Cultural Complaint that tops them allI agree- not a good company- how do i know?? I worked for them (in CT) and quit due to the
bad au pair agencies, cultural care complaints, lccs leave cultural care over mismanagment and lack of support, lccs are sales people that sign up any family, leaves au pairs to cope on their own
Hi there.
I found this complaint (I copied it from the blog) on MomsBlog addressed to Edina Stone. I think this is hairy, scary and creepy. "Flesh peddlers?" If this is a true comment made by a real counselor, this company S%&#s! Shame, shame, shame. If this website had a "wall of shame" Cultural Care would be on it, front and center. I hope that the VPs read this comment below. How can they continue to defend this company? How do they sleep at night? Come on ladies, please......how can you?
"I agree- not a good company- how do i know?? I worked for them (in CT) and quit due to the way they treated the girls and families. Understand one thing- families are $$$ to them and the au pairs are just a human product that they sell and swap. They could care less about you and give very little support when there is a problem. The terms "flesh peddler" is a common terms used amonst their lcc's - they think its funny. The lcc's are paid on how many families sign up, so they will sign up anyone- the good the bad and the ugly- some of these poor girls end up in homes i wouldnt send a dog to none the less a 19 yr old girl. The company on the other hand only cares about sales- then they recruit girls, some who shouldnt be taking care of children, and send them to "school" (3 1/2 days) to learn childcare- wow a whole 3 1/2 days. Another thing they dont want you to know is that they dont investigate the girls from some countries, they use recruiters or agents to do this. So why is this bad you may ask- these agents get paid on the amount of girls that "pass" the investigation- get the point??? They dont investigate anything, they just sign up anyone interested and you then get stuck with a girl that doesnt speak english, cant drive. has no childcare experience and just wants to come here to illegally live- ask any CCAP LCC how many girls in their group have gone "underground" ( a CCAP term)? If they say 1 or 2 add 5 to that and its the right number. Ask the LCC how many girls have packed up and left in the middle of the night??? Trust me its alot. I will monotor this page and answer any questions as a former LCC but i dont want to leave my email as this company is also known to cause people who say bad things a real hard time- very vindictive... "
This re-posting is drew
This re-posting is drew emotional and truthful responses from LCCs from Cultural Care around the country. . .Please read them! "Annonymous" - why don't you respond to those posts instead of simply reposting?
A Hard Working LCC in NY
Wow! There is so much anger here directed towards Cultural Care. Clearly whomever this person is who has posted about the agency has an agenda to spread incredibly hostile feelings. And guess what? I can do the same. I have been an LCC for 4 years in Westchester and just as much as we should trust you, you should trust me when I say that au pairs from other agencies come to my meetings all the time and the stories they tell me sometimes make me feel so sad for them. There have been au pairs that have begged me for help but because they have not been with Cultural Care I have been limited in what I could do to intervene. But to start a mudslinging contest would be futile.
What I will say is that having come from a corporate background, working for Cultural Care has been an incredibly refreshing experience. I have met an outstanding group of people from all walks of life who have come together with common goals. And no, "flesh peddling" is not one of them. Let's face it, no one does this job to get rich. We do it because we truly want to enrich the lives of other families and their children. We do it because many of us have been students abroad and want to give back to these au pairs what had been given to us when we were in foreign lands. We do it because we see how narrow minded humans can be (you included) and if we could give our children the opportunity to learn about the world what better way to do it than to invite all of these cultures into our homes?
Edina, you offer to one of the bloggers "You can't go wrong with Agency X". Is that true? Are you guaranteeing that a potential host family will have an A+ au pair with an A+ counselor? As we all know that those types of generalities cannot possibly hold true all of the time, I think these allegations against Cultural Care need to be reconsidered. I regularly get together with other LCC's in my area to bounce ideas off of one another and to laugh. Because guess what? Many of us truly enjoy our jobs and know that we are good at it!
Cultural Care LCCs
Hi LCC in NY,
I understand your frustration with the many negative comments about Cultural Care. I think what you might be forgetting is that these comments are not directed at you personally (even though it feels as if they are) - obviously you are doing a wonderful job, and you enjoy your work immensely. That is wonderful. Your host families and au pairs are receiving great customer service and are probably very happy and satisfied!
However, that does not mean that other LCCs or Cultural Care staff are doing their job as you are. Otherwise, there would not be so many negative comments on this agency, not just on my site, but on other websites.
Until we have walked in their shoes, we cannot dismiss what disgruntled and disappointed host families and LCCs are saying. We need to listen and learn from their feedback. Management at LCC needs to take charge of the situation by dealing with each complaint, and on its own merit.
