"Forgot" to pay?!?

**Melanie** · 27-01-2008, 09:01 PM

Well I'm hoping that posting here will be as lucky as it was for me last time!

I started minding for the family that I had a call from when I was posting my first message. That was nearly three weeks ago and I still haven't been paid! I feel like a blooming idiot. I let payment ride for the first day because I figured it was an oversight and the mother promised to bring cash the next day. My contract states cash in advanced and they only signed 3 days previous.

I called Friday to see if there was a cash problem or any issues and she said she'd just forgotten to bring the money! They hadn't forgotten to drop their kids off half an hour early or quarter of an hour late though.

During the phone call she said she'd come this weekend but guess what ... no money. I'm tempted to refuse to take the kids without full payment but that seems mean to them.

I'm a teaching assistant and had rearranged my hours to accomodate her needs but now I think I've made a huge mistake. I've been offered more hours at school so was thinking about ending our contract and staying registered for after school and holidays.

I really enjoy both jobs and ending this contract feels like accepting defeat but in the same breath I can't see it getting any better without confrontation.

**Rubybubbles** · 27-01-2008, 09:20 PM

If it's in your contract then refuse, thats what I have in mine, and

right I would stick to it in this instance

Hope you get it sorted

**Banana** · 27-01-2008, 09:28 PM

Yeah, parents use the 'i forgot to pay' excuse quite a bit!

Do not mind for her until you have been paid. Explain you are sorry buit care has been removed until she has paid the money owed and refer her to your policy which she agreed to. Dont let it go on any longer, she is taking advantage.

Sorry this has happened to you but you need to be firm now to save being sorry later

x

**miffy** · 27-01-2008, 09:31 PM

I agree with the others

This parent is taking the mickey

Be firm or you may not get your money

Good luck

Miffy xx

**Trouble** · 27-01-2008, 09:32 PM

i agree dont mind until she has paid explain you have changed hours to fit her in and have her contract at hand to show her but get the money somehow first or say you are going to charge her a late late late payment fee but enough is enough now your not a charity and shes always on time what a bag!!!!!!!!!!!

Pipsqueak · 27-01-2008, 09:58 PM

That is so annoying - for goodness sake we work because we need the money - just like every other person!!!

If they have signed a contract agreeing to your t/c's and you have stipulated advance payment then refuse care till you get whats owed.

xx

**Melanie** · 27-01-2008, 10:42 PM

That's what I thought. They'd soon have something to say if they weren't paid and their boss says they forgot!

How can you leave your kids somewhere for 10 hours a day and not think about paying the person caring for them?

You think I could go get myself some new Jimmy Choo's and forget to go to the till? I'm sure security will be as much as a pushover as I've been!

**Melanie** · 27-01-2008, 09:32 PM

Specified payment up front unless by prior arrangement but didn't necessarily say that the consequence of not paying would be that I wouldn't have their kids.

You live and learn though. I had a prospective after school and holiday person come visit the other night. I made it clear then that I don't care if it's cash or cheque but the money comes through the door first! Obviously I phrased it in a professional yet friendly manner but you gt the idea!

Thanks for your outrage - wasn't sure if I was over reacting by starting to get so... er.... annoyed and irritated.

**Schnakes** · 29-01-2008, 11:24 AM

Hi Melanie,

Sorry to read that you are having problems at the moment. I just wanted to say "bravo" for being so strong minded about the situation.

Sx

**Tups** · 27-05-2009, 10:37 AM

Hi don't let it go on anymore I've had this before mine went on for week,s big mistake. In the end mother told me she had spent it ha. She got most of it payed for of tax credit I took her to court what a waste of time she didn't even bother to show up and that cost me another £60 in total she owed me £600 .I informed tax credit they didn't even call me back tups x

**Tups** · 27-05-2009, 10:41 AM

dont no how my post got here ???

**Tups** · 27-05-2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Melanie

Well I'm hoping that posting here will be as lucky as it was for me last time!

I started minding for the family that I had a call from when I was posting my first message. That was nearly three weeks ago and I still haven't been paid! I feel like a blooming idiot. I let payment ride for the first day because I figured it was an oversight and the mother promised to bring cash the next day. My contract states cash in advanced and they only signed 3 days previous.

I called Friday to see if there was a cash problem or any issues and she said she'd just forgotten to bring the money! They hadn't forgotten to drop their kids off half an hour early or quarter of an hour late though.

During the phone call she said she'd come this weekend but guess what ... no money. I'm tempted to refuse to take the kids without full payment but that seems mean to them.

I'm a teaching assistant and had rearranged my hours to accomodate her needs but now I think I've made a huge mistake. I've been offered more hours at school so was thinking about ending our contract and staying registered for after school and holidays.

I really enjoy both jobs and ending this contract feels like accepting defeat but in the same breath I can't see it getting any better without confrontation.

I sent you a post on this but its gone somewhere else ??? tups x

**purple rain** · 28-05-2009, 10:57 AM

well i'm having trouble with one at the mo.

the mum doesnt speak english. she's been sent on a course via the job centre to learn english so she can get a job....
i have delt with job centre before regarding payments so i didnt batter an eye

started minding - in a rush, as the course had started and mum had missed the 1st week. she filled in the forms (eldest son did them for her) but has never been to my house!! dispite being invited every wk!

so the poor kid cries a lot he's 14 months old and doesnt understand a word of english - i sound as cockney as you like so i must terrify the poor boy

and guess what its wk 4 and no payment!! in fairness i know its not her fault. you can tell by her face she feels bad. she's been put in a position where she has had to trust someone she doesnt know, her child doesnt know just to do this course. (she has no family here) i have been in contact to the course providers and they have been helpful and i now have the name of the person dealing with this case at the job centre........ but i have been ringing and keep getting told that the person will ring me back. and of course they dont!!!
mum has still got lessons this wk but has left the child with teenage son. so i havent even got him this week. im at the end of my tether with it all though.

i think if i dont get the money owed and some sort of payment system set up before monday i will withdraw care i dont know what else to do