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?

You need to know your worth.

You are an excellent service provider, in demand, highly valued by your clients.

You have an excellent reputation with a waiting list of potential clients who would treat you with respect, be gracious to work with make your working life easier and more rewarding.

People like this never change. It’s in their entitled and ignorant DNA.

You are in charge of your own destiny - you don’t need to work with people like this!

What's vig?

I'm not sure what's going on now, or how to proceed

Send them the calculation of what is still due, remind them of the terms of the contract, and say that if you don't receive payment by the end of the week you will reluctantly have to give up working for them. It's irrelevant that they're abroad, they can still arrange a bank transfer.

What’s vig?

So they’ve paid some but not all

@Blondeshavemorefun

What’s vig?

So they’ve paid some but not all

The OP appears to be using vig to mean interest. It's more commonly used to mean the bookie's cut when you make a bet (in 1920s Noo Yawk!)

Not sure what that quote didn't work?

@Terhou

What's vig?

I wondered this also???

Vig is also a term used by US Mafia to describe the interest added on to a debt. As it is the Mafia, the vig is usually extortionate and increases daily.

Are you suggesting that these parents have found this thread and paid you the amount in your op ?

@UnpaidCare

Vig is also a term used by US Mafia to describe the interest added on to a debt. As it is the Mafia, the vig is usually extortionate and increases daily.

Mafia? They REALLY don't want to be messing with you!

(and thank you for explaining vig)

Thanks @TriciaMcMillan

Can’t quote a quote

@Blondeshavemorefun

Thanks *@TriciaMcMillan*

Can’t quote a quote

Doh! Thanks

No glitterelf, they haven't paid me the amount in the OP.

Or the amount for that first week + vig.

Or enough to cover the first week of August + second week (from 23rd) of August.

Or enough to cover the first week + second week + vig.

They have paid the first week + an odd amount, which more than covers the first week + interest - whether that is calculated as flat or compound interest - and some of the next week.

I'm still bemused, I've had a busy day poorly parent so I haven't given the whole situation much thought. I'm not sure how much I should return. I'll do some back of an envelope calculations later and try to give it some proper consideration.

Yes, BruceAndNosh Mafia. No-one sleeps with the fishes. Yet .

Watch The Sopranos in full, it is a little dated now. Still darned good, mind.

‘Thank you for your payment. As you can see from the attached invoice payment for xyz is still outstanding. Please forward £X to cover the rest of (insert month) up to the week beginning xyz.’
‘Unfortunately, if the remaining payment is not paid in advance and in full I will be left with no alternative other than to terminate our agreement with immediate effect.’

@UnpaidCare

No glitterelf, they haven't paid me the amount in the OP.

Or the amount for that first week + vig.

Or enough to cover the first week of August + second week (from 23rd) of August.

Or enough to cover the first week + second week + vig.

They have paid the first week + an odd amount, which more than covers the first week + interest - whether that is calculated as flat or compound interest - and some of the next week.

I'm still bemused, I've had a busy day poorly parent so I haven't given the whole situation much thought. I'm not sure how much I should return. I'll do some back of an envelope calculations later and try to give it some proper consideration.

Yes, BruceAndNosh Mafia. No-one sleeps with the fishes. Yet .

Watch The Sopranos in full, it is a little dated now. Still darned good, mind.

Really sorry that you are currently having to deal with an ill parent - I hope that resolved quickly for you.

Reading this thread is like watching you be thumb screwed by these maggots. They are actually enjoying dicking you about.

Don’t let people do this to you. You need a business approach. Initiate your termination process and select a more respectful family to work with.

They are now 11 days late with their payment with numerous ignored communications. They don’t even have the manners to respond to your email.

What’s stopping doing what you proposed in your 1st post?

@UnpaidCare

No glitterelf, they haven't paid me the amount in the OP.

Or the amount for that first week + vig.

Or enough to cover the first week of August + second week (from 23rd) of August.

Or enough to cover the first week + second week + vig.