Some LCCs do a great job (like yourself) and others are floundering, as they may not have the training or the "heart" to do this job (and you know it takes a big heart to stay in this field). LCCs such as yourself should not take on the guilt and burden of these complaints unless you find yourself in them - otherwise, let your managers know what you have read, and let them work on it. It is their responsibility!
Best,
Edina
You may enjoy the job, but the clients don't enjoy the agency!
I see many posts here from LCCs from cultural care saying what a great agency it is. And I do think it's good to know that CC has a high rate of *employee* satisfaction.
Sadly, I do not believe that you have a good rate of customer satisfaction.
As I mentioned, I quit CC during the matching process because none of my email or telephone messages were being answered. The only emails I received were to urge me to review applications. To this day, no one has responded to any of my questions about a particular au pair or about related issues.
Considering I was only a potential client at this point, that's a pretty grim response from CC and gives me no faith in their response during a crisis.
Caring Cultural Care LCC
I have been a LCC with Cultural Care for over 18 years. I speak regularly with many of my colleagues across the U.S. and never ever have I heard the term "flesh peddler" used by any of my fellow LCC'S. I am appalled that someone would even use such a term.
The LCC'S that I know and work with and they are many are passionate, devoted, caring people. We do this because we truly believe in and love the program and what it has to offer and the many lives that we have helped impact over the years. Yes there are those people that do not do their job well and they are replaced. Isn't that the same with any company?
The staff and management has always been supportive and listen to what we have to say and our opinions.
Whenever I have needed to speak to a staff member from the bottom up they have always been there and listened to my voice.
We have continued training's to better prepare us for all situations and do strive to provide excellent customer service. The twice yearly survey is just another tool to hear from our customers.
The data from the surveys is used to make changes and improvements based on the feedback.
When we do sell the program we are told to sell responsibly and make sure that we fully educate families about the program and to look out for red flags.
I would not accept a family onto the program if I felt they were not appropriate. This would only cause me headaches so why would I want a family that would cause me more time than it would be worth. Hosting and Au Pair is a great experience but not for everyone.
My au pairs know that I am always available to them and will get back to them right away to answer a question, offer advice or address a concern with their host family. We are here for them and I give them advise like I would my own children and support them the way I would want my children treated.
The Host families I service as well know that I am also there for them to help all have a successful year.
Any issues are addressed immediately through various methods one such is mediation.
We supply our Host Families, Au Pairs with many resources and tools as well as the staff to help them have a successful year
I have recently had the opportunity to visit the au pair training school and the au pairs have long days in the classroom with a very structured curriculum. We had the opportunity to observe the classes and was amazed by how much they covered the depth of discussion and much more .
The curriculum is available for families to review on their Cultural Care Web site with access to a copy of the workbook used.
Yes the Au Pair Answer Mom is an employee of Cultural Care and when this was introduced it was never hidden that she works for Cultural Care. Au Pair Answer Mom has had many au pairs and experienced the program first hand.
My experience with the company for over 18 years is overall a very positive one. Looking forward to continue working with them for many more years and helping host families and au pairs have a positive experience through the au pair program.
LCC Michele
http://mchazen.aupairnews.com
Cultural care: the truth from a Current LCC.
I have been a local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care for over a year and I am also a former au pair from New Zealand.
I can tell you that I pride myself on my professionalism and never would I be associated with a company that had a lack of respect for these wonderful young women and men who come to the US to experience American Cultural in exchange for 45 hours of childcare.That is why I decided to be an LCC for Cultural Care
My passion for becoming a Local coordinator had nothing to do with Money and everything to do with having the right skills for the Job and the belief that CCAP has truly a GREAT program.
It did not take long to learn that most of the people who work with CCAP feel and do the same. Most I say because Like anything we are humans and are not perfect ,you will always find that bad apple in any bunch.Is it fair to blame the actions of a few people on a whole company.
I find it interesting that fmrlcc made so many negative comments about cultural care yet she worked for them for 5 years ..... I wonder if she was the " Lcc only doing it for the money".I can't imagine Cultural Care forced her to stay and given she was soooo upset about how things were being done why it would take 5 years to leave ..... unless of course things weren't that bad after all.
As for the Agent program .I will tell you first hand how it works.Upon hearing about the au pair program through a friend back in 1997 I went to an informational session at the agents home.
At the session there were 2 au pairs who had recently returned from there year and along with a video they explained how the program worked.
I went through the exact same application process that all the applicants that sign on through our overseas offices do.
I had to prove my childcare references, complete an interview, have a medical ,background check, provide a complete work history and reason for suitability to the program.
