tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post8863716851250109380..comments2024-03-19T03:27:24.068-04:00Comments on I SAW YOUR NANNY: Nanny Gets Left Behind in LondonLeigh Raymerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210572527823459842noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-32790111260106161132009-03-27T17:02:00.000-04:002009-03-27T17:02:00.000-04:00Um...I guess I'm just one of those rule followers....Um...I guess I'm just one of those rule followers. I would have probably done the same thing, as I would be too afraid to lie about anything to customs...bend the truth, fudge, whatever...not to customs. <BR/>I agree that everybody made a mistake and all were probably shocked upon arrival to even find there was a need for a permit. It's a live and learn type of thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-35082777259282681082009-03-27T12:32:00.000-04:002009-03-27T12:32:00.000-04:00Not to be disrespectful mom, but if you read throu...Not to be disrespectful mom, but if you read through the responses you would see that the OP did not call herself the Nanny to customs, she only said as much once she saw that the mother wrote that she was the nanny on the form.<BR/><BR/>Also it would have been nearly impossible, have taken weeks if not months and been very expensive for her to get a work visa for 1 week. I live and work in Europe. Trust me.<BR/><BR/>It is a learning experience as everyone should have agreed to just say she was visiting the country. All around people acted dumb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-655276649631703402009-03-27T09:37:00.000-04:002009-03-27T09:37:00.000-04:00macaroniandcheese,In all honesty though, I can see...macaroniandcheese,<BR/>In all honesty though, I can see how this happened. I would have had no idea myself that somebody needed a special visa to nanny in London. I just think the burden of responsibility is not necessarily all on the family that hired the nanny. If she is a true professional, it's her own responsibility to find out.<BR/><BR/>When we were in London all those weeks it was for my husband to work. It never occurred to me that he needed anything special...but then again, maybe his office had made all of the arrangements and I just didn't know anything about it. Also, his company had a London office. Maybe that makes some sort of difference? I do now recall being asked every time we have crossed a border whethere we were on work or pleasure. I guess it just never occurred to me why they cared. I always assumed they just wanted to converse with us to see if we looked nervous or appeared to be lying about anything in case we had cocaine filled rectums.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-67680401677111722132009-03-27T00:51:00.000-04:002009-03-27T00:51:00.000-04:00Mom: My point exactly. My comment was directed to ...Mom: My point exactly. My comment was directed to OP who seems to think that being an American means she won't need a working visa in Europe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-2067347336181401532009-03-26T14:15:00.000-04:002009-03-26T14:15:00.000-04:00I just reread the original post. If you billed you...I just reread the original post. If you billed yourself out to the family as a professional nanny with seven years experience, I'd go with option number one and say they don't owe you anything. They may even be upset with you for not taking care of your papers before hand. <BR/><BR/>macaroniand cheese,<BR/>Special priveleges for being an American? I think not. When we were recently traveling between eurpoean countries they would have two lines at the customs area...one for those from eurpoean countries and one for "everybody else." We got to wait in the "everybody else" line (which also seemed, inconveniently enough, to double as the "haven't bathed since last season" line) which required a lot of questions and other ordeals to get passed through, and which took about four times longer to get through than the other line.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-39551326674326907052009-03-26T14:06:00.000-04:002009-03-26T14:06:00.000-04:00I'd guess it has to do with your level of professi...I'd guess it has to do with your level of professionalism as a nanny as to where the blame lies for the fiasco at customs in London.<BR/>If you are a professional nanny, it would be up to you to make sure all things were taken care of in advance for you to be able to do the job you signed up to do...including visas, work permits, etc. In that case I would say that the problem was yours alone and that you should not be compensated...maybe you'd even be on the hook for the airfare and expenses the family paid in good faith in anticipation of having a professional nanny accompany them on their trip.<BR/><BR/>If you are a college student or just a young girl who decided to take care of a couple of kids on the side for a few days and get some extra money, or somebody that the parents knew not to be a "real" nanny but thought might be a good bargain due to inexpreience in the field, then they are probably most at fault for the chaos in the airport and your wasted time. