All About Full-Time Maids

[winth]

titank:

Hi All,


Anyone know how much it cost to install CCTV where we can monitor the maid if we have internet access? Preferable concealed type so that the maid won't know where we placed.

Hi titank,

Actually the idea is that you should have your CCTV openly displayed for purpose of preventing the act from happening, so that she will work hard and not play around. Having it concealed, you are just trying to catch her 'in the act' but all harm is already done even when you do catch her.

For us, we have 4 CCTVs. 2 in the living room, 1 in the kitchen, 1 outside main gate. The maid is told about cctv before she works here. And I told her there is a concealed one in my master bedroom. But actually dun have that 'concealed' camera, it just to scare her so that she knows we mean business. Plus she can already see the physical CCTVs in the whole house.

I think the whole set cost around $1K.

[titank]

[quote]Hi titank,


Actually the idea is that you should have your CCTV openly displayed for purpose of preventing the act from happening, so that she will work hard and not play around. Having it concealed, you are just trying to catch her 'in the act' but all harm is already done even when you do catch her.

For us, we have 4 CCTVs. 2 in the living room, 1 in the kitchen, 1 outside main gate. The maid is told about cctv before she works here. And I told her there is a concealed one in my master bedroom. But actually dun have that 'concealed' camera, it just to scare her so that she knows we mean business. Plus she can already see the physical CCTVs in the whole house.

I think the whole set cost around $1K.[/quote]
Oh I prefer to have it concealed so that can like Sniper style. So how you view the CCTV?From any PC with internet access will do?

[winth]

titank:

Oh I prefer to have it concealed so that can like Sniper style. So how you view the CCTV?From any PC with internet access will do?

Via internet access.
Just copy paste link, do the normal login and password thingy and you'll get screens of your home. There will be few seconds lag but I think that's nominal. You just see a maid who walks slower than normal

[honnie]

Hi Folks!


Need some advise. I am pretty new in engaging maid, thus need some help in setting me in the right direction.
I got to know a maid who is interested in working for me. She told me that her contract ended in Sept and now she is jus working on non-contract basis (Not sure how true is it?). She wish to "Fire" her employer and hop over.

Just wondering, if she really wish to do that, how do we even get started? I mean, what should i do? Go to her agency and treat her a as transfer maid case? What are the expected damage ($$$) involved?

Also, I also got some lobang from my bro’s maid that her cousins wish to come over to work. Do i need engage a maid agency for that as well? i mean, is it a must that i have to go thru a agency even thou i found e maid myself?

Thanks!

[baong]

honnie:

Hi Folks!


Need some advise. I am pretty new in engaging maid, thus need some help in setting me in the right direction.
I got to know a maid who is interested in working for me. She told me that her contract ended in Sept and now she is jus working on non-contract basis (Not sure how true is it?). She wish to \"Fire\" her employer and hop over.

Just wondering, if she really wish to do that, how do we even get started? I mean, what should i do? Go to her agency and treat her a as transfer maid case? What are the expected damage ($$$) involved?

Also, I also got some lobang from my bro's maid that her cousins wish to come over to work. Do i need engage a maid agency for that as well? i mean, is it a must that i have to go thru a agency even thou i found e maid myself?

Thanks!

Hi honnie,

this is my personal view only. Seems like the first maid is an 'old bird' who knows her way around working here already. If she can do this to her current employer, she can do this to you too if she finds another employer who can pay her higher or if any other reasons... Personally I will not take such maids as they are probably 'smarter' and harder to deal with and also probably not so commited working for you as anytime they can 'job hop' to another house just like the way this maid approach you. But of course what do you need the maid for? If its simple tasks, the maid might be happy working for you. And how well do you know this particular maid? Why does she not want to work for her current employer?

As for your brother's maid, its really better to do more checkings and interviews. Recommendations from your brother's maid does not mean that the cousin will be good. I have done application for one of my ex-maid myself and not going through any agent. But that's because I have got relatives from Indonesia to help me. So to save trouble, go to an agent and enquire. Like what I have mentioned earlier, do interview and talk to that maid and tell her your expectations, hire only if you feel very comfortable.

Good luck!

[peapot]

Hi! I totally agree with baong. Since you do not have any experience in getting a maid before, she may be too experienced for you.


Btw, I recently selected a maid from united channel employement agency in Bukit Timah, any comment about this agency? I was just wondering if its possible to take the maid biodata and pass to another agency to bring her in. Anyone has any idea?

I don’t quite like their service but my mom like this particular maid’s biodata, so I m quite reluctant to change maid. I have placed $50 to confirm this maid but I don’t mind to forgo the $50 to change agency.

