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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

ap and travel.. am i mad

21 replies

chloeb2002 · 10/02/2009 00:06

Ok have been desperately looking for an ap since last one left with three days notice.. thought we had ideal ap and then her dad lost his job and now cant pay her air fare.. she lives in uk and we are in brisbane... I have offered to pay half a one way fare so about 200 quid. i was planning on paying this into her bank account not sure if i can pay the travel agency a part fare? she has great references (but both are email from hotmail accounts... cynical i know?) have asked one for a phone number, sounds lovely great phone interview and au paired before and been to brisbane before.. so ideal except for air fare issue. She didnt ask said she would have to work for a month in the UK then be able to come if it wasnt toio late..which it would be! She has already applied for a visa before her dad lost his job, given current climate i know alot of people will struggle to get cash for a flight.... what would you do?

OP posts:

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Quattrocento · 10/02/2009 00:08

Don't go there. Really don't. Not without hard references from teachers and talking to her family and stuff.

jura · 10/02/2009 00:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

chloeb2002 · 10/02/2009 02:34

umm i know but believe me im desperate..been looking for a month now and no joy. dh has a big contract starting on 24th and my job is the key to our pr.. being a nurse i cant use noirmal childcare like creche etc because i work lates and nights.
Ive asked for the phone number of the brisbane family she was an au pair for before...
ummmm i know the sensible thing is to say tough find someone else but ahhhhhhhrrrgggghhhhh
is there any safe (er) idiot proof way... way of doing this?

OP posts:

iheartdusty · 10/02/2009 09:03

If you really want this girl to come, have you tried talking to the travel agency?

it is essential IMO that you talk to the other brisbane family in any event. That should be so easy, it should take no time at all for her to give the number to you.

I saw your previous posts about having no luck with your search. It's odd, because so many people are looking for this kind of work. My lovely former nanny is now in Sydney, and she has started and lost 2 jobs since September due to redundancies and relocation. Have you tried an agency? I know they ask a lot as fees, but it might just give you someone who is serious about finding an AP placement with an early start date.

sympathies, it is a real PITA. I have just managed to find an AP to come in late April after hunting from the start of January.

Squiffy · 10/02/2009 09:58

How old is she? If she has a credit card you can tell her to put fare on her card and you will pay it off for her using her first month's wages (after she has worked that month of course). Or her dad can use his card.

If she still wusses around then she is takign you for a ride.

Original poster

chloeb2002 · 10/02/2009 10:22

um i know... not sure about credit i guess most people would be reluctant and i dont think she will have a credit card as she has only really done nanny/ au pair stuff since she left school. She is 21
i am with almondbury but still no joy!
cant believe it is so bloody hard. most people are just asking sytraight out for air fare because they cant afford it.. yet they apply for the job!!!!! aarrgghhhhh
i do have an idea about getting the ap to go to meet my mum with her sahre of teh flight and give my mum her details and my mum will book the fliht for her? they only live 40 mins away! that way i can just send my mum our share... easy? or not?

OP posts:

Squiffy · 10/02/2009 12:34

If she is 21, I would be very surprised if she didn't have a credit card.

TBH I am very on this.

thebody · 10/02/2009 12:45

You dont know her, have no real idea of who she worked for and you are thinkling of sending her 200 quid!!!!! look, she could borrow the cash from a friend or relative in Australia or credit card, and you could pay her the money back as soon as she arrives... that way you have no risk... the other sounds well dodgy imho.. beware...

kittywise · 10/02/2009 13:01

However desperate you are, I know how desperate you can feel in these situations, I've been there. don't pay her money.

You have NO IDEA who she is.

people can sound very, very convincing if they want to.

If she really wanted to come she would fund her own way. She could get an over draft, credit etc. Everyone has a credit card

Melinda76 · 10/02/2009 13:25

I don't have a credit card and I'm 33!!

LisaD1 · 10/02/2009 13:32

Hi,

I would agree that you shouldn't give her the money and definitely speak with the previous employer.

