GreatAuPair - any good?

[Mendi]

I'm on APWorld but finding it difficult to find an AP even to Skype interview. Exchanged several messages with 3, who suddenly stopped responding (fine if they found another family but would be nice to get a "thanks but no thanks"!). Then set up a Skype interview with one who had contacted me, and she never showed for it. Rearranged and she didn't show for that either.

I need an AP to start at end of Aug so am slightly panicking as I thought I would be relatively easy to find one. I need an over-25 as she needs to drive, so that limits the number of candidates but I wasn't expecting so few!

So, should I sigh up for GreatAuPair as well? There seem to be different faces on there...

Hi I just found an aupair to start immediately from great aupair for my current nanny family. we went with that site they had more 25 and over applicants. As we had the same criteria as you. It is very hit and miss though and just lucky that this girl was already in the uk.

Check with your insurers though as originally we wanted over 25 for driving but turned out that the car insurance cost was no extra aslong as they were 21 or over so worth checking as it widens the pool of applicants.

Thanks Sunshine, I've signed up. Hoping I find someone soon!

I am using smart aupairs and they are not good so far. They spent ages on an interview asking us about what sort of candidate we need. And then completely ignored it. Only one of the seven candidates mmatched my requirement, and she had already found a family. Waste of time.
I have had aupairs before, but don't have the time for the Aupair world route as I'm too busy at work.

Choisya someone recently recommended Childcare International to me as a good agency. I don't have the £500 for their fee but would give them a go if I did.

I've spent 2 weeks doing all evenings on AP World and latterly also GreatAuPair. I work full time too and it's exhausting! Have got 2 candidates now so hoping one of them will be 'the one'.