Need a good au pair agency

[wiltslulu]

Help!!

I followed advice and have been trying to contact people myself from gumtree but it's just not working out and I'm starting to really worry I won't have someone in time.

Can anyone give me a personal recommendation of a really good agency that will be able to help me. I need to find someone quickly and need a reliable driver and someone that doesn't have complications like not having the money for flights (is it normal for families to pay).

would like to mention that abacus now has a lovely new website - someone's taken note :-)

This year I used AuPairWorld, and our AP is a lovely person but not a great AP. I'm sure she will make a great career for herself in another context. Preferably one where there is no need for an understanding of child psychology, an ability to work as a team and to do as asked without arguing the toss ( 'why do I have to recycle this, we don't recycle this in France, why do you do that here?' and 'I'm not going to wash the plates and cutlery in hot soapy water, why do I have to do that just because you say so?' (yes, lots of tummy bugs this year with the kids ) ). So for next year I decided to go with Pebbles agency - we decided to try a male au pair, and they seemed to have a great screening process (including asking 'how would you deal with a medical emergency' and 'how would you deal with a child who is having a major tantrum'. We decided to turn down the candidate who answered 'i would shut them in the garden till they calmed down' to that !!). But until he turns up and we work with him, I won't know how good a match he is and hence how good the agency is.

talking
I have used an agency and for Sept done DIY via AP World. I have friends that only use AP World. In my exp (limited to two years!) it seems like wherever the APs come from they can vary in terms of standard, even if your recruitment process remains rigorous...

Old thread...but like talkingrabbit we have used Pebbles for the past 3.5 years, and have been very happy with the service , and with 4 of the 6 au pairs we have had. Current girl is amazing (as fab as the last one was bad).

I saw Abacus given good comments here, so tried them - very frustrating and unsuccessful experience

I had a very unsuccessful experience with Abacus; I am now trying other agencies

I can't seem to find Abacus Au Pair Agency's info anywhere. Does anyone know if Debbie is still in business?

Hi does anyone know about Sunflower Aupair agency? I've just been in touch with them, but not sure if I can trust them in terms of candidates' reliability.