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Care.com review: bad practices and service 52

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Author of the review
9:51 am EDT
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We were looking for a nanny to help out with our daughter so I signed up with Care.com and ran an ad. At first, things went well. We got some applicants and were in the process of scheduling interviews. Then one day, I went to sign in and couldn't. I sent a message to them and received a generic response stating that my account had been terminated. They had just taken money out of my account so it wasn't like I didn't pay for the service. I wrote them back and asked them to give me a reason and a refund. They wouldn't - only gave a regurgitation of their policy that states they can cancel your account at any time without warning. I really don't care what their 'policy' states. They took my money and then cancelled me for no reason. It also angers me that they don't even have a phone number listed anywhere so that I could talk to an actual person. It is just bad business.

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52 comments
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Amoroz
, US
Aug 28, 2017 10:54 pm EDT

Care.com does illegal background checks I have a very common name I am in nursing program with no criminal record and they
Suspended my account after getting great reviews from client s on there for years. In the area I live just at local pharmacy another person with my name and same date of birth and same neighborhood. They need do more thorough checks I have a level 2 background with the state of Florida fingerprint scanned.

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11r
, US
Jul 31, 2017 2:47 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Mine is a little different although
I had 3 families with same thing offering $4.00 for childcare
I was appalled and disgusted. Told care. Com they don't care
My issue was I had a review from a woman I never met or worked for and care.com
Would not take it down and it of course affected my chance of getting another nanny gig so out of frustration I closed my account
Not sure how she has any right to say that when we never met.

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50muskee
, US
Jun 27, 2017 6:13 pm EDT

I paid for a background check, and the information they posted was inaccurate. Background was clear, but DMV record stated "no record found". I called DMV and they said I was clearly on record. Who would hire someone for errands who has is not found with a valid license? No one! I requested my money be refunded, but they won't reply to anything. Care. Com is a total scam! STAY AWAY!

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Brenda Petrie
, US
Aug 22, 2016 6:20 am EDT

I worked a job but never got paid

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Becky E.
Xxxxxxxx, US
Jun 13, 2016 7:42 am EDT

Another scam. Here is what was sent to me via text message:
Hello my name is Sandra from Care.com, your service as a caregiver for a friend 62 year old sweet mom is required, kindly email my boss at nicole.winns@o

They didn't even take the time to complete the email address. The phone number this was sent from is [protected]

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Brenda Petrie
, US
May 21, 2016 6:35 am EDT

I worked for Ted from Minnesota and never got paid. Beware!

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Kathleen Kern
, US
Mar 24, 2016 2:37 pm EDT

Be careful. I attempted to downgrade my twice to downgrade my account and was shocked in reviewing my year end financial information to learn that they had continued to bill me quarterly without my permission. This company is not to be trusted.

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NessaJ
, US
Aug 29, 2013 10:33 am EDT

Care.com has unapproved around 10 of my photos. They were all professional photos & did not need to be rotated. I don't know what to do. Is this happening to anyone else?

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Panda Melson
, US
Aug 13, 2015 10:25 am EDT

I put my resume on this site and have got over 6 scams . I get one every day, they put an ad, you answer and they mail you bad checks. I have all the phone number and text, and emails. I want my information deleted from your site.

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haven55
, US
Jan 17, 2016 6:26 pm EST

Care.Com is a horrible site
they will delete you for absolutely no reason
then won't tell you why! i feel something very illegal is going on here, so beware! ! I will never use them again and will warn anybody and everybody. .DON'T use this site! !

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Janet Andrews-McGauley
, US
Oct 06, 2015 6:05 pm EDT

I am sure glad I read this...I got 2 yesterday - I am waiting for the checks to come...hmm

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Reviewer79103
,
Aug 17, 2015 2:45 pm EDT

I joined Care.com after returning from overseas mission. I worked with at-risk children for seven years, and previously had been a nanny years ago for the same family for over nine years. Great references, clean background. Not one single response form many applications, and was told I had a better chance if i paid. Why would I pay premium for a service that does not provide even minimum.

