Childminders club - need more help

[JELLYJELLY]

Now i have started asking for advice it is not gonna stop till i sort it all out.

One of my new ish parents is being a bit of a handful.

1)She is a bit skint, she says to skint to put credit on her phone, she doesnt have a landline so she texts whenever she needs to discuss something and wants me then to text her back. I have been doing this for ages now and it has to stop as i am spending about10-15 approx per month on texts just to her. I cant afford it. I have asked her lots of time to call me rather than texting

1. because i might not have my phone on me as i dont have to and it could be a really important text that i could miss - her response was well keep it on you then.

2. The safety angle somebody to get hold of her phone and ask me to take her child somewhere which i could do without voice confirmation, worse thing i can think of her ex partner who is trying to get custody kidnapping etc. (sorry have to worry about the childs safety)

3. i explained that it was costing me 8p per text which is to much so i have to stop - her response was well it costs me 12p i am more skint than you.

4)i have had lots of problems for her asking me to look after child for 5 days and nights without pay (not ok'd for overnight care and she knows this)

5. even though i give receipts with breakdown for each session on them she wants a breakdown on a letter addressed to income support saying what she pays and for how long, charges etc. I have told her that i give receipt for this reason and that should be ok, i have said you right it and i will check it. I dont think they should be requesting this and my other half says to charge her for it, an hours work.

6)Late payments which she has disputed, even though late payment fee in contract. Not asking if ok just telling me thatshe is not paying half pay through the session.( child is dropped off by somebody else)

What does everyone think of this, i know i need to get rid of her( she was my first client and she was a friend, so it does make it difficult). I really like looking after the child and my son likes it too but everytime i talk to her my ezcema flares straight away she is making me so stressed about it all.

i was thinking about writting a letter detailing this this weekend any other points about the texting apart from the safety angle that could support my case?.

Does anyone know if i give a weeks notice on these grounds if i can be sued, i use ncma contracts and state 4 weeks either side.

In case you havent guessed i hate confrontations and i think this might start one.

Thanks any ideas much appreciated.

Good for you and lots of luck dealing with the backlash - that's why I charge a month up front - "no money no minding"

I THINK imight need to take deposits even from friends that i only do one afternoon, What do you do if they pay weekly? and monthly.?

She texted me this morning and said you can have him today and i will pay you on tuesday/next friday, i said no. (and so pleased about it)

When they start I charge the whole settling in period, then I get paid one mnth in advance on the 1st of each month - I don't do a deposit yet - but if I have a problem I might

Sorry if being a bit thick, you sign a contract and do your standard 4 weeks settling inand they have to pay you for that then at the end they pay you another month?. Most of my paretns want to pay weekly.

The other thing, do you make them pay every 4 weeks or do you vary the payment each month? what are the pros and cons of both.

For the first 4 (or 6 or 8) weeks they pay the exact amount (up to 1st of the month)

Then on each first of minth they pay me (weekly *50)/12 so the same amount each month. No arguments on not paying if they don't attend then