1. How does Project Date Night Work?
We are a membership-based company; An active subscription is required to request childcare coverage via our online request form. Each new family interested in working with us MUST meet with us virtually before the first scheduled childcare takes place.
2. How can I become a member?
Our subscriptions are available to everyone after the completed requirement of the initial virtual meeting, which has to take place before the first scheduled childcare. You may schedule the virtual intro by clicking this active link. Once registered on our website – you’ll have a lifetime account that can be updated as needed.
3. I’m not a member – how do I book a sitter?
Schedule your initial virtual meeting as soon as possible. If you need emergency or last-minute coverage and there is no available time slot before you need childcare coverage – text/call Dana immediately.
4. How do I cancel my booking with Project Date Night?
All cancelations must be submitted during our office hours, by email, or by phone(preferably via text). There is no fee when canceling ahead of time, with at least 48h notice. Cancellations of the same day and the next day confirmed requests will be billed our four-hour minimum, with the hourly rate equal to the canceled request. Cancelations of last-minute requests are billed 4 hours.
5. Can I cancel my membership?
All subscription charges are final and non-refundable. Active subscriptions can be canceled or paused at any time on our website. Canceling or pausing a subscription must be done by the customer. The option can be found under your account options, under subscriptions. Please see the below screenshot for reference.
Please note!!
When resuming your subscription before the current transaction has expired, you will be billed again on the same date that the subscription was initially set up. If resuming after the current transaction expires, you will be billed immediately on that day, and all future billings will happen on that new day.
For example, if you pause your monthly subscription on the 15th, and it normally bills on the 1st of the month, and then you resume on the 20th, It will be billed again on the 1st. But, if you resume on the 3rd of the next month, It will be billed that day, and your new bill date will be every 3rd.
6. Can I interview the PDN sitter before I book?
Every babysitter at Project Date Night goes through a multi-step interview process which includes a detailed online application and a series of in-person and phone interviews as well as a reference check. Sitters who join our team must go through the entire interview process with positive results. We also train every team member on a regular basis. Therefore there is no need for families to interview the sitter, but we can schedule a virtual introduction ahead of the scheduled childcare to keep everyone comfortable.
7. Do I have to pay for a membership to book a babysitter with Project Date Night?
Yes – we are a subscription-based company and require every family to register an account with us. Subscriptions – including a one-off option for families that need sporadic coverage or are just visiting the city – can be updated as needed.
8. Can I schedule a babysitter to watch my child while I’m (working) at home?
Ideally, the parents/guardians will not be in residence at the time of service as that makes the transition for the children and the sitter less stressful. As COVID has upended our lives and more parents work from home, we understand this will not always be possible. We will do whatever will be necessary to make each scenario work for the children in our care as well as their parents/guardians who are present at the residence. As long as weather permits – our sitters can stay with little ones outdoors.
9. Can I schedule a babysitter to watch my child while I’m away on a trip?
Yes – we can arrange to stay with your child while you are on a trip. Whether it’s for domestic or international travel. We require parents who want to leave children in our care while they are traveling to provide us with the following:
– notice of a minimum of one week of international and three days of domestic travel;
– an updated list of local emergency contacts that are allowed to care for and make medical decisions regarding your child; If there is no one – we need notarized permission that will allow us to make those decisions in case of emergency when parents are unreachable;
– information on how we can reach you at your travel destination in case we can’t contact you by your cellphone alone ( for example – if we have to reach you while you are at your workplace, wedding reception or hotel, etc.);
– the exact information of your child’s schedule for the time you are away, including meal plan and $ for food shopping/activities if necessary;
– the essential school information, including access to the school’s communication system; the sitter should also be listed at school as an emergency contact for when parents are traveling;
10. My child is sick; Can I still get a babysitter?
Project Date Night strives to accept 100% of our booking requests, as we do not like saying NO to our families. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to say NO for safety reasons (yours and our babysitters). We cannot accept a booking if your child is contagious. We cannot risk our babysitters getting sick or spreading illness to other families in our network. The safety of numerous families we work with on a daily basis as well as our own safety and our families at home – is of tremendous importance to us.
To be more specific:
YES – we will accept your booking
– ear infection
– fever
– a runny nose
– allergies
– bronchitis
– strep throat – only if your child has already started antibiotics
NO – we will not accept your booking
– COVID
– stomach bug
– pink eye
– virus Coxsackie ( Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease)
– flu
– any other illness that can be easily spread
11. I like the sitter that was assigned to me – can I hire them for a position (full-time/part-time) outside of Project Date Night?
Per Project Date Night’s Terms & Conditions – soliciting or poaching provided by us babysitters is a breach of your membership contract with us and may result in severing our work relationship and in financial penalties due to financial harm to our business.
Families that would like to work with any of our sitters in a full-time/part-time scenario can inquire with us via email to find an acceptable solution for everyone.
From our Terms & Conditions.
Non-solicitation.
During the term of this Agreement, and for one (1) year following its termination or expiration, you agree:
– not to solicit or induce any of our babysitters (independent contractors) to terminate or breach contractual or other relationships with us;
– not to solicit any babysitters ( independent contractors) of whom you become aware through a referral by us ( working with us), to employ or contract with that babysitter for childcare services other than through our services.
You agree that your breach of this section will cause substantial damages to Project Date Night LLC, and the cost would be too difficult to quantify with any degree of certainty.
In the event of such a breach by you, you will pay $5,000 in liquidated damages to Project Date Night LLC as a reasonable estimate of such damages and not as a penalty or punishment.
12. Are the payments to babysitters tax deductible?
Unfortunately not. All babysitters working with PDN are independent contractors (not our full-time employees) paid directly by the families – and not PDN. This is considered cash gig work and not full-time contracted employment.
However, our online membership payments are fully tax deductible – please keep your receipts from us and email us for our tax ID info before you are ready to file your taxes.
Additionally, for those whose workplaces offer childcare credit – we may be able to provide you with the needed for your workplace information.