Rude People And No Shows

[Michelle]

I just want to know why people set up appointments and just not show up and not call?
We set time out for them, get their paperwork ready, sometimes even pass up some plans to go somewhere for nothing.
Are they other providers messing with us?
Are they just weirdo's that like to mess with people?
Do they drive by the house and just say "eh" don't feel like getting out,
Can you imagine if we weren't home when they came for the interview?
They would probably try to look in our windows or something.
:confused::confused::confused:

[cheerfuldom]

I think most of mine, if not all, are legitimate people that are just so self absorbed that it doesn't occur to them that I am a person too and deserve at least a phone call with the change of plans. I had one interview once where I called when they didn't show up. The mom said I woke her up and she guessed she would just look for someone else because she couldn't get over to my house anytime soon. She also said her little girl was home with her so I have no idea what this child was doing while mom slept in till noon. She told me originally that she was a single parent desperate for childcare and needing to start immediately. So anyway, if a person doesn't show up and doesn't call to cancel in a timely fashion, I don't want to work with them anyway.

[PitterPatter]

I have had a few of those in the past and it really upsets me. I take the time to prepare the packet and take time out of my family schedule, I think the least they could do is call and say something came up or we settled with another provider etc. I don't get it either. Sorry that happened to u. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise.

[countrymom]

I fixed this problem. I now only do interviews on certain days and only at naptime. All the kids sleep upstairs so no one sees them. The interviews are short because they know that the kids are sleeping. If they don't show up, then its no loss to me, its my quiet time anyways. I don't like doing it after hours because my own family is home and its too crazy and if they don't show up then it wrecks the evening for my kids. I had a interview on wed and they didn't show up because on monday when they showed up at my door at 130pm requesting a tour I turned them around and told them to book an appointment. I think they wanted to dump thier kid that day and I wouldn't do it.
also, I don't give anyone my handbook, it cost money to print it so I just don''t hand it out. But I'm going to order pamphlets from vista print so when they come I can give them the basics in a phamphlet.

[nannyde]

I require them to confirm by noon the day of the interview that they are coming. If I don't hear from them by noon then the interview is cancelled. I have them do this for all three interviews.

This has worked beautifully for me. Once I schedule the interview I forget about it. In my brain and out the next second. If they call I know they are coming... if they don't I don't even remember we had an interview.

I don't pass out anything on paper. I have everything they need to know on the website.

[PitterPatter]

I fixed this problem. I now only do interviews on certain days and only at naptime. All the kids sleep upstairs so no one sees them. The interviews are short because they know that the kids are sleeping. If they don't show up, then its no loss to me, its my quiet time anyways. I don't like doing it after hours because my own family is home and its too crazy and if they don't show up then it wrecks the evening for my kids. I had a interview on wed and they didn't show up because on monday when they showed up at my door at 130pm requesting a tour I turned them around and told them to book an appointment. I think they wanted to dump thier kid that day and I wouldn't do it.
also, I don't give anyone my handbook, it cost money to print it so I just don''t hand it out. But I'm going to order pamphlets from vista print so when they come I can give them the basics in a phamphlet.

What do u give them so they know the policies? Wasted paperwork has been a problem here. I make up the packets and if they seem interested and want to start I give the packet. I have had a few never come back and 1 girl came back 2 weeks later saying she misplaced the packet for her 2 kids so I gave 2 more sets and she still never came claiming she lost her job. That's 4 sets of forms wasted on 1 parent. If the interview is going well I give the handbook to take home and tell them even tho I ran through the basics they have to read it all (they probably dont do it anyway but a copy has to be supplied to every parent for them to keep) When/if they come back everything is signed and they keep the handbook and a copy of the contract page of course.

[cheerfuldom]

Can you email your paperwork so they can print a copy if need be but otherwise keep it as an attachment in the email? I try to also confirm all appointments but for some people it is still not enough. I have had people tell me that they are literally in the car on the way over and then not show up. Why somebody feels its okay to just straight out lie to another person is something I don't understand.

[PitterPatter]

Can you email your paperwork so they can print a copy if need be but otherwise keep it as an attachment in the email? I try to also confirm all appointments but for some people it is still not enough. I have had people tell me that they are literally in the car on the way over and then not show up. Why somebody feels its okay to just straight out lie to another person is something I don't understand.

Not many parents have computers or even knowledge of them. I usually have lower income parents (state paid) so that's probably why. 1 DCM does browse the web and all but via her iphone. The other is completely in the dark with any kind of net/email. In my 5 yrs of business I have only had 1 parent that had a computer. But that's a great idea, just wish I could use it.

