What would you do if your maid threw a valuable item out in the bin? | ExpatWoman.com
 

What would you do if your maid threw a valuable item out in the bin?

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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 17:52

My kids broke a brand new glass table (under her supervision). We were going to be able to fix the top part for 650AED, only to find out she threw out the perfect base which is worth AED2000 in itself. DH wants to deduct dh 100 each month until it is paid off. I am not sure if it is fair because if you make a mistake at work do you have to physically pay for it? What would you do?

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EW MASTER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 17:37
I don't take things personally, I just find it sad for some people to be so cynical, so paranoid - always looking at the dark side first. As I was walking outside towards the garbage man, I saw her talking to the main and her arms/fingers were making very distinct movements in the air outlining the shape of the table. She did not see me at all. Her face was in sheer panic, desperation (especially the day when it happened - you could see she just felt so rotten..). So this is why I find it hard to read people making judgements on people they don't even know. Public forum or not - you just can't generalize like this... so why come on and ask people's opinions then?
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 17:36
Update ** Update ** Yesterday I see the garbage truck coming so I try and call the maid to get her to go out and ask if they saw it, if they took it? But she is nowhere to be found...until I go out myself to find her already out there asking the man (she must have been waiting and ran as soon as she saw them coming..the poor thing...). Anyway, the garbage man starts apologizing profusely because he is NOT allowed to take such items?? So where is the table base then? He had hidden it behind a bush about 5m away from our bin, but in a public walk way!! So jumping for joy the maid retrieves it from the bushes, garbage man has no idea what is going on because he thinks he is going to get in trouble for not taking it and yet now we are thanking him for doing his job right!!! So next time you whinge about the garbage men not taking an over sized item you want to get rid of ... be grateful!! You can't imagine how relieved I am ... this was REALLY eating me. I said in an earlier post that it wasn't just about the money, but it sure was part of it! We just saved ourselves AED1500!! Maid learnt a valuable lesson, and so did we!! Oh yes, definitely.. You should report them both. Your maid knew what she was doing, the garbage man would not have taken the item unless the maid asked him to (sell it) , your maid knew all along, she lied to you. edited by Domestic Goddess-in-training on 10/11/2011
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 14:07
To be clear Suzy, I don't think your maid was 'in' on the table going missing. I do think she misunderstood and put it outside as rubbish. I think the garbage man intended on retrieving it for himself some time later. "Fishy" only because he would absolutely not be allowed to do that (or he would have just put it in the truck and taken it). Like I said, I'm happy you've got it back. THAT makes sense Greenish! Thanks.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 14:06
To be clear Suzy, I don't think your maid was 'in' on the table going missing. I do think she misunderstood and put it outside as rubbish. I think the garbage man intended on retrieving it for himself some time later. "Fishy" only because he would absolutely not be allowed to do that (or he would have just put it in the truck and taken it). Like I said, I'm happy you've got it back.
