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helper didnt come back
Posted by good-day (31 days ago)
My helper asked me last week, very short notice, if she could go home as Aunt had a stroke. I believed her and off she went. As we were on vacation, too, I didnt mind her not being there.
Now, we returned home last night and she was supposed to be back on Wednesday! She hasnt returned, neither has she called us.
I asked some off my friend's helper, who she is in contact with regulary, and now I have reason to believe that she never went to Philippines but to Canada or the UK.
First I was angry, then shocked, then very disappointed.
But to keep our life running, we are both working, I need urgently a new helper. BUt this is one thing, the actual question I have is what I should be doing first.
Obviously it was her who broke the contract, but she hasnt signed anything, or left any note for us.
How to proceed?
Any ideas?
thanks much
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Posted by Susie1 (31 days ago)
I think you have to report her missing to the police and immigration, just in case anything has happened to her. Has she taken all her belongings? and have you checked all your belongings. I am sorry she has gone and left you in the lurch, maybe you can ask immigration about the part time chinese helpers, to assist you.
Until you hear anything I would stop any standing orders at your bank, if that is how you paid her.
Posted by Wiz Bang (30 days ago)
did she leave a contact number ? what did her friend say?
i would also consider changing the door locks. she knows your schedules and could sneak in and retrieve her stuff or even ask a friend to do so for her.
inform police and immigration and most importantly inform the philippine consulate so she wouldnt come back to you with some absurd story of abuse and neglect or something similar.
for all we know, she is in hong kong and staying with a friend or something.
Posted by hkwatcher (30 days ago)
You need to report this to the immigration Dept asap and also the Phil consulate.
When you report her to Immigration that she has breached your contract and not returned, then you state the reason why you have terminated her. If you are sure she left you to go to Canada in this way, they will write a memo on her file and in future should she try to work again in HK, the immigration dept will say to the unsuspecting new employer there was a problem the last time she was in Hong Kong although they may not say exactly what that problem was to the employer since it isn't against the law. Good luck. If you can find a girl who was released for financial reasons or just completed a contract, you can hire someone quicker than is you bring them from the Phill or Indonesia which takes about 2 months, although the Immigration Dept may take pity on you for the desertion of the girl and process you quicker than others. Good luck
Posted by Nickki Leung (29 days ago)
Sorry to hear your case. It's much shocking than mine. I agree with Susie1, Wiz Bang and hkwatcher. I think to inform the Immi Dept. and change all your door locks are the first priorities. I don't know if she use your address for the cell phone bills. i had one experience that no matter how many times you inform the cell phone com. that she is no longer working with you and she is gone, the phone bills just keep coming back to you and they never stop or suspend the use of phone no, even the bills 're not paid. ( as if they, the phone company is deaf or blind.) That's why please keep all the documents from Immi.dept after your report of disappearence. The cell phone bill is accumulative and can roll up into over thousand of dollars. (esp. if she use it to call long distance.) I finally just returned each of those letters marking ' no such a tenant' on the envelope for 6 months. And the last one was from a certain legal fim representing the cell phone co. which was addressied to the tenant of my address that i opened to find out the bill was over
$1,200. already.
Posted by Craig Shergold (29 days ago)
Aunt had a stroke
Mother died
Father in hospital
Granny had her glands expressed
sounds familiar ?
Posted by punter (29 days ago)
Got kidnapped? Affected by the typhoon? Got sick? Died accidentally?
But definitely report to police, immigration, and labour department.
Posted by IslandHopper (28 days ago)
punter is spot-on: excuses are likea**holes- everyone's got one and all they stink.
Equally do stink boys who cry wolves all the time...
Posted by maxis (28 days ago)
for safety and peace of mind, report to police in case something bad has happened to her.
Posted by Susie1 (26 days ago)
Gooday Hi, did you ever find out what happened to your helper?
Posted by Nickki Leung (26 days ago)
Yes, Goodday, it's been almost a week, did she contact you or did you find out what happened to her? it's kind of worrying some one just disappeared.
Posted by good-day (26 days ago)
HI, thanks for worrying,
she hasnt come back but after talking to some of her friends and some neighbour helpers, I found out that she apparently has left to the UK for studying! Thanks, apparently everyone knew and I was last.
So, I went to the Labour division department today, opened a case towards her. Just to make sure that she wont be able to claim any missing monies when ever coming back..
Now we are in the process of hiring someone new. and I truly hate it. Every interview makes me more and more angry to my 'exhelper' who brought us in this situation..
If any of you knows of a helper, let me know.. send me a pm. thanks again
Posted by Wiz Bang (26 days ago)
whatever reason, i think she should have the courtesy and decency to at least tell you first hand.
make sure your locks are changed.
good luck on your search
Posted by Susie1 (26 days ago)
Hi good-day, I'm really sorry about that, what an inconveinience for you having to go through the process of finding a new helper now, it really makes you think if maybe you could trust another helper. Yet another example of these people 'using' trusting employers for their own gains, I had a feeling that is what she may have done, but there was always the off chance she may have come to some harm.
