Our Queensland client runs a small home-based childcare business.
For more than a year and a half, she looked after a family’s children. The family kept using her services, but stopped paying in full.
By the time she came to us, she was owed thousands of dollars. ezylegal took the parent to court on a no-win, no-fee* basis. Within weeks, our client was paid everything she was owed, and her legal costs were covered too.
At a glance
- Problem: A parent used a home carer’s childminding services for months but left thousands of dollars in fees unpaid.
- Claim against: The parent who engaged the carer.
- Legal basis: Breach of an agreement for childcare services, to recover an unpaid debt.
- Result: 100% of the debt recovered, with the parent also paying towards our client’s legal costs. No court hearing needed.
The care continued, the payments didn’t
Our client and the parent agreed she would provide childminding at home. She looked after the children week after week, and the unpaid fees quietly built up.
She sent a statement showing what was owed. When that didn’t work, she came to ezylegal.
Taking it to court
ezylegal sent the parent a letter of demand with a one-day deadline to pay. Payment didn’t arrive.
We filed a claim in the Queensland Magistrates Court for the full amount owed, plus interest and costs, and had a process server deliver it to the parent personally.
The outcome
A few weeks after being served, the parent paid in full. The payment covered the whole debt and our client’s legal costs, so she got back every dollar she was owed, and the court case was discontinued.
What can I do if a family won’t pay my babysitting or childcare fees?
You can sue for the unpaid fees, plus interest and costs. A written agreement helps, but your records of the care you provided and the invoices you sent can be enough.
Small business owners and sole traders often let unpaid invoices slide because they assume legal action costs more than the debt. For smaller debts, a letter from a lawyer and a filed court claim are often enough to get paid. And if you win, the other side can be ordered to pay towards your legal costs.
If you’re facing something similar
If a client or family won’t pay what they owe you:
- agree your rates and payment terms in writing before you start
- keep a record of the days and hours you worked
- send regular invoices or statements with clear due dates
- don’t let unpaid amounts build up for months
- chase in writing, and keep every message
Get advice early, because time limits apply. Read more about debt and contract disputes.
ezylegal operates on a no-win, no-fee* basis across consumer, commercial and insurance disputes, so you’re not weighing the cost of a lawyer against the cost of walking away.