How Do You Respond?

[ihop]

I received an email from another provider asking childcare questions like difference between licensed, registered, and certified.hours and days I'm open. Prices. Nothing specifically related to needing care. I recognize her from ads on CL and I always check people put on the internet before I reply and she owns a legally unlicensed daycare.

I replied and asked if she needed childcare(in her ads she states she has no children) and she responded" yes I have a son now please answer my questions."

Ordinarily if a provider is honest, I have no problem sharing info with them but what would you do since she is clearly lying? Call her out on it? Share the info she wants? Ignore it?

Ps I'm already a little poed at this provider since she only does infant care up the time they are mobile and all of her pictures show the babies in swings, bouncers, and strollers.

[AnneCordelia]

I had a provider inquire about care and I googled her before reply in to find that out. I was upfront in my reply...."For the safety of myself and my clients, I always do a quick Google with potential clients, and I have discovered that you also run a home daycare. Are your inquiries because you are looking for care, or because you are looking to find what other daycares offer? I am happy to help, just looking for clarification. Thanks."

[MyAngels]

I'd probably ask her straight out what information she wants and why she wants it & go from there. Dishonest = no info. Honest = helpful info.

Do keep in mind though (assuming that you're in the US) that it's against federal US law for providers who are in direct competition to discuss their rates with each other.

[Unregistered]

I ignore, dont have time for this kind of people, if they want info they can go find it somewhere else.

[Shell]

I ignore, dont have time for this kind of people, if they want info they can go find it somewhere else.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Delete. NEXT!

[JenNJ]

Nothing is stopping her from getting the info by doing the work. She needs to be a grown up and get the info from the source, not you.

[MamaBearCanada]

If I wanted to help I would email a link to the website with the info, otherwise I would ignore it and block her email address.

[DaisyMamma]

Delete. NEXT!

If she were honest I would consider answering the questions.

[e.j.]

I replied and asked if she needed childcare(in her ads she states she has no children) and she responded" yes I have a son now please answer my questions."

Ordinarily, I'm happy to answer questions and help other providers in any way I can. Given the dishonesty and tone of her response, though, I would feel comfortable either ignoring her message or sending back a reply saying, "Sorry. I can't help you with that."

[Rockgirl]

Ordinarily, I'm happy to answer questions and help other providers in any way I can. Givne the dishonesty and tone of her response, though, I would feel comfortable either ignoring her message or sending back a reply saying, "Sorry. I can't help you with that."

This! I'd never respond to someone so rude.

[Hunni Bee]

I have a son ≠ I need daycare. She's just trying to cover her a$$. So she can later say "I never said I was interested in using your daycare". Plus, she's a jerk.

"Sorry, can't help you." Delete.

[Leigh]

I received an email from another provider asking childcare questions like difference between licensed, registered, and certified.hours and days I'm open. Prices. Nothing specifically related to needing care. I recognize her from ads on CL and I always check people put on the internet before I reply and she owns a legally unlicensed daycare.

I replied and asked if she needed childcare(in her ads she states she has no children) and she responded" yes I have a son now please answer my questions."

Ordinarily if a provider is honest, I have no problem sharing info with them but what would you do since she is clearly lying? Call her out on it? Share the info she wants? Ignore it?

Ps I'm already a little poed at this provider since she only does infant care up the time they are mobile and all of her pictures show the babies in swings, bouncers, and strollers.

When she got demanding about answering the questions, I would have stopped being willing to share. Just a few days ago, at midnight, I got a message from someone asking about my openings and prices for her son. I told her I had no openings and gave her my prices anyway, telling her that she can contact me in the future if she wishes, to check again. Right after that, I clicked on our local childcare page and saw her ad about having openings. I was irate that someone would lie about needing care.

In the future, I decided, if a provider lies to me about needing care, I'm going to tell them that I am full, offer an interview anyway, and quote my rate as twice what it is, so that they can sit and wonder how they are charging so much less and still not getting calls.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

What a rude, snappy response. I wouldn't reply.

[ihop]

Thanks guys!
I told her didn't have space for her and she can find the info she needs online.