Is anyone else using au pair world at the moment?

[sazerashez]

I've been using it for the last two years. The first year I was swamped and had something ridiculous like 500 applicants. This year: 10 applicants in a month. I've had a snoop on similar host family profiles and it's the same for them. I live in London zone 2, am offering £100 pw, plus travel and gym membership but I can't find anyone and I need someone to start in 3 weeks!

Is au pair world the wrong place to look these days or are there fewer au pairs out there? I'm wondering whether to just use an agency but it's fiercely expensive!

I paid a years membership :(

Be warned, they can remove you with no notice at all.

That's really bad . I hope they at least refund your money.

I've only paid one month. I interviewed three so am saying no to two Spanish aupairs tonight, one is a nuclear physicist and the other has a degree in Public Administration if you want to PM me I could give them your email address if you were interested?

Thank you, I'll PM you. Really appreciated.

oh - that's really odd. I suppose its good that they do check some people, but I'm not sure I'd be happy sending a copy of my ID to them. Maybe you can offer to Skype them instead!

Yes you do need to keep logging and and also replying to everyone, even if its a no.

I've also never had anyone who hasn't been happy (or even been expecting) a Skype interview. Surely they realise that you would need to have a face to face conversation with a potential host parent. All my dealings with potential applicants have gone through a similar pattern. So initial questions to check expectations, visa status, driving experience via their messaging service. Then I send out a more detailed info sheet to make sure that they're happy with what I offer and then a Skype interview.
If I can't decide, I then re-interview on Skype.

I'm afraid I still don't know anyone in RL that has had a successful placement from an agency.

Hope you find someone soon

I could understand it if I was a random free member. But as someone who paid for premium membership through a valid PayPal account mmmmmm...

Also, I'm the only person in the UK with my name (no joke, I'm an original - my married surname is very rare!), I am easily identifiable on FB, the electoral register and as a company director. A simple Google would identify me and my address in seconds!

I've messaged them twice to ask what triggered their suspension (without notice) and the request for my passport etc, etc. I've had no reply.

So I've raised a dispute with PayPal. I'm not overly bothered about the money (although it is a pain obviously) it's the principle that they couldn't tell me why they needed all those extra details from me?

They have not had the good manners to tell me why my profile was singled out. Can I ask if this has happened to anyone else?

Got a refund and the au pair I really liked found me on FB

Just to add, three of them found me on FB. Be very wary. I had made very specific requests about our needs (20 hours a week Mon - Fri) and organised interview times on Skype after several emails chats in their native language.

I organised three informal interviews, the first was a no show. Fair enough.

The second was due to Skype at 5pm, we Whatsapped at 4pm to confirm Skype address and time. She did ask me how long it took to get from Tiger Tiger to my house? Pinged her just to make sure we'd connected.

At 5pm she was a no show, Whatsapped and asked if we were still on. She said yes, just turning my computer on now. Left it until 5:30, not showing online so gave up. Got a message at 5:37pm asking why I wasn't on line? If you can't Skype on time I'm not going to let you be responsible for my children.

If I have a job interview I usually get there 30 mins early, wander around a bit and sign in 15 mins before.

Giving up on au pairs, I thought I was offering a good deal but the cultural differences just don't suit me. Not their fault, mine too for sure.

The third found a host family earlier in the day, I bet she's great! Damn.

Lesson learned. I'll be employing a live out employee for the same money (£200 a week for 15 hours instead of 20). I'm an employer anyway so NI, payroll and tax are not an issue. But I will have rights and so will they.

Be careful, there are some very flakey girls out there just looking for B&B, party time and a B1 language course.

We found our AuPair on ap world.

She seems fantastic.

She approached us; very reliable with Skype interview. First with me then with kids. Spent all summer skyping kids and sending whatsapp messages.

Arrived a few weeks ago.

I honestly think she's marvellous. She's far exceeded our expectations. She was registered with agencies and so were we. Agencies were no good.