498
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 14:01
I don't take things personally, I just find it sad for some people to be so cynical, so paranoid - always looking at the dark side first. As I was walking outside towards the garbage man, I saw her talking to the main and her arms/fingers were making very distinct movements in the air outlining the shape of the table. She did not see me at all. Her face was in sheer panic, desperation (especially the day when it happened - you could see she just felt so rotten..). So this is why I find it hard to read people making judgements on people they don't even know. Public forum or not - you just can't generalize like this...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:54
DGIT...to be honest, I think it smells a bit fishy too, but Suzy wants to let it go. Her choice right? I agree, i was just reponding to her post.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:52
DGIT...to be honest, I think it smells a bit fishy too, but Suzy wants to let it go. Her choice right?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:51
It's already gone - they picked up yesterday - or maybe even a neighbour collected it, but it any case it is no longer out the front...I had told her to take it up stairs and put it in the spare room... and yes, I asked her why she didn't ask us first..ummmmm.... (we were out the whole day ....and the worst thing, I rarely go out with DH and for once we did!!) Sorry SD i just kept going back to this post and then you saying she was waiting for the trash man. <em>edited by Domestic Goddess-in-training on 10/11/2011</em>
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:51
Thank goodness it's sorted Suzy. :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:48
Actually SD, Why do you think your maid was waiting for the garbage man? Why do you think the garbage man who never takes anything but the black bags in the bins took the item and hid it? Do you think the garbage man would have done this without the maids or tenants ok? Why did the maid not tell you she had seen the garbage man take it? Sorry just does not add up to me, from start to end. You posted this on a public forum so please do not be shocked to expect feedback that you may not like to hear, it's not personal it's just anothers perspective.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:47
Suzyduzy you live in D*O right? Well your maid has possibly sold your table base or possibly done a deal with someone as it is highly unlikely anyone would take it from outside the front of your house without asking and unless you paid D*O headquaters to move it they would not have taken it and the rubbish guys certainly would not take it, so your maid may not be telling you the whole truth. No one would take anything like this in D*O unless they had permission to (pretty sure of that). Can't give away rubbbish! Just because she's a maid doesn't mean she isn't cash savvy, some of these girls know how to spot a Dirham a mile away! Better invest in a safe for all your valuables sounds as if you have a shrewd maid. I agree with your DH i'd be docking her pay big time or demand she gets it back asap! PS: now the cameras are up you could always ask security to take a look at footage of the time it went. Edited to be more PC (not depress another poster) and throw another angle that others who do not live in this area would not be aware of, be grateful if those who quoted could change their posts, thank you. edited by Lolacat on 07/11/2011 Gosh...it's a year ago now, but we left things we no longer wanted or needed out the front of our DSO villa all the time and they were always gone within the hour.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:42
One word; Experience
498
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:40
Update ** Update ** Yesterday I see the garbage truck coming so I try and call the maid to get her to go out and ask if they saw it, if they took it? But she is nowhere to be found...until I go out myself to find her already out there asking the man (she must have been waiting and ran as soon as she saw them coming..the poor thing...). Anyway, the garbage man starts apologizing profusely because he is NOT allowed to take such items?? So where is the table base then? He had hidden it behind a bush about 5m away from our bin, but in a public walk way!! So jumping for joy the maid retrieves it from the bushes, garbage man has no idea what is going on because he thinks he is going to get in trouble for not taking it and yet now we are thanking him for doing his job right!!! So next time you whinge about the garbage men not taking an over sized item you want to get rid of ... be grateful!! You can't imagine how relieved I am ... this was REALLY eating me. I said in an earlier post that it wasn't just about the money, but it sure was part of it! We just saved ourselves AED1500!! Maid learnt a valuable lesson, and so did we!! You should report them both. Your maid knew what she was doing, the garbage man would not have taken the item unless the maid asked him to (sell it) , your maid knew all along, she lied to you. edited by Domestic Goddess-in-training on 10/11/2011 I don't get what you're accusing the maid of doing. Really you don't? Hmm, well as SD wants to move on and stay positive I'll leave it, but i don't think i am alone in thinking the maids not as short of a picnic as madam would like to think. So now you, and other EW posters, know me and my maid?? Why do you all jump to conclusions and generalize??? Why are all maids treated with such disrespect? It urks me like you cannot imagine. My life has totally changed since using the services of this woman (yes she is a woman just like us). I also do not appreciate your insinuations about me being so naive...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:30
