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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to avoid paying agency fees for nanny we are interviewing on Sat

33 replies

PDR · 24/06/2010 20:12

Ok, I have registered with a London agency for a maternity nurse but I have not signed anything yet...

All they have done is email me a few CVs and arrange an interview with 1 nanny.

I have just found the same nanny listed on Nannyjob and I want to cancel our interview through the agency and arrange on privately to avoid paying the £95 + VAT/week agency fees they are going to charge if we employ her through them.

AIBU to call the agency in the morning to cancel the interview and tell them we have found somebody locally, then call the nanny myself and arrange to meet?

OP posts:
Fruitysunshine · 24/06/2010 21:25

If they know that you end up hiring her they may try to claim they introduced her to you and pursue you for the fees.

I am surprised they have already sent you cv's without you having signed anything..

stainesmassif · 24/06/2010 21:37

tbh agencies weren't born yesterday, and you're not likely to be the first person to think of doing this. look for nannies elsewhere if you don't want to pay agency fees.

Squitten · 24/06/2010 21:51

The agency will notice when this nanny drops off their books and they will want to know who hired her so you're unlikely to get away with it

seeyoukay · 25/06/2010 00:47

Doesn't matter. Cancel the interview. They can't touch you if you try to hire her.

a) you haven't signed anything
b) if you contact this nanny then you haven't been introduced by them.

They will winge and moan but they can't do anything legally.

RatherBe · 25/06/2010 00:59

It's your conscience and your call - but have you considered that the nanny will know that you have tried to avoid the agency fees and that may affect her view of you?

abbierhodes · 25/06/2010 01:23

"look for nannies elsewhere if you don't want to pay agency fees."

But the OP has looked elsewhere! That's how she found the nanny on Nannyjob!

Go for it OP!

EmsieRo · 25/06/2010 02:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skihorse · 25/06/2010 07:40

Wow! So you're going to employ a full-time nanny to guard your most precious posessions - you're going to use a woman you feel confident doing so because she comes "recommended" and "verified" via an agency but you're going to quibble over what? 700 quid?

Amazing.

AngelsOnHigh · 25/06/2010 07:46

I doubt if the nanny will agree with you. What happens to her once you don't need a nanny anymore. She will be blacklisted by all the agencies.

I doubt if she will jeopodise her professional status just to save you a few dollars.

nocluemum · 25/06/2010 07:56

Also, she may not want to work for an employer who is happy to be so deliberately underhand. She may think what else are you capable of once she starts working for you

skihorse · 25/06/2010 07:57

You might also wish to consider that what you "save" on agency fees you'll likely need to pay in legal fees to draw up a contract... or were you thinking cash-in-hand avoid-the-taxman type thing?

Cretaceous · 25/06/2010 08:12

Agree with AngelsOnHigh. Also, you might not like her when you meet her - or she may not like you . Will you then go back to the agency, find someone else through them, then search on the other website???

addictedishavingagirl · 25/06/2010 08:13

what if you dont get on with this nanny and decide not to hire her? you then have to go back to the agency and say actually i havent found anyone else. it seems alot of hastle and potentially a legal mine fieeld.
although you havent signed anything, you will be on their books as will the nanny and that may be proof enough that they introduced her to you.

Original poster
PDR · 25/06/2010 08:15

Thanks for all the replies.

The nanny has her own contract if I go with the agency or not.

I have to check her references/credentials if I go with the agency or not.

Skihorse This is not a sole care role - I will be at home all the time with the nanny and the children. Maternity Nannies are self-employed so I would just give her a cheque/cash at the end of each week.

I have decided I am going to interview this nanny tomorrow and if I feel she is the best candidate then I will hire her through the agency as it's too late to cancel now and I wouldn't want to put her in a awkward position. But I will find the other candidates myself as I really would prefer someone local.

OP posts:
Thing1Thing2 · 25/06/2010 08:16

skihorse - maternity nurses (unlike Nannies) are self employed.

A contract can just be an email stating start date, end date and notice period and brief description of responsibilities.

Then pay by cheque and everything is above board.

OP - in my experience maternity nurses probably have the same view as agencies as you do and most of their work comes from word of mouth then I doubt she will care how you do it.

Original poster
PDR · 25/06/2010 08:18

One point in my defence - it's not as if I have just got her contact details from the agency and tried to go behind their backs! I have seen her advert/details on a childcare site!!!!!

OP posts:
GiddyPickle · 25/06/2010 08:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mistletoekisses · 25/06/2010 09:06

YABVU. And cheap.

People like you are what makes people think they should adhere to every rule. The agency most likely should have been in receipt of something signed from you before sending you any candidates. But whoever sent these through to you is either (a) incredibly naive and/ or (b) believing in the good honest nature of people.

This is why so many places wont lift a finger before doing anything before they are in receipt of every last bit of paperwork they need.

And you may want to visit the agencies t's and c's on their website (if applicable). Any agency worth their salt will have a clause somewhere saying that by receiving cv's/ registering with them, you are in effect tied into an agreement of sorts.

If you do this, I really hope they pursue you. And you have to pay. What a total and utter cheapskate.

mamatomany · 25/06/2010 09:12

But I will find the other candidates myself as I really would prefer someone local.

Yeah good luck with that I've been looking for two years for somebody I feel is up to the job and can drive, not much to ask is it ?
If I found her/him paying £95 would be the least of my worries.

Original poster
PDR · 25/06/2010 09:30

£95 + VAT every week.

mistletoekisses I refer to my post at 8.15am saying that I am going to go ahead with the interview tomorrow and if I want to take the nanny on, I will do so through the agency so I am not being a cheapskate as you put it!

mamatomany I've already found quite a few ppl locally that I would at least like to interview (though not maternity nurses).

OP posts:
Mingg · 25/06/2010 09:40

Just to say that contract does not have to be written it can also be verbal. It is good you decided to interview and possibly employ through the agency as they most likely would have sued you had you cancelled and then employed this nanny/maternity nurse anyway.

Good luck & I hope you find someone suitable soon.

Original poster
PDR · 25/06/2010 09:46

Shame I didn't look on Nannyjob earlier!

OP posts:
MrsC2010 · 25/06/2010 10:56

I don't get what the issue is? The lady has advertised independently as well? If you saw a house advertised through an estate agent and then saw it (by saw it I mean in a paper or whathaveyou) advertised privately and the latter meant no fees (hypothetical) you would arrange to see it via the private route wouldn't you?

GiddyPickle · 25/06/2010 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fedupwithdeployment · 25/06/2010 12:28

You may well (depending on the wording of the contract) be deemed to have accepted the agencies terms of business by the fact that they have sent and you have accepted CVs.

ie they could sue, despite the fact you haven't signed anything.

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