Parents who dont pay the babysitter???

Question

I babysit for a family who has 2 bad boys. 1 and 3 years old. their cute but bad as can be. well, ive been disciplining them and so far they are cooperating..but the parents dont pay as often as i would like. the parents are in a money bind, but so am i. i babysit from 6am to 5pm everyday!!! how do i bring it up to the parents to start paying me?!?! the first time i babysat for them for a week and got paid $130..not bad, i babysat for them two days in a row and got nothing, now im babysitting tomorrow and dont know how to bring up when i get my money and how much..i was told its gonna be $150 a week but i just want to know how i can bring it up again so she wont "forget." what would you say about the money to the parents when you come over to babysit??

Answer 1

Tell them you will not baby sit for them the next day unless they have the cash in hand that they owe you, I will bet you will have the money in hand or they will cancel your services, if that happens take this as a learning experience and get your services in writing via a contract that explains how much each week and for what hours, also charge for them being late either getting home or paying you late also. On a side note you need to charge more you are making less than minimum wage - 55hrs and only 130.00 in pay equals 2.36 per hour. Good Luck

Answer 2

it sounds like you're trying to be considerate and understanding--and that's good--but it can only go so far. I've been in a similar situation and here's how I'd handle it if I could go back:

Bring up the fact that you have bills/obligations and tell them you might need to take on a second babysitting job during the hours you work for them. Tell them you might be able to work a few hours each day, but you need some income or else there's gonna be bad consequences for you.

Hopefully this will get them to realize how much they need you and people like you are hard to find. Maybe they'll even be able to refer you to a better paying babysitting gig.

This is all I can suggest--this way you're still being nice but letting them know you're having problems with the way things are set up.

Answer 3

I would ask to speak to her before she leaves when she drops off the children. In private, inform her that she owes you $150 to date. Also let her know that if she becomes behind in paying you, that you cannot keep her children. If you become a new sitter for another family, it may be best to iron all of these details out up front, or have them sign a contract that you can prepare, with guidelines on how and when you would like to be paid.

Answer 4

This is one of those hard lessons in business.... when you have to chase people up for money..
Just be upfront about it.
Maybe begin by saying I know this is uncomfortable but I really need to be paid otherwise I will have to find other employment or baby sitting jobs.
If it is an ongoing problem once you get paid you might want to get another baby sitting job.

Or... you could say that from now on you prefer to be paid in advance. ..... before they walk out the door to go out or to work.

good luck... I know it is embarrasing and all parties might feel uncomfortable but if you let them get a way with it too often they will take you for granted.

Answer 5

Don't show up. When they call you say that you got another babysitting job because you needed money to buy a car or something. That should get the point across.

Answer 6

You have a job - you have to do your job regardless of how bad the kids are. They have to pay you. Too bad if they have money problems - if you don't get paid you will have money problems too. You are giving them 11 hours of your time for $30.00 That is less than half of the minimum wage. Tell em to pay up or get a new babysitter.

Answer 7

ok - with a view to make it honest, in view that there's no person to pay the mum and dad (except you have a crafty plan) I propose we in simple terms supply up paying babysitters. actual, we never have paid babysitters, we in simple terms swapped with buddies and neighbours.

Answer 8

At the end of the night, tell them what they owe you, and that you cannot (careful, do not say 'will not' but 'can not', as if your principles hold you from doing so, rather than attitude) continue to babysit until they fix their debt.

Answer 9

As a parent who has children, when i took my children to daycare, there policy was to pay a week in advance. I don't know if it will work but its a thought.