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I don't think this is a compensable loss for you either way. <BR/><BR/>They are alone in London with their kids in tow...whatever will they do!? Maybe it will be the best thing that could have happened to them...being FORCED to interact day in and day out with their kids on their FAMILY vacation! I had three young kids alone in London for three weeks. My husband worked all day every day and joined us in the evenings. Nobody died. I didn't feel sorry for myself, and we have memories that will last a lifetime. As much fun as it is to see new places, it's a lot more fun to see them through the eyes of your kids...IMO anyway. (PS This does not go for teenagers, who have the power to ruin any vacation at will.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-46324920077886072052009-03-26T01:29:00.000-04:002009-03-26T01:29:00.000-04:00Your employers should be smacked in the head for w...Your employers should be smacked in the head for what they did to you! They weren't thinking of you. They were thinking of themselves and their vacation. Anyone with a brain knows you list the nanny as a friend when you travel.<BR/><BR/>Your employers must be STUPID.<BR/><BR/>And I don't work for stupid people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-24282984804673834752009-03-25T22:18:00.000-04:002009-03-25T22:18:00.000-04:00Just got to the post that it was the woman that hi...Just got to the post that it was the woman that hired you that labeled you. Disregard on that commentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-62020804280004219392009-03-25T22:12:00.000-04:002009-03-25T22:12:00.000-04:00I think at one point I would have said, "Did I say...I think at one point I would have said, "Did I say I was a working nanny? I meant to say I am a nanny taking a vacation." I would have improvised accordingly after all, you have no written agreement, you would have compensated for being EXTRA HANDS, they are not paying taxes for your help. I have lots of friends that take college students on holidays to be extra hands when needed and then they are on their own. In hindsight, it was YOU not them who stated you were a working nanny, so they don't owe you anything. As a working nanny who hired her services out and agreed on terms, so you could have looked into what you needed to travel. <BR/>YShould you all have discussed on the front side? Should you have come on here and asked advise from traveling nannies before going? Probably. Research before you make a mistake like that again. I feel for you. I bet you were looking forward to enjoying a vacation in EnglandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-78943386581739233142009-03-25T17:41:00.000-04:002009-03-25T17:41:00.000-04:00The embassy will confirm what the customs officer ...The embassy will confirm what the customs officer did was right. <BR/><BR/>You need a visa if you go on business or if you're journalist on a short assignment so yes, you definitely need a visa to work as a nanny- even if it's just for a few days with an American family. <BR/><BR/>Seriously, it's annoying how SOME Americans think they can travel everywhere without any papers just because they're "American" . No one cares and you don't receive any special priviledges just because of your nationality (it may be easier for some nationalities to enter a country but generally not when you're going somewhere to live or work. Europe has plenty of anti-discriminatory laws). In fact, due to America's tough visa laws, many countries require Americans to apply for visas as these things are usually reciprocal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-58281879853436829292009-03-25T15:09:00.000-04:002009-03-25T15:09:00.000-04:00You don't need to call the embassy. Once you claim...You don't need to call the embassy. Once you claim you are going to be employed in a different country, that's the protocol. You have to have the necessary paperwork to follow suite, meaning if you state on you form you would be working, the customs dept would automatically check your passport for a working visa. Its more or less the same anywhere you travel.<BR/>You should have said you were visiting.<BR/>I know we have all learned from your mistake and NONE OF US will make that mistake I'm sure.<BR/>Thank you for your post...good luck getting at least half of what of originally expected.nannyinmanhattanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11434290111916487183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-33654645152829626122009-03-25T13:21:00.000-04:002009-03-25T13:21:00.000-04:00This is what the customs told me. I can't come int...This is what the customs told me. I can't come into london becuase I didn't have a visa to be a nanny. Im a U.S. Citizen, I'm guessing the family thought I didn't need one. I asked the customs agent 7 times. She told me the same thing you need a visa. Im calling the American Embassy today and ask them about my situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-86212001921844662982009-03-25T13:16:00.000-04:002009-03-25T13:16:00.000-04:00a visa to travel for a few days? not true... it d...a visa to travel for a few days? not true... it doesn't work like that. i've travelled with my charges/family, and this doesn't happen. is there more?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-11838221850444418292009-03-24T19:46:00.000-04:002009-03-24T19:46:00.000-04:00I have to agree with a previous poster that it's s...I have to agree with a previous poster that it's shocking that the family didn't even check on you while you were stuck at the airport for hours!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-75486749525004121362009-03-24T16:50:00.000-04:002009-03-24T16:50:00.000-04:00Wow, that had to have been so scary. You should de...Wow, that had to have been so scary. You should definitely get some pay. For the work you did the days prior to leaving and then figure out an hourly rate for pay for all the time you were "detained" until you got home. That is not fair.