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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does I Need A Sitter, LLC
work?
2. How do you screen your sitters?
3. Why is there a membership fee and why should I choose your service
over another?
4. Who are your sitters?
5. Can I get the same sitter each time?
6. Once I find a sitter I like, can I call them directly?
7. What if you're unable to find a sitter for my requested time period?
8. Who has access to my personal information?
9. What are your hours of operation?
10. Can I e-mail sitter requests?
1. How does I Need A Sitter, LLC work?
I Need A Sitter, LLC alleviates the daunting task of finding a local, trustworthy, kind, patient, experienced, and caring adult to watch over your children as carefully as you do.
Prospective clients complete a Family Profile and Client Agreement and pay the yearly membership fee. Once done, just call us and tell us when you need a sitter, for what period of time, and where. We'll handle the rest. Your credit or debit card is charged for the placement fee, the sitter's hours, and any applicable expenses once the sit is completed.
2. How do you screen your sitters?
The short answer is extensively and in more depth than any other sitting service in the country.
We understand it can be nerve racking allowing someone you don't know into your home let alone leave them with your children. That's why we not only screen them through law enforcement's fingerprinting system, which is not fail safe, but utilize the resources of an investigation firm to confirm every detail on their application, and find anything they may have left out of their application.
We also check references to determine their character, examine national databases the general public does not have access to, search both civil and criminal records anywhere they've been in the country, and examine their driver's record as in some instances they may be transporting your kids. For further details as to our selection process, please read the About Us section on our website.
The backgrounds we run all applicants through would cost $500 to $800 in the private sector, a cost no other sitting service in the country would incur. If they don't pass each phase of our screening process, you'll never meet them.
3. Why is there a membership fee and why should I choose your service over another?
Because not everyone can use our services. We're extremely selective when choosing our sitters and there's a cost associated with recruiting, interviewing, and clearing our sitters through a background screening process that's significantly more detailed than any other sitting service in the country. (Please see About Us for more details on our selection process.) If applicants can't pass our rigorous selection process, they can't enter your home.
Also keep in mind we're not a national chain or distant franchise. We're locally owned by a mom, who like you, values her children above all. And unlike a chain or franchise, you can meet her at any time.
Most of our sitters are undergraduate and graduate college students with majors in nursing, early childhood development, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech pathology. Others are caring and loving mothers and grandmothers who simply love children and enjoy the flexible hours and opportunities we offer. All of our sitters have many years of child care experience from their neighborhoods, siblings, various certifications, and/or their own children and grandchildren.
5. Can I get the same sitter each time?
We can't guarantee the same sitter each time but we'll do our best to accommodate your request. We understand kids can become attached to their sitters so if it appears you'll need a sitter on a fairly regular schedule, we'll do our best to make sure the sitter you request is available.
6. Once I find a sitter I like, can I call them directly?
No, all sitting requests must be made through the company. The sitter has a contractual obligation with I Need A Sitter (INS) which prohibits them from accepting jobs from an INS Client outside of the system. If they do, they'll no longer be permitted to sit for our company.
The Client also has a contractual obligation to not entice sitters to work outside of the INS system and if they do, the Client will be excluded from utilizing INS services in the future and pre-agree to pay a fee as specified in the Client Agreement.
7. What if you're unable to find a sitter for my requested time period?
The vast majority of sits two days prior to need are almost always filled. There are rare occasions though and should that occur, we'll contact you the day before the sit to let you know if we're having difficulties. We'll also provide you a 50% discount on your next scheduled sit, excluding same day, holiday, or special event sits.
8. Who has access to my personal information?
The owner, that's it.
9. What are your hours of operation?
We're available by phone (614-202-2812):
Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am to noon
Sunday Closed
10. Can I e-mail sitter requests?
If you're an existing client, requests can be made by e-mail for 72 to 48 hour advance requests. If you don't receive a response of any kind within 8 hours of your request, call us as servers have been known to go down and we want to make sure your request is filled. Do not e-mail but call for same day requests.