Would you ever contact another provider for information?

I received an e-mail this evening inquiring about daycare and was suspicious of it. The e-mail address looked familiar to me so I looked back into my folders, I keep all e-mails just in case, and imagine what I found! An e-mail a month and a half ago from the same exact e-mail address signed with a different name as well as completely different information on the child they are looking to put in care. Curious about this I put the e-mail address into google and it is listed in an ad for a home daycare in my area.


My question is have you/would you ever contact another provider pretending to be a parent searching for care?

It is actually very common to do that. One of the reasons is that it is actually illegal for providers to get together and discuss fees because it can mistrued as price fixing. We were warned about that from our association. For sure the child they need care for the second time would fall into a different age bracket right - as in first might have been under 18 months so an infant space and this one was for a toddler or preschooler as in they are trying to set their rates for each group.

The first e-mail for a 14 month old and the second was for a 2 year old. It surprised me I guess because it never crossed my mind to reply to another providers ad.

I have never done it by email just phone but that was back before caller ID, lol, and email didn't exist.

I have done it. BUT, I have only done it for two reasons:

1. I suspect it is someone who interviewed with ME and took my contract. It turned out my suspicions were correct and I warned the woman that using my contract was copyright infringement, not to mention, very unprofessional to have lied to me and wasted my time.

2. If I suspect this is a warehouser.

I have never done it, but I have had it done to me. It's dishonest, and I don't condone it. I have no problem with other providers looking at my site for pricing etc, as they are not deliberately misleading me.

When it was done to me, I was desperate to sign another family, and the person who contacted me acted like they were ready to interview. I found it sneaky and to be honest, kinda mean. The person wasn't even smart enough to change her name.

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Originally Posted by Alphaghetti

I have never done it, but I have had it done to me. It's dishonest, and I don't condone it. I have no problem with other providers looking at my site for pricing etc, as they are not deliberately misleading me.

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I agree. It IS sneaky and dishonest. But, would you condone it if you were highly suspect it was a warehouser or someone otherwise operating illegally? I say this because a few providers I know knew of someone who had THIRTEEN kids in her care (only 5 allowed in Ontario) and she left them with her 14 year old son to care for while she routinely went running errands. Eventually someone called on her and we got her shut down. Now, for THAT reason I do NOT think it is deceitful but more like detective work to keep our profession professional.

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When it was done to me, I was desperate to sign another family, and the person who contacted me acted like they were ready to interview. I found it sneaky and to be honest, kinda mean. The person wasn't even smart enough to change her name.

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I also agree. And the biggest kicker to me is that I will willingly help ANY provider if they had just called me up and asked. They didn't need to be sneaky.

I have been contacted by another day home provider asking my 2-3-4 days and full time care fees? I immediately suspect and checked her on facebook she wasn't there and then checked one of the head hunter web site online. There she was! She herself was a provider and she was doing this for almost two years. Anyway, I told her how much I charge for those days. And then she responded me immediately asking for to justify my prices like what I'm offering and what is it special in my day home etc? I then asked her, "are you enquiring as a fellow day home provider or as a parent"( I wanted to let her know that I know she has a day home too:))? And then she said "actually i have a day home too but I want to place my son to another day home so he will get over his separation anxiety? What the hell. Most of us here do this job so that they can stay at home with their kids and this lady is ....? She probably is in this board too.

Anyway, needless to say I said "NEXT" :))) I think I would like it if they ask me straight without sneaking. I'm sure there will be people who won't help. One might not help but I'm sure the second one would.

No I have never done that nor do I think I ever would.
I did check other people's ads when I was starting to see what they were offering and the pricing etc....and occassionally I will look up other daycares to see if they have pictures and what their set up is like etc....but beyond that I can't imagine why you would need to go 'undercover' for info.
I see other providers at the park and at early years and if I have a question I sometimes will ask them or else I come on the forum to get feedback. Beyond that I am not sure why people would do that.
Sometimes I find that other providers are too nosy with me. They will ask me all about my set up, rates, number of children, MY ADDRESS (WTH?) and how much I paid for certain things, what I serve for lunch and snacks etc. I don't mind sharing the info most of the time but sometimes I do get the REALLY nosy ones like the one who asks me about my house size, address, etc and I know she wants to do a driveby and check me out and look me up. Those are kind of annoying but whatever floats their boat I guess.

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Originally Posted by Judy Trickett

I agree. It IS sneaky and dishonest. But, would you condone it if you were highly suspect it was a warehouser or someone otherwise operating illegally?

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Most definitely.