Family haven't paid. How do I deal with this?

[UnpaidCare]

This has been my first year as a childminder. My contract is clear and has been signed by all parents. I am well qualified, my rates are average for the area. I could charge more it's a shortage area.

I'm looking after one family for 4 weeks of the summer except the next two weeks. This family has had a difficult year I have gone above and beyond to support them.

All should pay me in advance on the last day of the month this family haven't. I mentioned it when I saw them on Tuesday, they spoke about it on Wednesday. I sent a text yesterday which they have seen. They usually text me regularly. I won't see them again until Monday 23rd. They aren't away yet.

They already owe me over £350 for the week that I have done, plus the rest of the month. They have been 2 days late paying before but not this late.

They are getting a good deal with me. Should I give them notice? I have a waiting list. How do I get them to pay?

I'd text them saying until they pay what they owe you won't be able to look after the children on the 23rd.
And will be taking on another child from your extensive waiting list

@Tangledtresses

I'd text them saying until they pay what they owe you won't be able to look after the children on the 23rd. And will be taking on another child from your extensive waiting list

Exactly this

Agree with pp. Tell them pay up or don't bring your kid back and I'll take you to small claims court.

Not in those words, obviously.

I agree with Tangle.

Also check out the process of going through Small claim court to get the £350. It may not seem worth it, as there is a fee to pay, but if you don't word may get around that you're a soft touch of letting non payment go

We had similar with a holiday set-up at the nursery I worked at. You're supposed to pre-pay, but sometimes parents would slip through the net without paying and we would never be paid. When I took over I was very strict, if they hadn't pre-paid, the chil couldn;t attend. Harsh, but you aren;t a charity.

Agree, don’t have the kids again at all until they’ve paid.
Expect sob stories, but ignore it and stand firm.

You are a business, not a charity. People who don’t pay should not be permitted to drop off their kids. Make it clear to them that payment must be received, now, or they will be removed from the list and you will pass the place to one of your waiting list.

Don’t be a mug. And ignore sob stories. Again, you are not a charity.

Do you have an email for them? I'd email instead, because its easier to print off and keep track rather then just texts. I'd be polite, but to the point. Maybe something along these lines:

Dear Susan,
As you are aware accounts need to be paid on the last day of the month which was 31 Jul 2021. We discussed this on tue 3rd and I note that this still hasn't been paid and you are now 7days in arrears.

Please pay your account by X date, otherwise I will not be able to accommodate your child on 23 Aug and shall need to take this further to recover the funds,
Kind regards, Unpaid care

When you say they arent away yet do you mean on holiday?

So theyve enough money to go on holiday nit not to pay you? Complete CFs

I know you say they have had a hard time and you have tried to be supportive but would you be happy to give them £350?
Imagine actually handing it over to them in £20 and £10 notes because that is what you are effectively doing

What did they say when they mentioned it on Wednesday?
Time for a reminder that it's overdue. I wouldn't refer to small claims court yet, but I would say there are children on the waiting list ready to take the place.

No, I wouldn't give them £350. They are wealthy, they make a point of telling me so. Their financial situation is not my concern in general. Yes they are going on holiday for 2 weeks. The financial situation of any of the parents is not my business. I simply want to be paid.

Both parents can be short tempered I smile and wave. I understand being tired after a day of working and then collecting your children. It's exhausting. I've been there. All of my other parents manage to be polite.

I know that it is straightforward. If I was reading this I would be saying the same as all of you. No I'm not a charity and I realise that I do need to pull myself together and stop being wet.

If you are good at your job as a carer then you do care about the children in your charge. Some of the family conflict and the parents recent stress has rubbed off on the children. Nobody has died and yes they have had a difficult year but no worse than a lot of other people. The children have my sympathy I find it hard to disengage from that.

I have an expensive piece of equipment that they own for the use of their child at my house.

You are all right. I will take a deep breath and email them now.

Skiptheheartsandflowers they mentioned it verbally last week I verbally reminded them on Tuesday and they spoke about it on Wednesday. They said of their own accord things like oh yes it's time to pay you. I sent a friendly reminder text yesterday.

I would like the money before they go on holiday. It won't be a priority then. Actually I would have liked the money last week when it should have been paid. All of my other parents managed.

I would rather hold back on threatening to stop working for them until one more message has gone past.

Tbh there is another thing happening here. They treat me as the help and I am to some extent. I am a qualified paediatric nurse this is going to be outing so I am not inexperienced or stupid. And they know it.

Send the message, then when you get the money, give them their notice.

The whole point of being self-employed is not having to deal with wankers like them!

You have a waiting list. Get rid of the Shit parents.

They're walking all over you. As PPs have pointed out you're a business not a charity.

Good learning experience for your first year!

You don't need to put up with their shit, they need you more than you need them.

Seriously if you're running your own business you need to be less of a walkover.

Go for it OP!

They sound horrible OP, why is it that you feel you can't be straight with them?

I'm sure you wouldn't go into a shop and get some expensive piece of jewellery and loftily tell the shopkeeper that you'll pay her when you get round to it. Why should they behave that way to you?

I know it's hard but try to remember it's not rude to ask for payment.

I agree with the people above - you need to say you can't take the kids unless they pay.

Don't feel uncomfortable about it, you might get along well with this family, or even feel a bit sorry for them. BUT at the end of the day you have bills to pay I assume, they're being rude to you by not being consistent with paying. I work as an accountant for a company and if I made a mistake and the pay was a day late there would be a riot!

Good luck!

I'd just give them notice. Why take all the hassle when you have a waiting list?

They treat me as the help and I am to some extent.

No you are not, do not look at it that way, they are paying you for your services - and you have not received that payment so you withdraw the service.
They are not your employers, they are choosing to utilise your services.
you get to choose your clients.

You need to change your midset towards that side of things.

Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a political treatise (the Prince) in which he argued that its better for an authority figure to be feared rather than loved. If people see you as kind and amenable then they can easily take advantage. Whereas if you are tough and strict they will know not to take liberties. This is how you should be in business - even with relatives and neighbours.

Send them a firmly worded reminder followed by a "letter before action" if they dont pay up.

Do you have any late fees in your contract? If you do then invoke them. Also send an email letting them know that if fees aren’t paid in full by Monday you will release the space to your waiting list

You are not the help, you are a highly qualified professional offering a service that they should be paying for.
They are not doing you a favour letting you look after their children and just because yours is a caring profession it shouldn’t be treated as if it’s a free service. You might care for and have a connection with their children but that should make paying you a priority.
They are taking the piss and you need to put a stop to it. If they don’t you can give the place to another child and I don’t know where you are but round here the CM are a pretty small community and non payers can find it very hard to find a new CM

In advance isn't usual. AFAIK. But they should pay immediately for work already done.

I work in a similar setting and in my experience our non payers are either on benefits and just think they're entitled to anything they want and won't pay OR pretty wealthy. The middle earners always pay bang on time or early!

You are not the paid help, you look after their most precious possessions.

Send them a strongly worded email they must pay the outstanding plus the next month up front. Failure to do so will result in their children's places being reassigned; do not take the children back

Time to amend your contracts and include a fee for late payment - one off plus daily interest.