I thought this was free for job seekers? I want to try it before upgrading my profile, but I can't even read the messages I have received so far without being asked for my credit card?

asked by Jennifer M. on 8/16/16

33 Answers
Thumbnail of user mtr2

Steer clear from Care.com or what we prefer to call Care-aless. Com! They are only about profit for them. The site is for trollers that prey on innocent families. You'd be better off putting an ad in your local newspaper. Most local newspapers also have online readership too!

Helpful  (9)
Thumbnail of user marias129

Don't pay for anything and do yourself a huge favor and get off this scam of a site. I can't believe they're getting away with all that they do. Absolutely terrible and a travesty to those of us who genuinely have a passion for caregiving. Care. Company could really Careless about anyone but their bottom line. Disgusting and despicable!

Helpful  (8)
Thumbnail of user jennl11

No, it's not free for job seekers because you have to pay tokens (15 tokens for $15 CDN) to apply for jobs. Each job is approximately 3 tokens. I've applied to 4 jobs and I haven't received any responses.

I realized the reason why no one responds is because the person who posted the job is also required to pay $30 a month to reply to the requests. I only know this because I posted up a job for a cleaner and when I wanted to respond to people's messages, Care.com required that I pay them in order to respond to them. It was cheaper for me hire a cleaner through Craigslist.

They are double dipping, trying to make money on both ends. It's better to apply to other sites.

Helpful  (7)
Thumbnail of user adrianas13

It is not free. No reliable customer service. They are scam.

Helpful  (7)
Thumbnail of user pattiw12

Hi, after being a member for over 3 years, but not needing to use them in the last 3 because of a steady, fantastic job I got through this site, I can tell you, everything has changed and NOTHING is free anymore. I'm so frustrated which is why I'm on this site reading reviews! They have totally changed their format and requirements, you have to pay to apply for jobs to which you don't even know if you want, because the employer can only put a short explanation of what they need. And you will be constantly asked to "upgrade" your membership in order to apply to jobs, and read any replies you may get. Also they want you to pay for a 59.00 background check and a 20.00 drivers license check, so for those of us without jobs, who need a job to pay our bills and eat, we now also have to pay for everything this site offers to try to find a job. Total rip off now, I was trying not to believe that they had gotten this bad, but after a couple of weeks myself of trying to open my account again and start looking for another job, its been one thing after another that im asked to pay for. Now after reading all the negative reviews on here, I am def. Not going to pay because I have very little hope that anything would come of it anyway! Hope this helps. Patti

Helpful  (7)
Thumbnail of user stacyw28

They want you to upgrade in order to read them. It didn't used to be this way and frankly I just closed out my account.

Helpful  (5)
Thumbnail of user maryw151

I never upgraded but was contacted by someone who said they would hire me at $25.00 hour without even speaking with me. They wanted to send me a check so I could deposit it in my bank account. It was a scam, they were trying to get my money. I soon found out these people had tried the same scam on others. Don't trust Care.com.

Helpful  (5)
Thumbnail of user clairej14

Not reliable, feels like a scam. I got one job, but more by luck than anything else.

Helpful  (4)
Thumbnail of user alexm208

Jennifer, you've answered your own question. They are NOT free but pretend to be free, and this is disgusting, bordering scam. They delete all the contact info if you don't pay. I was an employer for one-time job, and couldn't contact anybody except for very few "paid" applicants - contact info was crossed out with xxxxx. When I contacted them and they responded, those "paid" applicants had no clue what the job was about. Apparently Care.com don't relay the job description in full unless the employer also pays - and I didn't. Ended up hiring on Craigs.

Helpful  (3)
Thumbnail of user barbaram86

Better off with local newspaper ads, or other websites that help find jobs. This company makes sure to get your $ and it is unlikely you will get anything in return... other than a great deal of difficulty disconnecting them from your crrdit card. Steer clear!

Helpful  (3)
Thumbnail of user teresag31

It is not worth a dime. Dont waste your money. I applied for dozens and dozens of jobs and only heard back from a few. I still truly believe that they post most jobs themselves. If you start reading them you will see the similarities in the job descriptions. Once in a while you will see one that is written differently and is real. I had paid for 6 months when they offered a deal of $48 for the 6 months. When I canceled, I still get a message once in awhile, but I do believe that they say that you have to upgrade to read or send emails.

Helpful  (3)
Thumbnail of user roxannel3

Ditto what most everyone said here. I had a 'basic' (free) membership for many years. Many changes to their policies. Now basic members can no longer communicate with other basic members. One or both of you must have a paying membership. That's all well and good EXCEPT, as a basic member I send over 30 applications, then found out that these folks received my application but I can not read any of their responses or let them know that I can not respond to them. Hence this makes me look irresponsible and unprofessional! This made ME LOOK BAD! And I was livid. I closed my account. At the very least I should never been able to initiate the application because it made me appear as though I didn't follow through with their response. NOT COOL AT ALL WITH ME!

Helpful  (2)
Thumbnail of user deet31

Don't give them your credit card. You will have nothing but double with unauthorized charged. It is a scam!

Helpful  (2)
Thumbnail of user brandonw34

Please just don't do it. I was seeking a nanny & I did get a nanny however, there are other avenues to get hired. I would even suggest aingie's list over care.com. If you're in a pinch I totally understand but, otherwise this place is scam. There is literally no customer service! Zero. Nilch. Nada. I shouldn't have to say anything past that. Any reputable business has customer service.