Update ** Update ** Yesterday I see the garbage truck coming so I try and call the maid to get her to go out and ask if they saw it, if they took it? But she is nowhere to be found...until I go out myself to find her already out there asking the man (she must have been waiting and ran as soon as she saw them coming..the poor thing...). Anyway, the garbage man starts apologizing profusely because he is NOT allowed to take such items?? So where is the table base then? He had hidden it behind a bush about 5m away from our bin, but in a public walk way!! So jumping for joy the maid retrieves it from the bushes, garbage man has no idea what is going on because he thinks he is going to get in trouble for not taking it and yet now we are thanking him for doing his job right!!! So next time you whinge about the garbage men not taking an over sized item you want to get rid of ... be grateful!! You can't imagine how relieved I am ... this was REALLY eating me. I said in an earlier post that it wasn't just about the money, but it sure was part of it! We just saved ourselves AED1500!! Maid learnt a valuable lesson, and so did we!! You should report them both. Your maid knew what she was doing, the garbage man would not have taken the item unless the maid asked him to (sell it) , your maid knew all along, she lied to you. edited by Domestic Goddess-in-training on 10/11/2011 I don't get what you're accusing the maid of doing. Really you don't? Hmm, well as SD wants to move on and stay positive I'll leave it, but i don't think i am alone in thinking the maids not as short of a picnic as madam would like to think.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:15
Update ** Update ** Yesterday I see the garbage truck coming so I try and call the maid to get her to go out and ask if they saw it, if they took it? But she is nowhere to be found...until I go out myself to find her already out there asking the man (she must have been waiting and ran as soon as she saw them coming..the poor thing...). Anyway, the garbage man starts apologizing profusely because he is NOT allowed to take such items?? So where is the table base then? He had hidden it behind a bush about 5m away from our bin, but in a public walk way!! So jumping for joy the maid retrieves it from the bushes, garbage man has no idea what is going on because he thinks he is going to get in trouble for not taking it and yet now we are thanking him for doing his job right!!! So next time you whinge about the garbage men not taking an over sized item you want to get rid of ... be grateful!! You can't imagine how relieved I am ... this was REALLY eating me. I said in an earlier post that it wasn't just about the money, but it sure was part of it! We just saved ourselves AED1500!! Maid learnt a valuable lesson, and so did we!! You should report them both. Your maid knew what she was doing, the garbage man would not have taken the item unless the maid asked him to (sell it) , your maid knew all along, she lied to you. edited by Domestic Goddess-in-training on 10/11/2011 I don't get what you're accusing the maid of doing.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:04
Glad to hear it all ended well, Suzy Duzy :)
498
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 13:02
Update ** Update ** Yesterday I see the garbage truck coming so I try and call the maid to get her to go out and ask if they saw it, if they took it? But she is nowhere to be found...until I go out myself to find her already out there asking the man (she must have been waiting and ran as soon as she saw them coming..the poor thing...). Anyway, the garbage man starts apologizing profusely because he is NOT allowed to take such items?? So where is the table base then? He had hidden it behind a bush about 5m away from our bin, but in a public walk way!! So jumping for joy the maid retrieves it from the bushes, garbage man has no idea what is going on because he thinks he is going to get in trouble for not taking it and yet now we are thanking him for doing his job right!!! So next time you whinge about the garbage men not taking an over sized item you want to get rid of ... be grateful!! You can't imagine how relieved I am ... this was REALLY eating me. I said in an earlier post that it wasn't just about the money, but it sure was part of it! We just saved ourselves AED1500!! Maid learnt a valuable lesson, and so did we!! You should report them both. Your maid knew what she was doing, the garbage man would not have taken the item unless the maid asked him to (sell it) , your maid knew all along, she lied to you. edited by Domestic Goddess-in-training on 10/11/2011 To be honest, I don't think my maid is savvy enough to have created such a plan... she's great in everything she does, but she's quite shy and lacks some common sense - so this I think would be beyond her.... plus I would like to remain positive, from a personal point of view, I really don't think she would have done this anyway... before you all jump on me and tell me I am wrong, I like to believe there is still some good left in this world...so leave me with this thought...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 12:31
