WARNING - Potential Nanny Fraud

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a nanny, I wish it were standard-operating-procedure just to get a reference from the former nanny. I’d have saved myself a lot of heartache if I had in my last job.

Why not ask for one?

It’s just not done.

We gave our nanny our previous nannies number (after asking the previous nanny) as a reference to help re-assure that we were not terrible employers. But our previous nanny was moving on for reasons unrelated to us.

[Anonymous]

Credit checks are common with high profile families. It just make sure the nanny isn’t in serious debt and would put the family at risk to pay it off.

I do believe each party should do their due diligence to verify credentials and background checks. I look up every home; every person in the house should be included in contract (even if care isn’t required for all); I check their social media or google depending on their employment status and I forward all their info to my immediate family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first time a family wanted to run a credit check, I asked why. They explained that the previous nanny had (3 times) asked for a loan to pay unexpected bills. They fired her when she stole after being turned down for a fourth “loan” (she had made no attempt to repay the first three). They were only interested in my debt to credit ratio and whether I was keeping up with payments. I had zero problems furnishing my information for them.

I’ve had a couple families run checks since then. There’s nothing damaging in my file. If they’re filing the I-9 and W-4, they’ll have my information anyway. I don’t see a downside.

To me, it’s the same as a drug test or background check. It’s a basic precaution a family can take to try to ensure that the nanny is trustworthy.

We have been asked by two nannies for financial assistance. One had an old car that was constantly breaking down, making her late for work. The other couldn’t make rent because her gambler husband had drained their account again. We provided the assistance but it changes the relationship going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first time a family wanted to run a credit check, I asked why. They explained that the previous nanny had (3 times) asked for a loan to pay unexpected bills. They fired her when she stole after being turned down for a fourth “loan” (she had made no attempt to repay the first three). They were only interested in my debt to credit ratio and whether I was keeping up with payments. I had zero problems furnishing my information for them.

I’ve had a couple families run checks since then. There’s nothing damaging in my file. If they’re filing the I-9 and W-4, they’ll have my information anyway. I don’t see a downside.

To me, it’s the same as a drug test or background check. It’s a basic precaution a family can take to try to ensure that the nanny is trustworthy.

We have been asked by two nannies for financial assistance. One had an old car that was constantly breaking down, making her late for work. The other couldn’t make rent because her gambler husband had drained their account again. We provided the assistance but it changes the relationship going forward.

That’s awful! I can’t imagine our nanny ever doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a nanny, I wish it were standard-operating-procedure just to get a reference from the former nanny. I’d have saved myself a lot of heartache if I had in my last job.

Why not ask for one?

It’s just not done.

We gave our nanny our previous nannies number (after asking the previous nanny) as a reference to help re-assure that we were not terrible employers. But our previous nanny was moving on for reasons unrelated to us.

I wish all employers (with former nannies) did this.

[Anonymous]

First of all, those online background checks are typically just money grabbers.
I used one previously & found out I had married someone before I was even born!

I believe that since the employers (parents) are responsible for the money component - then they should be the ones undergoing the credit check.
Just because a Nanny may have had credit issues does in no way affect her competence as a responsible provider.

[Anonymous]

To the family that loaned their Nanny $$ for three loans, but never got paid back >>> I think this story is bogus because no one in their right mind would continue to loan out money if they never got paid back from the previous ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the family that loaned their Nanny $$ for three loans, but never got paid back >>> I think this story is bogus because no one in their right mind would continue to loan out money if they never got paid back from the previous ones.

It’s a former family who employed me. Since I talked to the nanny in question (who was happy to tell me how awful they were), yes, I believe it. She was infuriated that they dared to fire her, she “only took $100,” and she didn’t understand why they’d turned down her request for $500. Other than that, she had nothing bad to say about them, so I was happy to provide my credit report and take the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Credit checks are common with high profile families. It just make sure the nanny isn’t in serious debt and would put the family at risk to pay it off.

I do believe each party should do their due diligence to verify credentials and background checks. I look up every home; every person in the house should be included in contract (even if care isn’t required for all); I check their social media or google depending on their employment status and I forward all their info to my immediate family.

Explain why every person in the house should be included in the contract, even if they are not being cared for, pp.

[Anonymous]

We hired a nanny for orphaned minor cousins through a well-known nanny agency only to find out, when she later enrolled in Trustline, that she had a restraining order from a former boyfriend. She explained it away as a minor lover’s quarrel. She turned out to emotionally unstable and had to be terminated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Credit check?? Really. You must be paying 100k yearly. Good luck finding a good nanny.

Very common, actually.

Very important to know if the nanny can expect to be paid on time, so yes, credit checks on potential employers is an excellent idea.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny I do Trustline fingerprinting background checks every time I start looking for a new position and always agree to any background check my employers choose. In California, only companies can run credit checks now so I submitted one on my own. Background and driving checks are important as are personal and prior employer references. So if proof of infant CPR and vaccination records.

I have never asked for background checks on my employers but should have. Not that anything has ever gone wrong - I’m still very close to all my former employers and charges - but it simply makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I posted on this forum and was contacted by a potential nanny with great experience. As I dug deeper, I realized that she was not being truthful about her experience. Some tips:

--Be sure to check your nanny's references.
--Google the phone numbers and email addresses of the nanny and references to make sure they are real people and/or not connected to each other.
--Use www.truepeoplefinder.com or family tree now.
--Run a criminal history check
--run a credit check
--Go with your gut. If its too good to be true, it's likely too good to be true

Just because you talk to a reference on the phone does not make it a legitimate reference.

Good luck

Yes, we did a fingerprint check with our nanny and one of her reference was someone famous so I recognized her voice!

And our nanny did seem too good to be true. After 1.5 years, she still is!!!

Wow, I wish you could tell us who the famous reference was!! (I know you can’t).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Credit checks are common with high profile families. It just make sure the nanny isn’t in serious debt and would put the family at risk to pay it off.

I do believe each party should do their due diligence to verify credentials and background checks. I look up every home; every person in the house should be included in contract (even if care isn’t required for all); I check their social media or google depending on their employment status and I forward all their info to my immediate family.

Explain why every person in the house should be included in the contract, even if they are not being cared for, pp.

It’s my personal preference and for safety reasons; I provide my own contract that can be adjusted to fit my new contract. For example, due to the global pandemic and children being required to distance learning, I have two minors in the home but only care for 1. The parents are essential and out the home, and although I’m sure my motherly instincts will kick in, god forbid something happen during work hours whether I’m in the home or not, I do not want to be held liable.

I’ve also worked for families that have had other adults in the house — elderly grandparents or siblings, so again, I don’t want to be responsible for anything and also just like to give my family the names of others present in the home may anything happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Credit checks are common with high profile families. It just make sure the nanny isn’t in serious debt and would put the family at risk to pay it off.

I do believe each party should do their due diligence to verify credentials and background checks. I look up every home; every person in the house should be included in contract (even if care isn’t required for all); I check their social media or google depending on their employment status and I forward all their info to my immediate family.

Explain why every person in the house should be included in the contract, even if they are not being cared for, pp.

It’s my personal preference and for safety reasons; I provide my own contract that can be adjusted to fit my new contract. For example, due to the global pandemic and children being required to distance learning, I have two minors in the home but only care for 1. The parents are essential and out the home, and although I’m sure my motherly instincts will kick in, god forbid something happen during work hours whether I’m in the home or not, I do not want to be held liable.

I’ve also worked for families that have had other adults in the house — elderly grandparents or siblings, so again, I don’t want to be responsible for anything and also just like to give my family the names of others present in the home may anything happen.

Interesting. Thanks for responding, pp.