Should I get my money back?

[Ad1986]

Of course I was getting a deal! Why should she get the same financial benefit as someone who was licensed and had a permit and was regulated by an agency without having those qualifications?! It would be a little different if she was a formal dayhome or daycare and had limited spots, but she wasn't.

I didn't just 'decide' to one day change my mind and not take him for NO reason. And yes, unless you have some sort of further education, accreditation, licensing, permit, or regulations to abide by then you ARE a just a babysitter!!!! And my money should not be going towards paying for OTHER children's activities!!!

[lplplp]

I didn't just 'decide' to one day change my mind and not take him for NO reason.

It doesn't matter what the reason was. You still were the one that didn't hold up your end of the deal!!

[Ad1986]

And babysitters get paid for the time they babysit. It's common sense and common decency.

[5 Little Monkeys]

If she was a babysitter like you say than why didn't you just pay per day you went? Not many babysitters get paid a month in advance

[5 Little Monkeys]

Have you found the rules for home daycares in ab yet? Also, if you knew all this before starting there, why did you choose her?

Also, had your child stayed there (like you agreed too) he would have gone on these trips too!

When you choose group care, your money goes to one big pot that benefits every child there.

It sounds like you may be better off finding a babysitter or nanny who can watch him before and after school until you get home from work

[babydom]

In ont you do not have to have a licence to be a home daycare. Whether u are licenced or not we have to abid by the same rules. Check your province rules for home daycares. Chances are you'll find out she is abiding by the rules reguadless if she is licenced or not.

[Kellybelly83]

Babysitters also charge by the hour, and usually $7-10/hour in alberta. Assuming your son was in care 8 hours for those 9 days, it would have cost you the same amount anyway- or close to it. It's definitely annoying on your part that you paid for a full month and didn't use it, but like others have said it was in fact you that ended the agreement, she was still willing to fulfill her end of the bargain that you paid for. I'm saying that as a mom and a daycare provider. If I was in your shoes I would not expect my money returned.

[Van]

[QUOTE=Ad1986;78937]A sister of my fiances friend offered to watch my son for the month of August in her home as my 8 year old son was on a waiting list for the daycare and she has a son his age as well and was watching other kids during the summer. She offered to watch him for $500 for August as I was starting a new job at the beginning of August.

You were happy to have her take care of your son when you had the new job so let the money go and get busy finding a new job and move on

[Ad1986]

The issue is not my son not being able to enjoy those things as well in fact when I told her I quit she said well he should still come to this park because it's really fun then I never heard from her.

I am just really shocked at people's lack of empathy...if it were me I would've OFfERED the money back. Why should u pay me $250 to watch your kid when I didn't? I guess you would have had to be in other peoples situation to understand it fully. Knowing that she could not get in anywhere else and had no family to rely on and job turned out to be horrible I would've cut some slack. I am not a formal daycare with limited spots I am babysitting out of my home. Its informal one parent talking to another, like your neighbour. I don't care how bad I needed the money I just wouldn't feel right keeping it for something I wouldn't do. Paid in advance because that's what she requested so she could buy food for my son.

Everyone commenting about contracts is not a lawyer so thanks. I'll keep listening to the advice of my brother who is a lawyer.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'd genuinely be interested to hear what your brother has to say on this. Please keep us updated.

If I remember right you said you worked in the legal field too? Did it not concern you that there was no contract?

I don't think it's a lack of empathy at all...at least not on her part but perhaps yours? If providers gave money back every time a parent hit a rough patch, they'd never make any money and couldn't stay in business.

Surely you can see it was you that backed out of a verbal agreement? How is she the one to blame??