Texas Licensing Question, help

[Unregistered]

I have never had this problem before since I have been open for a few years. I got cited for not having a listed phone number for the business in the phone book. Now since I don't need to advertise in the yellow pages and I don't want my cell all over the place I haven't done it.

I find out that when the number is listed even a cell it pulls your address up quicker. So it is for safety reasons.

Here is the delima. I do not want to list me cell number that I have had for years, it will be all over the internet and I will have no way of controlling it when I decide to close the daycare. Plus I will be put on every solicitation list and don't really want me phone ringing more than it has too.

Now my rep didn't answer all of my questions don't get me started on it. But I am going to go ahead and get a simple land line house phone registered in something, not sure what name yet. So it won't have the daycare name, won't have VM.

I am afraid she will try to make that number my main contact number and want me to change the listing name to reflect the business, which I don't want.

Has anyone been cited for something stupid and decided to just not fix the issue? What is the worse they can do beside talk crap and threaten?

I am not worried about parents seeing the citation online, it really isn't that big of a deal. But my husband and I are very private people and I want to control as much as possible what information is out on the internet, once you list a number that number is thrown on hundreds of websites even after it is changed. Plus I don't want to have to pay to list it in the phone book every month when I don't even need them for advertising.

Thanks for your help, sorry for the long post.

[momofsix]

No help for you, but what a ridiculous rule!!! I don't see why they would care if your business is listed in the phone book at all!:confused:

[texascare]

WHAT??? I am in Texas and have been registered since 1992 and have NEVER heard of this rule! You can PM me if you want. What exactly does it say they cited you for on the paperwork

[Texasjeepgirl]

I wish I could answer this better.. all I can do is tell you my own experience...
I moved my daycare 8 years ago.... and when going through the new application process... I specifically ASKED my licensing rep if I could use my cell number for my business phone.. she said no.. must be a listed land line...
so.. I did that..
A few years later... a local daycare lady that I was friends with moved to a new home.. she also had to go through the new application process... I noticed on the website that she had listed her CELL number as her business phone.. that made me mad.....

[texascare]

I just asked several gals here in Texas and they said all you have to have is a working phone and it can be a CELL phone. I did find this on the state website FOR CENTERS:
Question: Does a “listed” phone number have to be in the local phone book or only listed in the enrollment agreement I provide to parents?
A: For purposes of this minimum standard, §746.4507, a listed telephone number is referring to a telephone number that may be obtained from directory assistance by a parent or other person wishing to contact the child-care center.

I personally know of several that have their cell phones down on the TDPRS website as their contact number...... I would just call and ask your local licensing office the question and see what they have to say. IF it is different than what you were told then you need to say something.

[texascare]

ok so after more searcning I did find this:
Question: Does a “listed” phone number have to be in the local phone book or only listed in the enrollment agreement I provide to parents?
A: For purposes of this minimum standard, §747.4307, a listed telephone number is referring to a telephone number that may be obtained from directory assistance by a parent or other person wishing to contact the child-care center.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Mine is not in the directory and I have never had an issue. I interpret listed phone number as a phone number under my personal name (which all of my clients know as it is posted throughout the home, on all e-mails, on all notices, etc.). My personal phone number is listed. I think I will add my cell number, though.

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/documents/Child_Care/Child_Care_Standards_and_Regulations/2012-03_747_Homes.pdf

[Texasjeepgirl]

I wish I could answer this better.. all I can do is tell you my own experience...
I moved my daycare 8 years ago.... and when going through the new application process... I specifically ASKED my licensing rep if I could use my cell number for my business phone.. she said no.. must be a listed land line...
so.. I did that..
A few years later... a local daycare lady that I was friends with moved to a new home.. she also had to go through the new application process... I noticed on the website that she had listed her CELL number as her business phone.. that made me mad.....

[DCBlessings27]

I don't know about Texas regulations, but this is what I did for my daycare signs. I didn't want my cell number on signs that were going to be posted on street corners, so I got a free Google Voice number. I use that number for almost everything (like when I buy something online and they require a phone number). The Google Voice number asks the caller to say his/her name. The computer voice then tells me who is calling and I can choose to answer or send it to vm. The vm then gets sent to my email address.

I'm not sure if that would work in this circumstance, but it might be an idea if you must have a phone number listed somewhere. It's come in handy for me a few times when salesmen have called.