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chelseane2007
Pasadena, US
May 13, 2015 7:19 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have done my own investigation on this company Care.com. it is a fraudulent misrepresented company that should be shut down by the federal trade commission for defrauding both parents and babysitters and putting babies and kids lives in danger daily. Background checks are provided by a cut rate outside .com company that clearly states they are not liable for any accuracy or completeness since no real live id is ever seen by anyone and any stolen or borrowed DL# can bu used to pass. The BBB is covering for all the fraud that is going on by awarding Care.com an A rating for a $500 a yr membership fee, that allows Care.om to hand pick reviews and the rating. 2 american families have come home to dead babies and this is what they read when they opened their email to plan the funeral. "We at care.com reserve the right to terminate any membership for any reason or no reason at anytime with no refund or explanation. This is the auto generated response Care.com sends out to anyone that dare to report any issues. The phone call is recorded and the account is terminated for legal reason with no explanation. Care.com will terminate for as little as a petty argument over a spot on the carpet to a baby dies. They treat it all with the same with the upmost disrespect with no apology. Imagine opening your email while planning a funeral for a dead baby and reading that. Unethical and disgusting are the words for that.

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andrea miceli
, US
May 01, 2015 1:57 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i applied for a job for pet sitting several months ago, i lost my job a year ago. i am being scammed harassed by phone texts and emails and you need to check the people who are advertising for a pet sitter ect and take these sick people i am so annoyed and the have my info all of it

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chelseane2007
Pasadena, US
Nov 21, 2014 9:56 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have been a care.com member for many years as a parent and as a caregiver. There are only 3 reason a parent or a caregiver will be shut down.
No 1 - The parent is angry beacuse the sitter didi not show up for a scheduled interview or babysitting job they send a less than nice text via care..They are shut down. Etiquette is very important on care.com. The same for a sitter... The parents will hire her then compleatly ignore her texts because they have found someone else or changed thier mind. Or change the agreement of times and pay. The sitter is very angry and send a angry email.

No 2 - no one is allowed to ask for a private email address. The text system will flag ypour page and let it go the first time maybe the second if you continue asking for email addresses you will be shut down without warning or explanation.

No 3- No one is allowed to post as a sitter or a parent and try to advertises for a side business. You can not say "And by the way I also cut hiar out of my house" You will be shut down.

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rameng
, US
Aug 06, 2012 12:35 pm EDT

Why there are so many complaint about Care.com? I request everyone to boycott and abandon.

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soleil2020
Belfast, US
Apr 27, 2012 4:13 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/106/245/064/tell-carecom-to-stop-their-unfair-practices/

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Savey
linden, US
Mar 29, 2014 9:31 am EDT

Care.com is a good newspaper, billboard & website but do not leave any personal info on it. You can slowly find out a little about families and care givers in time. Care.com will ask you for your info & at the same time will write a disclaimer stating that they are not responsible for any damage. I would think there are predators out there who want your info to sell, harass or worse. I don't understand how families would leave info about themselves and children on a website that anyone could join. There are also naive care givers who could be giving info or leads to their personal info (facebook) that mention their whereabouts and friends.Not to mention background checks.
I will not say that care.com is a bad thing though it is not exactly a community paper, it is a world wide paper but it focuses on a direct audience of people who need domestic help or who work in the field. Remember that it is just an online newspaper ad and newspapers do not advise to list your personal info.
Do not put the whole field down there are other leads such as newspapers, school & neighborhood billboards and reputable nanny agencies that are very personal and thorough. Still guard your info and always know who you are allowing your info to go to.There is always age discrimination so remember that it is unlawful for employers to ask your age.

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LD1206
Atlanta, US
Mar 17, 2014 11:07 am EDT

Wow, all of these stories are familiar now. I've been a child care giver for 10+ years. I spent 5 years on this site building a great profile with awesome reviews/connections and building relationships with people. I had a clean background check and not one person who would say a bad word about me. All of a sudden I get an email from Care.com stating that my membership has been terminated. Again, like all other stories here, absolutely no reason and when I called they refused to give one. I'm almost 100% sure it's a family that I worked for trying to get back at me for deciding to leave after putting up with the appalling behavior of their child for WAY too long. Was I given a chance to explain my side of the story and the fact that I'm innocent? NO. Their rules are ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I have 10+ families that I've worked for that would stand up and defend me and tell of how well I care for children and work hard, but my reputation and my future job possibilities get completely wrecked just because one family, ticked off because things didn't go their way, call up Care and tell them who knows what lie to have my membership terminated. Yeah, thanks for NOTHING Care.com! I'll not be recommending you and your business won't be lasting long if you continue to run it this way.

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chris37
Quincy, US
Jan 22, 2014 9:36 pm EST

I was amazingly surprised at how many people have been terminated from Care.com without explaination. I hired an attorney who can not get any information, based on what we all signed saying we can be terminated for any reason at any time without explaination.

Someone, an attorney friend of mine who knows how contracts like this work. She has suggested going on the news or reporting it to the news.

