PREGNANT LADY FORCED TO PAY EXTRA $3000 TO REPLACE HER MAID FROM HELL

Dear ASS Editors,

This incident is about an maid agency. I feel so cheated by them and do not want this to happen to others. And since the maid agency is not helping me in any way, this is the only way for me to ask for help. In January, I hired a maid from "d'absolute maid agency". I'm a first time employer. This maid was highly recommended by their agent ms dena.

First of all, when this maid entered my home, on the first day, I noticed that she had several cuts on her arm. When I asked her, she claimed that she had a quarrel with her husband before coming to Singapore to work. I felt sorry for her and brushed away that issue, not thinking much about it. After about a week, I started to come to my senses, this maid may have depression etc, and my 2 year old child is under her care, what if she does something to him ?

So I decided to inform the agent. The reply from them was that they did not notice this when she was there and that the doctor whom checked her also did not say anything and that if this was a big deal, they told me to bring her to the agency to settle. I was 9 months pregnant at that time btw. My hubby told me lets not blow up the issue. Then throughout the next few weeks, she gave me a lot of problems. She kept demanding for a lot of things, like shampoo, body soap, whenever I bought her something, she will say it's not suitable and will ask me to buy another one etc. Out of goodness, I always gave in to her. She will also eat my food like biscuits, coffee, my son's biscuits, chocolate milk etc without asking. I always never said anything since she's human after all. She was only allowed to use phone once a week and did not want any off days according to her contract.

Then one day, after a hectic shift, when I returned, she started demanding for using the phone everyday and wanting off days, otherwise she wants to transfer! I was seriously surprised. When i called the agent, he simply told me that if I wanna send her back, I need to buy her air ticket. That was all. He did not even sympathize that I'm heavily pregnant and my baby was gonna be due anytime soon.

This caused me so much stress and I started having premature contractions. The maid always gave me problems like talking back, work also half past six. Cooking was terrible, had to eat for the sake of it. I kept quiet for everything Becoz she still took care of my son well. And I was due anytime so could not afford to change to another maid. So I have in to her demands and gave her phone to use everyday and even topped up for her for free when she finished it. I did everything out of good will Becoz I had to entrust her with my son and could not make her upset as I was afraid she might do something to him if I'm not around, given the fact that she had cut her hand and all. I was actually quite afraid of her.

What to do, we employers are at the mercy of these maids as we leave our children with them. And with my baby along the way, I really had no choice, so soon after wards, I delivered. she soon started her drama again, that she was very tired, her body pain, her hands pain when washing my toilet, headache etc. I sympathized with her again and bought her a better brush and hand gloves to wash toilets and gave her panadol to ease her pain. Never once did she have to care for my baby as I was only maternity leave and everything for my baby. She only had to handle my boy who is a very obedient boy. She pretty much did not have much work to do and always took afternoon naps for about 3 hours.

So anyway coming to the main issue her. After 3 months working for me, she suddenly came up with the story that her son was very sick. Then she told me she has visitors from India who have come to see her and are under my block ! Then she asked them to come up to my house. Frankly, these 2 women looked very intimidating, but still, I never said anything, then suddenly 1 of them demanded me to send her back to india for 10 days to take care of her son.

I did not see this coming at all as my maid never once mentioned that she wanted to go back. I was very upset tat my maid did this, as I trusted her. Then I told her that I will inform her agent who then simply told me ok. My maid also said that she will go back and see the situation if whether she can return back ! the agent just told me to send her to the airport myself and that's it. Did I mention I had an infant and toddler at hand And yet they did not offer any help at all ! Also nvm fine. When I asked them for replacement, they told me to wait for 1 wk as they are expecting a new batch of maids. After which whenever I called them, they never picked up and never bother to reply my whatsapp properly.

Once, i managed to get through their office number and their helper picked up. After which the agent messaged me telling me that they have clients to attend to and what do I want ? Seriously?? After I have paid her $2000 plus already, I'm no longer their client !?! then after another wk, I messaged her again about the replacements. When she finally replied, she told me I need to pay $3000 plus now for the replacement. Now where am I gonna go for the money ? When I asked her why do I need to pay again so much, she simply just went offline. i feel so cheated and went through a lot of stress due to their maid and the agency. And still going through post natal depression. Feel so down and upset and struggling to look after my kids myself. So the money that I paid the agency is for what ??

To go through 4 months of hell with their maid and no help from them and now need to pay so much again for replacement ? Nowadays maids have so much backup. What happens to innocent employers like me ? Where's the justice ? Even when I called the MOM, they could not do much. Feeling really at a loss now. I don't want this to happen to others and thus I have mentioned the agency and the agents name.

Meena
A.S.S. Contributor