax creidts to pay me and on the first week payed me fine but then the second week there was no money in the bank so he phoned tax credits who informed him that they had swopped the payments to monthley insteed of weekly which was fine i said (he couldnt pay me a deposit so i woould work a month and then get the money) anyway he fell off a bike a few weeks after that and broke both elbows so his mum looked after the children and brought them to me to look after (i didnt like to mention money) but after 5 wks i sent a letter explaining i needed payment as i was going on hoilday in two days time.
so the following day the girls dont show up (friday) so i phone no answer
so saturday went to Dublin for a week and return home yesterday
phoned dad to see if everything ok for tomorrow and no answer so phone his mum she says the girls mum came back and took the girls away and they havent seen the dad since then

i know this is not a nice situation but what do i do? the dad owes me over £400 plus by each week it will go up as he hasnt phoned to give me notice
would you cut your losses and readvertise the places (2 full time places)
and how do i go about getting my money back?

i think tax credits should pay the childcarer direct but thats in the past now
i feel stupid for beliving him and trying to help him as i've bought sterlizers, bottles, baby food, clothes, coats etc for the girls i think a try to hard. dh cross at me for being soft

I really feel for you as I know from previous posts that you were trying so hard to help the family.

This is an awful situation to be in but he should have received tax credits to pay you and you should be paid. Are you a member of the NCMA-if so they should be able to help you reclaim the monies.

Sorry I'm not much good at helping people-but maybe someone else on here will have more advice.

yes i am with NCMA will see what others say b4 phoning them

they will prob say wait till he contacts you and he hasnst said he wont pay me but i just cant get in contact with him

did you use NCMA contracts? if he is getting tax credits he should at least be able to pay you that percentage that they have paid him surely?

he will have got his tax credits therefore he should pay you, I would call the NCMA and get advice from their legal team, although I think that you would have to go to a small claims court to get the money back.

Reality is; will he come back, can he afford to pay you and will it be better for you to fill the spots and get payment rather than chasing money you might never see.

Sorry this is probably not what you want to hear, but I'm a pragmatist and believe to just get on with it.

Earlier this year I had a mindee suddenly not turn up one day and tried phoning, texting, writing to the parents to find out what was going on and stating that they owed me money and I got no reply to anything.
You must contact NCMA and they will advise you to write to him, what exactly to include in the letter etc. I know this poor guy is having a rough time (it eventually turned out that the parents of my mindee had split up, but they paid me in the end) but he has used your services and owes you money, if his employer decided to not pay him one month he wouldn't stand for it so why should you.

Some of you may think this sounds quite hard, but its no different to say going to the hairdressers, getting your hair cut and coloured and then saying you can't pay for it. No one would dream of doing that so why should anyone get away with not paying their childminder.

you are all right
thanks so much for your suppport
had a phone call to enquire about a full timer tonight and i said i had a place so the parent is coming to see me on weds
if he cant be bothered to call me then i will fill the places he has left

I would definately contact the NCMA they have a fantastic legal team who will be able to advise you what to write in a letter to them.

I know that this is a bad situation but dad still has to pay mortgage/rent, bills etc so why should you not get paid.

i would give the spaces away and write to him asking for the money by a certain date also get it sent recorded delivery.

really sorry this has happened to you, i htink it happens to us all i lost £200 earlier this year i have learnt my lesson the hard way and will never do that again.

I had a similar case a few years ago. i contacted NCMA and they were great, they advised me what to say and what not to say. keep a diary if you can, of all contact.

I know is a sad situation for him but thats nothing to do with you really.

Fill the places then keep trying to get your money from him. you have worked for it. If you worked in a shop and they let you go after a time would you expect to be paid? of course you would!

I had a similar situation last year which culminated in a potential loss of £700 paid to parents in Tax Credits - I got it back though eventually; like you I was unable to get a response from the parents when child did not turn up so wrote to them telling them if I did not hear from them within x days then the Contract would end bla bla.

You provided a service therefore, you should be paid for it....

got in contact with the dad he has promised to pay me £100 per week each friday which is great as i thought i had lost the money
feeling happier now but still feel sorry for the dad, the mum came back on the sceen and took the girls with her

The Bitch! How can she do that after she had walked out on them sorry no advice.

dont know and i have no idea why see has been granted custerdy of them after walking out
said i would give him a charater ref if he needed one

oh no DMO what a sad event..for you and dad and children..hopefully looks like to will be getting your money back and fingers crossed for your visit today..poor father...those children shouldnt be allowed to go with the mother, there were placed on the at risk reg cos of her!!!..what a terrible situation all round!

but..

GOOD LUCK FOR TODYA.x

TODAY