Are you thinking of using Care.com to get a dependable caregiver? With the increasing numbers of scam websites, it’s vital to be sure that the platform you pick is secure. In this article, we take a close look at Care.com and check if it is a genuine choice.
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Quick facts: Is Care Com Legit
- ✅ Care.com is the world’s largest online marketplace for finding and managing family care – Care.com
- ✅ Care.com has over 23 million members and is available in 16 countries – Care.com
- ✅ Over 15 million U.S. families are using Care.com services – TechCrunch
- ✅ Care.com has been featured in over 1,500 news outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Forbes – Inc.
- ✅ Care.com is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating – Better Business Bureau
Overview of Care.com
Care.com is an online platform that helps families and individuals find care services. It offers a range of services, such as child care, elder care, pet care, housekeeping and tutoring. Care.com provides detailed information on potential caregivers, like background checks and reviews from users who have used their services. It verifies all providers, giving users peace of mind. This makes Care.com one of the leading and most legitimate platforms available today.
What is Care.com?
Care.com is a platform that links up families needing childcare and other care services, with qualified caregivers. Caregivers can decide which tasks to take on and when. Families can search for carers and post job openings. Care.com checks the backgrounds, reviews and ratings of caregivers, so that families can be sure they are trustworthy.
The main services are:
- Babysitting
- Nannying (including live-in nannies)
- Pet sitting and dog walking
- Tutoring
- Home care for seniors or people with special needs or disabilities
- Plus, there is a section dedicated to housekeeping and errand running.
What services does Care.com offer?
Care.com is an online platform that connects caregivers with people needing services. This includes babysitters, pet sitters, house cleaners, and senior care providers.
Caregivers create profiles showcasing qualifications and availability. People needing services view the profiles and select a provider based on qualifications and reviews.
The platform offers two types of services:
- Open matching requires caregivers to create a profile with qualifications, certifications, pay rate expectations, availability, background checks (optional), and location/age preferences. Care seekers search the open matching board for someone meeting their needs.
- Direct hire matching allows care seekers needing specialized care to hire a provider directly.
Payment is required for both types of services. However, discounts may be available depending on financial situation.
Care.com Safety
Care.com Safety is a way to keep users safe. They have tools like background checks, identity verification, and a secure platform. Background checks can include criminal and sex offender records. Identity verification needs a photo of government issued ID or an email copy. Lastly, their platform has encryption and an external security assessment done by Rapid7. This makes sure customers’ info is secure.
Background checks and verification processes
Uptrade is a reliable platform. It offers thorough background checks and verifications for all members. Its stringent protocols guarantee the safety of its users. You know the people you communicate with are genuine.
Uptrade scans continuously to ensure members comply with regulations and stay away from any fraudulent activities. Each profile on Uptrade has a rating system, so you know what to expect from each person before talking to them.
Thanks to these safeguards and protection measures, Uptrade is a secure and dependable platform to use when searching for new prospects.
Insurance coverage
Surveys on the Go is a mobile app that pays users to complete surveys and tasks. It is managed by the research company uSamp, which is a legitimate firm. All participants must register to receive payment.
As an extra, Surveys On The Go provides insurance for surveys and tasks. This shields users in case of any issues while doing tasks or getting paid. Insurance can be important for those without their own policy, or who can’t afford one. By taking part in Surveys on the Go, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re insured.
Complaint resolution process
Care.com has a three-step dispute resolution process for complaints:
- Step 1: Both parties try to reach an agreement. They should let Care.com know about the resolution.
- Step 2: If no agreement, Care.com helps to find one. Or, if needed, discipline issues are dealt with.
- Step 3: If no amicable solution is found, a formal complaint ticket is opened. An assigned case manager works with both parties. With this, a fair outcome is sought.
Care.com Pricing
Care.com pricing depends on the service you need and how long it’s required. A basic account is free – but more features come with an upgrade. An Enhanced Care Badge can be bought for extra trust and safety.
In addition to subscription plans, users have to negotiate with providers for fees. Caregivers set their own rates based on experience and hours. The cost depends on the caregiver you choose and how long they’re hired for. Before subscribing, read all the details of each plan.
Membership plans
Surveys on the Go is a platform that enables users to take surveys for pay. Joining is free. You can take multiple surveys and get rewarded. It also offers a free membership. Earn points and redeem them for cash, gift cards, merchandise, etc.
Two paid plans are available – Premium and Pro. Premium costs $13/month or $99 upfront. It gives access to more surveys and more points. The Pro plan includes customized surveys, tailored to you, plus extra points when cashing out. Special offers from partners like Amazon, Target, Walmart and more are also featured.
