Posted by
matsai
15 yrs ago
Can anyone suggest some ways to prevent a domestic helper from borrowing with money institution? Someone said I can lock away her passport? But is not that illegal?
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it is illegal. but you might ask her to do that for her own benefit and if she agrees, you can still do it.
she might agree because then she will have a good excuse not to borrow money when pressed by her friends.
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Communicate with your helper. Talk to her about the risks. Be aware of her financial situation.
In the end, though, you'll have to trust your helper not to do anything stupid.
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Wow, everytime I read things concerning domestic helpers its as if the people asking the question thinks they are a slave owner. Im an American and yes I have a domestic helper, and yes in the past she has had loans. She paid them as they were supposed to be paid. I'm sure this is not the case all the time and I'm sure that occasionally DH don't pay and people start calling. If that happens then you deal with it accordingly, but if you think taking away your DH passport is a good idea, you better read the law, because you are seriously violating it. The fact is that people need money for many different reasons and domestic helpers are no different. In many cases they are more needy because of their situation in their home country where money is a lot harder to come by then in HK. Bottom line: I have loans, whoever wrote this post no doubt has loans and like it or not ( I have no idea why you wouldnt like it) DH have a right to have loans too. Stop worrying about it and ditch the idea of taking away your DH passport. Talk to her about responsibility, not if it's okay to chain her up when your not around to watch her.
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I subscribe to applegatesfree's thought, completely. Thanks!
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Just read this thread because a few minutes ago I had an extremely unpleasant experience:
A guy came to my door to deliver a letter for my helper and handing me his mobile phone after apologizing for not being English speaker. I asked him who was calling and he started shouting at me saying my helper owes money that she hasn't paid for two months and that it does not matter who he is!!!!
I told him this was none of my business and then handed the phone back to the delivery man telling him he had to go or I would call the guards. I am very annoyed with the all story of course, and am a bit worried of what might happen next!!!! I suppose this is their strategy. I called my helper who is out right now and told her off saying that I am taking this very seriously. She is on her way home now so we will see...
BUT, I have two children, our door is mostly open because come in and out, and if they came here once they might come again when I am not around..... I wouldn't consider at all taking her passport, it won't change anything. We had her for 6 years now, and did a few times in the past received letters for her claiming for loan payments.
Anyone out there with a similar experience? Am worried about people coming to my door, and the guy on the phone was really aggressive!
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While of course I can't guarantee there is no danger, I doubt a collection agent would actually hurt or threaten children, or go into your home. This would just lead to a whole raft of legal and media attention. That's the last thing they want.
If it is possible, tell the guards not to let these people in.
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Sensible point of view! Helper told me she actually hasn't paid for the last two years except from $500 last month after she received a number of letters???!!! She went on and on about having helped her best friend to go to Canada but the friend never sent her any money while they agree on $1000 a month.... i am not even sure I should buy the all story really. Very disappointing as we did regard her as a rather sensible helper and thought we had a good relation with her. Helped her financially in the past too with the death of one of her kid (that was a true story unfortunately), but looking back she seems to take all this for granted and consider we are the rich ones anyway... Might get a local part time next!
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mcaroline, your story is exactly why some helpers agree for the employer to keep their passports, so they will not be 'encouraged' on the weekend to borrow for their friends...
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Agree, they are "encouraged" by very forceful friends and say Yes to have face and show off their wealth. She probably thinks I should pay off her debt and it would be nothing for me, but we are not at all on an red-carpet type of budget even if we are rather well off.
She was in floads of tears this afternoon but has been very happily chatting all evening long with her friends on the phone, her favorite activity...
Am debating what would be the sensible thing to do.
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Have another talk with her about fiscal responsibility. Also tell her that you can hold part of her salary and send it to her loan shark yourself if she wants. That way she will never see the money.
Still, a tricky situation. Make it clear to her that if you cannot trust her to be responsible with money, this will cause problems. If the problems are too big a hassle for you, you might have to terminate her.
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