Anyone here willing to do that in there area? I am in the Boston area, and am looking for people to join in. It would also be wonderful if we all did it on our own local news.

What do ya think?

christinemello@comcast.net

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Not a Fan of Care.com
Santa Fe, US
Jan 06, 2014 10:59 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Care.com has the worst customer service ever and zero loyalty to its customers. After paying monthly premiums for over a year, I left a miserable employer (the worst!) who then retaliated by posting an undeserved negative review on my profile. I responded with a post detailing the truth of the matter - which of course was unbecoming to the employer. Care.com allowed the negative review towards myself to stand but would not allow my response. It made no sense. The employer had burned through numerous caregivers in the past (for good reason!) yet Care.com threw me under the bus. Steer clear of this organization. They do not deserve your money.

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Membercare
Waltham, US
Nov 12, 2013 10:20 am EST

Hi Melcarnley,

We're sorry about your experience with Care.com. In regards to payments between you and a family, Care.com leaves that discussion to be between the caregivers and the families hiring them. We are not an agency, we are a platform set up for families to meet caregivers, and caregivers to meet families. We provide both families and caregivers with the tools they need to make a smart hiring or job decision.

As stated in our Terms of Use that you agree to upon enrollment, Care.com reserves the right to close an account for any reason or no reason, with our without notice. Further, we do not always disclose the reasons as to why an account has been closed.

We apologize for your experience, and wish you the best of luck in your job search!

Regards,
Care.com Member Care Representative

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Melcarnley
Bay City, US
Nov 04, 2013 12:18 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Care .com is a dirty business. I believe soon they will no longer be in service if we as a community stand up and don't let their inaccurate and possible illegal rules ruin people's reputations. And from the children shown on commercial they really need nanny s who can correct the parents bad parenting of letting children talk back to adult and yell. Great job though with the were a family co. Attitude yah right!

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MollyB.
Los Angeles, US
Nov 01, 2013 5:19 pm EDT

Who here would like to file a class action lawsuit against care.com?

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DONENDARKCLIGHT
Frisco, US
Oct 31, 2013 12:34 pm EDT

They didn't approve you because you didn't pay for a membership nor did you pay for a background check, they don't care about the community all they want to do is fatten their pockets. But whats done in the dark will always come to light and before long they will be sued or better yet have a class action law suit, they should've known better than to come to Texas! SCAMMERS DO NO T SIGN UP FOR A MEMBERSHIP!

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Melcarnley
Bay City, US
Sep 11, 2013 5:14 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

They let me know I was being blocked and could no longer use their services for finding a nanny position I had 16 yrs experience was a professional baby nurse high references no complaints ever, they just dropped me even though I paid my membership. I feel like if you turn a potential job down and then the family is mad or upset and they let care know you as a professional said no to employment they dropped us and have turned down our repeated request for a answer to why? They also threatened and did let all my families I applied with that I was removed from care without reason given that's deformation of my character how dare they? I've been a nanny for many years and I'm a great one at that. I may sew I don't know yet I feel degraded.

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Playbows
Manhattan, US
Sep 07, 2013 3:30 pm EDT

This is a different topic, but still regards Care.com. I have to sound off because I'm a mom who is absolutely sickened by this company's commercials (so much so that I would never consider using its services...looks like that's a good call, judging from the other complaints!), which show bratty children tormenting their caregivers while cutesy music plays and the company owner shrugs and laughs. Is it really funny when a child says "NO!"? Can't we find a proper balance between the uber-strict 50s children-should-be-seen-and-not-heard method and the current laissez faire mentality? I once watched a fellow busy Manhattan mother come home from work and immediately fetch some crackers that her toddler was screaming for before she even removed her shoes...even though the very patient and kind nanny had just told him it was almost dinner time and he couldn't have the crackers because he'd just had a snack. Any idiot could see this was out if guilt, but what did she think she was teaching her son, that mommy loved him? No, she was teaching him that he was more important than her and could always have anything he wanted. So what happens when that little boy grows up and learns a much different lesson from the world? Read Think! by Lisa Bloom and set a standard for healthy boundaries and discipline that will actually create good human beings, not entitled, egomaniacal monsters, PLEASE! And Care.com owner, if you're listening...stop dumbing America down!

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Kayla91
San Francisco, US
Sep 04, 2013 9:45 pm EDT

Yes, they are completely bizarre and frankly unfair about their photo approval process. I put up two pictures of just me, taken from the neck up... smiling, with flowers in the background, and they quickly sent me a not approved message with their reasoning being, I may not be "recognizable" or it's "bad quality or perhaps offensive." I find that totally ridiculous and it makes me much less likely to use their services at this point. I'm not going to go have a "Care.com photoshoot" with 100 different variations in hopes of one maybe fitting their guidelines. If this picture was denied, I don't see how any profiles on their website even have pictures. Sorry to rant...

