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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

Childminding enquiery at 10.10pm last night!

32 replies

Tas1 · 28/03/2009 21:43

I had a lady phone me last night at 10.10pm to ask if I had any vacancies. She was quite abrupt and just asked if I any spaces free, didn't appologise for the time of the call. I could'nt help her as I am full, so she rang off. 20mins later she rang again, its now 10.30pm, she asked me the same question, then said 'Oh, have I already spoken to you?'
When I said yes and that it was very late for this type of call she just put the phone down.
Maybe its just me, but 10.10pm ia a bit late to ring someone to ask if you have any spaces going?

Very strange person!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 28/03/2009 21:45

Maybe it was an emergency as she had been let down at te last minute. Hence the abruptness. She would have been v annoyed

Original poster

Tas1 · 28/03/2009 21:53

Not an emergency, she was asking for spaces starting in July.

OP posts:

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 28/03/2009 21:54

Well in that case just rude and inconsiderate and plain weierd.

justaboutback · 28/03/2009 21:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FiveGoMadInDorset · 28/03/2009 21:57

People are strange aren't they. I have a friend who runs a B&B and she got a phone call at 2 in the morning one day asking about availability and prices.

MelonCauli · 28/03/2009 21:58

All i ever see on the childminding boards are childminders moaning about their lack of mindees. When one phones that is moaned about too.

Original poster

Tas1 · 28/03/2009 22:01

I don't mind her phoning, but 10.10pm and 10.30pm is a bit late, don't you think?

OP posts:

nannynick · 28/03/2009 22:05

This is why I accept Text and E-mail... I don't do voice calls - there is rarely a good time to take a phone call when you have children around.

Yurtgirl · 28/03/2009 22:08

I dont call strangers after 9pm at all - quite a lot of my friends seem to go to bed a 9 too.........

PixiNanny · 28/03/2009 22:43

MelonCauli - Wouldn't you be a bit peeved if somebody called you at that time and then put the phone down on you? I know I would whether it was a job offer or not!

glucose · 28/03/2009 22:50

I am with Yurt- I was taught that you don't phone anyone after 9pm unless life or death situation. If she thinks its ok to call you this late, I dread to think what she may think is reasonable to expect from her childminder.

Scarfmaker · 28/03/2009 23:12

Sorry but I agree with Meloncauli

Me personally I'm still doing obs, ironing, my own 3 kids lunchboxes till late and then sitting down relaxing, watching telly, reading newspapers. Most nights I don't go to bed until 11.30 12 midnight and one of my friends always phones me late because she knows I can't talk to her during the day - so this would be no problem for me.

If you don't want to answer the phone let it go on voicemail.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 28/03/2009 23:19

I would not take on the child on principle even if I had vacancies. Im sorry, but phoning at gone ten at night??!! While some of us maybe still up at that time, a lot of us wouldn't be. A childminder is a business person, yes, but she is not on call 24 hours a day. It is common sense and polite to call during business hours only, surely?
Someone who calls at this time, doesn't acknowledge that it's late or appologise when it's pointed out , and then HANGS UP, is going to be the type of parent who leaves the kids later than agreed without phoning first, pays late and arrives to drop off twenty minutes early. Can't believe some of you think that the OP is being unreasonable not to want to be phoned at this time of night.

Scarfmaker · 28/03/2009 23:27

Maybe that's the only time to herself the caller gets if she has a young baby etc. to see to.

Not saying the OP is being unreasonable just that to some of us it's not a problem taking calls at 10.30pm!

nbee84 · 28/03/2009 23:29

scarfmaker - but your friend knows that you are likely to be around for a chat at that time of the evening.

I and a lot of people would answer the phone at that time of night (rather than leave it to voicemail) because I would think that someone phoning me at that time of night would be for an emergency - my heart sinks if the phone goes after ten and I immeadiately worry that it is an ill (or dead, perish the thought) family member.

nbee84 · 28/03/2009 23:31

And even if I had caller display I would answer a number I didn't recognise in case it was a phone call from a hospital payphone or suchlike.

glucose · 28/03/2009 23:34

agree with lucky goat - a childminder is a business - but it is also someones home, and parents chose childminders partly as a preference for their children to be cared for in a homely environment, and therefore parents should respect that it is a childminders home.
Just wondering if she was calling from abroad in which case it maybe slightly more acceptable.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 28/03/2009 23:37

lol ok sorry scarfmaker, I see your point, kind of, but just find it bizzarre that someone would make a childminding enquiry at this time. I would call when babies were asleep, or something, however demanding the kids are, surely you would get a chance to call before ten at night??

Agree - if our phone rings at this time of night we immediately wonder whatever has happened to warrant the call.....

Scarfmaker · 28/03/2009 23:38

Sorry! but I suppose it's just me that thinks 9-10.30pm is still early enough to take calls.

On that note I'm going to bed soon as the clocks go forward and have another day to sort out with my own three!

nbee84 · 28/03/2009 23:44

Good night

nannyL · 29/03/2009 00:06

I wouldnt dream of phoning anyone other than a close freind or relative gone 9pm at night.

definitely not a stranger, unless something (though i cant think of an example) was urgent.

nannynick · 29/03/2009 08:42

What about Sunday mornings? I've just had an enquiry come through at 07:14 (well 08:14 now that the clocks have gone forward). It was via text, so not as intrusive as a phone call, and I was already awake, so I have replied to it. But leaves me wondering what an acceptable time for such enquiries is on a Sunday morning.

nannyL · 29/03/2009 10:51

i would suggest after 9am on a sunday!

Numberfour · 29/03/2009 10:53

I also agree that after 9 at night is a bit much unless it is an emergency and 10.10pm for a "routine" enquiry is rude. Sunday calls or texts at that time, nannynick, are also thoghtless and selfish, imo. i have found that the people that call at odd hours or at the last minute are the ones that are likely to be difficult or troublesome in some way or other. again, unless it is an emergency, Sundays are pretty much off bounds for those type of calls, too. however, i would take the call and i would deal with it as i would any other time! work is work! but 10.10 at night - bloody hell! that takes the mick! and then to ring back later.... TROUBLE!!!

Blondeshavemorefun · 29/03/2009 11:25

i am a night owl - so friends often call me 9/10pm but never before 10am

but agree seems a weird time to call to ask about a july space - in an emergancy fair enough to call then

i have had calls from mums reading my ad at 11pm wanting a nanny the next day as their nanny is ill/cm let them down etc

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