Hi sophi, if the agents are pushy, something is fishy.
We found an agent in 2012 online & she was highly recommending a young Myanmar gal whose passport state 24 (the truth is she is barely 18 yo). Agent said this gal's ex employer sent her back to agency because they dun need a helper anymore after a month. The young gal looks innocent so we hired her. Within 2 days we realised our grave mistake. She cant cook, do laundry, etc. Worse, she tells lies & talks on the phone every night with her bf. I rang agent and she confessed that this gal's ex employer dun want her because she is a hinder more than help. We endured for 1 year 10 months before sending her back to Myanmar.
My next helper from Indo is worse than Myanmar & I sent her away after 10 months. Besides telling lies, she blames my MIL for every wrongdoing she did & pushes a black face everyday. Everything is also my MIL's fault not hers. She came with 1 bag and left with 7-8 bags. This Indo's agent is an elderly man & was recommended by my uni fren. I thot he could be trusted when he strongly recommended this Indo woman. Wrong! Only trust your own instincts.
My current Filippino helper is from Sincere Maids. I interviewed her personally over the phone few times despite bad telco connection. Agent Fanny tried to gather info about her too & gave her opinion. I prayed about it before hiring her. Thank God she is a real blessing to my family & we adores her.
Lesson learnt. Trust our own instincts and talk to helper before hiring.