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soaggy
, US
Sep 02, 2013 8:27 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

yes, they have done the same to me. I have no photo, and my stats say no one has viewed my profile. I find that a bit odd as well, seeing as though I message at least 4 parents a day. You mean to tell me NO ONE has been curious about my request. I have parents I babysit for on sittercity.com and they were fine with my photo. I believe care.com forces you to make that payment..

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Melcarnley
Bay City, US
Aug 18, 2013 4:04 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I was with care dot com and posted a profile as a nanny or baby nurse with over 15 yrs. experience. I was offered a job but turned it down due to distance and what was expected of me, a two month old two yr. old twins and a severely disabled child for only 12.00, when i live 30 minutes away, and the fact they had six nanny cams all over the house and one in bathroom for bath times? no trust or reason for that extreme compare to what the family wanted to pay, and having to deal with all of that I said no..the next day a Mom contacted me and wanted to pay me 5.00 a hour for four children I explained to her that's illegal and not even close to minimum wage or respectable to care for four young infants for 1.25 a hr each. I told her to do some research on the laws at least in MI, of hiring private help or care givers, so I told her no thank you that at that wage she wasn't going to get good quality care. Well guess what the very Next day I received a mean Email from CARE.COM stating my profile was terminated not giving me one answer or replying to my responses. I have the right to earn minimum wage or the 15.00 starting rate I charge because I'm very good at what I do and love I've had training and experience. How dare they do that I had over 20 applications out for potential jobs and they screwed me. And now all those potential jobs and my applications are job, loss of wages, I'm reporting them ASAP to the BBB and if I have to, I feel like I may even get a attorney for wrongful removal due unknown reasons, but I could guess why, from a site, they my state their site has every right to remove you but when you apply or tell a client they're cheap in so many words, no way...in my line of work thankfully I've meet many great attorneys, and I'm highly educated not stupid, who I will be calling since they do want to let me have my account where one of those 15 jobs I applied for could've responded be bud know nothing...but unemployment THANKS CARE. NOTHING. I was probably on of the best and most experienced nannies they had on there. I worked there for a great family in 2012 and they said I was the best person they had ever left their child with...the funny thing is I found a job on care. Com last yr. and my family said they loved me I'm done letting these agencies treat people w no respect and there generic rules that they can make up to mean whatever they want at the moment they nee to use them...now what? I think ill start watching babies in my own home where at least I know ill be giving the best care to great families. But I'm def not going to let this go with care I want my profile back or I swear to god I will take legal action on vague contract and unclear written warnings, with no explanations given.. good luck to everyone else be careful and be safe...I'll find my forever family somewhere. God bless and care.com SHAME ON YOU and YOUR CO. BBB I'm on my way along with JEFFERY FIGER LAW OFFICES.

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CommunityMindedPatriot
Buckeye, US
Jun 11, 2013 10:16 am EDT

I have had awful experiences three times with Care.com. The first was they cancelled my subscription with no explanation; second, they slandered me with a false and incorrect "background check" and last, they claimed I was an agency and cancelled me. These people are racist, opportunists who denigrate the vocation of domestic services. Anyone out there have web page and marketing skills, I have an idea how to pull this company up by the short hairs.

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Kiki T
St.Louis, US
Mar 21, 2013 10:01 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I joined Care.com about 2 years ago looking for a nanny position. I had been employed with a family for 16 years as their nanny before this. I found 2 wonderful families through Care.com for which I am still employed on a part time basis. I was looking for a nanny position to complete my week. I applied for a position with one family and was "hired" the next day. On my first day there I realized this was not the right fit, but I wanted to think it through. Keep in mind all communication was through Care.com, so I did not have their phone number and they did not have a land line so I couldn't look in the white pages. I sent the family a VERY NICE email stating that I felt this was not the right position for me. I never heard back from her and was immediately "terminated" from Care.com. My assumption is that she filed a complaint which led to the "termination". I have been a nanny for 25 plus years and I take it very serious. I love what I do and have an amazing bond with all of my families. The email that Care.com sends out to EVERYONE makes it sound like I did something terrible. I never got to defend myself. Anybody can press the little button and make up lies and ruin someones reputation. It sickens me that this women was able to get away with this. Luckily I have 2 devoted families that have backed me up 150%.

