Hon ~ I am so sorry you are in this position!

I know it sounds harsh but this is going to be a tough lesson learned for you ~ do not do anyone a FAVOR in business unless you can afford to be charitable and not care if they do not 'appreciate' the favor cause fact remains they do not see it as a favor they see it as a norm for them and it sets the precedent that your 'contract' is negotiable ... which is why she is now trying to change it again cause it worked last time she plead' cannot afford' you buckled and lowered your fee!

Being able to AFFORD childcare is about priorities and if they set their childcare bill above their lets say cable/internet/phone upgrades and cellphone packages, their dinner out and entertainment, clothes on their back, vehicle and other 'expenses' ... most people will choose to pay ALL THOSE before paying for childcare which shows the PRIORITY they place on their childcare ... you do not NEED cable, internet, phone upgrades, cellphones, dinner out, movies, new clothes, a vehicle ~ but if you have no childcare you cannot WORK to pay for any of those things and yet people put them FIRST on their lists of things they can 'afford' ????

Unfortunately without a security deposit or payment in advance of service you are screwed here! The first option you have is if she shows up for care without the FULL payment due ~ refuse service until the payment is received and account is in 'good standing! But seeing as she does not NEED care cause she is not working and leaving she just wont come ~you'd have to sue her for the $$$ and well that will likely cost you more in time off work than the $$ you would get from her!

Do you take a security deposit when you START the relationship to apply to the notice period at the end? IMO your security deposit should be equal to the notice you require them to give ~ so if it is THREE WEEKS than your deposit is equal to 3 weeks of fees that are applied when the notice is given ... if they do not give proper notice they FORFEIT the security deposit and you at least have X money to use while trying to find a replacement client!

This way you are never out money because they than continue to pay in 'advance' of care ... if a payment bounces or they just take off you have the 3 weeks of fees 'banked' for them.