AITA for making parents cancel their vacation. for trying to scam me?

A babysitter who has worked for the same family for 8–9 months grew tired of being consistently shortchanged—usually $5–$10 per job—despite clear rates. When the parents contacted her for a “big job” (full-day care for their 10th anniversary), she agreed, but arrived to find they had left the 6- and 8-year-old boys alone 45 minutes earlier and again shorted her pay by $15.

Fed up, she called them, refused to continue, threatened to involve police for child abandonment, and waited until they returned to collect the kids. The parents accused her of ruining their anniversary; she walked away. Now she wonders if she went too far by forcing them to cancel and come home.

‘AITA for making parents cancel their vacation. for trying to scam me?’

The babysitter had tolerated repeated shortchanging:

The anniversary job crossed the line:

This is a clear case of chronic wage theft and neglectful parenting. The parents repeatedly underpaid despite agreed rates, showing entitlement and disrespect for the sitter’s time and labor. Leaving young children (6 and 8) unsupervised for 45 minutes is dangerous and, in many jurisdictions, constitutes neglect or endangerment—enough grounds for police involvement.

The sitter’s response—refusing to continue unpaid work, insisting they return, and waiting with the children—was responsible and protective. Threatening police was appropriate leverage; she didn’t call them but used the threat to ensure the kids’ safety. The parents’ complaint about “ruining” their anniversary ignores their own choices: they left early, shorted pay again, and assumed she’d accept it.

This isn’t about pettiness; it’s about boundaries and accountability. Babysitters (especially young ones) are often exploited because they fear confrontation. Standing up protects future workers too. The parents should apologize, pay in full (preferably upfront via digital transfer), and never hire her again. If they can’t afford proper care, they can’t afford the outing.

Check out how the community responded:

The community overwhelmingly voted NTA, praising the sitter for finally standing up after months of being taken advantage of. Many highlighted the parents’ neglect, cheapness, and entitlement, with strong support for involving authorities if needed.

Most focused on the parents’ repeated shortchanging and child abandonment:

You didn’t ruin their anniversary—they did by chronically underpaying you, then abandoning their young kids and expecting free labor. Refusing to babysit unpaid and ensuring the children were safe until parents returned was the responsible choice. Threatening police was justified leverage given the neglect.

The community agrees: NTA. Their pattern of shortchanging shows entitlement; your stand protects your worth and the kids. Never work for them again—require upfront payment via app for future clients. Have you ever had clients/employers try to short you? How did you handle it? Would you have called the police or just left? Share your stories below.