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Super Nanny # 1
, US
Sep 08, 2012 1:25 pm EDT

Do your homework. People always complain if they don't get things to go the way they want. I think it is baseless to make stories because God don't like ugly or liars. Care.com is awesome. I know 1st that most of the people who complain are cheap parents who want pay 10 and have too many expectations. If you want free childcare stay home.

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lindajohn
washington, US
Aug 02, 2012 8:25 pm EDT

TO: Those who are really pissed off at Care.com for fraudulent charge and misleading advertisement and unstoppable recurring charges even after you cancel the service, PLEASE file a complaint with FBI's Internet Crime Report Center.
If all of us who were scammed by these people file, something GOOD will come out of it.

http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx

File a Complaint

The IC3 is co-sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). Complaints filed via this website are processed and may be referred to federal, state, local or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for possible investigation. I understand any investigation opened on any complaint I file on this website is initiated at the discretion of the law enforcement and/or regulatory agency receiving the complaint information.

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ah!isee
Oakley, US
Jul 31, 2012 10:07 pm EDT

ilove care.com u guys are haters! LOL

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tulipdaffodil
New York, US
Oct 26, 2011 8:12 am EDT

I am a nanny and I sent an email reply to a lady offering to pay me $400.00 for 6 days. I told her I was disgusted by her offer since it was not minimum wage. Care.com cancelled my profile and membership and they continue to allow this woman to post her 4.00 per hour job on their website. They don't care about nannies and they just want parents to pay them and its all over their website people offering free bedrooms for 40 hours of work from a nanny and NO pay. They cancelled me me because I said in my own words that I was disgusted by the woman who offered me 4.00 per each hour of work. Parents in my area told me that most of the nannies they contact don't have papers (immigrants with no green cards). This website seems like a good solution to find a job or find a babysitter but they don't offer good screenings and they terminate babysitters for complaining about parents who are keeping a slave employee.

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tinker77
Reseda, US
Sep 25, 2011 6:01 am EDT

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for all your posts. I love this website and I always check it before signing up for anything. The TV Add that they had was very enticing for families needing babysitters or pet sitting, and I was just on their website and I was about to fill out the information and then I thought about checking for reviews and boy was I glad I did. I am now definitely not going to sign up or put any of my time into this website. I really hate when websites have unethical practices, and the funny thing is that they should know by now that website such as complaints board reveals all of their unethical practices so and potential customers read these reviews. Anyways, just wanted to say thanks for all the posts, it saved me time and money!

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Mackers7891011
, US
Aug 15, 2011 4:49 am EDT

Please read my complaint: I actually found someone to do my housekeeping and it took them 30 days to reply to me that I can't leave a review for them!

Complaint Type: Consumer to Business Complaint ( BBB )
Nature of complaint: A failure to honor a contract or agreement
Problem description:
I was subscribed to Care.com I hired a wonderful housekeeper and I wanted to leave a review for this person, but when I went to add a review I found I could not leave one. Apparently, there is a time limit on leaving reviews. I contacted customer service and she stated in an email the policy: Unfortunately, the account that you hired this provider through has since been closed, so you will be unable to leave a review on the provider's Care.com account as reviews are posted on the provider's account through your account. Yet, the FAQ on the website states otherwise, as it does not give a time limit on leaving a review: Who can I review?- As a care seeker, you can review any care provider within the service to which you are subscribed. Please review only providers who have worked for you or with whom you've had contact! I would think that a company that "prides itself on finding caring and safe individuals" to watch our children, or just let into our homes, as I hired a housekeeper from them. That they would be interested in their Care.com caregivers receiving a review to let others know about the process, the person, the care, etc. There should not be a time limit on leaving a review.
Desired Settlement: Change the Store Policy
Desired Outcome:
Again, I would like to see a change in this review policy. I think there should not be a time limit on leaving a review for the caregivers of Care.com

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AJay
Orlando, US
Jun 11, 2011 4:23 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Yes it just gets better with them as they will now report your email to Spam Cop and certain companies may not ever get your resume because of this... they did mine... and its almost impossible to take off, lets hope you get lucky though try emailing them and you'll know.

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Gigi425
Freehold, US
Jun 10, 2011 7:08 pm EDT

Care.com sucks. I have been a child care provider on Care for over 3 years and I cancelled my account because I was offered a job, but then it fell through. So I made a new one and when I sent a message about paying for another background check they said they have decided to revoke my membership. Just because I asked about giving them another $8 for something they have on file already! RIDICULOUS! All of my experience is in child care and now I have to find another site to find possible jobs. Thanks for nothing Care.com.