Diego F. (Spain → France): a locked-in family, no way out
Diego calls out an abusive clause that trapped him. Leaving a placement follows a procedure, not a phantom rupture: notice, notice period and a legal frame. This is what every au pair should know before signing.
Paris, France · 4 months
About this story
Illustrative, composite story: it features an anonymized character and exemplifies situations commonly faced by au pairs — it does not present itself as the verified, identifying testimony of one private individual.
Learn more about our content methodologyPrepared & fact-checked by AuPair Connect
An illustrative, anonymized au-pair scenario. Every money and legal figure cited is checked against official data by the AuPair Connect Compliance Team.
Learn about our editorial methodologyWhat does this story tell?
His contract contained a clause making exit almost impossible: abusive penalty and no written procedure.
An abusive clause in an au-pair contract does not make it valid — it should be challenged, not silently endured.
Diego prepared his exit within the framework: written notice, notice period, then a new family with a better-drafted contract.
Pocket money in France
€326.25–391.50/month board & lodging included (EU/EEA, foreign family-aid trainee) · €320/month minimum (non-EU/EEA, young au pair).
✔ The Compliance Team verified on 2026-09-13 · official data
In pictures
“How to recover”: leaving a placement by procedure, not by running away
When a placement is not working, the exit follows a procedure: written notice, a notice period and, most often, support to find a new family. Nothing should happen “into the void”. The exact steps (rematch, notice, the role of platforms) are detailed in our guide and cross-checked against official legal data — no abusive clause should hold you in by force.
Read the rematch guideWhat worked and what was hard
A clause that blocks all exit is a warning sign. Leaving an au-pair placement follows written procedure, a notice period and the legal frame — never a phantom rupture.
Illustrative story (anonymized composite character), prepared and verified by the AuPair Connect Compliance Team. No identifiable private individual is depicted and this story does not replace official data.
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