All About Full-Time Maids

[mummy of 2]

peapot:

thks!! Didn't know Myanmar maid's passport take so long. How is Nation's service? I heard from some forum that it's terrible. I always wonder why some outlets has better service than others. Aren't all from the same boss? Its just like buying clothes from Zara, I get the same service regardless of which outlet I buy from. :?

So far I'm happy with their service. As someone rightly pointed out, it depends very much on the staff serving you.

[mrswongtuition]

peapot:

Thks Tamarind and MrsWong


By the way, Mrswong who is maid agency? Is yours also myanmar maid? so far, hasn't found a reliable maid agency. Sometimes, I feel that it seems easier to find maid than a good reliable maid agency. One who will not hide when there's problem with the maid.

I also realise you need to call them frequently to get updates on new bio-data and status of maid. Aren't they supposed to be calling us when they want business?

I used Asset at Hougang Green. I'll only recommend them if you intend to get INDONESIAN MAID.

Their service is good, but I think the training centres they hook up with for Filipino maids are terrible. Their Indon maids are good.

The story is like this:
My parents have been getting maids from Asset for quite some time (all along is Indon maid), so when I had to get my maid, we went there. Due to the fact that the maid's main duty was to look after baby, my hb decided to pay more & get a Filipino maid. But we changed 4 maids (stealing, lying, cheating - we have CCTV at home) & concluded that we wanted Indon maid in the end.

As the last Filipina maid was caught stealing (alot of money & jewellery), we sent her home immediately & I urgently needed a maid. So we went on a hunt for transfer maids since we can interview them personally too.

Went to every agency in Hougang Green. Found a suitable one at Nation, even brought my whole family (my parents & siblings) down to meet the potential maid to let her know what to expect. Confirmed & PAID agency fee for that maid & suppose to fetch her over after 3 working days (for Nation to process the paperwork). End up, Nation screwed up, delayed handing over the maid and I did not get my maid as promised. They wasted my time & effort! I waited 1.5 weeks from the day I paid for them to tell me that they can't give me the maid as they screwed up. Actually I found their agency fee way over my budget, but desperate at that time, we just accepted that we had to pay if we wanted that maid.

So we went back to Asset to look for a maid. The lady there knows what I want, so she recommended an Indon maid. Not much choice, we took her mainly because she fulfilled my criteria - worked in Msia for big family, has a son so she's motivated to work and she has a ready passport, which means she could come to SG within 2 weeks. But she arrived 1 week late due to a flood in Indonesia at that time. My agent quickly called us to inform us & asked if we wanted temporary help or not (those transfer maids waiting for new employers).

& when I had problems with the previous maids, the agent gave us very good advice & helped us alot too. They were prompt in answering my calls & overall I'm a happy customer They also called my maid at home a few times to check if they are coping well, whether the new employer treat them well or not, etc.

Getting a good maid really depends on luck.
I love my current maid alot & she going on home leave soon. She's so good that my parents bought her tonnes of presents to bring home (blender, DVD player, 10.1 megapix digi cam, 4 x 10kg DHL boxes of clothes to be sent via my mum's company courier, jewellery, etc). & my mum prepared a big angpow for her too.

[mrswongtuition]

BTW, my family had very bad experience with Myanmar maids, so we do not recommend Myanmar maids to our friends. Esp those that can speak Mandarin (yes, some of them come from villages that speak Mandarin).

[peapot]

Mrswong,


you not getting another maid since your current maid going off? Ya, I agree really depends on luck when it comes to maid. My current myanmar maid is with me for 3 years. She’s ok if you can close one eye to black face when she is unhappy, long rebonding hair till it reaches her waist, forgetfulness, not sure what to do if the situation has never occur before.

I think myanmar maid has all the traits of a Filipino and indonesian maid rolled into one. Sigh! I worry about indonesia maid because very hard to find a good one.

Btw, do you mummies wait till new maid pass the english test here first before buying air ticket for old maid to return home? I was told by agency that should be the way but air ticket prices going up and up with every passing day!! Also, I worry no seats available.

Headache!!! I can’t find one and yet still must worry about old maid’s air ticket! Sigh!

[mrswongtuition]

My maid is going on home leave She'll be back after 2 weeks. Agency advised us to get her to keep 2 months pay with us, in case she does not come back, we'll use that money to get a new maid. Anyway, I trust she'll come back as she needs the money to send her son to private school. After being with us, she become so KS also. Want to send her son to the best school too.

