nanny agency fees

While once upon a time, nanny fees were charged only to nannies or taken from their pay after placement, most nanny agencies in London now charge the family a one-time fee. Some also charge renewal fees on the theory that the basic commitment is for one year, so that when a longer placement is achieved the nanny agency has earned a higher fee.
Since so much processing occurs well prior to a placement, nanny agencies have learned also to charge registration fees, generally nonrefundable. These range from a flat fee that may cover a limited number of referrals to full fee in advance, theoretically guaranteeing a nanny placement. However such guarantees may be limited to, say, five good nanny referrals, after which no placement may be made. In this case the fee covers only the work of screening and presenting candidates. Thus if the family seems to have unrealistic expectations, has misrepresented itself or has interviewed carelessly, there may be neither a nanny placement nor a refund.
Increasingly, both nannies and families often register with more than a single nanny agency and may hunt independently as well, placing ads, setting up a personal Web site, or working through word-of-mouth. In efforts to find a nanny or to find a nanny job, note that a contract with an nanny agency may require one of you to pay the nanny agency a fee even if you met independently. Read your contract closely and observe good placement ethics. Unethical efforts to avoid a nanny agency fee can result in a court case.
As for refunds, many nanny agencies will not offer a full refund, essentially because:
They have performed what they consider due diligence.
The nanny has, in fact, been on the job for an extended period, even if not a full year.
The fault may lie as much with the family as with the nanny – or more so. If worse comes to worst, a family can try for its refund but be sure to read the fine print.
Nanny Agencies: In General
Since the basic responsibility of the placement service is to match nannies to families, it follows that both should be screened equally. Watch for this. A brief telephone interview for the family and a one- or two-page application for the nanny will cover no more than basics, yet the resulting nanny agency fee may be as great as (or larger than) the fee for a thorough screening, with several reference reports, a criminal record check, and an in-person interview.
You need enough information to make an informed choice. Call several nanny agencies and compare them for style, policies and procedures. Ask to talk to references for the nanny agency itself.

 

 

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