Would You Turn Unlicensed Providers In?

[Blackcat31]

In my state you don't have to be licensed but I think it's a bit over-the-top to assume that they are hiding something simply because they aren't licensed.

I agree but at the same time, if they aren't hiding anything...why not just get a license (or do things legally)..kwim?

I know it's about time, money and the sometimes lengthy process you have to go through to get licensed but imagine if we applied that same logic to a driver's license.

"Oh, he's a great driver! Never had an accident ever. But he's too busy to get a license or take the training/test to get one so he never bothered".

(Now mind you he legally cannot get proper insurance if he doesn't have a license)

That ^^^ would be all fine and dandy until the ONE day he did have an accident. Even if the accident was NO CAUSE of his own. 4 other cars involved and a couple of injuries.

Now WHO is in trouble? ...and getting out of that trouble is more than likely going to take alot longer and cost alot more than it would have had he just gotten the license in the first place and covered his tushie.

[LysesKids]

Yes, I would report regardless of how much they charge. For me, this issue isn't about them being my "competition". In fact, I don't even see other licensed providers as my competition, either. I'd report just because I feel like if they can't go through the process of becoming licensed then they're hiding something and it should be checked out. I just want the kids they watch to be safe.

Not everyone who runs unlicensed has something to hide... in my state they won't license me because I take 4 or less kids, and yes i still have over site, but only because I am on food program & I care for Foster kids; I run licensed whenever possible, but even TN has gotten rid of registration for providers not having enough kids to get licensed; thats not my fault... I run like I am licensed still but the state has rules in place that don't always make sense.

AR was the same way... Either take enough kids to get licensed or stay legally license exempt with fewer kids. Registration is really no longer an option because the state thinsk it's to much of a pain to essentially license homes that don't have alot of kids.

[KiddieCahoots]

In my state you cannot care for even one unrelated child in your home, EVER, without being licensed.

I keep coming across mother posting on care and craigslist for unlicensed home daycare. My business has been suffering due to a lull in interest, but these woman are charging 30-50% less per day than licensed home daycares.

I'm so tempted to send screenshots of the ads to my licensor. I know my state has been cracking down on unlicensed providers for some time now.

WWYD?

The thing about reporting the illegally run daycares, we're from the same state, and I don't know about everybody else, but we would be on CL all day flagging posted adds. There are usually that many unlicensed posting adds. Scary!

[Blackcat31]

Not everyone who runs unlicensed has something to hide... in my state they won't license me because I take 4 or less kids, and yes i still have over site, but only because I am on food program & I care for Foster kids; I run licensed whenever possible, but even TN has gotten rid of registration for providers not having enough kids to get licensed; thats not my fault... I run like I am licensed still but the state has rules in place that don't always make sense.

AR was the same way... Either take enough kids to get licensed or stay legally license exempt with fewer kids. Registration is really no longer an option because the state thinsk it's to much of a pain to essentially license homes that don't have alot of kids.

So you are legally licensed or legally unlicensed?

[melilley]

if it is illegal yes I would report them. But I find it really crazy that some states are so strict. You can't babysit one child without being licensed?? Wow. I wonder if some people even know this. I mean, if I wasn't looking to be a professional daycare provider, just wanted to watch a child to earn a few bucks I wouldn't even expect that I'd need a license to do so.

I think that some states, mine included,are a little ridiculous, we have to have a license for even 1 unrelated child. And I also think that a lot of people do not know this. One provider around here posted an ad on cl telling illegal providers that you have to be licensed and also gave the state website, but there were still people advertising illegal care, some even retaliated and responded that they basically didn't care.
A while ago a woman got in trouble because she allowed sa kids to go to her house, in the driveway to catch the bus and she got in trouble! Now that is ridiculous!

[melilley]

I don't turn them in because honestly, I don't think anything would be done. I do flag them though, but that doesn't seem to matter either.
I do agree with every one who said that it is a big deal to run illegally. If your state allows you to take care of children without a license, then that's legal and fine, but if your state requires you to be licensed then you need to be! I put a tremendous amount of time and money into becoming licensed because that's the legal way and the illegal providers need to do the same!

[aDCProvider]

The thing about reporting the illegally run daycares, we're from the same state, and I don't know about everybody else, but we would be on CL all day flagging posted adds. There are usually that many unlicensed posting adds. Scary!