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-13662780299042389712009-03-24T13:07:00.000-04:002009-03-24T13:07:00.000-04:00Wow, I wouldn't even begin to know what to do in y...Wow, I wouldn't even begin to know what to do in your situation, OP. I do think that the family should pay you in full because they were the ones that screwed up. They should've known the rules.<BR/><BR/>I had visions of going to Canada when I was a kid and never coming back home...My 9 year old mind pictured a black tunnel with lights at the end. When I envisioned trying to come home, I would picture being held in Canada, without cable, Bob Barker, JR Ewing or Happy Meals....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-28120462718379379032009-03-24T10:48:00.000-04:002009-03-24T10:48:00.000-04:00I traveled with my work family in 2001 and I knew ...I traveled with my work family in 2001 and I knew then not to put down that I was the nanny. I was vacationing. I have a different last name so their was no need for me to even be grouped with them. Same way when I've gone to other countries with my work families too. The parents and the children went ahead of me, and I went after and I was "vacationing". What I get this wasn't OPs fault, this was her bosses fault for being too stupid to know that you can't put down nanny on form. Why in the world why she even be filling out the paper for you is what I don't get.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-63453504904686544192009-03-24T00:45:00.000-04:002009-03-24T00:45:00.000-04:00this sucks that it happened to you. i don't see w...this sucks that it happened to you. i don't see why they had to mention that you were going to work as their nanny. last time i went to london with my nanny family, there was no question as to who i was or what i was going to be doing there. i will be going again soon with a different family and will make sure not to have any mention of me being a nanny so that we don't have this same problem. yikes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-89268604850248741392009-03-23T21:20:00.000-04:002009-03-23T21:20:00.000-04:00they need to pay you - its your employer's fault f...they need to pay you - its your employer's fault for bringing an employee with them, and you are out the money you should have earned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-26677906592278605402009-03-23T19:41:00.000-04:002009-03-23T19:41:00.000-04:00Who paid for your expedited ticket back? Isn't it ...Who paid for your expedited ticket back? Isn't it a ton of money to change an itinerary? Did the Govt or you or the family? Just curious. Sorry this happened to you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-15176454980742402052009-03-23T17:15:00.000-04:002009-03-23T17:15:00.000-04:00The mother wrote it on the customs paper, I didn't...The mother wrote it on the customs paper, I didn't write that I was going there to be a Nanny. So, it's not my fault. What was I supposed to lie to the customs agent?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-30110994710614374552009-03-23T16:56:00.000-04:002009-03-23T16:56:00.000-04:00The family already compensated for the plane ticke...The family already compensated for the plane ticket, they should not pay you. why on earth would you tell customs that you were going there to work as a nanny? and BTW they were being really stupid, you were already employed in the US as their nanny. It's not like we all have to submit working visas to have a meeting with out international partners overseas. The whole thing sounds really bizarre to me. i have never run into anything like that when going to London... but I look like I belong there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-74743109356049651802009-03-23T16:31:00.000-04:002009-03-23T16:31:00.000-04:00thank you so much for all your comments!thank you so much for all your comments!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-27341316108580089532009-03-23T16:11:00.000-04:002009-03-23T16:11:00.000-04:00Um...I'm pretty sure the parents should be blamed ...Um...I'm pretty sure the parents should be blamed for this. The parents hired the nanny, therefore it's the parent's responsibility to make travel arrangements--including knowledge of customs laws. Especially since the mom filled out OP's customs paperwork... <BR/><BR/>OP probably can't hope for full pay, BUT I would hope any self respecting parent would pay her for her time plus a LARGE tip for the stress involved.<BR/><BR/>If they absolutely refuse and it's worth it to you, take them the small claims court... what did they expect? Leaving their nanny in another country....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-33032844468252494442009-03-23T12:51:00.000-04:002009-03-23T12:51:00.000-04:00I think you should definitely get paid for your ti...I think you should definitely get paid for your time with them, and if they want to give you a little extra, that's great. But I wouldn't expect them to pay you for the whole time, or even half time. I feel for your situation, that really sucks! But, they didn't get a nanny for the week, and I'm sure they are upset about their loss of a nanny for a week, as well as the loss of the cost of your flight. I think it was a miscommunication between everyone, and the family isn't really to blame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com