This just rubbed me wrong...

[Nisaryn]

Howdy ya'll, so I'm looking to take on a new infant. One of mine is PCSing (moving to a new base for the non-military here) this next month and so he won't be here after that. I went ahead and put an add and immediately had a lady request for info. I sent her the parent packet and some pictures of my daycare (I don't like to post them online for security reasons) and this is the response:

Thank you for the packet and photos. I think your daycare could be a good fit for ____, our 10-month old. He is a healthy, happy little guy. He is crawling and pulling himself up. His front four teeth are coming in so we recently started giving him regular food, which he loves! He is currently enrolled at _________. While we like the school, it is a little too expensive for us ($260/week). For that reason, we are looking for another school for him.

We live in _____ and my husband and I both work downtown, we are land lawyers. We have family in ________so we are familiar with the area and it’s not too far out of the way. We would probably be looking for full-time care. However, because you offer some flexibility in your schedule/rates we may consider 4 days a week with a 4:30 pick up time. I would need to work that out with my employer.

Let me know if you have any other questions or if you would like to schedule a family interview.

I think the only thing that's really rubbing me wrong is that she is worried about the price...I only charge a little less than that for my part-time, I'm on the high end so I guess she just wants to save a few bucks a week? I can understand wanting to save some but I dunno what if she leaves me to find some one even cheaper? Or what if she doesn't like my daycare? Then I'd be out a spot again...I mean, the price she quoted as paying is actually pretty low around San Diego...last I heard lawyers didn't worry much about income. I just don't know, I got a weird feeling while reading it. I guess I can just do the interview and if I truly don't like the feeling I get from them then I can just say no.

[littletots]

I hear ya. There was an ad on care dot com. Same looking for fcc because lesser priced option. I felt same. Didn't apply. I am interested on how the interview goes. happyface

[CalCare]

Maybe she saw your full time rate and tried deviding by hours or days and she thinks your part time fee is going to be less than it actually is...?

[Ariana]

This sounds eerily similar to a scam going around right now! I'm not saying it is a scam but watch your back Let them know you are not that much cheaper and let them know your rate. I wonder if you could call the school to see if he is enrolled there?

[Nisaryn]

Maybe she saw your full time rate and tried deviding by hours or days and she thinks your part time fee is going to be less than it actually is...?

Which is funny....cause if she did the math she would realize it is actually about the same! I have to charge more for the part-timers to make up for the loss.

[Nisaryn]

This sounds eerily similar to a scam going around right now! I'm not saying it is a scam but watch your back Let them know you are not that much cheaper and let them know your rate. I wonder if you could call the school to see if he is enrolled there?

Oh gosh, I hope not! I mean....what would happen, would they just not show up? I hope they wouldn't be trying to rob me.... :/

[MyAngels]

I guess I think about things differently than some, but I don't see why it's a bad thing to shop around for a lower rate on child care. If you can get the same or even better care for less money, where's the harm?

[daycare]

I hear what you are saying and your concerns.

not all lawyers make a great living. it depends on a lot of things. AND even if they are a top notch lawyer, doesnt mean that they are good with budgeting money. or what about paying back student loans?

I have had people tell me this. I told them well I won't be able to save you much money. i think that some people think they can swing it and then get into it only to realize its more than they can afford.

I would still meet up with them before making any promises. but i agree that it does sound like that CL scam that is going around.

[Ariana]

Oh gosh, I hope not! I mean....what would happen, would they just not show up? I hope they wouldn't be trying to rob me.... :/

Well in the scam I saw they eventually tell you they live out of town and will be moving soon. They send a deposit but give you too much money and then ask that you refund the difference. Of course by the time the check bounces you have already refunded the difference. Anyway hopefully this is not that

[littletots]

I did have a girlfriend lawyer owe $130k in student loans.

[childcaremom]

If your rates are similar and you are getting the vibe that something is off, trust the vibe!

I would respond that while I appreciate their interest, my rates are comparable (I might even say slightly higher) that what their current tuition is. Thank them for their interest and wish them luck in their search.

And then I would not respond to anything further.

If you still want to meet, I would still mention that my rates are comparable however if you would still like to set up a time to meet I am available during these times.

