Can l sue for harrasment?

[Stella66]

I have a finacial despute with someone who wants me to pay for the services which she did not carryout. Her husband, who is not part of the deal, has come to my house twice shouting outside my door and thretening me, in front of my young children.(Im a lone parent) and i think he is taking advantage of that. Can l sue him for harassment, or should l mention that when we go to court, because he says he will take me to a small claims court.
My children are now terrified when they hear a knock at the door.

[Stella66]

Fair notice when my children are at risk?

[DTCwordfan]

Exactly Hawk

Stella - I know it is not easy but you must separate the civil vs the criminal aspects in this.

The linkage comes as Hawk suggests - would she risk losing her childminder license, assuming that she has one...

I would certainly report his behaviour first thing tomorrow morning, so if you call later in the day, they, the "pollis" know that there is an issue already logged.

If you think that you do owe her, you must make contact with her (not him) and establish an amount and then take it from there with the 'history' of what services that she has performed (even allowing for under-performance)e and what you originally agreed as to termination.....

[jackthehat]

Why had she suddenly changed after giving you over 12 months good service ?

Do not wreck someone's career out of spite, it's not big and it's not clever.

[Hopkirk]

If the children had been going there for at least a year, I don't see how it can be reasonable to withdraw them without giving or paying for notice.

[DTCwordfan]

so - why did you suddenly break with her - something must have gone on and if so what - this will help us neutrals really help decide your best leg forward.

[NOX]

with all due respect Jack no-one is going to leave their child in the care of someone tat they have ceased to have faith in- to do so would be negligent parenting.
If I were you, work out in your own mind what you consider fair to pay her and call her offering that and explain the reason why, tell her while you are at it that any more nonsense from her husband and you will call the police.

[DTCwordfan]

agree with NOx unless there is somethinmg more that you havent mentioned.....

[sherrardk]

If any of my children were looked after by a childminder (or at nursery, etc) and I had ANY bad vibes of any kind (even after 12 months) I would remove them immediately. Doesn't sound fair I know but my children are my prime concern - I wouldn't care how much notice I was supposed to give. Tell the childminder that you need to come to an agreement about any outstanding monies owed, tell the husband to do one or you are going to the police and view your concerns to Ofsted and your local authority.

[Stella66]

Jack l do not dispute the fact that l owe her money, but that does not justify bad behaviour. There are legal and sensible ways of recovering the money, and a certain standard of behaviour for those who look after children.

[DTCwordfan]

Let me put it straight Stella - what was the situation that led to you losing confidence with the childminder......

[jackthehat]

To be fair, NOX, Stella had no problem in leaving her children there for over 12 months.........if she doesn't want to find herself embroiled in a civil suit she really needs to address exactly what happened between the two parties.

[NOX]

The fact Jack that she has been happy for 12 months is irrelevant and it does NOT mean she is happy now. If something suddenly flagged up on my radar about someone who was looking after my kids after any amount of time then I'd respond accordingly and remove them from their care- nothing can replace your children, I think any parent would do the same.

[sherrardk]

Maybe the children are able to articulate what is going on now (where they may have been too young 12 months ago) and this has led to her removing them from the childminder. Regardless of the situation, the husband shouldn't be going round shouting the odds and bullying her.

[jackthehat]

These are two separate issues.
1. You agree that you owe your child-minder money.
2. Her husband is 'harrassing' you for the money owed.

If you pay (1) I think you'll find (2) disappears.

[NOX]

I think also you'll find jack that if you refer to the poster's earlier post she says that the childminder is also in breach of the agreement as she hasn't been holding up her end of the agreed services provided, so perhaps she'd like the court to sort it out WITHOUT being bullied and harassed by this woman's husband?

[jackthehat]

I'm not saying that the woman's husband is behaving in a right and proper manner.

I AM saying that there is every possibility that Stella owes his wife the money.

Stella agrees that she owes 'something'..........making arrangements to pay 'something' will see the problem with the husband disappear.

[DTCwordfan]

Methinks that I have hit a sore spot here - I asked Stella 10+mins ago to elaborate on what was the situation that led to her losing confidence with the childminder......

She has been pretty quick and frequent with her responses through this thread. But now no comeback after 15 minutes since I posted

I think that there is more to this story than she is letting on - ie. that she has walked out for whatever reason but not of the childminder's direct making - probably that she cant afford her. Ands she is looking for a legitimate/legal excuse to avoid payment for services rendered or termination.

The childminder's husband's behaviour is not to be advocated, but actually may be a little understandable......

Tell us Stella what went on - I hope that I am seriously wrong

[sherrardk]

But he shouldn't be hassling her and bullying her - trying to frighten her into paying up is just wrong. He's a bully - full stop.

[NOX]

Wow DTcrossowrd fan I never knew you were psychic!

[DTCwordfan]

Mystic Meagan is my real name ...now I must use my untold powers to find my wine glass.....