Budget Employment Service Centre

I agree with Sunny KK. Choosing maid is all about LUCK. I always tell my wife not to simply listen to recommendations but to judge herself which maid to place her bets on. Choosing a maid is nothing but a gamble.

My wife "bet" on 2 maids from Budget over last 2 years. We did not "win" on the 1st but got lucky on the next. What my wife appreciated was the staff at Budget Woodlands listened and acted well & fast at the 1st unfortunate outcome. So we gambled again with Budget.

My sister was luckier than us- her 1st maid from Budget 3 years ago is still with her now.

2 out of 3 is still a "win", I tell my wife!

Attention Management of Budget Employment Service Centre

My name is Pauline Hoo, a customer of Budget Employment in Woodlands 888 Plaza.

I went to your agency on 4 Sep 08 and was served by your staff Ms Suping. She was helpful and showed me some biodatas of indonesia maids. After going thru all the biodatas, I selected a few but when she called the main agency to check out the availablity and informed me that those are taken up. I really doubtfull about your list of biodatas which are placed in your agency.

On the day itself, she clarify the packages that the agency have which is $288 & $388. I was informed that $288 apply only to fresh new maid without experience and for those with experience or even ex-singapore i have to pay $388. I mentioned clearly that I am going for post-dated cheque payment as what I had been doing for the last few years with a few maids. Nothing was mentioned on $488 or $200 extra for post-dated cheque payment, otherwise I will walk out of your agency without even thinking. As the agency I am liaising is offering me at $188 package with post-dated cheque payment, but unfortunately I can get new biodata and had been dragging for a period that's why I looked for another agency.

Anyway after going thru all the biodata, she recommended me a Fillippino (which is currently my maid), I was informed that other employer actually called and interview Marvelyn and feedback was not bad. Suping even mentioned that English for Fillippino definitely not an issue.

Due to my urgency and my ex-maid returning home soon, and due to the Hari Raja holiday, I was told that a lot of indonesia are not coming till after the holiday which will be even later.

After a few days, I went to your office to check out other biodata but got no other better choice and end up have to take Marvelyn as recommeded.

While we are processing and even during our conversation, I did commented clearly that we are bringing cheques down to her and I also been asking whether we should prepare 7 or 8 cheques? She commented no worry all these cheques can be done when I pick up my new maid.

On the day when we picked our maid, my husband and I were shocked as while we going thru the documents with other colleagues as Suping left earlier. We were told that we have to pay extra $200 for post-dated payment and said that we have agreed and initiate on the agreement earlier.

We argued with them and insisted that I am not going to pay the $200 extra for the services as I did not agreed and confirmed on my 1st day to the agency that I am going on post-dated cheque service. Nothing can be done but was asked to settle it the next day after they clarified with Suping and management.

Frankly, that was the 1st day of our unhappiness. After picking up the new maid, we were quite shocked as Marvelyn dont seem to understand our English or I should say is Singlish. She looks blur and darker than any other Indonesia maids.

Since we had taken our 'recommendated' choice, we have no choice but to give more patience and time for Marvelyn.

On the 2nd day in my house, I was told by my sons, age 5 and 7 that Marvelyn actually bath in the late afternoon and forgotten to bring her towel and clothes in, end up she walk out topless into her room without even closing and changed openly in the room. I was shocked but was really lost and hope to really give an doubt to what 'kids talk' so the matter was never been bought up at all.

During the 1st week in our house, she really really got English problem, attitude problems and no basic initiative at all. After 1 week, my husband spoke to Suping regarding the $200 outstanding, my husband do not wants to talk about it but to tell her that we are facing big challenge with her. We need to change her immediately.

Marvelyn cant even have the initiative of folding shirts and pants and keep it into the wardrobes of individual family members. Mine and my husband's clothes were all exchange even thought she was told. One morning while I am working, my mum and my husband called me and said they had to bring her back to agency now as she insist not to wash all her 1 week's clothings which was kept in her cupboard and bag. My husband noticed that from day 1, she had been keeping her daily clothes that she had worn in her bag or even our wardrobe.....??????? Shocked!!!!!!!

She started to cry whole day and doing nothing. She dont even interested to bring my kids to school and insisted that she wanted to go back agency NOW!!!! I told her that if she wanted to go back agency, we are the most happiest as this was our actual plan.

After feedback to June and Suping, nothing was done. I insisted June to call her and talk to her, even thought she want to go she must wait for transfer or my application for new maid first. From here on, she got even worst attitude. She will just do nothing but sit and sit, eat and eat.

I am really helpless as I always travel and my husband's working schedule is really tight. My mum at home is handicapped and with 2 boys, age 5 and 7. I need someone to bring them to and fro from school, other than that cooking and basic household was done by my mum.

Worst case happened!! I was shocked to my life by her. At the time of 10.30pm last week, after my shower, I took my clothings to the kitchen laundry and saw her topless with a towel covered the lower part of the body standing outside the common toilet facing out of the window. I shouted at her and asked her what happened and asked any problem with her, but there was no answer but a scary smile on her face. I insisted her to go into the toilet and shower if she want to and not to do it anymore. She just walked into the toilet slowly and keep smiling. She actually do not intend to close the toilet door but open the shower and carry on bathing......

She is definitely in mental problem. So the next day I called Suping immediately and told her about the whole issue. She said she will help me by getting some new biodata to show me. Meantime I told her to get replacement for her with immediate effect. And I will bring her back to the agency.

After a few days, we had not hear anything from your agency. This is terribly bad service.

Now we are not agreeable to pay the $200 outstanding as from Day 1, after all this unhappiness situations, we hope the agency to work out a solution for us otherwise we have no choice but bring this up the MOM and also the Case Trust about your agency.

Now we would like to withdraw the agreement with your agency and return her back immediately. We demand all cheques payment that we issued to be return to us and Marvelyn's work permit to be terminated immediately otherwise I will do the termination myself as recommended from MOM work permit with immediate effect as I will not bear any lodging fee for her anymore. As for her pay within these few weeks we demand a cut-off from her pay since she is not doing anything but siting around my house.

We had consulted MOM and by Wednesday we will be seeing the officer-in-charge to look into the whole issue and seeing Case Trust officer immediately after MOM. We are taking serious actions over this issue.