[nannyde]

Not many parents have computers or even knowledge of them. I usually have lower income parents (state paid) so that's probably why. 1 DCM does browse the web and all but via her iphone. The other is completely in the dark with any kind of net/email. In my 5 yrs of business I have only had 1 parent that had a computer. But that's a great idea, just wish I could use it.

Wow

All mine have computers. I haven't ran into one that didn't for so many years I don't even remember.

[cheerfuldom]

yeah mine too. At least available during work hours. My parents here prefer texting and emailing and so do I.

[Michelle]

Thanks guys, at least I know I'm not alone.
I just think if the tables were turned and we weren't home, they would have a fit. ( I would never do that)
All they have to do is get dressed brush their kids hair (in some threads I've read some parents don't even do that) get in the car and show up.
We have to do so much more to prepare.
No shows haven't happened in a long time for me but I'm advertising a lot and I dread them.

[cheerfuldom]

yes but they aren't thinking about what you have to do, only what they are doing (or not doing). thats the problem. hope you have better interviews in the future.

[e.j.]

Thanks guys, at least I know I'm not alone.
I just think if the tables were turned and we weren't home, they would have a fit. ( I would never do that)

It's tempting sometimes, though, isn't it? Unfortunately, you're not alone. I never had problems with this kind of thing when I first started out in business 15 years ago. For the last couple of years, though, I've noticed an increase in the problem.

One woman I spoke with came 3 hours late for an interview and was upset when I wasn't home to meet her. She left an angry message on my voicemail and was still very angry when I returned her call. I reminded her that we had discussed the fact that my ds had a dr. appointment that afternoon and I couldn't wait any longer than the two hours I had waited for her. I explained that when she didn't call me to say she was running late, I assumed she had either forgotten or had made other arrangements. She seemed genuinely shocked and asked, "You mean you expected me to call if I was going to be late??!" I told her that yes, it was just common courtesy to call the other person if you're running late for an appointment - especially that late. I agreed to schedule another interview for her and she was late for that one, too! I did end up taking her on anyway as a "drop-in" but when she showed up late for the first day of care, screwing up the kids' nap time, I decided I had had enough. I made it a point not to have any openings when she called. Eventually she got the hint. I got a call from the next provider she went to saying she had provided care but because the child was crying when she came to pick him up (he was woken up from his nap to go home), she refused to pay her for that day.

Two weeks ago, a woman called desperate for care. Long story short, she blew me off 3 times before finally making it to an interview with me. (Ordinarily, I wouldn't let it go that far but given the situation which I won't go into here, I decided to give her a second and third chance. Won't happen again.) Finally got a call saying if her current plans don't work out, she'll call me. Too bad I won't have any openings.

[Michelle]

It's tempting sometimes, though, isn't it? Unfortunately, you're not alone. I never had problems with this kind of thing when I first started out in business 15 years ago. For the last couple of years, though, I've noticed an increase in the problem.

One woman I spoke with came 3 hours late for an interview and was upset when I wasn't home to meet her. She left an angry message on my voicemail and was still very angry when I returned her call. I reminded her that we had discussed the fact that my ds had a dr. appointment that afternoon and I couldn't wait any longer than the two hours I had waited for her. I explained that when she didn't call me to say she was running late, I assumed she had either forgotten or had made other arrangements. She seemed genuinely shocked and asked, "You mean you expected me to call if I was going to be late??!" I told her that yes, it was just common courtesy to call the other person if you're running late for an appointment - especially that late. I agreed to schedule another interview for her and she was late for that one, too! I did end up taking her on anyway as a "drop-in" but when she showed up late for the first day of care, screwing up the kids' nap time, I decided I had had enough. I made it a point not to have any openings when she called. Eventually she got the hint. I got a call from the next provider she went to saying she had provided care but because the child was crying when she came to pick him up (he was woken up from his nap to go home), she refused to pay her for that day.

Two weeks ago, a woman called desperate for care. Long story short, she blew me off 3 times before finally making it to an interview with me. (Ordinarily, I wouldn't let it go that far but given the situation which I won't go into here, I decided to give her a second and third chance. Won't happen again.) Finally got a call saying if her current plans don't work out, she'll call me. Too bad I won't have any openings.

jeeez!!!!
Thats's the worse! wow, I guess I'd rather have the no shows than the parents like that!

[e.j.]

jeeez!!!!
Thats's the worse! wow, I guess I'd rather have the no shows than the parents like that!

I've only had one other person call (again 3 times!), for an interview and not show up. I guess 3 in 15 years isn't too bad but when it happens, it does make you mad. I usually interview on Fridays which is my day off so when I spend time preparing and then sit around waiting only to find out they're not coming, it does frustrate me. I could have done so many errands in the time wasted.