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Scammed On My First Kid
Alright ladies. This is a long vent. Looking back at the situation, I know a lot of what I did wrong, but my common sense was clouded by the excitement of getting my first child.
I posted a Craigslist ad a couple of weeks ago stating that I would be open beginning Nov 5th because we were still setting up our playroom, finalizing our policies and all of that fun stuff. But I did say that if anybody needed immediate care and could bare with us in transition to contact me. A lady contacted me on Tuesday of this past week needing care beginning Thursday for her almost 11 month old daughter. We tried to organize an interview for Wednesday, but when I told her my available times, she had plans to take her kids trick or treating. She told me she will just have to meet me Thursday morning when she drops her daughter off. (red flad: who drops their kid off to a provider they've never laid eyes on?!?) I told her I would email her my handbook, please read over it and fill out the attached forms. She agreed and also agreed to my rates and enrollment fee, which are due BEFORE care. So I'm excited! Yay! My first enrollment!
Thursday morning mom arrived 15 minutes late (red flag: against handbook policy, seems she would have wanted to be there early to meet me and get a quick tour). She handed her daughter over to me, in socks, too short/small pants, and a thin sweater (parenting red flag: it's 30 degrees out!! no shoes or coat?). She handed me a bag with a few diapers, a few wipes, a onsie and a half empty bottle of whole milk(red flag: should have a package of diapers, 3 packages of wipes, 2 changes of clothes, food, nap time linens, shoes and a coat which are all in the handbook) At this point I was still thinking maybe it was just a hectic morning getting into a new routine. I asked her about the registration forms and payment and she told me she forgot...(red flag:I should have turned her away right here). She assured me she would bring everything that afternoon. I asked her about her about baby's eating habits and napping schedule. She told me "oh, she just loves her baba and peanut butter ritz" (parenting red flag: 2 allergens before 12 months) and that she just naps when she's tired. I tried to get her to elaborate but all she would say is that she doesn't like peas. Um ok. This whole time she had been standing in my doorway. She didn't ask me anything and didn't ask to see the house. She turned to leave and I insisted on showing her the kitchen, living room and playroom. She seemed rushed so off she went. All I knew was her first and last name, her email address and her daughter's first name.
We went straight to the table for breakfast. I tried to feed the baby bananas and oatmeal. She was super excited for them, but had no sort of pincer grasp and still seemed to push her food out with her tongue. This is a total assumption, but I got the impression that the parents don't feed her! She was definitely hooked on her bottle though. She wanted to ****le on it even when she wasn't drinking. It seemed like she hadn't had any practice eating, like maybe the parents just stuffed a bottle in her mouth to keep her happy. Anyway, the day goes on, she took two great naps, we colored a picture for mom, sang and danced, she (slowly) ate a good lunch, she loosened up and played well with my daughter and I loaned her a jacket and shoes so we could go on a walk in the wagon. But as the day went on I got more and more of an uneasy feeling that I wouldn't get paid and may never see this child again.
The mom showed up on time (yay) with paperwork (yay) but not all of it (she didn't see anymore attachments) and a check (yay)!! I told her about our day and she said she would see us the following morning. I immediately had a bad feeling about the check, and lucky for me there was a 1800 number on the front to call and verify funds. I called and of course there were insufficient funds. I called a second time to see if even a dollar would clear and it wouldn't either. I texted the mom and told her this and said that I loved having her daughter, but I would need full payment for this week and next week the following morning in cash before I could watch her daughter again. She said "yea...we don't get paid until tomorrow...ok". Why didn't she say that in the first place? I've used a check before and asked if they could please wait to cash it until the next day.
Friday morning she texted me that her paycheck is "missing" and can she pay me in the afternoon. By this time I was positive she was scamming me and I told her that I can't watch her daughter until she pays cash up front. She kept asking and trying to guilt me, but I stood firm. I asked if her husband, who works retail and (probably) didn't have to work at 7 in the morning could watch the baby until she straightened everything out. She said he had to work early. After the fact I remembered that she had said "WE get paid tomorrow", so where was HIS check? She finally said she will pay me for Thursday but that they will make other arrangements. Of course I haven't received any more contact from her.
I'm so disappointed and bummed that this was my first experience and will be my first memory associated with my new business. I know that if I hadn't been spending time on this forum, I wouldn't have had a backbone and may have been that ****er that kept her for a week or two before I realized what was happening. The sad thing is, she is such a sweet baby and if nothing else I wish the parents had paid so that I could make sure she was eating real food.
I'm not going to give up, but I'm definitely discouraged and sad that I'm back to no kids and no leads.
If you're still reading, thanks for letting me ramble. I would love some words of encouragement and advice on how to stay away from this type of situation. Ho hum....