[baong]

peapot:

Hi! I totally agree with baong. Since you do not have any experience in getting a maid before, she may be too experienced for you.


Btw, I recently selected a maid from united channel employement agency in Bukit Timah, any comment about this agency? I was just wondering if its possible to take the maid biodata and pass to another agency to bring her in. Anyone has any idea?

I don't quite like their service but my mom like this particular maid's biodata, so I m quite reluctant to change maid. I have placed $50 to confirm this maid but I don't mind to forgo the $50 to change agency.

Hi peapot,

If you are not happy with the service of the agent, I don't see why you should give them business. Actually whether you can get a good maid really depends on your luck and nothing else. I believe everyone(including me ) when selecting a maid would have think/consider/compare not only twice, maybe two hundred times before deciding and felt that we have made the right choice, but sometimes, the maid and our family just can't seem to have a right match. When such cases happened, the agent will come into the picture and to me its very important that they provide good after sales service. If you are not comfortable dealing with them even before you pay them the service charge and the loan, are you really sure this agent can serve you should you have any problem with the maid later on?? Now that you have made the deposit, why not try to run a few more agents and see if you could find another suitable bio as well as an agent you are comfortable dealing with? Relax, try not to rush into a decision

As for your other question, I do know that maid agencies take bios from each other and try to market the bios, coz my agent does that. But problem is you do not know who they work with so unless you are very lucky, to chance upon their partner, I don't think you can bring the same maid in via another agency. But who knows you may be lucky. Like I said, I think you should go to a few more agents and look around a little

Cheers!

[thebusybee]

My MIL just discovered my maid's been meeting an Indian man at the market frequently.


MIL's been suspecting it as our maid will on and off asked for money from ILs to buy things like garlic, onion, as an excuse to leave the house.

Earlier this morning, my MIL saw this man followed them to the market food centre while MIL's with my SIL, my maid and 3 kids. After that my MIL went to the market stall owners to check out, confirmed that people there have seen my maid meeting/talking to this man many times, even when she's walking my son!

Few months back, she claimed she has lost our house keys while on the bus, after some lecturing and telling her the consequences, her story changed and the keys miraculously appeared! We now worry that she had passed the key to this man (apparently he's staying nearby) We intend to change another pad-lock to be safe from now on.

We are planning to talk to her after I get home tonight.

Can anyone advice an effective approach to talk to her? What are the areas we should focus on?

She has not given any trouble so far, we are satisfied with her works and intend to extend her after 2 years. (She's with us since Jan '09)

[Lynn2]

Baong


well said.

Just wonder, what is the difference between we getting the bios via agent send her and view the bios there ourself.

Do you think we are able to see better datas in the agency itself rather they shortlist based on our citeria?thanks


rgds

baong:

peapot:

Hi! I totally agree with baong. Since you do not have any experience in getting a maid before, she may be too experienced for you.

Btw, I recently selected a maid from united channel employement agency in Bukit Timah, any comment about this agency? I was just wondering if its possible to take the maid biodata and pass to another agency to bring her in. Anyone has any idea?

I don't quite like their service but my mom like this particular maid's biodata, so I m quite reluctant to change maid. I have placed $50 to confirm this maid but I don't mind to forgo the $50 to change agency.

Hi peapot,

If you are not happy with the service of the agent, I don't see why you should give them business. Actually whether you can get a good maid really depends on your luck and nothing else. I believe everyone(including me ) when selecting a maid would have think/consider/compare not only twice, maybe two hundred times before deciding and felt that we have made the right choice, but sometimes, the maid and our family just can't seem to have a right match. When such cases happened, the agent will come into the picture and to me its very important that they provide good after sales service. If you are not comfortable dealing with them even before you pay them the service charge and the loan, are you really sure this agent can serve you should you have any problem with the maid later on?? Now that you have made the deposit, why not try to run a few more agents and see if you could find another suitable bio as well as an agent you are comfortable dealing with? Relax, try not to rush into a decision

As for your other question, I do know that maid agencies take bios from each other and try to market the bios, coz my agent does that. But problem is you do not know who they work with so unless you are very lucky, to chance upon their partner, I don't think you can bring the same maid in via another agency. But who knows you may be lucky. Like I said, I think you should go to a few more agents and look around a little

Cheers!

[icycandies]

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie in terms of hiring maid.

My main concern now is that I have no extra room to let the maid sleep in. I stayed with my parent in law and my sister in law in a 5 bedroom. The 3 bedroom are all occupied. There is no way my teenager sister in law is going to share her room with the maid.

I have check with the agency, and understand that MOM ruling don’t really allow maids to sleep in the living room. Is this a real concern? I have my 2nd baby coming along in march, so I really need help.