[rosieteddy]

Sounds fishy to me.I agree parents should look for a good rate,but if only going to save a little whats the point.The child is already in DC and you are not closer.I would go with your gut.decline.

[Nisaryn]

Oh I don't find anything wrong with shopping for a lower rate. It's just that there are are a LOT of unlicensed day care around here that give spots for only $125 a week is WAAAAY too cheap to live on in our area but they make up for it by taking on LOTS of kids. I have lost a few potential kids already because of this....I know they are unlicensed because if you look at the pictures on their ads they have items that are strictly forbidden by licensing and are doing things not allowed and that I get checked for every time the inspect...such as bouncers, exersaucers, walkers, etc. And with the cost of CA living (and my own school loans to boot....I'm a teacher originally but my hubbys military career forced me to stop teaching, it costs too much to transfer licenses state to state) I simply CANNOT afford to offer care for only $125 a kid being that I can take only 3 infants. It's expensive here! If I was still back home in Tennessee I could do that price, but not here.

Anyway, I did email her back and am going to set the appointment for tonight at 5:30 (after my DCKs leave) and am waiting for the response.

[Nisaryn]

Alrighty, so potential DCM and child came the other day. I've decided not to accept her son. He was, indeed, a happy little guy and seemed like he would, in fact, be a good fit at my daycare however DCM was NOT going to be a good fit. I don't want drama....so here is how it went:

We spoke for a while and went over my contract to which she finally realized my rates for part-time care were really similar to what she is already paying...she wanted to know if I did hourly care instead since she wanted to have a "set pick up time like I mentioned in the email". I told her that "No, I charge a flat rate fee...you're paying for my availability. You could bring your son at 6am...leave at 12pm...come back at 3pm and have him stay till 6pm (closing) if you so choose. I will be here to care for your child between those hours M-F" to which she said "Well, (current center) lets me pay less if I pick him up earlier, so we pay the $260 instead of $300." To which I told her "I'm sorry but it sounds as if you don't actually need to find a different care setting for your son, you're already paying a discounted rate at (center) and I'm actually going to be charging you pretty much the same, minus about $5-$10. You already said that you liked (center) so I guess what I'm saying is I'm not sure why your looking for care exactly?"

DCM bursts into tears.....yes, TEARS.

She proceeds to inform me that the real reason she is looking for different care is because she recently began to suspect that her husband has been seeing one of her sons daycare workers. She doesn't want her son there anymore so that when her husband picks their son up he won't have to see the (foul word here) ....she didn't bring husband to this meeting...I had no words for this. All I could do was tell her I was sorry to hear that and I hope things get better.

[daycare]

Alrighty, so potential DCM and child came the other day. I've decided not to accept her son. He was, indeed, a happy little guy and seemed like he would, in fact, be a good fit at my daycare however DCM was NOT going to be a good fit. I don't want drama....so here is how it went:

We spoke for a while and went over my contract to which she finally realized my rates for part-time care were really similar to what she is already paying...she wanted to know if I did hourly care instead since she wanted to have a "set pick up time like I mentioned in the email". I told her that "No, I charge a flat rate fee...you're paying for my availability. You could bring your son at 6am...leave at 12pm...come back at 3pm and have him stay till 6pm (closing) if you so choose. I will be here to care for your child between those hours M-F" to which she said "Well, (current center) lets me pay less if I pick him up earlier, so we pay the $260 instead of $300." To which I told her "I'm sorry but it sounds as if you don't actually need to find a different care setting for your son, you're already paying a discounted rate at (center) and I'm actually going to be charging you pretty much the same, minus about $5-$10. You already said that you liked (center) so I guess what I'm saying is I'm not sure why your looking for care exactly?"

DCM bursts into tears.....yes, TEARS.

She proceeds to inform me that the real reason she is looking for different care is because she recently began to suspect that her husband has been seeing one of her sons daycare workers. She doesn't want her son there anymore so that when her husband picks their son up he won't have to see the (foul word here) ....she didn't bring husband to this meeting...I had no words for this. All I could do was tell her I was sorry to hear that and I hope things get better.

OMG NO WAY...IF ONLY I WERE A FLY ON THE WALL IN THAT MEETING


wow