I used to work in travel and there is no reason why you can't pay for 1/2 the airfare directly with the agent. Although it would probably be safer for you to pay for it all as then you and only you can cancel or amend the booking.

Hope it all works out for you.

blueshoes · 10/02/2009 13:54

Would echo others, don't pay her for her air fare. It is a common scam. She can borrow from her relatives if she is truly keen. References from email hotmail accounts are not reliable. The brisbane family could be a friend or relative. Why does she want to come to Brisbane?

nannynick · 10/02/2009 18:55

Is it not part of the visa conditions that the person pays for flights and has a certain amount of money they can access? I don't know Australian immigration rules, but I would have thought that there would be rules with regard to money they have to support themselves.

Don't pay the air fare - once they have arrived and done some work for you, then you could contribute towards it via their pay packet.

Original poster

chloeb2002 · 10/02/2009 20:27

yeah they used to have to show they had 2000 pounds includinga ir fare but no they have relaxed this as the economy needs a boost... i have spoken to agency they have placed her twice before. last one for 2 years with the same family. still waiting to hear from bris family... i have asked my mum to call her and she is going to go to her house to sort a ticket out if she is happy.. meet parents... see where she lives etc...i know it seems hard to believe but there is just no one who has some experience who wants to come to brisbane for 12 months... and can pay their air fare. i keep getting americans applying and teir first question is will you pay the air fare. ive disscussed this with almondbury and they just say that the current economic drama.. lots of ap and nannies losing their jobs due to redundancy of employers. we are safely employed, im a nurse and dh is a business consultant in a company that in understaffed by over 1000 employees at last count! so will ride out any storm to hit aus quite nicely. we live on a gorgeous 6 1/2 acre property with all aussie wildlife around yet an hour to brisbane cbd and 5 mins to major shoppin centre and 10 mins to snady white beaches... my kids are polite and well behaved! AARRGGHHHHH i have no where else to turn...

OP posts:

nannynick · 10/02/2009 20:38

So is the air fare £800, of which she already has £600 - and for some reason can't borrow the other £200?
Having your mum check her out sounds a good idea. The lack of references is concerning though - given that one job you say she had for 2 years... is there no reference for that job... or do you have a written on and not a verbal?
Will your mum be able to check that she does actually have the correct visa?

nannynick · 10/02/2009 20:50

By posting your question on here, I feel you must have some doubt yourself about the situation. If you had no doubts, then you would have just sent the money.
What is the worse case scenario? - You send the money and never see it again.
What is the best case scenario? - You send the money and they come and work for you and are great.

misslisa · 11/02/2009 18:55

You could try Brisbane Nannies, Night Nannies (so brilliant they are!) or findababysitter.com.au? I've found work with both of those. Perhaps you could use a temp until you can find an au pair? Or try the local paper, I had one of the mums I worked for put an ad in one of them when she had to let me go and I got three families through that. I know Brisbane doesn't have a lot of nannies floating around but good luck!

lindseyfox · 12/02/2009 15:18

why dont you ask her to transfer her half of the fare for the flight to you then you book the flight know its a little more work for you but least you know you are not putting your money into some dodgy account that you will never ever see again!!

Lucy87 · 12/02/2009 17:23

A friend of mine has opened a new Brisbane nanny agency, her email adress is [email protected].

She is really excellent and I'm sure she would be able to find you someone quickly!

Original poster

chloeb2002 · 12/02/2009 20:28

thanks lucy... does the agency have a name? the main problem that i have is we have paid for 12 months with almondbury and that wasnt cheap!

OP posts:

Lucy87 · 12/02/2009 20:41

It's called Mini Majer and it's a new extension to her longstanding/ successful recruitment company - Majer recruitment.

www.majer.com.au or [email protected] - as I said.

Suzie has a child of her own, and also does in home visits with potential clients/families so therefore can get a good feel for your needs/ who would work for you.

I'm not sure what her fees are as this is a very new venture for her, but she is a nice person, and a good recruiter.

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