Update ** Update ** Yesterday I see the garbage truck coming so I try and call the maid to get her to go out and ask if they saw it, if they took it? But she is nowhere to be found...until I go out myself to find her already out there asking the man (she must have been waiting and ran as soon as she saw them coming..the poor thing...). Anyway, the garbage man starts apologizing profusely because he is NOT allowed to take such items?? So where is the table base then? He had hidden it behind a bush about 5m away from our bin, but in a public walk way!! So jumping for joy the maid retrieves it from the bushes, garbage man has no idea what is going on because he thinks he is going to get in trouble for not taking it and yet now we are thanking him for doing his job right!!! So next time you whinge about the garbage men not taking an over sized item you want to get rid of ... be grateful!! You can't imagine how relieved I am ... this was REALLY eating me. I said in an earlier post that it wasn't just about the money, but it sure was part of it! We just saved ourselves AED1500!! Maid learnt a valuable lesson, and so did we!! You should report them both. Your maid knew what she was doing, the garbage man would not have taken the item unless the maid asked him to (sell it) , your maid knew all along, she lied to you. <em>edited by Domestic Goddess-in-training on 10/11/2011</em>
498
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 12:26
Update ** Update ** Yesterday I see the garbage truck coming so I try and call the maid to get her to go out and ask if they saw it, if they took it? But she is nowhere to be found...until I go out myself to find her already out there asking the man (she must have been waiting and ran as soon as she saw them coming..the poor thing...). Anyway, the garbage man starts apologizing profusely because he is NOT allowed to take such items?? So where is the table base then? He had hidden it behind a bush about 5m away from our bin, but in a public walk way!! So jumping for joy the maid retrieves it from the bushes, garbage man has no idea what is going on because he thinks he is going to get in trouble for not taking it and yet now we are thanking him for doing his job right!!! So next time you whinge about the garbage men not taking an over sized item you want to get rid of ... be grateful!! You can't imagine how relieved I am ... this was REALLY eating me. I said in an earlier post that it wasn't just about the money, but it sure was part of it! We just saved ourselves AED1500!! Maid learnt a valuable lesson, and so did we!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 November 2011 - 19:29
Don;t for a minute think it is a misunderstanding - if there is one word these maids know is " throw" ! Agree, throwing is for the rich man to some cultures.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 08 November 2011 - 19:27
Don;t for a minute think it is a misunderstanding - if there is one word these maids know is " throw" !
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 November 2011 - 00:20
I'm glad your son was not hurt when the glass broke. I would not be happy about her leaving a 4 year old unattended and she must understand that she's not to leave the children unsupervised in the future. Oh for godness sake you you mean that you NEVER leave your 4 year old unattended to play for themselves for a minute? - you never go to the loo? - never go to clean a different room while they are playing happily? - never pop to the kitchen ? Accidents happen - I don't think it's even healthy to keep a child under surveillance every minute of the day Furthermore she is a maid and not a trained nanny so no doubt had other work to get on with.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 November 2011 - 00:14
I'm glad your son was not hurt when the glass broke. I would not be happy about her leaving a 4 year old unattended and she must understand that she's not to leave the children unsupervised in the future. Oh for godness sake you you mean that you NEVER leave your 4 year old unattended to play for themselves for a minute? - you never go to the loo? - never go to clean a different room while they are playing happily? - never pop to the kitchen ? Accidents happen - I don't think it's even healthy to keep a child under surveillance every minute of the day
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 22:53
I'm glad your son was not hurt when the glass broke. I would not be happy about her leaving a 4 year old unattended and she must understand that she's not to leave the children unsupervised in the future. I'd also be very annoyed and a bit suspicious about her discarding the table when you told her to put it in the spare room. Only you know her age and language ability to judge whether it was a true misunderstanding but none of the maids we've ever had (and we've had a couple of bad ones) would have thrown something out without being specifically so instructed. I hope things work out for you with the maid.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 22:12