They have paid the first week + an odd amount, which more than covers the first week + interest - whether that is calculated as flat or compound interest - and some of the next week.

I'm still bemused, I've had a busy day poorly parent so I haven't given the whole situation much thought. I'm not sure how much I should return. I'll do some back of an envelope calculations later and try to give it some proper consideration.

Yes, BruceAndNosh Mafia. No-one sleeps with the fishes. Yet .

Watch The Sopranos in full, it is a little dated now. Still darned good, mind.

Poor old Pussy massive fan here !

OMG glitterelf. When Pussy is on the boat and he is drinking tequila with the others, the first time I watched that I could see what was going to happen, and it was obvious that Pussy could too. So well acted.

With that, I'll segue from organised crime to childminding in one quick move .

Sssloou I absolutely plan to terminate their contract, first I just have to work out how much money to return to them. It would have been a fiendishly clever move on their part. They could argue that they paid me but were confused.

Except that I was ready to end it, with or without the small claims court. Which leaves them without childcare. Not so fiendishly clever after all.

😂 my husband works in waste management 😉
I'm all seriousness any new parents Google them as appearances can be deceiving. I found out the hard way when a new parent came on a job centre scheme, I called the JC and they confirmed that said scheme existed but couldn't go into any details as to whether this particular parent was part of the scheme. Because these schemes only pay in arrears that made me check because the fees were £1K for the month for 2 children. I'd taken the word of the parent and the comfort in knowing that the scheme existed however the parent wasn't part of the scheme and started ignoring my calls and texts so I turned to Google not really expecting to find much but there she was in the paper for fraud! She was on a suspended licence that had just ended 2 weeks before I'd googled her meaning had I checked her out earlier she'd have been sent to prison. My blood boiled thar not only had I been ripped off but that I'd welcomed the vile criminal into my home.
So please always check them out.

😄 A wrong decision is better than indecision 😂

Good grief glitterelf, you had a lucky escape.

The thing is that the late paying parents would have checked out. They do check out, even now.

Except that I have given the local CM Facebook group enough information without veering into outright indiscretion to ensure that they will find it difficult to find another CM locally.

The FB group love the drama. They make me laugh.

The families I am considering are mainly more teachers, which is not to say that you can't have teachers that won't pay, except that they are friends or colleagues of some of my existing families.

I think that I am the educational CM recommendation du jour, I could fill my allocation twice over. Which is making me wonder about the logistics of setting up a nursery 🤔,

A part of me is tempted just to give the non-paying family notice and not mention the overpayment for now. To be clear; I won't keep the money but I may turn the tables and wait for them to chase me instead.

A part of me is tempted just to give the non-paying family notice and not mention the overpayment for now. To be clear; I won't keep the money but I may turn the tables and wait for them to chase me instead.

That sounds like a decent idea. Let them do the work sending emails explaining the financial position and balance owed for a change.

@UnpaidCare you really should set up a nursery. My children went to a kind of hybrid cm / nursery set up. Small enough to have the advantages of a cm but big enough to have lots of space and opportunities. Basically the main cm employed two other people which I think meant they could take about 12 children max. It was a lovely setting.

Nursery logistics are a nightmare happy to explain more in depth via PM if you have any questions

Good for you. Lance the boil - you will feel v relieved.

Best to send that termination letter ASAP.

What does your contract say about termination notice from you? Although I would imagine because they missed deadline after deadline it’s immediate (even though some random amount has come through)?

I wouldn’t bother playing games with these types as the famous quote goes “never wrestle with a pig - as you will both get covered in mud but the pig loves it”

Good luck. Deep breath. Simple letter - press send. Be brave.

Forget Pussy, he knew what he was getting into, what about Adriana? Or her little dog?? That was some dark stuff.
Every time we catch an episode on TV, DH and I debate over what is currently going on, we need to rewatch it again

So sopranos fans what's your fave episode ? Mine has to be Paulie and Chrissy lost in the woods fighting over a bit of carpet to keep warm 😂