AN EXTERNAL auditor sought a refund of the deposit she paid to an agency for an Indonesian maid.
RM Navinadevi paid RM5,250 to the agency based in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, on Oct 2 last year.
“I was pregnant with my first child at that time and expected to deliver in December,” she said when met outside Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal at Menara Ansar in Johor Baru.
Navinadevi, who works in Singapore, had requested a maid aged between 35 and 45 who was experienced in caring for a newborn.
Navinadevi said upon receiving the 50% deposit, the agency was supposed to have sent the maid in October or by early November.
In early November, she called the agency about the maid and was told a suitable candidate was still being sought.
Navinadevi said she felt that the agency was deliberately delaying the matter as it failed to update her on the recruitment progress and did not send details of potential candidates.
“I had also informed the agency that I wanted to interview the maids.
“In the end, I had to get my mother to take care of me and my baby,” she said.
After delivering her baby in December, Navinadevi called the agency repeatedly, and they promised to refund her money, first in February and then by the end of May, but failed to do so.
“From June onwards, the agency was unreachable and they did not respond to my messages,” said Navinadevi.
The claimant said she had to fork out RM13,000 for a Sri Lankan maid from a different agency in Johor.
Tribunal president Hafez Zalkapli ordered the respondent to refund RM5,250 to the claimant within two weeks.
Those who need assistance can call 07-227 1755/1766 or go to Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal at Level 17, Menara Ansar, Jalan Trus, Johor Baru.