[Mrs Koh]

Hi


Had lots of experience with maid, good and bad ones.
My record, 15 maids over 5 year period. Prefer to conduct interviews on my own and get direct references from the employers. Also to save on expenses, I do my own application with MOM. Tis really easy with all these online transactions.

Current maid is with me for 4 years, thank goodness. She is good with children, very motherly in fact. Nag them to do homework, toilet trained my bb, matured and responsible.

Renewed her contract in 2008 before my no 4 comes along. She has 2 off days/month. But now, hv to let her go cos’ cannot agree on terms of employment. Am willing to give only 1 off day now. Tis’ tough for me to manage on those days she is off, esp now my hubby flying overseas almost weekly.

Am able to release her asap cos hv already engaged a freshie maid - only they willing to accept one off day per month arrangement.

Am helping her seek employment cos’ grateful to her for taking care of my kids and family.

Anyone interested, pl call me at HP 94873292.

[gsksp]

My frenz always said that I have luck in maid which I myself believe it too. For the 12 years I only have 2 maids in total and they went back

for good. Now I have a Myanmar maid and overall she is kind, patient and obedient. The disadvantage is communicate very poor and she cant understand English. She is a slow worker but willingly to learn. Whenever I give instruction to her, she does not know what I want... VOMIT BLOOD... :stupid:

[winth]

My current maid is from Myanmar and she’s a transfer maid, had personally interviewed her myself. Her English is reasonable and her attitude is always good. Sometimes I worry that my bad temperaments would ‘hurt’ her when I get too angry.


Overall, I am still happy with her service (she’s employed for 6 months with us). She’s very patient and hardworking and lives by her own standards of cleanliness. The house has been sparkling clean and she has been a great help when we moved our house couple of weeks back. She basically packed and unpacked all the stuff in the kitchen & storeroom & children’s clothes all by herself. My ex-tenant who was super-fussy with cleanliness even got my maid to help clean her new house for her. She gave her a big ang pow for that one-time job.

The only thing is that I think she’s much better at housekeeping than taking care of my boys. And my boys will ‘bully’ her too.

Oh, I got her from Best Homes at Thomson Plaza and was served by Jassy. Their service is quite good, compared to the many agencies I’ve stepped in when I tried to hire a maid at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre. Basically, I would go for the agency’s staff’s service, compared to the maids that they have (cos most share the same kind of maid portfolio). And for Best Homes, this agent basically laid down all house rules to her (before her employment) on my behalf (cos I was very fresh in hiring maids). The hire was rather fuss-free and efficient.

[peapot]

Actually quite true. If the staff service is good, it will entice you to get a contract with them. Agree about the bukit timah agency service.


I wonder sometimes whether is it because of age. If the maid finish her contract and she’s only 27 after working with you for 3 years, very likely she will want to go back or upgrade. If the maid is 30 years and above then likely will stay longer. Just like we tend to job hop when we are younger but stay put when we get older.

So, my criteria are age above 28 and single. I find it too tiring to keep training new maids eventhough its 3 years apart.

Btw, gsksp I think its because she don’t understand English and hence can’t figure out what you want. Try writing it down. Myanmar maids seem to read better than conversing.

Winth, don’t feel bad because I scream at my maid too. Imagine telling her the same issue over and over again for 10 times and she still gets it wrong. So, who can blame you. At one time, I resort to drawing. Ha…even now after 3 years she can still forget certain things and break my things. Have to close one eye. We need their help. Did you install a CCTV?

Mrswong, may I know how much you paid for the CCTV? Sim Lim sq shops quoted me 3 cameras with recorder and installation for $1200. I m not sure if its reasonable.

[mrswongtuition]

peapot:

Mrswong, may I know how much you paid for the CCTV? Sim Lim sq shops quoted me 3 cameras with recorder and installation for $1200. I m not sure if its reasonable.

My hb got wholesale prices cos of his job nature

If you want, can come my place & see the set we have (it's Korean made, not Taiwan). I think my hb can help you get cos he's helping another 2 mummies to get. If you need installation, it'll be done by my hb if it's simple. If complicated, then need to get licensed electrician (depends on how you want it).

3 cameras with recorder & installation is around that price for retail of Taiwanese set. If you want the Taiwanese set, think he can get better prices. Korean set is slightly more exp, but more stable. I'm not too sure about the details but my hb can demo & explain to you if you want