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Au Pair International

Au Pair International review: Horrible agency to work with 4

J
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10:25 pm EDT
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Wow, what a horrible agency to work with! First, out of the 20+ candidates they sent us for a rematch ( after our first aupair tuned out to be an alcoholic nightmare) only 1 or 2 had any real child care experience. Of the 3 or 4 we actually liked and decided to interview, they all backed out! One said our family would be too much work ( we have a 10 year old and 2 year old), one decided she no longer wanted to do the program, one didnt even get back to us...the list goes on. We asked for e refund after just one month with the agency ( we wanted to go back to our last agency, aupair care) and they were willing to give us back about 10% of our investment- after only one month! Not to mention no body helped us and our ' local coordinator'? Never heard from her- she disappeared.. We eventually settled for an aupair that could at least speak English...she had never changed a diaper before! I guess you just assume when you read on their resume that they have worked with two year olds, they have changed a diaper! Way To go aupair international in your screening process! She literally told us the first day she got here, she was here to get married and stay here. Of course we talked to her and wrote to her about twenty times before she came here, but she just wanted to get here so badly...everything on her resume was a lie! Once again, way to screen aupair international! Just can't wait until this year is done so we can go back to aupair care, where they actually have QUALITY applicants and quality coordinators! Highly recommend against this agency.

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KS.
, US
Dec 16, 2018 2:23 pm EST

One of the worst au pair agencies (90% of them) that only think in money of the host families. Don't give a [censored] what happen with the au pair. I definitely don't recommend this agency. The way they trated my as worst with an animal. They don't gave any support and cut off my rematch time that was two weeks acording the contract that I signed in my home country. But on my second day of rematch they said that I had to go back to my country, but fortunatelly I was most smart that they and don't let them ruined my dream. I want advice anyone to no sign up with this agency, especially because when you're in rematch do you knew you have to change of house everyday, they call "temporary housing" which means that you has to be lucky to find someone could host you in rematch. Our sponsor in USA is the agency, so they should provide to us a room and food. Don't matter if they has to pay an hotel or hotel, they should provide to us a place until we found an new family (if we'll have an new match or not is our problem). The governament and the department of exchange visitor I'll know everything what happen with me and other girls. Don't think we stay quiet, not not, everyone needs to know. No one is a garbage that you think can send to back to home country, people have dreams and invested money to do this exchange program.
Another thing is about employers that don't put effort to help and was rude, especially two people. Sharyce (Southeast Regional Director) that was rude that way she talked to me, even when I tell to her the truth about the reason of rematch, I remember when I call to you and you said that was in place with loud music and couldn't ring the cellphone. I have all the text and the way you talked to me. And the other one is Kadriana (Virginia Area Director) that sould help the au pair during the rematch time. Every local director should verify if what the host family are saying is true or not. It's so easy stay be side of host family of course, all about money. Just remember that accuse someone without proof is a crime, and the local director should verify if the accusation is true or not before judge the au pair and decide based on what host family said. It's such a shame what happened in this program, that should be an amazing experience for every girl and not based be in lucky. I hope the au pair program will be reformed by the government as soon as possible so that this does not happen with another former au pair. This still happens because there are many ex-au pair that aren't a good psychological to fight for his own rights.
This program needs to be better monitored by the government, and I have already sent this report to them, some action has to be taken!
The time when the au pairs were quiet, it over. The only way this agency will learn is through legal proceedings.
If anyone wants more information or share experience, send me an message.
I'm just telling 1/3 what happened to me, was one the worst weeks of my life. No one leave own country to be treated worse than animal. Social media, newspapers, everyone will know what happens to me.
Journalist wants contact me, send me PM and we can reach an interview.

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Au pair Int
Puyallup, US
May 15, 2015 12:34 pm EDT

Agree to the comment above.. I had this au pair for almost 3 weeks now. Still learning how to deal with kids. When they say that the au pairs are only suppose to do stuff related with kids than WHY it's not done. Kids home work not completed. Water bottles have mold in it. When I asked she had no idea what mold is. My daughter is coughing so badly now that no cough drops even work. Also told her that the kids like warm drink but still she is taking cold drinks from the refrigerator and gives it to them. Kids not ready for school and she is preparing breakfast for herself. Half of the time I see her on her cell phone. I did complain this to our area director and it's almost a week now and she has not responded yet. She always locks the main entrance door which goes through our garage and we told her not to lock that. but she does it all the time. If we don't have a key to the main door than yes we will be locked outside. We did talk to her about this so many times and her response is don't tell her all this stuff because she is not a kid. I think my kids follow instructions better than a 21 year old. Shame to say this but it's true. Spending so much money and not getting what you prefer than I think it's better to do it yourself than having a headache.

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Another Scammed Family
Atlanta, US
Mar 02, 2015 7:28 am EST

This is not an organization you want to do business with at all. They simply do not uphold their end of their contract. It is amazing there are so many negative reviews about this company and they are still in business. Our au pair left just short of 6 months and API would not get a replacement for us as stated in their contract until we signed a new full-cost contract. That is not a requirement in the original contract, but they demand it or force you into a refund and then say you left the program as their legal defense. The best part about their tactics is they never document the requirement of you to sign a new contract. Only discuss it over the phone. And when you complain and communicate this is an unfair and illegal requirement - they never document an answer in their written responses. They are professional scam and con artists. The absolutely do not care about you, your family or their obligations. Best experience - their area director brings her children with her everywhere she goes including our home for the interview and then changes their diapers on our couch!. We escalated through the BBB in Denver and it went into legal proceedings sponsored and paid for by the BBB...you guess who won. The chief of the company, while under oath said these exact words "We are not a child care service". Remember that when you look at their website and see their child care programs and just know that when you corner them on their scam, they will throw themselves under the bus and still win. If, after all of these reviews, you still choose to use API - use the payment plan. It will be the ONLY chance you have to recoup any of the money they will steal and not give back when they don't deliver on their contracted obligations. We could at least reverse some charges and get some of our money back. Before you sign on the line - call Steve at API and simply ask if they are a child care service - [protected]. If he says yes, drop me a line so I can appeal our case on his perjury. If he says no, ask why he advertises as a child care service on his site but won't deliver. These people ought to be shut down.

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AuPair International Stay Away
brandon, US
Oct 21, 2013 6:02 pm EDT

Au Pair International has very sketchy candidates. Many come over on false pretense. Au Pair International finds candidates that inflate their hours of experience. Local area director is a joke. No monthly meetings held for au apair for 21 months. The agency doesn't abide by rules established by government. Two au pairs have walked away from job while on duty. Au Pair International says - sorry for that.