All About Full-Time Maids
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Anyone have a maid you wanna let go because you don’t need them anymore?
My mum is looking for a maid now cos I’m planning to start trying for #2, means my maid is staying home with me instead of going to my mum’s place on weekdays and I do my own housework. She needs a maid to do her housework and probably look after my brother’s soon-to-be son. Sometimes might need to help out with babysitting my boy too.
Prefer Indon or Burmese who can speak simple English. For Indon, no need to speak English cos we can converse in simple Bahasa Indonesia.
If you have, PM me. My mum hopes to interview the maid personally or at least through the phone. Thanks. -
anyone knows what is the best phone card to make budget IDD calls from Singapore to Philippines?
my fresh new maid is coming and i prepare to buy a calling card for her when she arrives.
anyone knows?
this is the #3 maid in a year. i promise later i will share what happened to my previous two maids. they were both transfer maids. -
liuhao:
The maids normally use starhub, has free smss... I think u should be aware that filipinas already know more than us what card to use even though they r told not to use h/ps. U can check with the money changer that sells calling cards or 711, they know best. Why dnt u wait till yr maid come in and size her up.,, She probably bot the card already.anyone knows what is the best phone card to make budget IDD calls from Singapore to Philippines?
my fresh new maid is coming and i prepare to buy a calling card for her when she arrives.
anyone knows?
this is the #3 maid in a year. i promise later i will share what happened to my previous two maids. they were both transfer maids.
My last 2 were transfered maids too...demanding and want to use h/p ,want freedom/ want to choose hse n employer? I like to hear yr story. -
i must say this is the most valuable thread i have ever seen about all the maid stories. i am trying to read all the stories now and have completed about 150 pages. i wish i could know here earlier and that could potentially help me avoid or solve many problems i have before.
while reading all these, i feel it's my responsibility to share my stories and hope it helps others. long story here it is:
i stay in a quite big 4 bedrooms condo. i have a 7 yrs old son and my wife in the house. both me and my wife working (7am-8pm). my MIL was temporarily staying with us one year ago taking care of my son (son went to childcare at that time) but she may leave anytime that's why we decided to get a maid to take care of my son and household chores.
maid #1: a 28 yrs old single Filipino transfer maid who completed 4 yrs/2 contracts with one previous employer. she is quite expensive (450 and 2 off days). because this is the first time we hire maid, we decided to get an experienced transfer maid because we can interview and talked to her and know her better before decide. besides we dont have time training her. First day she arrived, she give a shock to my MIL because my MIL found she worked for only one hour (simple tidy up things) then laying on bed to rest for another hour. so basically one hour work, one hour rest on bed. she is perfectly healthy and not really feeling tired though. my MIL believed she is testing our patience and response so simply give her a warning. after that she dared not to do that however she didnt like doing household chores and dirty works. my friends came to my house and comment our house is as messy and dirty as no maid. she didnt like stay in hot kitchen and cook either. however, she knows how to play with children and my son really likes her. she can take initiative to make small colorful cake with strawberry for my son, talk and play with my son as well. within one month, my son picked up the Filipino accent in his english speaking. i know many ppl dont like this but that was a sign that she really play and take care of my son. she likes to talk to us softly too and share her family stories. me and my wife was very very kind to her too. never scold or say no to her however because she really didnt like household chores. she always tried to cut corner and finish everything in quick and dirty way then smsing on her HP when my MIL is not in sight. because of that my MIL always got very angry and scold her. we spent lots of time talking to my MIL and hoped she can talk to the maid softly but as you know, old folks cant change and the my family quarreled a lot arguing how to handle the maid. it was very tiring and exhausted and everyone was not happy. by the time of 2 months, she told she could not bear my MIL anymore and asked to transfer, although me and my wife were super kind to her. me and wife felt sort of guilty (because my MIL) so give her full 2 months to find new employer which means every weekends she went out for interview and she can go to agents anytime as she liked. finally she found a new employer but that means during 4 months she stayed with us, 2 months was looking for new employer. i didnt feel she really appreciated us for that but on the day she left, she still cried and i know she said lots of good things about us to the agent and her friends. one thing i feel good about her is, although she has HP and sms a lot, she didnt not mix with friends/boy friends. she is quite mature maybe due to her early experience in SG (she told me the first day she arrived SG, her agent's husband tried to kiss her in the kitchen :shock: ).
