Strange and suspicious interest in my daycare?

[Other Mummy]

I've been busy filling 3 spots. I've filled 2 and had the third to fill (3 of my clients had a mat. leave, one moving to France and the other to Ajax). So for the past 2 months have been interviewing trying to find good fits within my little daycare.

My last spot has been cursed or something Then lo and behold my client who is moving to Ajax told me that her previous provider (who left the daycare business to leave the country suddenly) calls her and asks who her son's provider is and if she thinks there might be a spot opening up in his daycare. Well of course DCM who loves me (and is very sad that she has to leave me as they are relocating to Ajax, ON) gives her my information, a glowing review and encourages her to call me.

So I talk with this former provider who is now looking for care for her own son. A few flags went up when she asked me if she had to pay for Sick days and if her son did not attend for whatever reason. So I'm scratching my head thinking "Geeze, I expect this from other families but NOT a former provider who would know that most if not all providers charge for sick days, absent days, etc, but whatever, does not hurt to ask right? She then emails my current dcm who referred her and asks her if the price I quoted her is the same price they are paying for her son. It's not, as I was planning to increase my fees anyway, but my client of course did not tell her that. She said "yes, that's what we are paying" it's only a difference of $2.00 per day BTW.

So we set up an interview time, she calls the same day to cancel as her son is sick. No worries, we set up the following week. She comes in with her son who is 3 years of age. Sweet, quiet little boy. I ask her why she needs daycare now and she says that she got an offer from her former employer that she can't turn down. NO mention of leaving the country as she previously told her previous clients (my current DCM) She is surprised by my paperwork (forms, contract, policy book) says rather sarcastically, "Wow....You are super organized" Ummm..yeah, ok. Take her for a tour, introduce her to my assistant (my sis in law who works 3 days a week at the daycare) go over our routine and the curriculum I have in place, show her my yard, etc., She seems impressed and says it's pretty much a go, she just wants to talk it over with her husband.

I tell her that to please let me know in the next 2 days because I have another interview scheduled and would like to cancel them if she is taking the spot so I don't waste their time and mine. She is like "of course"...so 2 days goes by, then 3 now 5 days....So I accept the other families application and deposit.

I call her to let her know that I've filled the spot. I got her voicemail. And it was nice to meet her and her son but I did not hear from her so I presume she did not need the spot and went ahead and accepted the other family into care.

Nothing. Now I'm thinking she is indeed opening her own daycare again and was curious to see if my DCM needed a spot and then found out who happy she is here and wanted to check it out, steal ideas? I have no idea. If she had called me and asked to see the daycare to exchange ideas...I would have been alright with that.

I hate sneaky people. What's your take on this??

And I gave her all my paperwork. Stupid. But in the past, I only hand it out when I'm 90% sure the families will be taking it home to go over and sign and return. Won't be doing that again.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Perhaps you are right and she is opening her hdc again and was looking for ideas. I agree, it would have been much nicer had she just said that though instead of pretending to be a parent looking for care.

However, I am not secretive with my dc (not saying you are!) and don't mind if this were to happen. I'd be annoyed that I wasted my time thinking I was meeting a potential new family but they way I see it...the more hdc's that can offer quality care the better it will be in the long run. It is nice to be able to compare notes and compare spaces and see where I can improve. If I can help out a fellow hdcp than I will as well.

But yes, definitely prefer when they are open and upfront about what they are doing!!

Good luck on filling your last spot!! I was there awhile ago, had even stopped aggressively looking to fill my last spot and then low and behold, a current mom found me someone!! It always works out in the end

[mickyc]

Totally agree with 5LM. Yes annoying you probably wasted so much time/effort on her but I would have no problem showing my space to another provider and giving out my contract.

[mimi]

Whether she was a looky lou or a potential client, she should have called you to let you know she wasn't taking the spot.
Honestly, I don't like being lied to and I would be pissed off at that. If another provider wanted to see my space I would be happy to show her, but disrespecting me and her other client by lying shows me I wouldn't want her as a colleague, friend nor would I send my child to her for care.
Either way, she showed her true character.

[MonkeyPrincess]

Whether she was a looky lou or a potential client, she should have called you to let you know she wasn't taking the spot.
Honestly, I don't like being lied to and I would be pissed off at that. If another provider wanted to see my space I would be happy to show her, but disrespecting me and her other client by lying shows me I wouldn't want her as a colleague, friend nor would I send my child to her for care.
Either way, she showed her true character.

I absolutely agree and if that were to happen to me, i would super pissed too. Half of me would want to call her up and chew her out, but of course the professional side of me wouldn't do that. I wouldn't want that to come back to haunt me.

[Other Mummy]

I would have no problem with another provider coming over and exchanging ideas, etc. I did not like the sneaky way she went about it.

[Secondtimearound]

I agree , she's sneaky ! I don't like wasting time and energy just so she could get a good look at your set up . Especially not even having enough class to call back so you weren't holding the spot for her , missing out on potential clients !! She knows better !!
I'm so glad you went ahead and filled the spot !