I think we've been extremely lucky and definitely am not taking her for granted

cpthen, sounds like you got the au pair I wanted. They all seem to want to live in Zone 1 and live in a granny flat. I thought host family meant a separate double bedroom, an en suite, food and travel. Apparently I'm wrong and £140 a week (that includes unlimited £45 Oyster card weekly) is not enough for 20 hours a week. Plus the wifi, the language course, unlimited mobile, gym membership and a separate lounge for entertaining.

They want Mayfair or Kensington but don't speak even basic English. I honestly thought it was a two way thing, a bit of help in receipt of learning English. I don't live in a bad scary area, just a normal northern zone 4suburb. Safe to walk from the tube at night (well as safe as any where in London). I walk home from the tube alone at 11pm, but usually flag a cab (lazy).

I've been very wrong in my expectations. I can hire a CCB checked childminder for the same money. I wanted a cultural experience that worked both ways. I guess I live in unicorn and glitter land I'm totally disillusioned with these girls expectations and now mine. I honestly thought I was offering a good deal.

Can I walk back from Tiger Tiger was the classic. Well yes you can, but it will take you three hours and it's not safe. As a host parent I'd not recommend it. Then radio silence.

I tried to explain that people in Zone 1 hire maids and English speaking nannies. Not just cleaners and au pairs, but they just don't seem to get it. Maybe I'm too honest? Or maybe I'm rude

Wow. That sounds awful - and no you don't sound rude.

We live in a small town 50 mins on train from Waterloo.

We pay £85 pw. 3 weeks paid leave.

Every weekend off. She doesn't drink (phew).

Bought her a young persons rail card

Contributed £50 for flights.

Doesn't want/need language school so we've said we'll give £100 every 3 months completed.

No real evening babysitting

Just school runs. Additional babysitting to be paid £5 ph.

No real domestic stuff - just tidy kitchen after breakfast.

Shared bathroom with children.

She seems pretty happy with the arrangement. Been to meet other Aupairs. Joined a local yoga and dance class.

Perhaps the fact we don't live in London has cut out much of the party girl crap?

She's only planning to stay 9 months hence some of the agreements

Yes, we have used it twice this year. Once was a girl that decided she would prefer to be in London (we are half an hour outside). Annoying waste of time but fair enough. The second one we have just sacked. I'm just about to start a thread on it. She led us a merry dance. Lazy, uncooperative, lied blatantly and eventually we caught her stealing from us. It's been a nightmare. So please please be careful. Next time I will use an agency that checks them.

love - you can do all the checks that an agency does yourself.
They (and we) ask for a reference, a police check, medical form, driving licence - they can email everything to you. I have had another friend who turned to an agency when her last au pair left and she's been hired as a competent driver......but they're on driving lesson number 10 and having to get taxis with the children as her driving is so poor.

Our new au pair has arrived and is fitting in very well already. I've found au pair world to be great.

Yes I echo what karoleann says. Ours had joined an agency. All checks and everything had been done despite not being matched through the agency. I have copies of everything.

have started a new thread,....

I first signed up to Au Pair World about a year ago and was inundated with applications... Literally hundreds. I ran the exact same ad this year and think I got about 10, most of which were from Spanish ladies with limited English skills (although I had requested "must speak English well as we only speak basic French and Cantonese"). I thought it was quite amusing when I asked one what she expected to be paid which she mistakenly read as "what, you expect to be paid?" and went on a long rant about slavery! :) :)

We live in a semi-rural area (not far from London but enough to put people off). Anyway, we had one stand out application from an Austrian girl who's evidently more organised than I am and has been arranging everything since day dot.... I love her already! (She arrives on Friday)

Hi Loveisallyouneedxx - we have just had a similar experience. Au pair arrived in late July and within 3 weeks had stolen most of my jewellery and some cash. Was arrested and confessed to police but missed her court date so who knows what will happen. Even more annoyingly our insurance company has just told me that we are not covered for theft by a member of the household. Did you have any luck claiming on the insurance? Would love to know if so. Thank you!