As a Teacher with a Degree in early childhood education I wondered if I would even be accepted to the program as the bar seemed to be set so high for acceptance.
Nothing about my recruitment was "because someone was going to get more money if they let me on the program".It was professionally handled and even though I did apply through an agent my process was very similar to all of the au pairs I meet throughout my year who had gone to a overseas office.
As for all this talk about not caring for au pairs or listening to LCC's complaints I have never experienced this. The Cultural Care I work for supports me 100 % . The are constantly giving us trainings and updating us on ideas to improve our service.
We are hugely accountable for our actions with both au pairs and families. Bringing on a family who is not suitable for the program will not get you far.We have two host family surveys a year and I can tell you they go through them one by one and page by page.In turn they also have au pair surveys and I on a local level I pride myself on making this experience for them the best of the best.
I will not lie .There have definitely been times when au pairs have acted inappropriate and obviously they are not suited for the program and they have not "gone underground".They were flown home courtesy of CC on the first flight available.
As for never getting rid of a family because they see the families as $$$. I have personally told my program director 5 times in the last year that families are not appropriate for the program and all 5 times the families were removed...
As for the women who commented that CCAP should be reported to the state department .I would like to let her know that the program is mandated by the state department. All Agencies come under regular strict auditing .Maybe that is why Cultural Care remains to be the biggest and best au pair company in the industry.
Maybe because it staff is passionate about childcare and cultural exchange ,maybe it is because it has dedicated LCC's who work closely with both there au pairs and families to support them through there year.
Oh in case your wondering I completed a VERY successful year with my host family . I did not "go underground" or "stay illegally ". I left after my au pair year and moved to England.Upon returning 9 mths later I was married and now am a stay at home Mom to my 6 yr old son and an LCC to 37 Host families and au pairs.
Please feel free to see what as a Cultural Care LCC I do on a local level.
Visit my website and see for yourself about the great information for both au pairs and families.The great pictures of all the fun and educational meetings we do and all the up and coming events that we are doing to help our community ,host families and au pairs.
www.rcronin.aupairnews.com
Local coordinator in PennValley , Narberth, Haverford, Villanova , Rosemont
rebecca.cronin@lcc.culturalcare.com
Very positive experience with Cultural Care - they care!
I have had 15 au pairs over the past 9 years, and have been a local coordinator for 5 years, and I have never heard the term "flesh peddlers". Most coordinators, like me, do this job to help au pairs and host families have a great year together, not as "slave traders". Sure - there are problems along the way (as in any relationship), but Cultural Care coordinators are taught and encouraged to mediate issues in a professional and caring manner. I have spent numerous hours troubleshootings issues - yet I call this my "feel good job", because unlike the disgrunted LCC above, I believe that I have helped change families' and au pair's life for the better. Our children will be in weddings around the world - and understand cultural differences and the world as a global village through having au pairs. I chose to work for Cultural Care, because out of the three agencies that we used as host families, I found Cultural Care to be the most professional and caring agency, and I felt the most supported by Cultural Care.
I have met LCC's at Cultural Care who are teachers, social workers, nurses and parents who have benefited from having au pairs in their home and want to help others. The president of Cultural Care is an adoptive father, who is committed to cultural exchange and he is one of the kindest, smartest person that I know - along with his VPs. I have never met a more professional, caring and committed group of folks, and I have worked in many different industries (consumer packaged goods, advertising, high technology) in some of the best companies in the U.S. (Pillsbury, Del Monte, Clorox, BBDO, IBM, Adobe/Aldus, Landor). I am very impressed with Cultural Care's push toward superior customer service, as shown by their twice yearly customer service survey - and the fact that the management team call anyone who has had any issues in the survey personally.
I would be happy to talk to anyone (host families or potential LCCs) who is worried about the accusations of this disgrunted LCC. I have to wonder what his/her motivation is? I have nothing but good things to say about working for Cultural Care and the values that they encourage and live by.
Deb Schwarz
Host Family (on our 15th au pair!)
& Local Childcare Coordinator
Cultural Care Au Pair
415-990-7571
www.dschwarz.aupairnews.com
Flexible, affordable childcare with a cultural flair
motivation
Dear Cultual care LCC,
You don't have to wonder that hard, this person's "motivation' is simple: to tell it like it is so not all aupairs have to suffer what we do. Very bad experience and my parents would be horrified if I told them everything I had to deel with.
Does Cultural Care "care?"
Hi Deb,
Thank you for your comments here. I do know of your president, through my au pair industry colleagues, and they tell me he is a very nice person!
I do know Natalie Jordan, one of Cultural Care's VPs - we have talked and emailed each other, and she is a pleasant person to work with, very helpful and professional.
