Nanny agency fees - is 4 x week the norm?

[princessx]

Just wondering what is the norm to pay an agency in fees? I've been quoted a month's salary for the nanny as fees. There's no way I could afford that as I will basically be paying the nanny my whole monthly wage.

Just wondering if that's what most agencies would charge?

It varies. Some do fixed rate as it is as hard to place a part-time nanny as a full time nanny.
£1000-3000 I would expect would be a range, some may charge less and some central London ones may be higher.
Many have business terms on their website, others call and ask.
Some will be VAT registered and fees may be ex-VAT so VAT adds another 20%.

Have you tried self recruiting via ads on nannyjob.co.uk childcare.co.uk gumtree.com?
See other threads on here about doing recruitment yourself.

Yes that is a typical cost for an agency. In my experience they do very little and provide a false sense of security for checking candidates and adequately matching candidates to families. In my opinion the money is better saved and the process done yourself. If you look at their agency t and c they rarely take any responsibility and have too many get out clauses. I may have a jaded opinion of these agencies but I have successfully sued one for poor service provision!

yes that's about standard. The only reason to use the agencies is that they may tend to get better candidates in some areas - amongst the nannies, there's a certain perceived value / indication that the positions are better if they go through an agency. The agencies then do an amazing job on the nannies telling them not to use the direct websites (you never know whose house you're turning up at / those people have no idea of how to pay / they'll diddle you on the tax) that it becomes a truth to some extent.
They also give the parents a similar story - don't use the websites, the candidates on there have all been rejected by my agency for one reason or another / they're not legal / their references will be fake etc etc.

Have never had good service from an agency, but they can be a necessary evil, and you have to suck up to them like mad so they send you the best candidates and tell them how lovely you are (we hired through childcare.co.uk... ;-) Our nanny won't use agencies because she is sick of being messed around by them sending her to every single job vacancy they have regardless of whether they meet her requirements in a position. Which actually reflects the truth of the candidates one agency sent me - people who wanted to bring children / dogs to work and could only work 4 days a week, none of which was suitable for the role. Total waste of time all round)