A babysitter wants to know if she was a jerk for charging parents a fee for canceling their trip—and leaving her without work—last minute
A babysitter is turning to the internet—via Reddit’s always entertaining “Am I the A**hole” forum—to find out if she was a jerk when she asked a pair of parents for $480 in fees after they canceled a trip last minute. While that may seem like an eye-popping figure at first glance, you’re going to want to read this, because the situation is surprisingly nuanced.
The woman who posted the scenario has an impressive resume—including 10 years of childcare experience—and babysits on the side to help out friends and family and make some extra cash.
AITA for asking to be paid when a family cancelled?
byu/dancingqueengreen inAmItheAsshole
“5 months ago, a friend of a friend ‘Claudia’ asked me if I could watch her sons while she and her husband attended a wedding out of state,” she wrote. “She wanted me to stay 3 days, 2 nights. I babysit a lot to supplement my income and was interested.”
The babysitter continued, “For overnights, I always charge my usual rate for all waking hours and then a flat rate of $100/night while they’re sleeping. This covers me still being on call. I can’t leave the house and if the kids wake up, I’ll tend to them. Overall, the price for those 3 days was going to be $840. Which I know is a lot but to me, this is a luxury service. I have 10 years of experience, am expected to clean, cook and drive her kids places, as well as sleep at their house. Unlike other jobs, I’m basically working 3 days straight.”
After the babysitter explained the pricing to the parents, they agreed, and she made arrangements to stay with their kids all three days.
“I requested the time off work. I don’t get PTO but figured I was making more doing this than I would working 3 days at my other job, so I figured it’d be worth it,” she wrote.
But disaster struck before the trip happened. The woman was babysitting the kids before their parents left, and started chatting with their dad, who clearly hadn’t been informed of the cost of her three days of round-the-clock childcare. The next day, she got a text from the parents to say they were canceling her services, just days before they were set to leave town.
“I texted Claudia and said that she needed to pay me at minimum what I’d make at work in those 3 days ($480),” the woman wrote. “She told me I was being ridiculous and the whole point is they don’t feel it’s worth it to pay that much. I explained that I took the time off. We didn’t have a contract which in hindsight was stupid. I know legally they don’t have to, and I’d have no case. I didn’t say this, just said the right thing is for her to pay. I added if they had told me earlier and I was able to get those shifts back, it’d be different.”
So is this woman an a**hole? The internet is pretty divided.
“You’re NTA (not the a**hole) and should try to collect. Treat this as a learning experience. In the future, if you have to take off work, ask for 50% deposit up front. Maybe have a receipt that specifies ‘non cancelable,'” one commenter wrote.
Another agreed, writing, “NTA: You were prepared to work for them for those days, and then they cancelled at the last minute. No, you aren’t TA for asking for the money. However, without a written contract, I wouldn’t expect to get a dime from them.”
Many commenters noted that this was a good learning opportunity for the OP, who should start using contracts and asking for upfront deposits for big jobs—especially if she stands to struggle financially if they cancel.
“I understand being angry that they cancelled so late, but you also didn’t give them a time frame that they needed to cancel by. It’s not just the lack of written contract, but your lack of clarity on that point. You both handled it badly, so ESH (Everyone Sucks Here),” one person wrote.
At the end of the day, the situation is a huge bummer for everyone involved and goes to show just how important clear communication can be.
