Charging for babysitting even when parents call off

Question

I watch a couple of kids in my home full-time. One family is great - always here on time and rarely calls off. The other family -- not so great. I've been watching their little boy for about 2 months now and he has been "called off" 22 days now (not in a row). It's almost to the point of being ridiculous. As I write this, today is the sixth day in a row he is not here.

I am considering charging the mom for the full week even when he's gone. I have a statement in my "policies" that says "Although I do not charge for days you call off, I will begin to do so if it becomes a regular and problematic occurence." She received these policies at the beginning of our arrangement, although truth be told, I wonder if she even read any of it (as there have been other issues with her also).

How should I handle this? I've never had to deal with such a situation before. ANd I'd hoped I would n't HAVE to put my policy into use. It was sort of there as a deterent to anyone who might try to take advantage of me. Advice? Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, you need to pull out the signed contract and show it to her and let her know that from now on any missed days will be charged in full.

My sil is a childcare provider, she charges for this, she also get payment in full on the Friday before the child will be watched for the proceeding week.

Answer 2

I'd consider talking to the mother and seeing if there is more to this issue than you may be aware of.  When my son was going to a athome babysitter, he came down with the chicken pox.  she tried to charge me the whole week because it was in her contract, and i basically told her that this is something out of my control, and that the only way i was going to pay her for the week that my son was ill, was if she kept him anyways.  she wasn't able to take him due to one of the other parents having an issue with it.  so i kept him home and i didn't pay her.  if the parent is only keeping her child home because she doesn't feel like going to work, wants to spend the day with her child,that'ss one thing.... go ahead and charge her.  but if the child is sick, keep in mind that the parent is loosing money as well due to having to take care of her child instead of going to work.

Answer 3

I would consider charging half for any days missed. Tell her that you can be 'on call' for half price. You shouldn't have to deal with that, and she should definitely know better!

Answer 4

I vvould use the policy. Just let her knovv that this is hovv you are making money, she needs to start paying you, or find another person to vvatch her child so that you can open a spot for someone else. The babysiter I had you paid a vveekly price no matter vvhat, even if your child vvas gone for the vveek you still had to pay for that vveek to hold there spot. That vvas her income and if you aren't going to bring your child and pay her then she'll open your spot for another child.

Answer 5

Talk to the mom first; just call her, and document the time you talked to her so that there will be a physical record of it if something does come up. Depending on the state you live in, you can record the conversation, but you have to check on your state's laws first. In NC, it's legal to record a conversation as long as one of the parties in the conversation has knowledge that the conversation is recorded. But if you can't do that, at least you have the time you talked with her, and if you can't record then keep a written record of what was said, to protect your interests.

You should just tell her, I handed you these policies when you agreed to let me care for your son. Read off the part where it says that although you don't charge for days off, you will if it becomes a regular occurence. And then tell her, out of the ___ (amount of time) months you've been watching her son, he's missed _____ (number of days). Then you just say you feel like you've been lenient, and understand when a parent needs to have their child miss daycare, but ____ (number of days) out of that time period is a bit much, and you'll have to start implementing your policy and charging her for the full week if you notice that she's not complying. Because your policies are in place for the child, and for you, and she needs to respect that.

Sure, it may cause her to find another childcare provider, but most daycares are like that anyway and you can use your valuable time to care for another person's child who will be more respectful of the policies you have in place.

Answer 6

I agree with the first answerer show her the contract and explain to her that you can only have so many kids under your care at one time. She is taking up a spot even when she calls it off because you can't advertise the space.  

Answer 7

I used to watch children also and the one thing I learned with parents like that are that if you keep letting them get away with it they will only continue to take advantage of you! If your really not wanting to charge her right away then you could always verbally warn her and then if it still continues I would go ahead and charge her. The more you give the more and more she'll take.