"We've decided not to pay you this week."

[YumeIshimaru]

Wait, if you were doing the babysitting, what were they charging you for...?

They would charge me if I ate anything in the house, even if I originally had permission. I had to make sure I ate a full meal (never a bad idea) before I went over and to make sure I brought my own drink/snacks. They would have probably would have charged me for water if they thought they could get away with it.

The one time that sticks out the most was when they bought pizza and I checked if I could have some, they said yes before charging me at the end of the night. They probably got away with so much due to the fact when they got home it was usually around 3 or 4 in the morning and I was too tired to think, which was fun as I was always boot out and had to get myself home.

I didn't live that far away but still. I was a young teen in a neighborhood that was just a bit safer then a 'ghetto'. Someone walking me home and making sure I didn't get attacked would have been nice.

Or Maybe they were secretly charging me for having the 'honor' of being around their precious angels (see devilous demons). I swear this was a prime example of the reason's why certain people shouldn't breed, or as a wise friend once said;

'The World would be a much better place if some people had kept their pants on and other's had taken their pants off'

[EricKei]

They would charge me if I ate anything in the house, even if I originally had permission.

I'm sorry, but that's bovine feces. Any babysitting job within someone's house assumes that you have reasonable access to food within the house unless they specifically tell you otherwise. Given how little sitters generally charge (as compared to things like Nanny Services and daycares ... usually ()), this is a given among sane clients, just as long as you don't wipe out half of their fridge. This goes double if they kept you that late o_O

[Syriilord]

Wow. After reading this (and other, similar stories) I've vowed that should I ever start my own business, I'll have something like:

customer (plural customers)

a patron; one who purchases a product or service from a business or merchant

framed and mounted in an obvious, easily-visible area to point out for those who don't seem to understand what a customer actually is.

[YumeIshimaru]

I'm sorry, but that's bovine feces. Any babysitting job within someone's house assumes that you have reasonable access to food within the house unless they specifically tell you otherwise. Given how little sitters generally charge (as compared to things like Nanny Services and daycares ... usually ()), this is a given among sane clients, just as long as you don't wipe out half of their fridge. This goes double if they kept you that late o_O

It was. It's the reason I made sure not to touch a thing. The first time it did happen involved the who Pizza thing. They got pizza several times after that but I stayed the hell away from it because it wasn't worth getting 20.00 for eight hours of baby sitting because 'OMG you ateded our food'. It was sad as they seemed like good people but it didn't take long to figure out that they were whiny man children who weren't ready to settle down and be parents. I mean I should have been happy with what they gave me, it's not like I didn't have anyone else I could babysit for I'm just glad I'm better at standing up for myself now, I mean I don't mind working with you if you have a limited income but I can start to bite back when I'm upset enough (or a family member gives me a good kick in the ass and reminds me I don't deserve that)

[SunshyneWalker4167]

I applaud your wife for standing up for herself That rude lady definately deserved it and knowing that your wife stood up for herself the way she did made me laugh! <3

[Gidgetdigit]

I'm on a message board with several women who run in-home daycares and they have all come across some version of this nonsense. Good for you for sticking to your guns.

Oh, poor baby, they are so inconvenienced because they didn't pay you and now they have to suffer the consequences. I just don't understand this mentality. It is their CHILDREN, for heaven's sake. The daycare bill should be top priority.

[Gidgetdigit]

I haven't even read the pages of responses, and I have already responded, but this post disturbed me so much that I can't go to sleep without saying this.

Some of you may know that I was widowed a few years back. In the interim, I went to optometry school and started my own business, which I love. (So much that I have no SC experiences to report!)

Anyway, when dh died, I was a mess, and so were my kids. Instead of going the daycare route, I hired Dorothy to be my babysitter and to do light housework (laundry, fixing lunch for my preschooler, shopping for groceries). I thought it would be easier for the kids (10, 7, and 2 at the time) to have someone at home with them instead of daycare while I was at work and at school.

Dorothy was my savior. She helped us through so many rough times, especially that first year. I barely got by some weeks, but you can be certain that my first check each week was made out to Dorothy. Who on earth is going to stiff someone who takes care of their flesh and blood?

Dorothy works for another family now, but we are still good friends. Every Christmas, I give her $1000. I would have loved to have given that to her while she worked for us, but I couldn't afford it at the time. She deserves it and more, especially as she could have gone to another family who paid more and who gave better Christmas bonuses. She was loyal to us, and I am eternally grateful.

[Binky]

Don't leave us hanging!

Oh sorry she did pay me, and then I lost the job promptly 2 weeks later. I guess she didn't like having to pay the nanny and figured she would find someone else willing to not be paid to do the same work. I got a much better job a few weeks later and have never looked back

[Pixilated]

Dang, I've read all the pages looking for the update -- you know, the one along the lines of, "She called us demanding/pleading/yelling/grovelling that we HAVE to take her back because she can't find another good daycare at the same price."
*evil laugh*
Kudos to your wife, first for not knocking SC flat when she initially made her outrageous demands and second for ultimately firing her. I personally would not take back a customer like that at any price, because, as many here have said, you just know she will pull the same thing again.

[Akasa]

Yeah I was kinda hoping for a begging phone call in there I can't find anyone else for how much you charge, you have to take him back!

[depechemodefan]

Any babysitting job within someone's house assumes that you have reasonable access to food within the house unless they specifically tell you otherwise.

Makes me think of the sterotype of the babysitter drinking the liquor (toping the bottles off with water to disguise that liquid is missing), watching Cinemax, calling long-distance on the phone. hee.

[Clover]

Awr, she never called back or dumped her kid on your front step demanding you take him? Shame. It would've been nice to be able to either put the verbal smackdown on her again or, if she simply left her kid there, calling CPS about an abandoned child. That would've taught her.

[veniteangeli]

WHAT HAPPENED? I'm late to the party, but I'm one of the ones who votes for Judge Judy or similar. Having a judgment brought against her, however small, even in one of those shows, will follow her around - and watching Judge Judy tear her to shreds will be so delicious as to be worth any court costs you incur.

[downforit2008]

Kudos to your wife for standing up to that customer! I loved the way the customer talks all tough just because she thinks she can do whatever she wants, pay whenever and what amount she feels like, and you and your wife just have to TAKE THAT CRAP from her as part of business. Then the next moment, she's whining and begging like a little girl for you to take her kid again so she's not "inconvenienced". Good job!

[EricKei]

WHAT HAPPENED? I'm late to the party, but I'm one of the ones who votes for Judge Judy or similar.

Keep in mind that, if you do make it onto a Court Show, you sign an Arbitration contract, and the decision will be final and enforceable -- None of those shows have sitting judges working for them (tho most or all are *former* judges) -- They all act as Arbitrators, and both sides agree that the Host/Judge's decision is binding and final. While they may have to follow the laws of NYC (etc), NOT the ones of your home jurisdiction, they do not actually represent the City nor State itself.

AFAIK, the way it works for any given case is something like this:

- Starting "pot" of $5,000 or so
- "Court costs", if any, come out of this
- Winner gets paid from this fund directly
- Any remaining balance is split evenly between the litigants

e.g.: Let's say you win and are awarded $2000. You get the 2K plus half of the balance (another $1500) for a total of $3500, and the defendant gets $1500. This is in addition to the show flying you both up to NYC (or wherever), putting you up in a hotel room, etc.