Enrolling a Client Sight Unseen?

[daycarediva]

Has anyone ever done this?

I had a potential DCM email me today. She left her husband, moved to be near her parents and needs childcare starting TOMORROW. I only have a temporary/summer space open and she is wiling to take it. My deal with a current teachers family is that they pay for 2days/week and I hold their 4 day space. This child is taking the opposite 3 days, and KNOWS I am only keeping them until end of August. She got a reference from a local friend of the family (who is a current DCB's aunt). She requested that I email her copies of everything to look over, she will sign it all, and stop by a few minutes early tomorrow morning to go over the paperwork, to pay me and meet me.

I looked her up on social media- the story checks out.

It would be an additional $1,000 for summer.

The only thing that seemed super odd to me is that I offered to do an evening interview and she declined because she is just too busy moving and setting up her apartment.

What would you do?

[hope]

I would take her but be very clear to her that this is out of the ordinary for you and you will take it day by day. I would ask that she go over every detail of your handbook and contract. Worse case scenario you need to term. But I would not give two weeks term notice.
You never really know the whole back story. I would like to think that we are in this business for the well being of the children that come to us and these children probably need some a bit of caring right now.

[Cradle2crayons]

Has anyone ever done this?

I had a potential DCM email me today. She left her husband, moved to be near her parents and needs childcare starting TOMORROW. I only have a temporary/summer space open and she is wiling to take it. My deal with a current teachers family is that they pay for 2days/week and I hold their 4 day space. This child is taking the opposite 3 days, and KNOWS I am only keeping them until end of August. She got a reference from a local friend of the family (who is a current DCB's aunt). She requested that I email her copies of everything to look over, she will sign it all, and stop by a few minutes early tomorrow morning to go over the paperwork, to pay me and meet me.

I looked her up on social media- the story checks out.

It would be an additional $1,000 for summer.

The only thing that seemed super odd to me is that I offered to do an evening interview and she declined because she is just too busy moving and setting up her apartment.

What would you do?

I would do it but explain there is a two week trial period. Just in case it doesn't work out.

[TwinKristi]

I took a family like this, but it was due to them moving from out of the area. They moved on a Friday and started on Monday. Mom came a few weeks before to check out their new apt which they rented without seeing either and gave me a deposit and picked up the paperwork. It worked out very well.

[jenboo]

Do it! It's only temporary and if you end up not liking them, just say that it's not working out.

[daycarediva]

We emailed back and forth. I sent her a copy of my handbook and she has asked a few questions for clarifications. I went over payments, and since the kiddo is PT, the next 4 weeks are trial anyway and I can let them go at anytime. Worth a shot!!!

[Second Home]

I just got a very similar e mail . Weird

[AmyKidsCo]

I'd give it a try. I was a very young & naive mom with our oldest and didn't know to ask for an interview when I was looking for child care. I figured if they were recommended to me they must be good - after all, they wouldn't be doing child care if they didn't love children, right? (Sooooo naive!) ::

[Michelle]

wait a minute!
did you advertise on craigslist?
and is this a response from craigslsit?
they have many scams going
just be careful
do not send any personal info through email (first and last name and address) etc. unless you have heard their voice on the phone

[Michelle]

I get emails all the time with this exact 4 weeks only
what is the kids name?
is the email in a weird font?
do they use the word kindly?
do they sound American? ( what I mean by that is, do they talk the way someone would talk looking for child care in America?)
have you heard their voice yet?


Hi,

I will like to know if you can care for my daughter ( Joy ) for a month (
Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm ) ? From July 28th through 25th of August. Kindly
get back to me (*&*()(

Thank you !

this is an example of a spammer
sometimes they will state their "kids" age or say they are relocating but can not meet with you they just want to drop off child but are really insistent on clicking on their email or link and they want you to send all your info only by e-mail

[daycarediva]

No it's not from craigslist. I haven't needed to advertise in over 6 months.

The email is from a real email address, she has a real Facebook account, speaks English, I don't think it's spam/scam. I also googled her name and it's listed in the city which she says she's moving from. She's had my email/name from my website.

[TheGoodLife]

I get emails all the time with this exact 4 weeks only
what is the kids name?
is the email in a weird font?
do they use the word kindly?
do they sound American? ( what I mean by that is, do they talk the way someone would talk looking for child care in America?)
have you heard their voice yet?


Hi,

I will like to know if you can care for my daughter ( Joy ) for a month (
Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm ) ? From July 28th through 25th of August. Kindly
get back to me (*&*()(

Thank you !

this is an example of a spammer
sometimes they will state their "kids" age or say they are relocating but can not meet with you they just want to drop off child but are really insistent on clicking on their email or link and they want you to send all your info only by e-mail

I gt those all the time, too (I never respond because you can tell its not legit) The OP did mention that they were referred by a relative of someone if their care, so in that case Id think it's legit. Hopefully you don't have to use your trial period, good luck with everything!

[NightOwl]

I wonder what those are all about. What could they possibly have to gain?

[TwinKristi]

What they have to gain is money or personal information. They usually say something along the lines of sending you a money order or bank transfer to your acct since they're out of the area. The money order scam is usually for more than the contract amount and you just credit them back the rest but it's fake and then they get the extra money you gave them and you're out all that money and time. The bank transfer scam usually accesses your bank routing and account number and they can tap right in. There are SO many scams. I hate that part about advertising on CL! I haven't renewed my ad in awhile and still getting calls from R&R and a local mothers club.

[nannyde]

No I wouldn't