Unpaid $$$ owing for child care

[kate1973]

Hi. I still have a parent who still owes $220 from the summer. I keep asking her but she says she can't pay it until I give her the receipts that I owe her from the $$ she has paid for. I have had those receipts ready for 2 months now and I have sent her numerous emails asking her to come by and pick them up. She told me she has to send them in to FRO so they can collect have of the money from her ex so she can pay me. I'm sorry but I think I have waited long enough. I have already told her that if I don't receive the money soon that I will have to file a suit against her. But she is a single parent, she has a job, she gets child support and she also gets the Canada Child Tax Benefit. I don't see any reason why she can't pay. As it was stated in her contract she was to pay me every 2 weeks. She i also trying to say that she only owes me $160. Well I keep an attendance log of the days that they are there or not. The only time I don't get payment is when I call in sick. What else can I do???

[Judy Trickett]

How did you let her get to this point anyway? Always get paid in advance - always! If you get paid in advance you are never chasing parents for payment. And when they arrive without payment you simply turn them away with their child until they have it.

What I would do is send her a registered letter outlining the payment that is due and demanding payment but a specific date. And then in that letter you tell her that if payment is not given to you by that date you WILL take legal action against her.

And then, of course, you really SHOULD take legal action against her if she doesn't pay.

[kate1973]

Thanks. I would send her a registered letter if I had her home address. She moved shortly after the summer. I only know where she works. I could have it sent there. I have also told her that if she doesn't give me the payment by the end of the day today that I will be forced to take legal action against her. She says that I was supposed to give her receipts for the amount that she has paid. Well I have had the receipts ready since Labour day weekend and have told her so many times through several emails and calls.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Just wanted to add that it is my understanding that childcare businesses that while it is NICE to do it as close to the end of year as possible we do have until Feb 28th to issue 'tax receipts' - so for care received anytime in 2011 you have until February 28th 2012 to produce a receipt for their taxes!

So her holding her final payment 'hostage' for a receipt is not an acceptable argument - you are doing nothing wrong in waiting to issue receipts and she owes you money!

[VictoriaChildCare]

I would send the registered letter to her workplace, along with the receipts. It may embarrass her into paying, if nothing else. You've done the work, you deserve to be paid. I'm willing to bet she'd pitch a fit if her employer withheld her pay!