new helper- in a dilemma

[putput]

Hmm... we too took our helper on based on her so-called ability to cook, ability to care for children etc. She had great written references but as they had all left for their home countries, we only managed to get a verbal reference from her sister's employer who she had worked part time for on occasion. BIG MISTAKE. She can not cook to save her life, has given out our number to her friends who call at all hours of the day often disturbing my girls during their naps; has run up debt with finance companies who call threatening me; is rude to my eldest child and blatantly favours the youngest which naturally hurts my eldest's feelings; and is incredibly rude and abrupt to my husband and I. We tried and tried to fix it all but today we're calling it a day and letting her go. It's been unbelievably stressful for all of us, including my daughters. So, I agree with being super duper cautious. It doesn't mean that there aren't genuine cases out there, of course, but equally I know for a fact that my helper is already bad mouthing me in my own home to other helpers who come in with children for playdates. Anyone who employs her believing the stuff that we believed is in for a horrible ride, unfortunately.

 

[howardcoombs]

As you've stated, reference letters can be faked. Guess what, so can previous employer references and phone calls. If someone is bad and is out to cheat you, they will.

You have several choices then:
1) only hire ones recommended by trusted friends/relatives (very rare)
2) spend a lot of time and money doing extensive background checks

I prefer to be the trusting one. I trust my senses, my judgement and my eyes and ears. In 17 years here, its worked pretty well for us.

As an aside : The OP has 2 choices.
(1) taken an unknown/unseen from PPines
or
(2) take a person who is here and can be interviewed.

Which would you pick? I prefer to go with a candidate that I can interview.

 

[rogerdiddley]

Putput, sorry to hear of your experience, we have had similar experiences, it's so hard to rely on intuition. You could try having your next helper checked out before you hire her, it may help. There's a helper screening service called SureScreen. They're in wanchai. Tel 3621 0977. It costs around HK$4k. Good luck to you!