Littlebiffa
27-05-2012, 04:40 PM
Hi all,
I was just after a bit of advice if at all possible please. I am sorry but although I will try to keep it as short as possible I am afraid it won't be!!
I looked after a 12month old from Feb 2011 - Oct 2011 every other friday. Everything was fine although the parents messed me about quite a bit with not paying in time, not turning up, being late to collect etc. Now I was more than reasonable with them and things finally ended when their cat got run over, they had a huge vets bill and couldn't afford me anymore. It wasn't really a problem for them as neither of them work - they just wanted a day off a week to go shopping etc.
Anyway, I asked them to pay the last days fees as their son was ill and didn't attend. They said they would come round with the money but never did so i arranged to meet them up the local school at pick up time when I would give them the child's learning journal and they would pay me. They never showed up.
I decided to just leave it - was really not worth the fight for £30. Anyway, I have not heard a jot from them until the mother messaged me on facebook of all places yesterday and asked me to post her sons learning journal etc. She is not a friend on facebook but has obviously found me somehow. I was quite angry as I have tried hard to be reasonable and the rudeness just astounds me! I replied that if she paid me what she owes then she can come and collect the learning journal etc. I am not paying to post it as have already lost money. I know that was the wrong thing to say but in the heat of the moment I was feeling really mad. Anyway, she has gone off on one saying that she owes me nothing and then saying that I am lucky she hasn't reported me because of the state her son came home in the last time I had him.
I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about - everything was fine but she is saying that I never gave her any reciepts (I did) and that her son wasn't looked after properly etc. I am so upset about it all as I wasn't aware of any issues at all and they seemed perfectly happy with my care and often wanted extra dates here and there.
She has said she is going to take it further and although I know that she has nothing to substantiate these claims and I have done nothing wrong I am still very very stressed about it all. I am just about to message her back to say that I will not stop her collecting the learning journal etc if she wants them but that I am unsure whether to mention the accusations. I have told her to go ahead and report me if she feels it is necessary but I am worried that if I don't mention it at all in the message then it is almost like I am guilty.
Does this make any sense at all? My head feels all tired and stressed out at the moment. I am just a normal, friendly person trying my hardest to earn a little bit of money whilst my kids are young but I am being made to feel like a tyrant!
Has anyone any advice for me please? I just don't know what to do anymore - I am on the verge of giving up childminding as this is the 2nd lot of grief I have had - not about my level of care - another parent messing me around money wise and I haven't had very many children if that makes sense!
Thanks so much if you have made it to the end of this post!! It feels better just to have got it off my chest.
xx
I was just after a bit of advice if at all possible please. I am sorry but although I will try to keep it as short as possible I am afraid it won't be!!
I looked after a 12month old from Feb 2011 - Oct 2011 every other friday. Everything was fine although the parents messed me about quite a bit with not paying in time, not turning up, being late to collect etc. Now I was more than reasonable with them and things finally ended when their cat got run over, they had a huge vets bill and couldn't afford me anymore. It wasn't really a problem for them as neither of them work - they just wanted a day off a week to go shopping etc.
Anyway, I asked them to pay the last days fees as their son was ill and didn't attend. They said they would come round with the money but never did so i arranged to meet them up the local school at pick up time when I would give them the child's learning journal and they would pay me. They never showed up.
I decided to just leave it - was really not worth the fight for £30. Anyway, I have not heard a jot from them until the mother messaged me on facebook of all places yesterday and asked me to post her sons learning journal etc. She is not a friend on facebook but has obviously found me somehow. I was quite angry as I have tried hard to be reasonable and the rudeness just astounds me! I replied that if she paid me what she owes then she can come and collect the learning journal etc. I am not paying to post it as have already lost money. I know that was the wrong thing to say but in the heat of the moment I was feeling really mad. Anyway, she has gone off on one saying that she owes me nothing and then saying that I am lucky she hasn't reported me because of the state her son came home in the last time I had him.
I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about - everything was fine but she is saying that I never gave her any reciepts (I did) and that her son wasn't looked after properly etc. I am so upset about it all as I wasn't aware of any issues at all and they seemed perfectly happy with my care and often wanted extra dates here and there.
She has said she is going to take it further and although I know that she has nothing to substantiate these claims and I have done nothing wrong I am still very very stressed about it all. I am just about to message her back to say that I will not stop her collecting the learning journal etc if she wants them but that I am unsure whether to mention the accusations. I have told her to go ahead and report me if she feels it is necessary but I am worried that if I don't mention it at all in the message then it is almost like I am guilty.
Does this make any sense at all? My head feels all tired and stressed out at the moment. I am just a normal, friendly person trying my hardest to earn a little bit of money whilst my kids are young but I am being made to feel like a tyrant!
Has anyone any advice for me please? I just don't know what to do anymore - I am on the verge of giving up childminding as this is the 2nd lot of grief I have had - not about my level of care - another parent messing me around money wise and I haven't had very many children if that makes sense!
Thanks so much if you have made it to the end of this post!! It feels better just to have got it off my chest.
xx