Background Checks/Online Nanny search agencies

[Anonymous]

I am a Nanny and have been for many years. Searching for a new position after 10 years with my last family. Started to sign up with Care.com UNTIL I saw their BBB and other sites terrible reviews and looks like fraudulant money issues. Sittercity want a background check which I have no problem with either BUT do a credit check! Shouldn't the credit check be done on the families to make sure they can actually pay a Nanny? Why would any agency need to do a credit check, it has no bearing on taking care of a child, my other certificates and long term references comes into play there. Again looked at Sittercity reviews and the same thing, bad reviews on BBB and again refusing refunds and charging ongoing for closed accounts.
Is there any online Nanny job search companies that hold a Nanny and family in the same light or are all Nannies found to be second class citizens?

[Anonymous]

Go with your state’s fingerprinting background check agency - which ever one they use to vet foster parents. In Los Angeles, it’s called Trust Line. Your potential employers contact them for background check verification.

Skip all the online background checks which are all useless.

If your potential employer then wants a credit check, you can decide then if you want to submit to one.

And clean up your credit for your own sake!

[Anonymous]

PP again. And lose the attitude. The potential employers are untrusting you with the life of their child. That in no way makes you a second class citizen. All childcare providers should be fingerprinted and background checked. For the most part you will be caring for and responsible for the life of a nonverbal, helpless child. You are neither nonverbal nor helpless nor a child. You can take care of yourself so there is no quid pro quo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again. And lose the attitude. The potential employers are untrusting you with the life of their child. That in no way makes you a second class citizen. All childcare providers should be fingerprinted and background checked. For the most part you will be caring for and responsible for the life of a nonverbal, helpless child. You are neither nonverbal nor helpless nor a child. You can take care of yourself so there is no quid pro quo.

I think you meant entrusting!
No problem with my credit, sorry you assumed that, rather than understanding it's an invasion of privacy and not relatable to childcare. Anything else is warranted! My point was that backgrounds are one sided. You may want to read the other posts on this platform of how many nannies don't get paid!
It seems you are incapable of reading exactly what was posted and went off on a personal tangent. I have been a nanny many years and with last family 10, TEN years with multiply babies. I also have a Masters in Education and other certifications.
No attitude here except your condesending one, which was completely uncalled for but I'm sure you feel better demoralizing another....... anonymously. How sad and nastily rude!
But if your do want to stick it to someone at least learn how to spell or you just look stupid and invalid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP again. And lose the attitude. The potential employers are untrusting you with the life of their child. That in no way makes you a second class citizen. All childcare providers should be fingerprinted and background checked. For the most part you will be caring for and responsible for the life of a nonverbal, helpless child. You are neither nonverbal nor helpless nor a child. You can take care of yourself so there is no quid pro quo.

I think you meant entrusting!
No problem with my credit, sorry you assumed that, rather than understanding it's an invasion of privacy and not relatable to childcare. Anything else is warranted! My point was that backgrounds are one sided. You may want to read the other posts on this platform of how many nannies don't get paid!
It seems you are incapable of reading exactly what was posted and went off on a personal tangent. I have been a nanny many years and with last family 10, TEN years with multiply babies. I also have a Masters in Education and other certifications.
No attitude here except your condesending one, which was completely uncalled for but I'm sure you feel better demoralizing another....... anonymously. How sad and nastily rude!
But if your do want to stick it to someone at least learn how to spell or you just look stupid and invalid.

I agree with you OP. Nanny's have no HR department where there is equal policy for all, like my company, the requirements are the same whether you're management or mail room. Its really common sense that a credit report is not necessary when finances are not a requirement for employment. I don't need to know our nanny's credit issues, if any, and I don't want her knowing ours, so that is fair. I want to know her driving record and any criminal violation and child preditory issues, SS and residence verification and then obviously references and anything that impacts our children.
I looked at the reviews and was shocked at the number of complaints for Care and Sittercity, I don't think parents and nannys look at reviews first, which obviously would be a good idea. We used an agency, I asked our nanny and she said that they are all the same and agreed that they favor the family unit, even though both parties pay for access. So that does not seem right. This is an open forum so you have informed others about these companies.
The vitriol that some people display and in this case another nanny who responded to you, is disgraceful, but your rebuttal is one of the best. Anyone who has been employed by one family for ten years does not need to be told about the trust of a life of any child, you obviously know and have executed that, but the scorn, behavior and personality of the respondent is not what I would want around my children. Be kind even if you don't agree.

[Anonymous]

Care and SitterCity are not agencies- they are websites.

An agency shouldn't ask for a credit check. I've seen it requested once for a household management position where the nanny would have a credit card issued in her name on the family's account- I thought that was appropriate.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t had a background check run in over 10 years. Most parents don’t ask for one/run one

[Anonymous]

As an MB, I agree a credit check isn't necessary at all. I did not and would not run one. There is, as a PP pointed out, a great deal of asymmetry in the relationship, though, so the amount of background verification is not going to be symmetrical.

Also, any reputable agency should ONLY be charging the families (and usually that's a steep fee, 15% of annual salary is easily $5-10K), so of course there is going to be a financial incentive for them to prioritize the needs of that side of the customer base. Not saying it's right, but this is where the families who can pay more also are. (I do not consider care or sittercity agencies. They are simply somewhat better-targeted, fancier versions of open platforms like Facebook or Craigslist.)

If I were OP with that much nanny experience, I'd sign up with an agency as well, and ask your last NF if they know any families looking. Maybe you'll find an unexpected gem on Care but I wouldn't count on it.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the first blunt responder. The fingerprint background checks are the only ones worthwhile.

And I have no problem with a credit check. Two of my former employers ran them on me and I was fine with it. That said, I don’t think it’s legal here in California anymore anyway.