I am not sure what to think. Sorry for the long post, but please help.

[parentof1]

God I think this lady is crazy wth is wrong with her? She has called my home 3x today demanding payment filling my voicemailbox with her nonsense!! Not only that, but behind my back she is sending "nice emails" to my husband basically calling me crazy, saying that I was unreasonable and that everything I said was lies.....

I sent her this email:

Good Morning __________,

I have received your voice mail, and am writing to express for want of a better term, my thoughts on the subject.

_________ had SOAKED PANTS for 2 days in a row. You mentioned it to me the one day, but failed to the second—I turned him around only to discover he pants were soaked and he had been wearing the SAME PULL UP ALL DAY. I know this as it was marked, say what you will but I have people who are willing to back up my statement if needed. Also it is quite interesting that ___________'s pull ups and wipes were never opened, and when you were confronted about this you back peddled, saying __________’s were being used, he was with you for a week and you never opened them once? At home and in his current care situation _________ uses at least one pull up per day.

WE PAID YOU FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH AND WITHDREW HIM BEFORE THE MONTH WAS EVEN OVER. In fact we did so on Friday March 16 2012, our reason for withdrawal was DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU WERE NOT CHANGING HIM, NOR WERE YOU FOLLOWING A CONSISTENT POTTY ROUTINE and that is considered neglect (not changing him).

After seeking council on this matter we will not be paying you any fees for the month of April. As stated above ________and I withdrew him due to NEGLECT . We used your services for 5 days!!

Please be advised that any further attempts to contact us by phone/email will be documented and reported to the police as it is now considered harassment, as well if you or any your family members or ____-(THE OTHER DAYHOME PROVIDER) and her family members show up on my property, and gain entry, we will call the police to escort you away as you are not welcomed on our property at anytime or under any circumstances. (we live in an apt)

I will no longer speak with you regarding this issue unless required to do so by law.

Thank you,

_______________

She then emails me back saying I am in breech of contract, and that I am coming up with excuses not to pay, is this girl on something?

What do I do if she takes me to court?

How should I handle this?

Please help me....tears are streaming down my face, because I cannot believe that someone would try to tell my husband that I am a liar, and not only that be sneaky about it, does she not think we live in the same home? Or share things?

[Lou]

Is she threatening to take you to court?

[parentof1]

not so far, but she probly will, cause she seems that crazy...I cannot believe this!

[Crayola kiddies]

Have you called the police ? If not maybe it's time

[Inspired by Reggio]

I will tell you the same thing I would tell a provider being threatened to be sued by a client ... save the emails she sent, save the phone messages to a digital device if possible or leave them on your machine, ask others who've seen or heard her threats and behaviour to document it NOW while fresh in their mind her exact words and claims and so forth, if they saw his soaked pants, unopened wipes and diapers and so forth to record that statement and so forth with the date to keep it 'accurate' in their mind and document and save ALL your correspondence from your end of the deal to back up why you feel 'just' in your termination of the contract.

BTW ... what was your 'contract' with her around termination and grounds? Does it address a 'probation' period or anything where either party can terminate during that time 'without notice' if things are not a match? In absence of that how much notice did it require on your part to terminate? The neglect claim on your part aside .... just wanting to get a feeling for WHY she is thinking she is entitled to an additional MONTHS pay from you if she got paid for the month of March in advance and you pulled him on March 16th ... she already got two weeks PAID notice which seems more than fair if indeed her service was not 'up to standards'???

I realize and so do the courts that there are ALWAYS two sides to every conflict in life which both parties feel passionate about them being 'right' and often somewhere in the middle is the truth often shrouded in miscommunication / personal perception of situations and so forth which is what they will try to find ... if she is to take you to court it is likely cause she honesty believes she did not do anything WRONG so either that he had been 'dry' up until moments before you arrived and she had just not had chance to change him yet cause some kids CAN hold it for a long time and than 'flood' out and that is why she is feeling entitled to proper 'notice' in her mind cause your reaction from her perception was unjust ... so perhaps she changed him as she says using other clients stuff?

Although IMO I will admit using other clients supplies on a child is so NOT COOL practice unless it was an EMERGENCY like the kid ran out and it was borrow or sit in a poop diaper ... cause some kids are allergic to certain wipes or diapers that is WHY we ask parents supply them and parents should have every reasonable assumption that this is what WILL occur?

I wish you the best of luck in your resolution of this - conflict is never fun and the stress of being sued is NEVER fun .... ideally maybe mediation between someone at small claims would be a better way to go for everyone!

[Momof4]

Yes, Inspired by Reggio has covered it all. But now that you have sent a professionally written FINAL letter, let it drop. I've been involved in a situation where a woman started sending me terrible emails and I let myself get pulled in to try to defend myself and I now know that it is a mistake. These types of people NEVER STOP and when you are tyring to defend yourself you are just fueling the flames and they keep going and going.

Block all the numbers and emails and forget about it. She's NOT going to take you to court.

[Lou]

100% agree with momof4

[mom-in-alberta]

100% agree with momof4

As do I. I would no longer engage in dialogue with this woman, either verbally or via email. I would, however, document any attempts at communication that she makes toward you. Save her emails. Record her voicemails and save them.
I also highly doubt that she is actually going to take this any farther than she has. It costs both time and money to go to court, and effort as well.
I, too, wonder what the REASONING is (in her mind) that you owe her more money? She must have said why she feels like you "stiffed" her. What were the terms of the contract regarding dismissal/termination of care? If there was no contract at all, you will for sure come out the winner here (as much as can be said in this case, anyway). Does her agreement call for a full month's notice? Mine does, FYI. But I don't disagree with your pulling him, I am glad you did. Just curious what her rationale is, other than greed....

[jec]

Have you reported the incidents to the police? I had mentioned it on your update #2 (sorry haven't been on in a week and might have missed reading that you did)
The ladies above are right, leave it be now. She might just be the type of person who knows if she can rattle you, she will.
Sorry your having to go through this

[parentof1]

She had a vague contract at best...it was poorly written with bad wording, and when questioned on it--she wasn't really up for debating, first she said she had 2 weeks notice, then one months then 2 weeks adjustment then none...it was confusing....Since this email she has sent me 2...I have not replied as I am done, but its like...Is she?

SHE STILL SAYS I OWE HER 600.00