why on earth are nanny agencies so shady about their fees?

[headfairy]

Just about every website I've looked at doesn't even mention fees, when I call them up they're very reluctant to talk about fees. I can't understand, they're a business, they're offering a service. Of course I expect them to charge for it, I just want to know how much!

Makes you wonder. Even a professional agency which lists jobs as Gross per week I deal with does not list their fees. Must ask them why they don't list fees.

Generally agencies either charge a set fee, a fee based on number of days per week the nanny will work, or a multiplier of the nannies monthly wage. So no reason as far as I can see why they wouldn't put that on a website.

because they are SO expensive........

They dont want to give you a heart attack:)

Usually if the price is omitted from something it's because they daren't tell you.

Because it will make you run away. (which is what you should do if a couple grand is not pocket change to you)

Agree with all of the above.
I know mine charges equivalent of 1 month salary and that's for a full time long term.

On the other hand, if placement doesn't work out, they find you a replacement without having to pay the fee again. Only for a few months tho, not sure how many.

I think that they are so shady because most of them are rather pricey... that's why we are transparent with our fees on our website! I think that parents appreciate it!!

I've heard of someone being charged up to 8x the weekly wage although most of the time it is 3x to 4x

Oh and one agency I spoke with yesterday wanted to charge me £45 up front for just 'searching for me' - i.e. even if they found me no one, or I recruited with someone else, they would charge me £45 . PLUS if they did find me someone it would be an extra 6 weeks salary plus VAT. I said no thanks and they got quite shirty and said something like "Oh, if finding the right person for your children is not worth the money to you...". Whatever, goodbye.

Not completely transparent....if you're the same as the first part your username I see 'from £x' which makes me think you'd probably charge me more.

I also spotted some very bad wording to do with the gross salary, although I applaud you for encouraging it and for mentioning the existence of employer's NI. However negotiating a gross salary with a nanny doesn't include the employer's NI. That is on top of the nanny's gross (net plus tax plus their NI) salary. One doesn't need to discuss employer's NI with a nanny as it's nothing to do with them and agreeing a gross figure which has the employer's NI calculation included is going to lead to a lot of confusion and probably a miffed nanny because they'll be expecting the net of that figure.

SnapFrakkle - I'm wondering who you were responding to there... I suspect NannyTree, rather than LittleOne.

Sorry, yes, little ones also being an agency!