lesson learnt from her is, a transfer maid who completed 2 contracts for a single employer still can go wrong. sometimes that does not necessarily mean the maid is good. it could because she was very very lucky to have an employer who can tolerate her for 4 years before.
with this lesson learnt in mind, we started to find maid who does not have too good experience before. maybe bad experience is even better, because she may find us very kind and appreciate. there comes my maid #2.
maid #2: a 23 yrs old single Filipino transfer maid who ran away to HOME from previous employer after 6 months due to ill treatments. the ill treatment she suffered included previous employer hold her salary (actually not much after loan deduction), forced her to use detergent to hand wash all clothes (her hands skin all peel off), forced her to lift water from public condo tap downstairs every day. she also has college degree but cheaper (370, 1 off day). till today, i still believe we made the right choice of her in the beginning, but managed her in the very wrong way.
because the guilty feeling we had for maid #1 and the ill treatment she received in her previous employer, we were very very kind to her. we treated her like treasure, never scold her, never say no to her, never let her lift heavy things. anything we can do, we wont ask her. we brought her to beach and restaurants. during interview, we asked if she has or plan to have a HP, she said no. but the first day she arrived, she said she bought a HP. we were not very happy (because it's agreed and previous maid keep smsing) but didnt say anything bad and allowed her to keep the HP (which is the biggest mistake). she got even better life after my MIL left our house 4 months later. she decide how to do household chores in whatever way she likes. she also got lots of free time in the house. during the day, only my 7 yrs old son stays at home in the morning then after maid sends him to school, she will be totally free. she took a nap and rest from 1pm to 3pm and go to her bedroom 9-10pm in the evening. in the morning, she does not have to get up till 7.30am. we bought birthday cake for her to celebrate, give her angpao and small gifts too. i can feel she is very very happy in my house and i am glad to see that.
she is a very quiet person in nature at least in front of us, responsible and do things in great details even when we are not around. she is very very good at household chores. our house has never been so clean. she does not cook very well but i see she has spent effort and time so never blame her. however, she is not good at playing with children and does not take effort playing with my son. most of time, she just went to do something else and left my son watching tv. my son is very very lonely at home, he never picked up any filipino accent from her since she seldom talks.
about two months ago (that is 6 months after she arrived), i setup a hide camera in my master room, because we will have a new infant end of this year and i was not very sure if this maid can take care of baby, so i plan to monitor her with the baby using the camera later, even for short while. then i notice lots of things from the camera. when we go to work in the day, she is talking over the phone ALL the time that means she is on the HP from 8:30am all the way to 6pm. in the evening, she will start her official HP session from 9pm all the way till sleep in 11pm. and she is NOT quiet at all. she speaks and laughs super loudly. she has been dancing and singing loudly all the time in the house, of course when we are not around. her behaviors look quite rude and i could hardly recognize her as my maid. of course, when we back home, she will be back to \"normal\", very gentle, and can keep quiet for weeks without talking to us. later one day from the camera, she was talking to a guy (most likely a foreign worker) in english over phone and \"hope to do two hours\" with him during her off day (the guy requested 1 day or 3 hours and she refused because she dares not to come back late in her off day, well, she was late anyway). she even asked the guy \"not to spend money on gals for her taxi fares since he comes here to work\" but did ask him to buy a sim card for her. later i found she has spend lots of money (350-400) on top up cards. i also found when i am at home, she actually plays hide and seek game with me and whenever i am not in her sight, she start talking over the HP. she also sometimes sneaked out of my house in early morning when we are asleep (5.30am) and quietly came back at 6.30am. she normally never wake up before 7am. she said she went out for walk but i highly doubt so because it was so dark outside.
with all these, in fact it does not affect her work on household chores. she is still quite responsible too. she is only getting quieter and quieter, staying away from us and seldom playing with my child. but i feel scared to leave her with my coming new born baby, even for 2 hours. i started to get insomnia during the night and it really gives me a hard time.
after some thinking, i believe i should confiscate her phone because i dont know what will happen along the way in 6 months. since she is still a good maid in front of us. know she will be super angry so i proposed to use things (new ipod, can watch TV, salary increase, free home phone to call home and a new laptop) to exchange her HP. she refused immediately. i asked her about why early morning she went out, she just instantly walked away and ignored me. i think its mainly because i have been very kind in past 8 months to her so she thinks there is nothing i will do.
