Au Pair Foundation
reviews and complaints

I'm a former Au Pair who unfortunately registered with this company. We never had montly meetings with the coordinators and they never called me back. Even my second host family tried to contact Au Pair Foundation a couple of times but did not succeed in doing so.
My coordinators in New Jersey were completely scams! They would bring Au Pairs to work at their day-care center in Cranford, New Jersey. A friend of mine was forced to work at the day-care, otherwise wouldn't get paid (since her host family traveled abroad). She had to work 8 hours a day for the coordinator and was paid only half of the salary. I suffered with Au Pair Foundation and so did my host family! There are other companies that work legally and seriously, such as Au Pair Care, Cultural Care, Interexchange, etc...
Never register with this agency because you will get no support!
I, as a former Au Pair, was never trained by Au Pair Foundation.

I am working with a girl from China who initially worked with Au Pair Foundation. I wasn't working with this company, so I asked her if everything panned out for her to come, if she would switch agencies. She felt that Au Pair Foundation took her money and is not really doing anything to help her find a family. When I found her on the Aupair.com website and got in contact with her and asked her if she would be willing to work with Cultural Care Au Pair (the agency I went through), she stated that she paid the Au Pair Foundation six months ago and they never posted her information on their website for American Families to look through. I found this absurd. I Skyped with her again this morning and she said they still won't post her information on their website but that they were looking for a family. She's not here yet, but I have to say that working with Cultural Care Au Pair (so far) has been magnificent. I've been working with Guy Petinga [protected]) who has been very helpful.

Also, when you go through 2 au pairs and a community rep in less than 4 months, that says something. We can't hold our Au Pairs to one standard and our families to another. I also think that it is very inappropriate for you to place my name on complaint boards and such, given i did nothing my aid you through both your experiences with your au pair and your community rep. I went out of my way to assist you through every problem you had, and gave up time with my family and time i spend at work to go through concerns of yours. Please do not use my name again otherwise i will seek legal counsel for harrassment.

We had 2 au pairs through another agency. Some things that most people do not comprehend about the au pair experience up front is that: #1 these people are not Americans, and people in other cultures do things differently than we do here, #2 this is not a plug-&-play service... these people live in your house, eat meals with you, and care for your children while you're not there. Regardless of the company's screening process, you need to do your due diligence VIA PHONE in as many direct conversations as you can to ensure the au pair you select is compatible with your family and your childcare needs BEFORE THEY EVER GET INTO YOUR HOME. Once an "imcompatible" au pair has arrived, the vast majority of au pair services are not staffed to have a replacement on your doorstep in 2 days or even 2 weeks, and #3 Once the au pair arrives, they are YOUR employee and YOU need to manage them as one. Childcare varies from culture to culture more than you might expect, and no amount of common sense or company training can help an au pair read your mind or know exactly how you do things. You need to train, coach, manage, discipline, and follow-up on a regular basis, particularly at the beginning, in order to see the results you need and want. You can't expect the company to do it for you when they're not in your house daily and when they don't know your household needs any better than the au pair did walking in the door. If you want to have a good au pair experience, the results are on YOU, much less so than the placement company. The day after they arrive, an au pair is more your employee than the agency's.

Dear Au Pair Foundation (Novato, California),

The last time I checked, this was a free country and our fore-fathers thought it important that we be able to sound our opinion, especially when it comes to being consumers of services and goods. This website is "by the people and for the people"...not "by the agency trying to make a buck and save their reputation and for the agency trying to make a buck and save their reputation". I'm only glad to see that your poor services, Au Pair Foundation, were viewed by your staff and administrators. Please be aware that you need to watch what exactly you're putting in writing on the internet, whether disguised as "Lovelifefourus" or whomever (please refer to www.viewpoints.com)
Also, with regard to our "high standards" for our family...since when was basic first aid a high standard? lol
We come across people like you who are sometimes envious of our ability to pay for services that others may not be as fortunate to have (such as hiring an au pair...I think, Au Pair Foundation, that you referred to us as "wealthy and just trying something new"...) but that doesn't mean that we are not allowed to properly voice our opinion when wronged by a company. I realize that may bother your agency. Perhaps you'll think twice next time and keep you more honest for future hard-working families trying to obtain honest services for their precious loved ones.
Not to nit-pick too, too much, Au Pair Foundation out of Novato, California...but the first au pair you sent us WAS "re-matched" only two weeks after our experience and that was at the home of one of your Regional Directors in Cranford, NJ...what is that saying if one of your own administrators won't keep her? Unfortunate, but too funny and ironic...
A reputable company would not respond in such a way to a poor review.
I really do not wish to get involved for a tit-for-tat, I just, having done some soul searching as was suggested, wanted to set the record straight. lol
Again, Au Pair Foundation out of Novato, California... maybe a half a star out of five...

I, too, had experience with this agency and it was MUCH less than optimal. I DEFINITELY would NOT recommend them! Shouldn't an agency have to pay for advertising rather than post some "look deeply in your soul" comments? By the way, I am the father of three and I would never dream of passing judgement on the number of children another has!

This agency has been wonderful! They have worked with me for several years. I have referred over 15 people in the past two years and not one of those people has complianed about the service, quality of Au Pairs or anything else.

As a Host Parent, it is important that you look wihin yourself to see if maybe you did something wrong. Have you ever hosted before? Did you treat your Au Pair well? Did they leave your family and go to antoher and do well? Your name is mother of 5. 5 children is a lot to care for, don't you think.

Again, you should really self evaluate. I'n sure the problem was with you and not the Au Pairs!