Au Pair Extraordinarily Disappointing

I was sent to do a trial with a family that this supposed agency vetted - the family was a nightmare and from the interview I noticed that the description didn’t match the job expectations. Nonetheless I did all 3 days after which I was offered the job to which I declined as it was not a perfect fit for me. I also respectfully declined it with the mom. When I trialled the previous au pair told me she had money issues with this family and the agency also didn’t help one month back. Keep in mind when you interview, with the agency, with the family, when you trail and even after an offer you are not to speak about money whatsoever. As soon as I did my 3 days I was only paid the following week Tuesday after which was only because the mom was forcefully making sure I took the position with her. When I was eventually paid she didn’t pay me my full amount. I am still owed one month later R443. To the agency and Ronel Maartens it’s most probably not a lot of money but to me it is because I worked those hours for 7 to 4 for the 3 days and just out of principle too. Amy confirmed how much I was to be paid and that the trail period would be paid. The agency is quick to take the placement money and make sure they are sorted but will not help afterwards. As soon as I saw I wasn’t paid - I told the agency, all of a sudden I could handle the “money” talk with the mom. Ronel Maartens refused to pay me the rest because according to her it’s Amy’s fault who works at this *********** company. Amy didn’t clarify and the mom don’t bother checking so now I’m being punished because she paid me the last au pairs amount per hour even though my job spec listing said a higher amount and quite frankly has nothing to do with me. It was Amy’s job to handle the money conversation beforehand (you don’t even get to speak to the parents before the trial) so I went there knowing I’m going to get x amount and then didn’t get paid it. It’s now been 4 weeks later and still no help. According to them it’s my problem because Ronel Maartens is ignoring them and I must handle it. They can’t do their job so now it’s my problem. Keep in mind I would never have been there without them and now they choose to not be part of the process. It’s ridiculous. They don’t care about you. They care about their placement fee. They care about themselves. I had to be the one constantly checking in with Amy Lee and she always gave me the cookie cutter chatbot answers, I am beyond shocked at the experience. Another interview I went to the parents complained the previous aupair they placed was on drugs and left their child. I don’t know what on earth they do all day except post TikTok’s but it’s not look out for you as an au pair or the family. They won’t pay me my money because they are an “introduction agency only” why am I then not handling the money talk myself or the contracts. I found it so odd how now all of a sudden they refuse to take responsibly for the line up of experience they put ME through. Up until a week ago they still had her listing up looking for their next victim to push into that awful family. But they told me they won’t bother with her anymore and have “blacklisted” her weeks prior. They lie so much they can’t keep up no wonder they don’t have time for working or your problems as an au pair. I chose to be represented by a company to be safe at an agency and avoid any drama and have someone look out for me. Safe to say this is not the agency where you will be looked after.