This is the first time I considered turning one in. Also, I don't bother going through craigslist and have never flagged anyone. It's just that this one really bugged me because she's been doing this for a long time and from her photos and description she is not following the ratio limit and charging pennies compared to what licensed daycares charge. I'm hurting for business and this illegal daycare has been operating over capacity for about 50% of what I charge and in my area these illegal daycares are hurting business for the rest of us who follow the laws and regulations!

Nothing will be done anyway because I don't have an address, only a phone number.

[Unregistered]

For those saying they wouldn't worry about someone illegal that just has a couple of kids.

In my area, the unlicensed illegal babysitters are literally running legal daycare providers out of business. There is a ratio of about 4 illegal babysitters to every 1 legal daycare provider here. The illegals charge $75 while the going rate of legal daycare is $120-140. That rate is for 2-5 year olds. So many parents are hiring the illegal babysitters to save money which has made us legal providers who can legally have 8 children and typically would have a full load of 8 kids, now many of us can only get about 4 kids! The illegals are literally running many of us out of business! So, yes! We DO Have to worry about the illegals even if they only have a couple of kids, because if there are 50 illegals with only 2 kids each, that's 100 kids in the area that the illegals are taking from us!

It may be because there's a lot of children in my area, but I've noticed the parents who want to spend a certain amount or less, don't go to legal places anyway. They would hire a babysitter (which is legal here) or have family help out if those providers were gone. As the saying goes, you can't get blood from a stone. Are most people cheap? Yes. If those parents using these people really don't have 140 they're not going to magically find it if the illegals go away. I do feel bad for people who do the right thing and aren't making it, you're not alone. Many people do the right thing and struggle financially. All of you so gun ho to shut down illegals without knowing if there is abuse, should think of where are those children going to go? Not think of it as potential customers.

[Unregistered]

I agree but at the same time, if they aren't hiding anything...why not just get a license (or do things legally)..kwim?

I know it's about time, money and the sometimes lengthy process you have to go through to get licensed but imagine if we applied that same logic to a driver's license.

"Oh, he's a great driver! Never had an accident ever. But he's too busy to get a license or take the training/test to get one so he never bothered".

(Now mind you he legally cannot get proper insurance if he doesn't have a license)

That ^^^ would be all fine and dandy until the ONE day he did have an accident. Even if the accident was NO CAUSE of his own. 4 other cars involved and a couple of injuries.

Now WHO is in trouble? ...and getting out of that trouble is more than likely going to take alot longer and cost alot more than it would have had he just gotten the license in the first place and covered his tushie.

This is not what this is like at all, though. This is like someone driving around with insurance and you report them, because you feel they shouldn't have a car or a car that is nicer than your car. Most people are admitting, even subtly, it's not really about the kids/abuse. It's about money. Like I said, report until your heart is content. If you even accidentally cross the line or forget to dot an i, don't be surprised when the boom comes down on you. Just as when you fear HORROR stories of the abuse some children are going through, pat yourself on the shoulder for reporting a person who had one kid. Do I think people should be doing illegal care? No, but there's a difference between that and real child abuse. I can get behind reporting someone with a lot of children or who is hurting them in some fashion, but not someone who has 2 or 3 kids and just not licensed.

[Play Care]

Not everyone who runs unlicensed has something to hide... in my state they won't license me because I take 4 or less kids, and yes i still have over site, but only because I am on food program & I care for Foster kids; I run licensed whenever possible, but even TN has gotten rid of registration for providers not having enough kids to get licensed; thats not my fault... I run like I am licensed still but the state has rules in place that don't always make sense.

AR was the same way... Either take enough kids to get licensed or stay legally license exempt with fewer kids. Registration is really no longer an option because the state thinsk it's to much of a pain to essentially license homes that don't have alot of kids.

If you are legally unlicensed then you are legal. The OP seems to be specially speaking about illegal providers - those who can and should be licensed but make the decision not to.

[KidGrind]

I have reported illegally unlicensed or uncertified providers.

I am have no issue with legally unlicensed/uncertified/unregistered providers.

