dad owes me money wwyd

[thebody]

Hi need some advice.. have looked after a lovely little boy, nearly 3, forover a year now.

He was my first mindee so I was a bit green and got into the habit of not always being paid the full amount owed each week, his hours are variable.Usual crap like havnt been to the bank, relative picked up e.t.c.

Now over christmas they paid by cheque( why I accepted it I dont know because all previous ones had bounnced) it did.

Now Dad apologised and gave me £100 cash and do said he would give me the rest (£40) but not to tell his wife as she would be angry.. various excuses and still havnt had it.. FROM CHRISTMAS WEEK!!! I know its not a fortune but I bloody earned it and I am getting really peed off.

think I am going to say if he doesnt pay cash by friday I will put it onto the invoice I will give his wife this Friday..

They owed money to their sons school and have had debt collectors at the door 2 weeks ago.(quite open about this so obviously dont feel bad about being in debt)I would feel more sorry for them if the wife didnt turn up with french polished nails last week

I now have cut his hours to 3 days so I have more relaible parents on most days but what would you do? DH wants me to insist on cash settlement and then give notice but love the little boy advise?... sorry long moan

I would put it into the invoice anyway. The dad has lost the right to your discretion by now.

Does your contract specify anything about late payments? Disclaimer: I am not a childminder and know nothing about childminding. But if this family have been persistently late paying, and you really don't want to give notice, then I'd suggest giving them a new contract with appropriate sanctions in place - e.g. £x charge for bounced cheque (the bank must be charging you something anyway?), y% per week interest charge on overdue fees, and you will not look after the boy if there's any payment outstanding for more than a month.

But really I agree with your dh, it would be easier to give notice.

This is really crap for you and for the little boy, but it is not you doing this to the little boy, but his crappy feckless don't-give-a-toss parents! Trying to make you complicit against the wife is a very low trick: it doesn't mean she doesn't know; in fact, she may be complicit with him, just pretending not to know so you will feel guilty.

Ooooh, this pisses me off on your behalf. Mean, mean, mean, in both senses of the word.

You are very sensible to be paying more attention to your more reliable families. Well done, thebody (what a good name, BTW, give 'em "Elle"! )

Thanks both very much, no alarkaspree I havn't a late payment charge, simply because I didnt think anyone would ever be late!!! u live and learn dont you, although all my other parents are fabi and wouldnt dream of doing this..

I have put the bounced cheque payment on her invoice however so I do wonder if she is aware..mind you I dont think she notices.

I do hate asking for money, it makes me feel so embaressed and I know thats just ridiculous, its the only part of the job I hate.

Wingedvictory thanks and you made me laugh, wish I was bloody Elle Mc pherson..

decided will give notice.. I actually have a waiting list so I really dont even need them.

I will miss the little boy a lot but my own kids come first and I will keep reminding myself that these jokers are depriving them.

thanks again for the support and advice girls

Great that you have a waiting list. You are evidently doing things right.

As for asking for money, just go back to the first paragraph. You have a waiting list; you are doing things right. People are lining up to give you money!

thanks so much for that, feel much stronger now for the support x