its a difficult situation; on the one hand the maid probably doesn't know that the tables were so expensive and couldn't think ahead that they would possibly be able to be fixed even though the glass had shattered.....but then to throw something out without permission is a big no-no in my house as well, that would make me hopping mad. I wouldn't charge her over this (if its a one off) but if similar situations occur then why not? Our maid went through a stage of breaking or chipping lots of items at home just though sheer carelessness :( when we finally had enough and charged her for the iron she had 'dropped' then we've never had any items broken again.....:\: Could you take money from your son from his pocket money? Even if its a few dirhams, perhaps it will teach him a lesson of listening to what you've told him NOT to do....? edited by Pomegranate on 07/11/2011 edited by Pomegranate on 07/11/2011 correct me if i misread - but he's only 4 !!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 21:22
its a difficult situation; on the one hand the maid probably doesn't know that the tables were so expensive and couldn't think ahead that they would possibly be able to be fixed even though the glass had shattered.....but then to throw something out without permission is a big no-no in my house as well, that would make me hopping mad. I wouldn't charge her over this (if its a one off) but if similar situations occur then why not? Our maid went through a stage of breaking or chipping lots of items at home just though sheer carelessness :( when we finally had enough and charged her for the iron she had 'dropped' then we've never had any items broken again.....:\: Could you take money from your son from his pocket money? Even if its a few dirhams, perhaps it will teach him a lesson of listening to what you've told him NOT to do....? edited by Pomegranate on 07/11/2011 <em>edited by Pomegranate on 07/11/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 21:22
I once had a glass salad bowl explode in front of me on the dining table which was when I decided never to buy a glass top table. Be happy that no one was injured, sometimes things happen for a reason and getting rid of the table was probably the best idea.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 21:13
once we decided to have children we accepted that aspirations of a designer home with expensive furniture would have to be on hold for a few years...i have enough grey hairs without worrying that my children can break or damage something expensive lol back to the OP - your child broke the glass and it seems the maid did her best to clear away the hazard.You can't expect anyone to stay in the room with the children ALL the time - you wouldn't even do that yourself (or at least i wouldn't)..
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 20:26
It worries me that a glass table can break so easily, happy to know the kids were not harmed. We have (had) two small tables that sit in the corner between the two sofas. Kids are not allowed to go in this corner, My 4 year old had the time to move the big one (and now broken table) aside and put the small kiddies chair in between the sofa and the tables. When he tried to climb over the glass table to get to his kiddies chair then off course his weight and climbing pushed the table over. So not really an accident at all in my eyes - it was being very naughty - he knows VERY well not to touch the tables, let alone move them, put another chair on the other side, and climb over.... I never blasted the maid because he could have done this just as easy as if I were working in my office. By the way, the tables are designer tables, with beautiful chromes bases which are mint condition. All it needed was to undo the screw which held the remaining piece of glass and we were all set to replace with a new top. If I were a neighbour and I saw this, I too would have jumped on it! BTW - re maid being savvy enough to sell it....NOT!!!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 20:25
Suzyduzy you live in D*O right? Well your maid has possibly sold your table base or possibly done a deal with someone as it is highly unlikely anyone would take it from outside the front of your house without asking and unless you paid D*O headquaters to move it they would not have taken it and the rubbish guys certainly would not take it, so your maid may not be telling you the whole truth. No one would take anything like this in D*O unless they had permission to (pretty sure of that). Can't give away rubbbish! Just because she's a maid doesn't mean she isn't cash savvy, some of these girls know how to spot a Dirham a mile away! Better invest in a safe for all your valuables sounds as if you have a shrewd maid. I agree with your DH i'd be docking her pay big time or demand she gets it back asap! PS: now the cameras are up you could always ask security to take a look at footage of the time it went. Edited to be more PC (not depress another poster) and throw another angle that others who do not live in this area would not be aware of, be grateful if those who quoted could change their posts, thank you. edited by Lolacat on 07/11/2011 There was a post sometime ago where someone took plants from the front of a poster's villa. Why do you assume that other people - other than housemaids, gardeners, wouldn't take something that was put out thinking it was being thrown away? No one is obliged to change their posts because of your paranoia.
 
 

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