Termination problem

[Rachael]

They found a spot at a center daycare for the 2 year old(his last day was friday) and now are not paying me for his spot and are paying me weekly for the twins until they find them a spot.
correct me if i'm wrong are they not supposed to pay you for the entire 4 weeks regardless if they find spots.

The only thing they have to pay for is what you have specified in your contracts. Sadly, as we are self-employed, there's no legislation for our service contract so your agreement with any client is just that, what you agreed and included in the contract. If information is missing, then sadly, there's nothing you can do in retrospect.

My contracts state that either party can give the other 4 weeks notice in writing but they go on to further state that fees are due, regardless of attendance, even if during a notice period.

Do you normally charge for non-attendance when a child is off?

It's worth getting specific in your contracts especially when it comes to instances where you are terminating. Otherwise, the client may feel that you only gave them so much notice because you had to and they are doing you a favour by leaving early since you are the one wanting them gone.

Likewise, they might well thing "stuff you" since they've had to find alternative care.

Unless you are very clear in your contract that fees are due during a notice period, even when it's you who has terminated, they don't have to pay for anything more than the contracts states. Their view is likely they ended the care contract early and so don't owe any more fees.

Edit - Also, it sounds as if being paid weekly for the twins is not what your normal pay arrangement is? If that's the case, then they don't get to change the pay periods and you need to enforce what they are meant to do.

I think, reading between the lines, they are understandably annoyed at having to find another carer and may be intentionally trying to be difficult and/or thinking that if they find the twins a place soon, they don't want you having more than the minimal fees in advance as they don't intend paying for for their places either, if pulled before the end of 4 weeks.