helper used my mom's prepaid phone card to make international calls

I found out that my mom's card ran out of money so quickly, so when i add money to it in the store i asked what are the calls. The cashier checked and told me calls were made to an international number.


I don't think officially one can get records of prepaid phone cards in smartone's service center and other phone stores i checked, they told me they couldn't get the call history. somehow, this store can, i don't know why.


anyway, the number is a phillipines mobile, made on the day when my mom and I are out of hong kong. it costed about $150


I asked my helper if she has used my mom's phone, she said innocently that she always used her own phone. I didn't tell her that I knew which day she called and to what number, i was hoping that she would just admit it.


I feel very angry that she lied to me, and probably she knew the store can't track call history, that's why she deliberately steals in this way. i'm her first employer in HK, she worked for me for less than 1.5 years, seems she learned how to cheat quickly


I trusted her before and she offered me to check her luggage before leaving for phillipines for holiday, which i didn't.


If i fire her, do i need to give her one month salary for breaking the contract? or is my evidence enough to fire her with out the one month salary?


now i'm very disappointed at philipino helpers, don't know if i'll get an honest one next time.

don't know why u say the number cannot be trace. definitely the service provider can trace it, Gee, this is one of the ways to solve crimes by the policemen...


If i were u, I will call the Labour department first before any action, and from now on, keep all your valuables safe - lock them up.


The phone at home shouldn't have any IDD service.. and think if u would like to keep her or rid of her

amparo i believe that it is different for prepaid sim cards as you get no bill

i would present the dh with a print copy of the transactions... and ask her again if she knows the phone number as it is a philippine number.


if she denies it again, i would right there and then and in front of the helper, call the number and ask who is on the other line and if they know anyone in hong kong.


if she is really lying about the whole thing, she would be squirming already.

I understand how disappointed you are but if it were me I would not fire her just for that (assuming you like her apart from this incident). To be honest, much worse things can happen. If she's working well, just have a serious chat and explain the importance of trust & honesty as she's working in someone's home which is a very personal environment - and then warn her if it happens again she'll be out. You say she's worked for you for 1.5 years - so you don't really have too long until her contract expires. And take it from me, it is so troublesome to fire your helper!


If you do decide to replace her you can try to prevent this kind of thing from happening by talking to your new DH at the beginning. I had a friendly chat with mine and explained that we live in a place where everyone knows everyone so if she did invite her friends round while I'm out / have long personal conversations on her mobile while looking after my child in the playground I would probably find out. And then I explained that trust is important and if I catch her lying to me I will find it hard to trust her in the future etc... No problems to date! Fingers crossed!

thanks for all the replies. I know it's not like she steal a lot of money, probably she thinks the same way. There were things lying around my house more valuable such as cameras and such. If she steals things of high value, I would fire her right away and call police. I couldn't get a print version of the calls and I don't think i even need to call the number, probably that number is stored in her phone.


I did have talk with her at the very begining of the contract and the only thing i emphasized much is honesty, which is needed for any employment. I also talked to her when she took some small things for her personal use, and she wrote a note saying she was sorry and thanks for my trust...


anyway, it's not too long till the end of her contract. A warning for everyone is, don't leave valuable things around, even you trust them. It can be too tempting. And afterall, they are not family members.