talked to my agent and agent was shocked. immediately promised me a new maid as replacement. agent also went down to my house let her take her belongings in one hour and took her away. she was very very shocked seeing the agent coming but keep saying sorry to me. it was a heartbreaking moment because well in fact i still feel she is a good maid and for me, there is strong emotional attachment between her and my family, just due to the bloody HP (and partially, my bad management skills). i did give her chance to transfer. that was one week ago and till now, i still feel very very sad. later i heard from agent she has done one interview. employer feels ok but she refused because employer requests no HP.
lession learnt from maid #2: i will never ever allow my maid to have HP or off day no matter what.
to be continued... -
liuhao:
you may want to consider a pinoy card, if using a mobile as it is cheaper to call/text PH.anyone knows what is the best phone card to make budget IDD calls from Singapore to Philippines?
my fresh new maid is coming and i prepare to buy a calling card for her when she arrives.
anyone knows?
this is the #3 maid in a year. i promise later i will share what happened to my previous two maids. they were both transfer maids.
Else, we use those cratch cards from 7-11 as well. -
thanks but no, no HP will be allowed for my new maid. i am thinking about those budget IDD calling card that can use home telephone to call Philippines.
Andaiz:
you may want to consider a pinoy card, if using a mobile as it is cheaper to call/text PH.liuhao:
anyone knows what is the best phone card to make budget IDD calls from Singapore to Philippines?
my fresh new maid is coming and i prepare to buy a calling card for her when she arrives.
anyone knows?
this is the #3 maid in a year. i promise later i will share what happened to my previous two maids. they were both transfer maids.
Else, we use those cratch cards from 7-11 as well. -
Hi liuhao
May I know where we can get the hidden camera thing and is it clear enough to capture voices too? My trustworthy maid of 7 years also got these HP and boyfriend problems recently and I am thinking of using that to see what she is doing whenever I am out.
I suspect even if you specify no HP and off day right from beginning, they will somehow get hold of one or two phones and start using it without us knowing. I trusted my maid so much that I did not even know that she was using it so frequently when I am out until I have to secretly check her phone and was shocked to see calls/sms in/out morning, afternoon, nite until 12 midnite. Our house rule is that she can use HP at nite when all work done and kids settled but up to 11pm. The last time we confronted her, she demanded for every sunday off (currently 2 sundays off) if we keep her HP during day. Now she hides her pone and clear all the logs until I can’t check anything so I am thinking for the camera thing to see if she continues to use HP.
Actually, to chit chat for a while with friends is fine but the tendency is that they got overboard after a while esp if no one at home. And with young children at home, it is somewhat difficult to specify a time when she can "chit-chat" with her friend as children’s timing is unpredictable. -
the camera i got is from US. there are many types that look like whatever household appliance from appearance. it requires computer/IT knowledge to use. not plug and play type. but it captures great video and voice and record.
for me, the HP must be avoided at all cost. must state and communicate very clearly from day 1. and keep reminding her why this thing is so harmful to her and why she come to here (to work or to play or to find bf). whenever you notice the maid got secret HP, must talk to her and confiscate immediately. dont take any chances. i know with time going, maid will request HP and off day. i may consider to lose the rule but the HP and off day will NOT be given together. that means if maid has HP, no off day. if has off day, no HP. NOT and NEVER BOTH AT SAME TIME. otherwise, it's just matter of time she will get a bf or several bf. just matter of time. it will come sooner than later than you expect.
but then again, without HP, you have to find ways to keep her busy and make her life fun.
i think in your case, it's pretty hard and late already. once you leave the phone to her. she will use all the time. if she does not make call, other ppl will call her. timetable will not work for HP. that's a sure case. and there is no turning back until you change a maid.
my question is, even you have camera captured her using the HP, what can you do? now my maid insists on finding an employer who can grant her right of using HP. she does not mind go back home if can not find such employer. she was a very nice girl, very responsible, very hard working, and coming here to support her family. now got attached to the bloody HP and plan to give up everything for it. very sad isnt it?Breadandmuffins:
Hi liuhao
May I know where we can get the hidden camera thing and is it clear enough to capture voices too? My trustworthy maid of 7 years also got these HP and boyfriend problems recently and I am thinking of using that to see what she is doing whenever I am out.