About the counselor's comments you refer to: Yes, I would say you hit the nail on the head about this counselor, she is disgruntled.
I think her motivations are much the same as the many hundreds of Cultural Care host families who have posted their negative comments all around the blogs and websites on the internet. There is no, or very little, negative blogging on any other au pair agency. This fact alone suggests that there is something going on there at your au pair agency.
So many people cannot all be wrong Deb, and I think Cultural Care needs to pay attention to what their ex-customers are telling them, instead of either ignoring these "accusations," or replying to the complaints stating they "would be happy to talk" about the situation(s).
These ex-customers are beyond that "talking" point and no, I don't think they want to talk to the VPs after they just complained about Cultural Care's service. At point in the process, it is too late. That is why the host parents have turned to the internet to vent their frustrations.
In this competitive new business world, you only get one chance with any one customer - you fail once, and they move on. Usually forever ("It costs 5 times more to attract a new customer than retain an old one").
Having a customer survey twice a year is not a great example of good, quality customer service. Responding to customers concerns, in a timely fashion, quality products (well-screened au pairs and host families), speedy resolution of customer complaints and problems and low fees are the top things customers want and demand of au pair agencies.
You may be interested in reading an article that addresses winning business strategies that our R&E Director just published - let me know what you think after you read it! I would love to hear your feedback.
It is nice to hear that you have had success with your host families and I am sure the reason is you, Deb! You sound like a great counselor: involved, caring and intelligent.
Cultural Care, your au pairs and host families are very lucky to have you in their corner.
Best,
Edina Stone
Complaint Page - new Posting
Cultural care au pair in westchester county ny
Hi
I'd like to give host families a perspective of a former lcc from cultural care au pair. Do your self a favor stay away from this bunch. i was an LCC for 5 years and finally quit due to the companies lack of support and basic care for host families and aupairs. First lets start with the host families. Host families to this company are just $'s and nothing else- trust me when i say they could care less about you, you are a paycheck to them and nothing more. The pressure to sell sell sell is amazing, causing problems - families that shouldn't get an au pair, do, causing problems for the girls when they get into the country. An example of this- i interviewed a family that wasnt a good match for the program- the host parents expectations were unreal, the host dad was very strange and the house was a mess. I suggested to the company to reject the host family but i was over ruled by the regional manager and an au pair was placed in the home. Within 5 weeks the girl was complaining about the 15 hour days, the general filth in the home and that the host dad was inappropriate around her. I removed the girl and the company placed another girl there. In the next year 6 girls were placed in this home..unreal. This is not unusual for CCAP, in fact its almost the norm. I love how they post on Youtube the "CCAP answer mom"- too funny, but what most people dont know is that Susan Robinson is a SVP in the company...they make it like shes just some host mom, not a chance, shes an employee and a close friend to the president Dave F.
As far as the girls go here's a few things you should know
1- the "investigation"- in a bunch of countries CCAP doesn't have an office there, so they use "agents" to recruit and investigate the girls applying for the program. These agents are paid on the amount of girls recruited, so you do the math- they investigate no one and any warm body that shows up gets a passing grade. Ever wonder why you get an application that gives a passing score in English and when she gets here she cant speak any at all...well here's your answer.
2- The girls are told a totally different story on what their job will be here while in their home country- they are told this is a student program that requires "some" childcare. I use to get girls coming to me crying asking me why they were lied to.
3-The "school"- now this is funny- they say its 5 days...not true- Monday is basically a travel day so nothing is done then. School is then Tues tru Wed and the girls go to NYC on Thurs and travel Fri...so you figure it out- 2 days and trust me nothing valuable is taught, i've seen it with my own eyes.
4-Transitions-CCAP's dirty little secret- its not uncommon to see a "bad" girls go to 5-7 families in a year or a bad family to get 5-7 girls. Why you ask? Because if a family is dropped or girl sent home the company loses money and trust me they care more about that that they do about you. I know a girls who in a year went from NY, FL,IL,FL,MD and back to FL. Amazing huh...i know the girl and she should of went home after the first family.
5- Going AWOL- Its so common its almost a joke- ask your lcc how many girls in the last year in their group left the group illegally...dont expect to get a real answer, but its about 15%...and at the end of the year another 15% or so don't go home and stay here illegally ...its become a way to immigrate for some countries.
The LCC's- Some are great, some are ok and some are terrible. Understand they are paid on the amount of families they have, recruit and retain. Some will sell anyone, they could care less if the family was bad or not, just as long as they get paid.
Anyway i can tell so many stories about this group- if anyone has any questions post them here and i'll gladly answer them