Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I answered some in bold above too 
I would definitely try to get the money you are owed per your contract.
Tom Copeland has a great example of a letter for collections on his blog http://www.tomcopelandblog.com/contracts-policies/
I would send a letter with a copy of their signed contract reminding them that they owe the money and give them a deadline as to when you expect it to be paid or you will turn them over to collections.
I also require that the last 2 weeks of care be paid up front....but several years ago before I started doing that...I would send a letter showing two different totals for the notice...
One was just for the 2 week notice amount and I told them if they paid it by _______date and time, then I would wave the late charges....but if I didn't receive it by the due date I had chosen, then I would turn them over to collections for _______________amount. (which was the notice plus late charges).
Most of the time they would pay me....the last day I had allowed mind you...but that's all I cared about anyway.