Helpful  (2)
Thumbnail of user scottd66

Yes, they suck. I'm sure that there are better places. Don't waste your time.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user lauraf78

It used to be free. I've been a seeker on care for 6 years and it's been free until recently when I went to upgrade and you have to pay to apply to jobs. And as most of us know, you hear back from a fraction of applications you send out, so it gets expensive

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user kathyv12

It is definitely not free and they will just keep charging your credit card over and over and over and over again. You have to actually call your credit card company and get a new card if you want to prevent that. Not worth it.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user janetw57

From my experience, it is not free. I can read job listings and apply for jobs. But, once submitted, I found out that the other party cannot read my application nor respond to my application. I get a message stating "to unlock your application, click here and subscribe." This has happened to all of my applications which is why I stated that this site is fraudulent. I have also discovered that most of the people who are advertising jobs are not Premium Members, themselves. And, since I am not a Premium Member, they cannot respond to my applications. As I stated in my review, either the job seeker or the prospective employer must be a Premium Member.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user drc7

There is nothing free about care.com. Even worse, the applicants who I have dealt with are all loonier than all get-out. I need care for myself. So, I can spot many things from experience.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user carolm114

Don't waste your money. Upgraded and never got a referral

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user rebeccas441

I had the same experience! Couldn't do anything with it until I pay them... i dont' trust online stuff like this with a credit card info anyway and ESPECIALLY when i first run across a site or company and don't know yet if they are truly secure and legit! Big Red Flag. Care.com doesn't care and only wants $$$$$$

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user aprilu1

Stay away... just closed my account. I had previously been a member since 2012 but hadn't used the service for 3 years... just recently signed back in and was trying to apply for jobs... now it's pay for this, upgrade that, what the hell is going on, it most definitely was not like this before, this has got to be the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time... I can't contact or get contacted without one of us paying, what kind of crap is this... I then decided I would just do my bio over and add my email address... nope they blocked my email address out SMH lol this is crazy so I decided to just cancel my account... I had applied to at least 12-15 jobs with no luck... I don't think so because I have over 20years experience, and before when I used it a few years ago before they started all this paying crap I got contacted so much that I actually had to turn jobs down... I'm very qualified and it's sad that care.com only care about making money now days... SMH shame on you care.com... DO BETTER!

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user valerieh31

We'll care.com USED to be free for job seekers, but now there's a cost? And am not even really sure how the cost actually works.?., it's somewhat twisted, and Purposely deceitful. OK. Don't Quote me, but am gonna take a stab at how I think care. Com works. (1) You apply for a job of your choice for free (2) If family is interested they respond in kind, to set up an interview or ask for more information... about your qualifications. Here comes the twisted borderline Deviant unethical. Part ( 3). Wow OK yeah am interested in speaking /interviewing with you directly too, soooo... you hit SEND & you think your well on your way to being a working girl right?.( 4). But oops! Unfortunately the family will NOT receive your. Excited. YES!... am interested in a interview response ( 5) Here comes this itty bitty sweet LIL note that basically says in laymans terms." Give me your money (UPGRADE)... or ya won't be talking to anyone, darn! Awww! Your gonna miss this FAB job opportunity!, now it's just a cruel joke on you. The Proverbial Dangllng Carrot. We're Nurturing Ladies of the children of the World, and free to make our own decisions at will, so if you decided to give care. Com a try. Approach with caution, but if I we're you I'd find another Carrot!

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user debd16

I would never trust this 'business' with my credit card. EVER! Go to Indeed.com, craigslist, or your local job service, i. E. unemployment office. I've gotten TONS of job offers!

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user dianez8

Like much of Care.com policy, you've encountered one of several false advertising ploys of theirs. Yes, C.com is "free", in that you can access their website w/o paying any money. However, in order to use the site in any meaningful way, such as to seek employment, you must pay their monthly fee in order to see any responses people have made to your ad, or to contact any prospective employers listed on their site. Read my review for further atrocities re this company.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user krissw

Try housekeeper.com they were free and much better to deal with.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user jenw26

Jennifer M, like everyone else said; the sight is not free. Maybe it was at one time, but not anymore. They milk you for money at every turn. My advice is even though it's easier and more convenient to look and try to find jobs on online sites, look for an actual nanny agency that runs in your area. I have started working for one. I found it on indeed.com, and I love it! For females it is Alot safer! You meet your agent, they find and work out details with the families. You are sent to real interviews with families that are screened as well. They also have your back and help negotiate prices, issues, etc.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user michelleh144

We subscribed to this site for 30 bucks for the year and they have live updates. http://www.caretaker.org/ we found a lot of help when we had a homestead years ago and I got some gigs that were temporary too. Straight up honest folks who own the site and the people posting wanted ads are from all over the world and the USA. Posting your own ad isn't that expensive either. Some offer trade for housesitting and others pay wages. It was worth it for us.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user sharonp73

I can't either, it's a rip off

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user karenr123

Care.com used to be a good company when they didn't lie to you and it was truly free. That was years ago but now they lie to everyone and say it's free up until you want to read your messages from potential employers. You need to give them your credit card number and set up a monthly plan which they continue to bill you until you cancel. Problem is, is that they have no customer service! Also, too many of the "employers" are scammers also or are just fake, made up by care.com! They fooled me once. Never again!

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user tamrak

I had 2 great nanny jobs from this site. There are scammers, unfortunately. I never had a problem but my daughter did but she ended up finding an awesome job. If it sounds too good to be true it is. No one is going to hire you for $25 an hour without interviewing you

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user cindyc92

It is free. They will send you offers for your application to be featured, or like one of the first applications for 20.00/month. I cant say its worth 20.00, never heard from anyone.

Helpful  (-1)
Thumbnail of user ramonac5

It's free. Make sure you sign with the write title (when asked what you're seeking). Families/employers are the ones who need to upgrade to view the messages... I have signed up as both upgrade and not, the difference is that as an upgrade, your profile how's up as 'pro' or something now... I have always been contacted by employers without an upgrade. And, I myself, have been able to view messages.

Helpful  (-4)

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