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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

How would you feel if your babysitter did this?

35 replies

Earlybird · 28/07/2006 03:52

I had to go out today on short notice, so called a babysitting agency who supplied a woman from their pool of sitters. I'd never met her before, but felt comfortable as the agency does police checks, etc before they add the person to their books. I've used the agency in the past, and have been pleased.

After I paid the sitter and sent her home, I went to my computer, and can see that she sent 2 emails from my email address! I'm very unhappy that she went into my office, and very unhappy that she used my computer/my email account. I also can't quite believe that she'd be stupid enough not to delete the emails or at least log on to her own account to send messages! I guess she didn't think there was anything wrong with it, or she'd have made an effort to "cover her tracks".

Would you be upset? Would you do anything other than make a mental note never to use her again?

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fisil · 28/07/2006 06:51

yes, I'd be upset and tell the agency.

NotQuiteCockney · 28/07/2006 06:58

I would complain, absolutely.

coppertop · 28/07/2006 07:09

I'd be annoyed and would inform the agency. Very cheeky IMHO.

heavenis · 28/07/2006 07:11

She was there to look after children,not use your computer or your e-mail address. I would phone the agency and tell them.

NotQuiteCockney · 28/07/2006 07:13

Well, if she was sitting while they were asleep, it's not the "timewasting" I'd object to, just the use of what I see as a private thing. It'd be far too easy for someone to put a virus in place etc etc. If she desperately needed net access, she should have brought a laptop and asked permission to use your network.

geekgrrl · 28/07/2006 07:13

I'd be absolutely furious. What a cheeky (and stupid) mare!!! Tell the agency.

What did she write? Anything interesting?

geekgrrl · 28/07/2006 07:14

yes, it's the privacy issue. Going on my PC would be like rifling through my filing cabinet.

suzywong · 28/07/2006 07:14

I would be ropable and demand her head on a plate
Serioulsy
it's like she's been through your knicker drawer. Cheeky mare. Not good. Complain and get written apology and money back.

surroundedbyboys · 28/07/2006 08:30

really pissed off. invasion of privacy and very very cheeky.

dmo · 28/07/2006 08:54

i would be cross
did you give her permission to use your office?
babysitters should not be snopping roung houses using the owners property like that
whats wrong with the tv?
cheeky girl

trinityrhino · 28/07/2006 08:55

very pissed off and I would tell the agency, it's not right

moondog · 28/07/2006 08:55

I would be furious!

hulababy · 28/07/2006 08:57

Agree. I would be really cross.

jellyjelly · 28/07/2006 09:01

I would never use a computer at a job or your email address what was in the emails? What else did she look at?

thechildsslave · 28/07/2006 09:22

I would be really furious unless she used the computer to come on mumsnet. LOL no seriously I would ring agency and tell them .

WishICouldGiveUpWork · 28/07/2006 10:13

I would be livid-she could have sent anything to anyone in your name!
Hopefully,all she sent were the two emails you found........

Outrageous-would be straight onto the agency.

NannyL · 28/07/2006 11:02

Thats outragouse.... completely out of order and unacceptable...

bear in mind as a nanny where i pretty much live at the houses where i work (even though im daily) i ALWAYS ask if i can use their internet...

and i dont often... and i KNOW they dot ahve a problem (also ONLY in evening if i baby sit and kids are asleep) I wouldnt dream of 'surfing' during the day!

Even so i ask EVERY time (and only ever use 'mums' lap top.... would NEVER touch 'daddies' PC EVER)

also always use my own email account...

wouldnt dream of using anyone elses email account EVER.... not even my own parents or sister for example!

Also i know its beside the point but i wouldnt leave my children with someone ive ever met either! A police check means nothing... other than you havnt been court committing crimes!

dmo · 28/07/2006 11:23

so have you spoken to anybody about this?

Original poster

Earlybird · 28/07/2006 13:45

Thanks for the feedback.

My computer is in a separate room designated as an office in the house, and as she was there to look after dd, there would have been no reason for her to go in that room. I've quizzed dd, and it seems computer use must have happened in the hour between putting dd to bed and my return. There were private papers in plain view on my desk - bank statements, correspondence, credit card bills, etc. Who knows if she looked at them. Yes, I should have logged off before leaving the house, but with unlimited use broadband, I rarely do. She could have read all of my emails, visited dodgy sites (reminds me I should check the history), etc. The two emails she sent look fairly innocuous - asking to be added to mailing lists.

I'm mostly shocked at the cheek of it. A trusted nanny or babysitter would not be a problem (and they would have asked first!), but the fact that she took such a liberty (and invaded my privacy) is what makes me most angry. Unbelievable!! Add to that the fact that I paid her more per hour than any of the other sitters - presumably because it was a last minute booking...well, it just adds insult to injury!!

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nannyk · 28/07/2006 13:53

You should tell the agency that sent her. She has invaded your privacy, and acted imo very unprofessionally. I would be wary of her other behaviour if she's happy to go on your computer and send things from it withour permission, and in a home office that she has no reason to go into. However harmless she may have felt it was, she acted totally inappropriately and I wouldn't tolerate it. Let us know what the agency says.

megglevache · 28/07/2006 13:59

Message withdrawn

tribpot · 28/07/2006 14:03

If she's used your email account to ask to be added to (e)mailing lists, you will be getting these emails, not her.

She obviously didn't think it was wrong (and she hasn't even achieved what she wanted) but I would definitely complain as well. Bang out of order. My babysitter, who I have known since she was born, would always ask before using my internet access. And she does my shredding for me, so knows all my secrets!

Original poster

Earlybird · 28/07/2006 16:03

Tribpot, you're absolutely right. I've just come home to find an incoming email: "Dear X (babysitter), in order to be added to our mailing list, you will need to ....."

Calling the agency now, and will let you know their response.

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Original poster

Earlybird · 28/07/2006 16:30

Agency agreed that it was absolutely not on, and said they always brief sitters to ask before they use any electrical goods belonging to the employer. The woman I spoke to said it was equivalent to someone going to my wardrobe and trying on my clothes!

Now I have visions of the psycho stalker babysitter appearing on my doorstep, or bombarding me with angry phone calls.....

OP posts:

ComeOVeneer · 28/07/2006 16:31

What did they say they would do about it?

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