A similar thing happened to me. I babysat 3 kids for 6 hours, charging $5 per hour plus an extra dollar per hour for each extra kid. I got $20 when I, in all honesty, deserved $42.

Only $500 worth of babysitting for half a year with 6 children?! If anything it should've been $1000+ or at least according to where I live babysitting prices go according to age and amount of children you'll be taking care of. I meant I've earned almost $400 within a month of babysitting! You should've been more firmer with your friend and asked to receive your money weekly..

File with the police for theft of services. Then track her down want file in her. Make her travel back to face charges.

I babysat three monstrous little children for 10 hours while their parents went out partying... when they returned, the mother hands me a $5 bill and said "that's all I have in Canadian money. Sorry". So, the next time she asked me to babysit, she sounded frantic, and I said "if you pay me the $145 you still owe me from last time and pay me up front this time, then I'll babysit your kids. But not until then." Never called me again... was worth the $145 to learn what a bitch she was

I understand how you feel op I've babysat and heard all the excuses as to why they couldn't pay me yet then suddenly they dont need you anymore so they don't pay. It sucks :(

Small claims court

I have to agree. Should have collected after each days work, but definitely no longer than a week. Doing it that way ensures you get paid. Unfortunately in this world .. To get paid.. You have to have a carrot to dangle and a set of vice grips!

It might have been awkward for the OP to ask for the money upfront because she was babysitting for her friend. We also don't know if they had some sort of arrangement for payment. Maybe the friend could only pay the OP after 6 months and the OP agreed. It's not impossible, people trust their friends and are more flexible when it comes to owing money when friends are involved.

You were never friends. Your "friend" was just using you.

120 miles is not terribly far to drive to slash a persons tires. That would be money well spent in this case.