I suspect even if you specify no HP and off day right from beginning, they will somehow get hold of one or two phones and start using it without us knowing. I trusted my maid so much that I did not even know that she was using it so frequently when I am out until I have to secretly check her phone and was shocked to see calls/sms in/out morning, afternoon, nite until 12 midnite. Our house rule is that she can use HP at nite when all work done and kids settled but up to 11pm. The last time we confronted her, she demanded for every sunday off (currently 2 sundays off) if we keep her HP during day. Now she hides her pone and clear all the logs until I can't check anything so I am thinking for the camera thing to see if she continues to use HP.
Actually, to chit chat for a while with friends is fine but the tendency is that they got overboard after a while esp if no one at home. And with young children at home, it is somewhat difficult to specify a time when she can \"chit-chat\" with her friend as children's timing is unpredictable. -
now i am getting my maid #3. she is a fresh new maid, mother with 1 yr old son, coming from iloilo Philippines. working as kindergarten teacher before. i am getting fresh new one because i am really really tired and sad about the HP issue i have from my previous two transferred maids. i dont believe a maid with HP can handle baby, not even my 7 yrs old boy. baby needs to sleep most of the time and i dont want to see maid smsing/talking over the phone beside baby cot. my baby will have nightmare in her dreams. if maid does that, she wont hear baby cry either. baby or toddler is someone that requires full attention.
if i dont have children at home, i dont mind maid using HP. however how many employers need to hire maid if they dont have children to take care?
i will make it very clear for her from day 1 (actually during phone interview already) that no HP is allowed. this is the rule #1 and if broken, there is no second warning, no chance of transferring, and she will be sent home. i will share my previous maid story with her so that she will know i really mean it.
rule #2: no bf/lover as well. i will not tolerate my maid just slept with a bangladesh during her off day then come back to feed my baby or touch my children and household items. no fking way! if broken, same as rule #1.
she is arriving next Tue. this is the first time i get a fresh new maid. holding my breath now… -
Hi liuhao, i have a filipino maid who has been with us for 14 months....We employed her cos she was Ex-sin 4 years. When we picked her up for the 1st time, we had agreed that no handphone until 6 months later...For these experienced maid, they will ask for off day and hp and so we accepted cos we wanted someone experienced....Within the 1st 3 months, she was really fantastic...doing her job nicely and we are very happy....the next moment she requested us to release the hp to her citing that she will only make calls/smses in the nite..we trusted her and so obliged...One day, while in her room, I saw the handphone switched on and immediately I meddle with it and realised she was actually smsing during the day...I was so pissed off and told her off badly..Her main responsibility is to look after our only 5 years old girl and the usual housekeeping and cooking... these maids are too smart to know our schedule too well and will always doing monkey things behind us whenever we are not around...Just few months back, we are supposed to send my girl for her voilin after her ballet class...But since my girl was not feeling too well that day, we decided to head home straight....U know what, my maid was putting on the earpiece and talking over the phone..I was very cool and just told her not to explain anything....Cos I knew their explanation will be nonsense and will make my blood boil and drives me up to the wall.. I dun wanna have a cardiac arrest cos of this ...
Just few weeks back, my DH was not able to fetch my DD from her preschool and asked the maid to do so....When I came home that day, my DD told me that auntie crossed the road when the traffic light is still RED..cos there are no car....I scolded her and she never even apologised..
Since I had recently quitted from the workforce to stay at home, she starts to buck up cos just in the beginning of June, I had told her if she is not keen to work, she can go back to the Philippines...We are only a small family of 3 ppl and 1 dog in the house..These experienced maid think they are smart and always try to do things their own way...
Everynite, all of us will be in the bedroom by 9.30 pm and she also did the same...I knew she rushed to bed as soon as us so to continue with her smsing lah....We had \"lose heart\" with these experienced maid...Its always better to have someone at home to supervise the maid....otherwise u really do not know whats up their sleeves....
During the interview they will promise u everything.....but few months into their job, they will start to request for \"priviledge\"....This happened to many maids...
Before this maid, we had got 1 fresh Filipino but she was homesick badly and requested to go back home after the 2nd month...Imagine she need to pay back the agent 20K peso for breaking the bond?? She do not have a hp and so I gave her my hp no. in case her family needs to talk to her....my goodness, her hubby always sms me asking for permission to speak to her wife every week! We even arranged for her to skype with her family every week.... I allow it thinking this will help her to overcome homesick...I was wrong...she kept crying every day and keep saying she missed her 3 young girl...
I hope u will get a reliable maid and stick to your rules...
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