I posted a Craigslist ad a couple of weeks ago stating that I would be open beginning Nov 5th because we were still setting up our playroom, finalizing our policies and all of that fun stuff. But I did say that if anybody needed immediate care and could bare with us in transition to contact me. A lady contacted me on Tuesday of this past week needing care beginning Thursday for her almost 11 month old daughter. We tried to organize an interview for Wednesday, but when I told her my available times, she had plans to take her kids trick or treating. She told me she will just have to meet me Thursday morning when she drops her daughter off. (red flad: who drops their kid off to a provider they've never laid eyes on?!?) I told her I would email her my handbook, please read over it and fill out the attached forms. She agreed and also agreed to my rates and enrollment fee, which are due BEFORE care. So I'm excited! Yay! My first enrollment!
Thursday morning mom arrived 15 minutes late (red flag: against handbook policy, seems she would have wanted to be there early to meet me and get a quick tour). She handed her daughter over to me, in socks, too short/small pants, and a thin sweater (parenting red flag: it's 30 degrees out!! no shoes or coat?). She handed me a bag with a few diapers, a few wipes, a onsie and a half empty bottle of whole milk(red flag: should have a package of diapers, 3 packages of wipes, 2 changes of clothes, food, nap time linens, shoes and a coat which are all in the handbook) At this point I was still thinking maybe it was just a hectic morning getting into a new routine. I asked her about the registration forms and payment and she told me she forgot...(red flag:I should have turned her away right here). She assured me she would bring everything that afternoon. I asked her about her about baby's eating habits and napping schedule. She told me "oh, she just loves her baba and peanut butter ritz" (parenting red flag: 2 allergens before 12 months) and that she just naps when she's tired. I tried to get her to elaborate but all she would say is that she doesn't like peas. Um ok. This whole time she had been standing in my doorway. She didn't ask me anything and didn't ask to see the house. She turned to leave and I insisted on showing her the kitchen, living room and playroom. She seemed rushed so off she went. All I knew was her first and last name, her email address and her daughter's first name.
We went straight to the table for breakfast. I tried to feed the baby bananas and oatmeal. She was super excited for them, but had no sort of pincer grasp and still seemed to push her food out with her tongue. This is a total assumption, but I got the impression that the parents don't feed her! She was definitely hooked on her bottle though. She wanted to ****le on it even when she wasn't drinking. It seemed like she hadn't had any practice eating, like maybe the parents just stuffed a bottle in her mouth to keep her happy. Anyway, the day goes on, she took two great naps, we colored a picture for mom, sang and danced, she (slowly) ate a good lunch, she loosened up and played well with my daughter and I loaned her a jacket and shoes so we could go on a walk in the wagon. But as the day went on I got more and more of an uneasy feeling that I wouldn't get paid and may never see this child again.
The mom showed up on time (yay) with paperwork (yay) but not all of it (she didn't see anymore attachments) and a check (yay)!! I told her about our day and she said she would see us the following morning. I immediately had a bad feeling about the check, and lucky for me there was a 1800 number on the front to call and verify funds. I called and of course there were insufficient funds. I called a second time to see if even a dollar would clear and it wouldn't either. I texted the mom and told her this and said that I loved having her daughter, but I would need full payment for this week and next week the following morning in cash before I could watch her daughter again. She said "yea...we don't get paid until tomorrow...ok". Why didn't she say that in the first place? I've used a check before and asked if they could please wait to cash it until the next day.
Friday morning she texted me that her paycheck is "missing" and can she pay me in the afternoon. By this time I was positive she was scamming me and I told her that I can't watch her daughter until she pays cash up front. She kept asking and trying to guilt me, but I stood firm. I asked if her husband, who works retail and (probably) didn't have to work at 7 in the morning could watch the baby until she straightened everything out. She said he had to work early. After the fact I remembered that she had said "WE get paid tomorrow", so where was HIS check? She finally said she will pay me for Thursday but that they will make other arrangements. Of course I haven't received any more contact from her.
I'm so disappointed and bummed that this was my first experience and will be my first memory associated with my new business. I know that if I hadn't been spending time on this forum, I wouldn't have had a backbone and may have been that ****er that kept her for a week or two before I realized what was happening. The sad thing is, she is such a sweet baby and if nothing else I wish the parents had paid so that I could make sure she was eating real food.
I'm not going to give up, but I'm definitely discouraged and sad that I'm back to no kids and no leads. If you're still reading, thanks for letting me ramble. I would love some words of encouragement and advice on how to stay away from this type of situation. Ho hum....
What is the consensus on putting flyers on mailboxes in the immediate area?
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