[Blackcat31]

I don't even know how you guys have time/know about these ads. Seems a little petty. I also think it's extreme that some state require a license to basically be a nanny (have one child). I wouldn't turn anyone in, because one I probably wouldn't know (I have a life to lead and am too busy to be a nosey body). Two, there's no way to know if someone is licensed or not. I also think things like this take away from real cases of abuse. I mean, should the government be inspecting a person who's caring for one kid (in some states) and probably not doing anything wrong or the foster family that's feeding the child dog food? Things like this is why REAL abuse usually doesn't get taken care of at all in a lot of cases, because the social workers are too busy with this bs,

In my area it is, because this would be reported as child abuse. In my area, you don't have to licensed for a certain amount of children. Even if it was a center that licensed, it's CPS/a social worker going. Honestly, it is petty because the root of it money. If they were running these "illegal" daycares for free, would you report them? I hope everyone who's a legal eagle, knows all their laws and knows sometimes laws can contradict other laws. I don't condone doing things that are illegal, you aren't a cop. If you're reporting people willy nilly, I hope your behind is always covered. I once had a friend who very upstanding and lived in an apartment. New obnoxious neighbor came in. They got into an argument about something. New neighbor was a lawyer and had lots of lawyer coworkers and friends and government official friends. It eventually ended with my friend getting evicted and having police reports in their name. I'm just saying it's easy to get someone someone for not doting their Is, but just make sure you're always crossing your Ts.

It may be because there's a lot of children in my area, but I've noticed the parents who want to spend a certain amount or less, don't go to legal places anyway. They would hire a babysitter (which is legal here) or have family help out if those providers were gone. As the saying goes, you can't get blood from a stone. Are most people cheap? Yes. If those parents using these people really don't have 140 they're not going to magically find it if the illegals go away. I do feel bad for people who do the right thing and aren't making it, you're not alone. Many people do the right thing and struggle financially. All of you so gun ho to shut down illegals without knowing if there is abuse, should think of where are those children going to go? Not think of it as potential customers.

Are you a provider providing care illegally?

Seems you have a vested interest in presenting the illegal provider's point of view.

All of you so gun ho to shut down illegals without knowing if there is abuse, should think of where are those children going to go? Not think of it as potential customers.

It's not my problem where they go. I am not looking for new customers.

There are plenty of providers providing care LEGALLY that can take them. There are also lots of family members and friends that can probably pitch in too.

But either way, I wouldn't hesitate to report anyone providing care illegally.

[Unregistered]

Are you a provider providing care illegally?

Seems you have a vested interest in presenting the illegal provider's point of view.



It's not my problem where they go. I am not looking for new customers.

There are plenty of providers providing care LEGALLY that can take them. There are also lots of family members and friends that can probably pitch in too.

But either way, I wouldn't hesitate to report anyone providing care illegally.

Yes, I'm providing illegal child care. *Eyeroll* You know, that's the sort of thing people would admit online. *Eyeroll* I also like how since you don't have any valid counterpoints, you're not accusing me of things. What's next? Since this is online, I guess I'm going to either be called a Nazi or compared to Hitler. Nice behavior, moderator.

I love your compassion.

[Play Care]

This is not what this is like at all, though. This is like someone driving around with insurance and you report them, because you feel they shouldn't have a car or a car that is nicer than your car. Most people are admitting, even subtly, it's not really about the kids/abuse. It's about money. Like I said, report until your heart is content. If you even accidentally cross the line or forget to dot an i, don't be surprised when the boom comes down on you. Just as when you fear HORROR stories of the abuse some children are going through, pat yourself on the shoulder for reporting a person who had one kid. Do I think people should be doing illegal care? No, but there's a difference between that and real child abuse. I can get behind reporting someone with a lot of children or who is hurting them in some fashion, but not someone who has 2 or 3 kids and just not licensed.

I'm not sure what you are trying to get at? Is an illegal provider going to what? Try to sue someone they *think* turned them in? How would that conversation even go? "Yes your honor, I knew I was breaking the law, but she toooooold on me!" The illegal would have to prove the provider was the one who turned them in - and I'm fairly sure it's a confidential process. Since most illegals *advertise* they wouldn't have a leg to stand on in court.

Frankly I don't turn in illegals as I feel OCFS (not CPS in my state, BTW) should do their own darn job. Thankfully the illegals make it easy by posting on CL, Facebook, etc.

[MsLisa]

Call me paranoid but...
This post comes out and I get a message on my FB page this morning:
"Just wondering, are you certified by the state? Do you have a children/teacher ratio?.

I can't help but wonder if I was targeted.

No i am not licensed, in PA I can have up to 4 before needing one (4:1). I don't plan on having more then that anyway. I'm lucky to just get one! .

THIS is why I didn't want to call myself a daycare.....
But i'll be damned, I'm not changing my stuff over again after all that work. Nope.