You want me to what? (petsitting annoyance)

[EricKei]

Aye. Set up your base fees, "overtime" rate (if applicable), expectations of what you will and will not do, fees for "extras", emergency fees and procedures on your part if the little fuzzballs get injured somehow (maybe one or two pages max for the entire thing; it need not be a massive tome). That way, if they ask you to do something outside the scope of the contract (even after the fact), they cannot say that they didn't know about the extra charges.

Look at it this way, too: It makes YOU look more professional and more prepared. There will likely be only a few people who object to signing a contract, and they're likely gong to be the same sort of customers this woman is, so you really wouldn't want their business anyway.

[Mystic]

Do you have a contract that you make your clients sign? It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just list your policies about payment, emergencies, etc. It will save you a bunch of hassle. You might want to include something about a "mechanic's lien" in there too.

My thoughts exactly. Make sure it states all your charges so they are aware of all the fees. Make them sign two copies so you both have one on record.

[Sonoma]

Stories like this make me very thankful for the people I horse-sit for. Even if they don't leave a check for me, if I don't have one about a week afterwards, I just have to send an e-mail, and it's in the mail to me. I've been horse-sitting for them for almost 10 years now, and have never had a problem.

Because of my work schedule, I'm not able to do weekdays for them any longer. I stil remain availble for the fill-in person to call with any questions, because nobody else they have is really familiar with horses.

I had one set of people that I cat-sat for (the first, and last time) it took nearly 3 months to get paid. I did not return after that job.

If I ever decide to pet-sit for anybody new, I should set up a contract. I've been taking care of the one family's farm for so many years, we've got everything worked out. The emergency/short notice/longer jobs I do get paid more for, without even asking. They take care of me, and they know I'll take care of their 'kids'...even the time I had to have the vet out to euthanize the geriatric horse who suddenly got sick the day they left. I had not planned on spending the night there, but after the remaining horse saw that happen, I just couldn't leave her alone on the property that night. Good thing I'd stopped for dinner on the way out. Wound up sleeping on the couch. Was a pretty long weekend, but I did get compensated for it.

[Dreamstalker]

The family that I rat-sit for (six domestic rats, adorable little buggers) is great. She called me last year when their other sitter dropped out of sight at the last minute--2 days before a 14-day trip to Easter Island--and I'm their go-to person ever since (the rats absolutely love me). Yesterday I took in/secured everything from the porch and yard and also made sure the house was buttoned up and the cage was away from the windows just in case...she called to remind me at the same time I was calling her to let her know what I was doing.

A friend of my mom works for the cat woman (organizing etc) and she said this morning that the woman not only hasn't paid her in 2 weeks, but she hasn't even paid her cleaners in about a month.

[depechemodefan]

A friend of my mom works for the cat woman (organizing etc) and she said this morning that the woman not only hasn't paid her in 2 weeks, but she hasn't even paid her cleaners in about a month.

Egad, woman sounds like a flake.

2 days before a 14-day trip to Easter Island

Kind of ot, but I hope the 2 week trip include sailing to Easter Island, because I understand there isn't much there. Unless they want to climb each statue/head.

[Dreamstalker]

They actually went with a group of astronomers to view the eclipse.

[EricKei]

A friend of my mom works for the cat woman (organizing etc) and she said this morning that the woman not only hasn't paid her in 2 weeks, but she hasn't even paid her cleaners in about a month.

Well, that definitely bears out your original suspicions that you were being had. May we safely assume that you have fired this client already, given that even a contract will likely do you no good?

[Syriilord]

I have no idea what her reasoning is...

"I'm a customer, so ALL my demands are logical, reasonable and within the realm of possibility, regardless of whether I give advanced noticed of two weeks or two seconds. And since I'm such a GREAT customer, of course they don't mind if I double or triple the length of time required without telling them and only pay half the original agreed-upon price".

^ ^ ^ ^ ^
That is her reasoning. The same basic reasoning behind all SC's

TLDR - I'm a customer, therefore I'm right.

[Dreamstalker]

I haven't heard from my catsitting 'client' (I use that word loosely now) about getting paid, I got a call from a mutual friend this morning saying that I had been expected to help her with the cat for an open house last night; the client told me on Friday that she wouldn't need me that day but would call me over the weekend (which never happened)...

I should start recording these conversations, mom's not sure about the call-recording laws in MA but if it's for private 'this is what you told me' use it should be OK.

[Geek King]

I should start recording these conversations, mom's not sure about the call-recording laws in MA but if it's for private 'this is what you told me' use it should be OK.

Check your laws first. If it requires two-party consent, your client still has to know, regardless of what you use the recording for.

[PepperElf]

All-party consent in MA

http://www.rcfp.org/taping/states/massachusetts.html

But that doesn't mean you have to talk to her if she refuses to consent. If she refuses you can always say, "Sorry then. Bye!" <click>