I wonder how she is going to pay for her studies in the UK! not very cheap there.
When she is qualified at whatever, she won't be able to stay in the UK, they are getting tougher on immigrants, at least Hong Kong will not have her back now.
Posted by Craig Shergold (26 days ago)
There now appears to be a trend for Phil helpers to go to UK and other Euro countries to work as domestic helpers, but on an illegal basis. Earns a great deal more than what they get in HK.
latest excuse I heard: second cousin abducted by aliens !
Posted by Susie1 (26 days ago)
Well I don't know what these girls will use for excuses next, they certainly make up some good stories to suit themselves. But if they have gone to UK illegally, god help them, because there are some very unscrupulous people who will get them to do the most menial of jobs, being a helper in HK will be a distant very good,luxurious memory to them, lots of these illegals have a 'gang master' who is far worse than any pimp. Does anybody remember the illegal 'Chinese'Cockle pickers who drowned a few years ago in Morecombe, they got paid 'pennies" for standing in the cold sea all day, their living conditins were squalid, until 21 of them died. The rest approx another twenty who survived were deported after spending time near to death in the hospital.Illegal immigrants are deported all the time by the UK, and the government is tightening regulations.
Posted by punter (26 days ago)
Terribly selfish helper!
Posted by good-day (25 days ago)
Hey you all,
thanks all for your moral support. I ve been very angry lately and very very disappointed. It is not easy to explain to my two kids what had happened. One side of me wants to tell them what a bitch she is for leaving us like this on the other side I cannot- and didnt do that. They should still respect her for the kind of person she was around them and shouldnt feel abondend.
Arggg, but reading all your replys has made my day so far.
I decided to take it very easy with choosing one, also, if that involved cleaning and ironing :-) - but I like the fact to be alone during the day with noe one around me. busy but nice. so far..
Thanks again
Posted by dadda (25 days ago)
wait for the debt letters & phone calls to start rolling in. We had a helper do this & within a week we had debt collectors chasing us, calling all day & night - even had a death threat to my wife as debt collector said we now 'owned' the debt.
I hope you are lucky, but from my 8 years experience in HK I know what usually follows..
Report to the police immediately, report to immigration & KEEP those reprts handy. Will need them to get the debt collectors off your back. trust me!
Posted by Nickki Leung (25 days ago)
I considered myself lucky. After the letter from the Legal firm, I sent it back once again putting down 'no such a tenant' on the envelope and they finally stopped mailing all the bills. Don't forget during the 6 months i had written fax to PCCW 4 times (i still hold on to the copies) talked with their representives several times, i faxed them the confirmation letter from immi.dept. and the bills just kept coming. It's annoying and shocked when the bill accumulated over a thousand dollars.
Good-day, so sorry you have to go thru the interviews, the whole process to find a new one. i just lost faith after my ex-helper left for Canada and i don't think i would border with all the hassles again. Just don't jump into hiring 'anyone' 'anybody' at this moment cus both of you are working and you need one urgently. If you don't mind having no live-in dh, may be you can contact ayuchan, see if ayu can introduce a local part-time lady for you. Some of those ladies can understand simple english words.
Posted by Nickki Leung (24 days ago)
Craig, you should read my story which i posted in my thread about 20 hours ago, how good they are making all sorts of excuses. The latest one you posted here are so absurd and rediculous, omg, these gilrs are really full of imagination.
Posted by Susie1 (24 days ago)
Nicky I think Craig was joking when he posted 'taken by Aliens" as an excuse helpers use, he was just making a point that they will use any old lie as an excuse,which they will.
Posted by Nickki Leung (24 days ago)
Yeh, Susie, you are right. Craig wanted to state out the helpers can use up all kind of excuses, most probably the excuses spread over one by one when they get together during the day-offs.
Posted by IslandHopper (24 days ago)
" Craig wanted to state out the helpers can use up all kind of excuses, most probably the excuses spread over one by one when they get together during the day-offs."
Have you ever heard the proverd "When in Rome, Do As the Romans Do "
I mean excuses are a widespread habit in HK - especially when it comes to payments. I hear them on a daily basis.
Like "i was traveling and could not write a check". Man, I did not ask for a check, but a payment and you know my account number....
I wonder where this very same excuse spreads - probably they share it during their days off in when they gather in shopping malls.
Posted by punter (24 days ago)
In my office, some staff use excuses too: (1) I'm sorry I will be late because of traffic, (2) I'm sorry I can't come in today I have a tummy ache, (3) Head ache, (4) Son/daughter is sick, (5) Home is flooded, (6) Father/Mother is sick, etc.
Some also apply for other jobs while still employed (without telling the boss).
These kind of activities/excuses are all to common in the workplace, FDHs are no exception.
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