We've been with APC for about 4 years. We were in a different city for the first two. We had re-matches, and our LCCs both times (though it was a different LCC - not sure if APC generally has LCC stability issues) were fabulous getting us through that process. As the previous poster points out, it's the AP and the LCC who matter most, and if you don't have need for agency intervention because all is swell with your AP, the agency probably doesn't matter.

That said, we would also like to switch to APIA, only because that seems to be the agency most-used around the DC area, and folks seems happier with them than with APC.

I do not know if other agencies screen as poorly as APC, but we do get the feeling that APC is quite large and does not screen very well for language ability, lies on the resume, etc. (The problem is, I think a lot of the local agencies encourage the lies and the masking of the lies; if APC is not doing what they can to discourage that practice, though, that speaks poorly of APC. But again, don't know if that is a problem across the agencies.)

Bit of a late response, but we've been with APC for 3 years and have been very happy with them. I stand by what I've posted in the past: the most important things are your au pair and your area coordinator. Company seems to have little impact.

21:15 again. You might look on aupairmom.com as well. MANY Hms on there also have complained over the years about APC (and many have switched to APIA).

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we used them, and they were horrible. Just horrible. We switched to them from APIA because an AP we found on greataupair.com was with them, and we wanted to go with her. She was great, but the next few APs from APC all had major issues that they were told by APC not to disclose for fear they wouldn't find a family (we're talking smoking, psychological problems, car accidents, etc). All three were sent home after their issues were finally out on the open, but this showed us a serious lack of "care" on the part of APC for what they were foisting on families. We left APC after that and went back to APIA. Been happy with APIA since and will never, ever go back to APC.

Ditto this. I also had a bad experience with APC and switched to APIA.

Yes, we used them, and they were horrible. Just horrible. We switched to them from APIA because an AP we found on greataupair.com was with them, and we wanted to go with her. She was great, but the next few APs from APC all had major issues that they were told by APC not to disclose for fear they wouldn't find a family (we're talking smoking, psychological problems, car accidents, etc). All three were sent home after their issues were finally out on the open, but this showed us a serious lack of "care" on the part of APC for what they were foisting on families. We left APC after that and went back to APIA. Been happy with APIA since and will never, ever go back to APC.

I'd be happy to give you more information. You can contact me at karenrba@yahoo.com or 508-612-9671.

I heard about their infant specialized program - has anyone used this agency? Are you happy with them?