Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Where is my Au Pair?

42 replies

manicmama · 02/03/2009 11:57

I have a new Au Pair who started last week. Everything seemed to be going fine. She had arranged to go away for the weekend to see a friend and said she would be back Sun night or Mon morning. So far, so good ...

However, it is now Monday lunch and she has still not appeared and I haven't heard from her. She was supposed to be working this morning so it is all very odd. I have left two messages on her phone. I also checked her Facebook (which is a bit off but I was a bit worried about her) to which she was posting photos at 11.15pm last night.

The weird thing is she has left a few of her things in her room. Not much but a few clothes, a picture/book etc

Any ideas??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

manicmama · 02/03/2009 15:57

No agency - I used Au Pair World.

I checked her references myself and interviewed her over the phone. I also sent a detailed breakdown of what the job involved and she had to answer a detailed questionnaire.

It obviously wasn't meant to be.

OP posts:

thebody · 02/03/2009 16:44

oh poor you, she needs a good spanking.better luck next time, could you cut the buttons off her remaining clothes!!!

Weegle · 02/03/2009 17:02

oh what a nightmare for you

I think you need to somehow station someone permanently at the house in the times she knows you won't be there as I would bet she'll come back. That way if nothing else they can intercept retrieval of the key. Can a friend or two help you out?

If it's any consolation they really aren't all like this. We've had two good ones from AP World. Of course there's a lottery element (we also had one bad one), so I can understand if you're completely put off.

I can't get over the audacity of it - hardly a responsible enough individual to be an AP. And she's only been here days...

Twims · 02/03/2009 17:09

With regards to her coming when you're out can you not put the key chain lock on the frontdoor and leave through the back door and lock that or if she has the kitchen door key, bold that, or lock it from the inside and leave the keys in it and go out the front?

Twims · 02/03/2009 17:10

bolt

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 02/03/2009 18:15

did you get your key back?

Original poster

manicmama · 02/03/2009 18:59

I haven't got my key back yet - I am waiting for her to come tomorrow (assuming she turns up!). Unfortunately, I live in a terraced house and there is only access through the front door, so I just have to hope I am here when she comes.

OP posts:

Simply · 02/03/2009 20:53

Sorry to hear this. I don't want to worry you unnecessarily but she could always get a new key cut (depending on the type of lock, I guess) and give you back the old key, keeping the new one. For that reason I think if I were you I'd sit her down and talk it over as amicably as possible so that she (hopefully) has no reason to hold a grudge. Good luck.

JenniPenni · 03/03/2009 12:08

I'd change the locks personally, take no chances.

AtheneNoctua · 03/03/2009 22:14

She is cowardly and odd and a bunch of other not so flattering qualities come to mind as well. Trustworthy is not on my list. Change your locks. It's a pain, but better safe than sorry.

hav3plus3 · 04/03/2009 14:18

So what happened today? Did you give her a piece of your mind?

Original poster

manicmama · 07/03/2009 09:31

Well Inga didn't turn up on Tuesday and sent me a weird text about how she was still ill and feeling hot wandering around in a t-shirt

Then she said she would come Wednesday - still no show.

Finally she said she would come Thursday at 12pm. She finally turned up at 4pm and I now have my key back .

She took her stuff and I explained that I needed someone reliable. She didn't really talk or give me an explanation, just mumbled something about feeling "a bit bad" about what happened!

Her Facebook status now reads: Inga has done everything to get work so now i just have to wait

I think she just wants to stay with her friend and work together. Why she didn't just say this I have no idea.

Good luck to her. I am just relieved this whole episode is over!

OP posts:

MarmadukeScarlet · 07/03/2009 11:49

I'm glad you got your key.

What an odd young woman.

Original poster

manicmama · 07/03/2009 11:58

Thanks and yes it was all rather strange!

OP posts:

swampster · 07/03/2009 12:04

If you have a key that is easily copied I would still change the locks if I were you.

Original poster

manicmama · 07/03/2009 20:33

I take your point swampster but I don't think I can face it.

OP posts:

Scarfmaker · 07/03/2009 21:07

I couldn't have someone so untrustworthy and immature looking after my children - just ask her why she didn't turn up on Monday morning as planned.

I'm sure if I bolted my door to my parents on Monday morning they would want to know why!

Childminder by the way!

Flip

1 2