Posted by
Slammy
15 yrs ago
There are lots of threads on helpers and their debts but I couldn't find the answers I was looking for.
I just found out our helper borrowed $18,000. I'm not concerned about debt collectors chasing us. I would like to hear advice on whether it's possible to prevent such situations occurring?
1. Do you think it's wrong to keep the helper's passport?
One friend suggested this, because some of the loan agencies require the passport as collatoral in order to give a loan. It might also prevent a situation of a helper stealing from you and skipping the country.
2. Can you ask the helper to sign a letter, saying if they borrow from a debt collector, they break the terms of agreement with you and will be fired?
These, to me, sound like drastic measures, so I'm just wondering how other people approached the matter with their helpers, to try and stop them borrowing money they can't pay back, or borrowing from dubious sources.
Thanks!
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you cannot impound the passport of the DH. the only thing you can do is to ask her to surrender it voluntarily. this might also help them as sometimes on their sunday gatherings, they are pressured into supporting a 'friend' for a loan. having no passport means, they have a good excuse towards their friends.
btw, i think all - not just some - require a passport for a loan
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1. Do you think it's wrong to keep the helper's passport?
Wrong and illegal.
2. Can you ask the helper to sign a letter, saying if they borrow from a debt collector, they break the terms of agreement with you and will be fired?
As cara says this is none of your business. She can borrow as much as you like as long as it does not affect the job. If it affects the job, you can fire her.
.
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Good point, Beancurd, and it's true that it's not really an employer's business if their helper wants to borrow money. I suppose we can only give advice to be careful. It also, for once, makes me glad I don't live in a village house or an old building which is a lot less secure than our apartment block with security guards and staff making every stranger sign in at the front door.
Thanks for your feedback.
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KoMo
15 yrs ago
Sorry to sway from the original post about keeping a passport, but why are employers so worried about helpers getting loans (asking out of ignorance I know). An employer can't be held responsible for this can they?
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No they can't, but they can face a lot of hassles from the collectors when the loan repayments are not made.
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should add to kenwins post that such hassle can include threats to the employer and their kids
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Apart from hassle from collectors, many employers have had to let go of good helpers because they are mired in debt and thus chased by collectors.
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Yes, when you have infant children, the last thing you want is any form of trouble!
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KoMo
15 yrs ago
Scary but true, thanks. So besides simply asking your helper to not take out any loans, and if it is illegal to hold onto a passport, is there any other way of preventing such behavior besides simply the 'trust' factor?
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There is not.
Trust should not be underestimated though.
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As Cara pointed out, it's not really fair to prevent someone from taking out a loan.
At best, you can educate the helper and warn her about loan sharks and unregistered finance companies. If it's true that some of the loan sharks ask to keep the helper's passport until the loan is paid, then I would absolutely warn my helper NEVER to hand her passport to ANYONE!
And I would tell her NEVER to borrow money for someone else!
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I was told that with their ID card, they can borrow $7K max but with a passport, it's $18K. Yes, it's none of our business if they want to borrow money. The real problem is their ability to repay the debt. On a basic salary of $3580, how can they repay a $18K loan? It's just not possible so that's why a lot of employers would opt to ask the helper if they would mind keeping their passports for them for benefit of both parties, although illegal.
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Those are practical reasons, but they aren't good reasons. The helper is an adult and should be treated as such. If she can't act like an adult, you can warn her and if worse comes to worst fire her. Her responsibility.
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