[momlooks4pink]

I am hoping to compile a list of IMPORTANT questions to ask your prospective agency. I have seen list on different web sites, but I am not looking for standard questions, I am looking for the questions that you wish you would have known to ask. Questions to know if this is the agency that will work best for you.

THANKS

[wannabamom]

After being through a confusing experience, We think we should have asked about changing countries and $$ transferring to other country even if the country did not close. Our Friends went through a bad experience at our agency, but there was nothing about changing countries in the contract. And even if they had not done anything with the Dossier docs. given to them, once they signed and gave money and brought the Dossier Docs home, and two days later changed their mind, the agency would not transfer any of the money to the other country of their choice!!!!!! so, I would definitely ask all the rules, and if not comfortable, then question it even more, although we don't have all that rope when we step into adoption or anything where we're desperate and vulnerable!!!!!

Good luck,

[dspakowsky]

I would contact your prospectiove agencies a few times and see how long they take to reply. Leave a message at night or an e-mail on the weekend. If they're slow to respond for a prospective client, imagine how bad they would be once you sign on.

Also, ask them what their average timelines are. Then post to a group like this and see what feedback you get on those same agencies. Of course an agency will only give you good references, so reach out to additional forums. Yahoo Groups has a couple good Guatemalan groups.

I would suggest you ask if they have a gag clause. If they do, I wouldn't work with them.

Of course... how often do they provide updates???

Just my 2 cents - don't be discouraged by smaller agencies (as long as they have experience) - the ones without all the fancy brouchures and DVD's. I choose a smaller agency and my costs were a lot lower because they don't have as much overhead.

All the other question that come to mind are on the lists you can find on-line.

[baybeeboy]

I absolutely would not recommend my agency to anyone,.... ever! There are a bunch of things that we are finding out now that we wish we would have known then.


One good thing is to post your possible choices here and ask for opinions. This is a great source of information that I really wish that we would have found pre this process. It may also give you some information about the agency that the agency wishes you didn't know. Of course the references that they give you are going to be people that were completely satifisfied with their experience. Ask them how many of these references just RECENTLY finished their adoptions.

Ask them to give you a list of the past 20 (or so) adoption timelines. For instance, how long from the time the family was "paper ready" were they holding their child at home. If they hem and haw about giving that to you, that should be a flag.

Ask for a couple of the attorney's names that the agency deals with and again, post them here to see what kind of feedback you get. There are a couple that you definitely want to avoid.

Ask them about any "hidden" charges (postage, FedEx, etc..), and ask them to PUT IT IN WRITING if it isn't already addressed in their contract.

Best of luck in making a very difficult decision. Just take your time to do the research, because it can actually save you time in the end.

We wish that we had..... check out this timeline.

[MNStarr]

I absolutely loved our agency. For us they were exactly what we were hoping for. They were available 7 days a week and there was always someone there to take our calls. We went with a larger agency. Some questions to ask are:

What is their criteria for visiting?

Our agency allowed us to only visit once after DNA had came back.

Fostering?

I know some agencies allow you to stay down there and foster yourself, ours was completely against it.

Travel?

Do you travel by yourself? All of our traveling was done in groups with translators and a member of our agency. They booked everything for us and took care of everything. Since we visited and traveled for the pick up this was really great. They would run and get us take out from restaurants, go to the grocery store, market..you name it.

Costs

Make sure to know exactly what their cost includes. Some agencies sound much higher but others give you a lower number and then list stuff as additional like travel. Make sure you know so you can compare.

Listing photos

Another thing our agency had us agree to do was we were not allowed to post her picture on the internet or in any way until it was completed. While it can be so exciting to want to show them off check and see what their policy is.

Overall I wouldn't compare too much on timlines. Timelines vary and most of it is out of the agencies hands, things can happen. I would be more concerned that if something were to happen (like a delay) how do they handle it. Do they call you and let you know? Are they going to do all they can if something comes up? HTH.

[jaymo]

One question that I asked but did not get a 100% truthful answer to is: How many adoptions have they done/completed IN YOUR STATE? This can be a big deal as different states have different laws and they may not know the laws in the state that you live. And ask for references in your state and talk with them.
I say this because our agency told us that they have been doing adoptions from Guatemala for "years" and, while this is true, we are their FIRST living in Hawaii which posed some problems. I don't mind being the first, someone's gotta be, I just wish that they had not "stretched" the truth and told me up front.
That would be the only addition that I would have to what other posters have said and remember that this forum is a great resource.
Good luck, Maura.