Would you ever contact another provider for information?

[Bugaboo]

I have contacted another provider for information, however, I was completely honest about who I was and where I was coming from. I told her I was a new provider and that I had heard of her "through the grape vine" from other people in the neighbourhood- she has a reputation of being an excellent provider. We have actually talked quite a few times since then back and forth. I would have not issues doing it again or having someone contact me AS LONG as they are honest and up front.

[sunnydays]

This is news to me that it is illegal to talk with other providers about fees! I talked to many providers in my area about fees before setting mine and never thought twice about it. They were open to discussing it as they get upset with people coming on the scene with much lower fees.

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.

[VictoriaChildCare]

I'll admit to being nosy - I LOVE seeing other provider's set ups, we can all use a 'freshen up' from time to time and you never know what ideas someone else's daycare might spark for you. When I was doing 'orientation' when I was first licensed we were required to spend the morning in 2 different home daycares. I have to say that was the best thing they could have done for me. I got to see a home daycare in action and ask any questions that came to mind and I got real answers. I have become very close friends with one of the providers I visited 11 years ago and we still talk daily.
That being said; I would never contact another provider under false pretenses and I'd be pissed if someone did that to me. Don't waste my time. I'd be happy to talk to you about opening your home daycare, in fact I think it should be mandatory for new providers to visit experienced providers. If this would prevent even 1 daycare injury/case of neglect/abuse it's worth it.
I have people email me with questions often when I have a dc space posted on kijiji.
Actually I find that after I post on kijiji a few ads look awfully similar

[Judy Trickett]

This is news to me that it is illegal to talk with other providers about fees! I talked to many providers in my area about fees before setting mine and never thought twice about it. They were open to discussing it as they get upset with people coming on the scene with much lower fees.

I know. It's stupid. Yeah, tell me that most of those big grocery store conglomerates or the big box stores don't get together somehow. Seriously, how often do you see a store flyer from two unrelated stores and the same stuff is on sale? How come Home Depot and Lowes have the same items on sale within pennies of each other's price?? Like it or not that IS price fixing. The only difference between home daycare providers and home improvement stores is that the competition can walk IN TO each other's stores and just look on the shelf to see what their competition is charging for a door handle or a hammer.

It's stupid and I willingly talk fees with any provider who wants to.

[Judy Trickett]

.........in fact I think it should be mandatory for new providers to visit experienced providers. If this would prevent even 1 daycare injury/case of neglect/abuse it's worth it.

Statistically, most kids who are abused or die from purposeful acts on the part of the provider, come from homes with "experienced" older providers who have been in business years.

[playfelt]

It isn't illegal to discuss fees but you have to be careful that out of that discussion doesn't come the price-fixing which is illegal. If for example a group of caregivers in an area got together and discussed their daycares and decided you know I think we could get more for our services - if we all charged teh same amount parents would just have to pay it. That is the part that is illegal - why they were investigating price fixing at the gas pumps, etc. It seems silly but we do come under some of the same rules as major corporations, etc.

Indirectly we do the same on our own by checking out the ads of other caregivers to find out what the "going rates" are in our area and generally set our rates at the same as everyone else. But that is ok - it is just the I can't talk to you and together we agree to set our rates at a certain amount - limiting competition. We were warned that there is such a fine line that it is better to leave fees out of as many discussions as possible.

[Judy Trickett]

It isn't illegal to discuss fees but you have to be careful that out of that discussion doesn't come the price-fixing which is illegal. If for example a group of caregivers in an area got together and discussed their daycares and decided you know I think we could get more for our services - if we all charged teh same amount parents would just have to pay it. That is the part that is illegal - why they were investigating price fixing at the gas pumps, etc. It seems silly but we do come under some of the same rules as major corporations, etc.

Indirectly we do the same on our own by checking out the ads of other caregivers to find out what the "going rates" are in our area and generally set our rates at the same as everyone else. But that is ok - it is just the I can't talk to you and together we agree to set our rates at a certain amount - limiting competition. We were warned that there is such a fine line that it is better to leave fees out of as many discussions as possible.

Ah, don't you know already that I live in the grey area of life?!

[sunnydays]

Well, this is all new to me, but I suppose I at least understand where the rule came from. I think it is very important for new providers to find out what other providers are charging though so that they can set appropriate and fair rates and not undersell themselves or bring down the fees of everyone else (although I don't condone the sneaky methods the original poster was talking about...I have never and would never do that). Daycare centres are surely privvy to what the rates of other centres are when they set their fees (or raise their fees) as are agencies. I don't see why we shouldn't have the right to the same information.

[Momof4]

I keep all my emails and notes from interviews in a book too so I can refer back if anything looks suspicious, like a family who jumps from daycare to daycare. Have you ever had an interview and something tells you that the woman is pumping you for intormation so they can open their own dayare? Now I find that sneaky.

[playfelt]

That is one of the reasons I won't interview a mother without the child. I did have one mom come a few years ago who had set up appointments to gether info from several daycares as a way of ruling out the ones she didn't want and then once she had narrowed it down to 5 she was going to bring hubby and child for a second interview. I just didn't like her attitude at the interview so didn't allow her to come for the return interview.

I have had a potential daycare provider ask to come over during the day to sort of observe and decide if she was as committed to it as she thought. I let her come because I knew her but not sure I would let a stranger do that. Would totally depend on how they got my name.