Au Pair USA by InterExchangeReviews of aupairusa.org

I am writing to express my profound disappointment with the recent au pair placement facilitated by your organization. The au pair assigned to my family has demonstrated significant issues that make her unfit for this role, raising serious concerns about the vetting process. In addition to openly discussing her need for psychiatric intervention and medication, she has made troubling and false claims about my family, including stating that my son does not speak English—an assertion that is blatantly untrue. Furthermore, she has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with her compensation, claiming that other au pairs receive raises and that they advised her not to help with tasks such as taking out the trash or unloading the dishwasher because “it would become her sole responsibility.” However, as explicitly stated in your organization’s handbook (page 27), these tasks are part of her outlined duties (all family members chip in). Her unwillingness to follow these guidelines adds to the overall unprofessionalism and lack of fit for our household. She hid herself in the room all day and only came out when I knocked on the door to tell her dinner was ready. Most concerning are the alarming personal statements she has made. She disclosed that both she and her mother have discussed ways to kill her cousin’s father due to his abusive behavior. She also stated that she once had to save her mother from committing suicide by pulling her off train tracks. While I cannot verify the depth of these claims, they strongly suggest significant mental instability that makes her unsuitable for this position. It is neither within my capability nor responsibility to manage such serious mental health concerns. This entire experience has been distressing for my family and far from what I expected when trusting your organization to provide a competent, reliable caregiver.

I had a very bad experience with this agency. They have few host families and many aupairs, many of whom end up having to return to their country because of this. I think the way they sell the program to the families and the aupairs is completely different. While we (APs) believe we are going on a CULTURAL exchange, the families see us only as cheap labor. I have never been so mistreated in my entire life.

Our encounter with APUSA InterExchange has been nothing short of a nightmare. They matched us with an au pair who was clearly only interested in using our family as an easy entry point, and within a mere 14 days of arrival, she rematched, leaving us in utter disbelief and frustration. This au pair was shamelessly self-serving, taking advantage of our hardworking family without any regard for the well-being of our children. Not only did she fabricate her childcare experience, but she also lied about her driving capabilities, putting our family's safety at risk from day one. To make matters worse, the local care coordinator displayed audacious entitlement by requesting unlimited Uber rides, as if we were an exceptionally wealthy family. Furthermore, they had the audacity to demand that our children refrain from using loud voices when playing, adding insult to injury. APUSA has demonstrated a complete lack of accountability and genuine concern for the families they claim to serve. They allow social media to influence their au pairs, resulting in a blatant disregard for household rules and responsibilities. Their incompetence is staggering, as they resort to false pretenses of rematch and conveniently "forget" crucial information disclosed prior to matching. What's more, the agency shamelessly holds onto your money without providing any form of refund, leaving host families like ours burdened with both financial and emotional strain. Engaging with APUSA feels more akin to navigating an Airbnb rental or participating in an international adult foster program than embarking on a genuine cultural exchange partnership. Their advertised flexibility in childcare is nothing but a facade, as we were left to contend with an immature young adult devoid of any sense of responsibility. We strongly caution against placing your trust in APUSA for your childcare needs. Spare yourself the headache and seek out an another avenue of childcare that prioritizes the well-being of both host families and children.

Au Pair misrepresented childcare and driving experience

My first au pair was great but after she left i have had nothing but trouble, and the agency just doesnt care or help. Before i brought the last au pair i told her that i have to go to Italy and she will have to accompany, filled out all the paperwork, less than 3 weeks into it she didnt want to continue and the agency was ready to terminate, before her when i wanted to terminate the previous au pair they were like u need to give her more time but when they want to terminate it is all good. Anyway when i reminded her that she agreed to go to Italy and that i have purchased the ticket she agreed to continue only to again say she couldnt do it, the airline had cancelled the flight and i had a chance to get all my money back and because she agreed to come along i rebooked that ticket only to loose all the money and they wouldnt make her accountable. Her reasons for leaving were all over the place, so at night there is too much noise from the babies but when my daughter had a tough night the other nanny had asked her what happened she had no idea coz she said she wore head phones, she doesnt want to go to Italy coz she doesnt like it dark on the plane but she didnt think of that before she agreed to come. They come here to learn the american way but obviously accountability is not something they are learning or the agency teaching them that when u commit you at least fulfil that commitment. I asked the agency for her to stick around until after the trip that was denied, then i said until my kids turn 2 which she agreed to was again denied but she asked for 3 weeks that was given, so these agencies are never for the families even though we are the customer and paying them and they have business but dont expect any support from them at all, so disappointed. I am a single mom with twins and if i cant use this service then who but the coordinator told me that it may not be a service for me. wow! whatever.

Will not recommend whatsoever.

This agency is the worst. Do not give them the power to do anything with your life. The AuPair program is sh***t* af. Americans just wants to make us their slaves as well as this agency. Do not trust them.

My experience with this agency was awful, the family in that I was, request me the rematch after one week of my arrive, the kid was aggressive and the “transition team” does not specify that point in my profile, my profile does not active after four days when my rematch starts so I lost those days. When it finally coincides with a family being my last days of rematch, this family cancels it, I ask the agency to extend my time, since I lost it with the family that canceled the match, and the agency denies me. On the 13th of my rematch period, I could coincide with a family that want me as their au pair, and they were not allowed to request the match since according to the agency, they did not have the necessary documents and I could not move with them. I mean, they activate their profile without meeting all the requirements! While au pairs ask us for thousands of documents before we get online, families are put online without having everything in order. That is why they deny both parties to be able to make the match through the page. And his justification was that he was no longer in time. Worst experience ever! I can not recommended that agency My lcc did not help me in anything , the transition team was so rude with me: claiming that how they were going to be sure that I would not make a rematch again and they did not take into account my version of the story to place on my profile, they only put what they believed. The time to activate my profile made me lose 4 days. The agency approves families that do not have all the documents in order and even put them online. Be sure to choose other agency to live this experience