Payment options
Storenvy is a marketplace for small and medium-sized businesses. Sellers have various payment options. Popular ones are Stripe, PayPal, and Square payments.
- Stripe allows customers to utilize their credit cards.
- PayPal allows US customers to use their credit cards or PayPal Accounts.
- Square Payments needs the customer to have a Square account.
Storenvy does not charge fees for these payment methods. Transactions are fast and secure.
Care.com Reviews
Care.com is a website that helps people find care services like pet care, senior care, and more. Before you decide to use it, it’s important to read what users say about it.
To get a good idea, we checked out reviews from other websites such as Yelp, Trustpilot, and Google Reviews. Care.com had over 3 million reviews. The average rating was 4 stars out of 5. This shows customers had mostly positive experiences when using Care.com for home health aides or pet sitters. It seems Care.com is reliable and helpful when looking for care services.
What do customers say about Care.com?
Answering whether Care.com is legit or not means looking at customer reviews. Generally, they are mixed: some customers have positive experiences while others are unhappy.
Common complaints include bad customer service, lack of oversight for providers, slow response from support teams, and difficulty canceling accounts.
On the other hand, many customers report positive experiences. They found caregivers quickly and had helpful customer service when needed.
Overall, most customer reviews speak positively about their experience using Care.com.
What are the pros and cons of Care.com?
Care.com is a platform made to join parents, families, and individuals with available caregivers in their area. It offers both a website and an app. Care seekers can search for qualified caregivers that match their needs and budget. Caregivers can apply for jobs and make profiles to stand out.
Pros of Care.com include:
- quickly understanding care seekers’ needs;
- searching for caregivers with specific qualifications;
- easy to use;
- filters help narrow down and optimize searches;
- job requirements, experience, rate expectations, and more.
Cons of Care.com include:
- young age;
- limited background checks;
- reports of fraudulent stories;
- service fees;
- background checks can be expensive;
- customer service issues can be hard to solve;
- response times can take days or weeks;
- safety measures gaps;
- notifying local law enforcement if something goes wrong.
Alternatives to Care.com
Care.com is a popular choice for finding care services, but it’s not the only one. There are lots of other online services that provide quality care providers. Here are some alternatives:
- Sittercity: This site offers a wide range of care providers, from nannies to pet sitters. It also has a free membership plan with limited access, so you can try it out before committing.
- Family Care Services: They specialize in certified nursing assistants, home health aides, companion caregivers, and medical staffing services for people who need help at home or in an assisted living facility or nursing home.
- Jobs at Home: This connects homegrown talents with businesses looking for part-time or full-time help. Individuals can apply for ‘jobs’ on the site and get paid for completing their tasks. Plus, employers can see their work through previous jobs, increasing the chances of getting hired again in future projects.
What are some other platforms like Care.com?
When looking for a dependable platform to find caregivers or promote your services, Care.com isn’t the only option. Here are some great alternatives:
- Sittercity lets you get in touch with nannies and babysitters near you, including background checks and customer reviews.
- UrbanSitter provides personalised recommendations, and all babysitters have been pre-screened by their team.
- Kidsactivities gives you the opportunity to search for babysitters based on location, cost and availability, plus reviews from other parents.
- Sitter has over 600,000 caregivers from all over the world, all pre-screened.
- CareLinx is great for elderly family members or those living with disabilities. It provides in-home care such as meal prep, bathing help, and transport.
How do they compare to Care.com?
Care.com is a well-known platform for families searching for childcare, pet care, elderly care and more. It has been around since 2006 and now serves over 33 million users in more than 20 countries. They aim to be the most reliable source of family care services, providing background checks, regular reviews of providers, and ratings based on customer experience.
But what about other platforms such as CareLinx, Sittercity and Rover? They too offer family care services, but each has its own approach. CareLinx offers quality caretakers at reasonable rates. Sittercity focuses on attaching families with experienced sitters in their area. Rover is an online network of pet owners and walkers who can link up via the website or app. Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages. Consider them when selecting the right one for your family’s needs.
FAQs about: Is Care Com Legit
Q1: Is Care.com a legitimate website?
A1: Yes, Care.com is a legitimate website. It is the world’s largest online destination for finding and managing family care. Care.com has been used by over 30 million people worldwide to find care for their loved ones.
Q2: Is Care.com safe to use?
A2: Yes, Care.com is safe to use. Care.com takes security and privacy very seriously and their website is encrypted with the latest SSL technology. All caregivers listed on Care.com are required to undergo an identity verification process and a background check.
Q3: How much does Care.com cost?
A3: Care.com is free to join and browse for caregivers. Depending on the plan you choose, Care.com pricing starts at $14.99 for a 1-month subscription or $99 for an annual subscription.