A netizen shared how their maid had repeatedly asked for advance salary because suddenly saying that she needed to go back to Indonesia because her father was sick.
The family then agreed and cancelled her contract and the maid went home. However, days later the family received a photo of their front door from a loanshark who said that their maid owes them money.
Here is what she said (names have been changed)
My family and I are still in a state of shock. I wanted to share this so people who are reading this will be warned about such situations.
My helper by the name of Yati started her service with us on 5 July 2022. On 15th April 2023, she requested for an advanced pay despite just paying her, her salary on 4 April 2023, saying that her dad was ill back in Indonesia.
She seemed very anxious and kept asking for updates if she could get the advanced pay. We agreed and gave her $400 first out of empathy. Because we notice she have been requesting advance salary quite often.
4 days later on the 19th of April, she came to us out of a sudden, saying that her father asked her to go back to Indonesia and she needs to be back latest by 21st of April.
In shock, we contacted the agent(Randy). Randy came to my house and there was a saga, but in short, Yati is unable to return due to her contract with the agency but since she insisted and we sympathise with her situation so we decided to accede to her request and dissolve the employment contract with immediate effect, and we did not request back the remaining of her advance pay. And even gave her an Ang Bao out of good will.
So on 20 April 2023, Randy came by again and pick her and send her to the ferry terminal. Shortly, Randy sends us the QR code in order for her to cancel Yati’s work permit.
Today, 22nd April 2023. My brother received a WhatsApp text from an unknown number. (See attached for reference) My family and I were in distress as that person who claimed himself as a loan shark had my address and even took a picture of my door step.
Our first instinct was to contact Randy but all we have from her was ‘the work permit has been revoked already, there’s nothing they can do on their end, now we can only go make a police report.’
Take note that my parents are in old age and my dad is still in the hospital now, and I’m not homed 24/7. To be honest, that sum that she borrows is not huge.
But what we are worried about is that this is not the only group of loan shark she engages. Even though cases as such are so common on the internet, but when it happens to us in actuality it’s still rather unbelievable. We have just lodged an police report.
If you have a helper at home, please check with them if they’re facing any financial issues so you don’t have to deal with what we have to deal, not saying that all are the same but prevention is better than cure.
