My neighbour's maid gave me letter saying that she's being abused............
By mr_ular
@mr_ular (842)
Malaysia
February 7, 2007 5:07am CST
Early this morning when i was at my car,my neighbour's maid came running to me and handed me a letter.She quickly ran into the house.When i opened the letter i was shocked.The letter stated that my neigbour has been abusing her.She's beaten all over her body and head.She is a foreigner.She also wrote down her agency's phone number.
What should i do?Though that is our new neighbour(almost 1 month),They looked ok.Should i call the agency or should i just ignore??.....
11 people like this
38 responses
@alecs76 (657)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
do you really think that she's been abused? if you want to help her, go call her agency or call the embassy of her nation. just tell them she needs help. eventhough you neighbor is your friend or if ever, she should not be abused. it may cause a bit of trouble, but you should do what your conscience says.
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
18 Feb 07
It is up to the police and the agency to do the investigation. Do not delay. Report this right away. You can always ask to not be identified.
@opinder (420)
• India
7 Feb 07
u could watch the maid and your neighbour more closely. if you think she is being abused....do call the agency. and PRESERVE THE LETTER. that's the proof you have that she told you all that. she might really be in need of help.
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
Yes, make sure to keep the letter as evidence. If anything happens to her, you have proof that she really was mistreated.
This is not a light matter and should be decided upon with precaution. Do what needs to be done. If she went as far as to get help from you, a stranger, then I'm pretty sure she's really in trouble.
1 person likes this
@payingforschool (678)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
I woudln't ignore this. Imagine how bad you would feel if something serious happened to her and you hadn't done anything. I think if it were me, I would go to the police as well as the embassy and the agency. If she is being beaten, she could be very seriously hurt in the next few days if you wait.
@SuperDheng (208)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
you can drop by at your neighboor make some small talk if you can and see whats her status.
calling the agency sometimes doesn't help either. if she's abused you need to help her get out of there.
since there is an employee-emlployer contract... i'm sure her agency will not do anything either.
i think this is a big responsibility.
but you cannot just ignore it if you aren't sure if she is really abused.
@vkkesu (78)
• United States
7 Feb 07
Call the agency and give the letter to the police. You do not want to be responsible for what could happen. Most molesters, abusers and other violent people "look" ok. Personally, I hope this is a joke, otherwise you need to seriously think about yourself for not wanting to get involved to help someone.
@KisaMommy (132)
• United States
7 Feb 07
You have the responsibility to CALL the agency, let them know what the letter says and also turn the letter over to the police. If something DOES happen and you have prior knowledge and could have helped this poor woman. It could come back to harm you yanno?
Just please let someone know, so the poor woman can get the help she could VERY well need without you knowing! Please please please, for her sake call the agency and the police. File a report about your concern.
Tell them exactly what happened when she handed you the letter, and let them see it.. but make a photocopy for yourself.. make multiple ones.. keep them so nothing gets 'lost' in order to hide something terrible that could very well be happening RIGHT next door to you.
3 people like this
@xionous (439)
• Belgium
8 Feb 07
ya for her shake call the police handle the latter to the police...and ask them if its a wise dicision to call the embassy. i think you dont have to do anything else when you let the police to handle the situation. but please simply do not ignore the situation. place yourself in the situation of the maid and try to get the view. and let us know that happend when you called the police. i really want to know if she was telling the trueth. if she is telling the truth your neighbour should get punished.
@astromama (1221)
• United States
8 Feb 07
I agree. Why in heaven's name would she bother writing a letter and giving it to you if she wasn't serious? She's either most certainly being abused or is seriously pathological. I would absolutely give the letter to the police and maybe ask them to protect your anonymity, because, after all, you have to live next to these people! She's obviously reaching out to you for help because she feels it's too dangerous for her to call her agency herself. I'd bypass the agency, personally, they may be involved in illegal operations. Go to the police.
@brandi_girl_16 (624)
• United States
8 Feb 07
How and why would you just ignore this letter??? You obviously should call the agency and let them know what has gone on so far. If you don't call and something should happen to this maid, you will be held accountable and may be charged with something, too. It's morally, ethically and lawfully right to call the police and let them know what's going on if not that agency.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
8 Feb 07
I agree that you need to call the police and her agency. Someone is being hurt and you have a way to help...you don't want to have been able to do something and have something awful happen to this poor woman.
If you call the police, and it was nothing, it'll be embarassing and uncomfortable for you. If you call the police, and it was something, you may have saved someone's life.
2 people like this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
8 Feb 07
You have to act on what COULD be happening there. How will you feel if something terrible happens to that woman and you did nothing. Call the number immediately. WHAT are you waiting for? You don't even have to say who you are. Just report it. If things continue, you may have to get more involved but for the time being, I can't understand why you would hesitate for one second.
2 people like this
@hh9905 (1275)
• Malaysia
11 Feb 07
Hi. I would like to ask. So what did you do about it? If I were you, i'd just report to her agency. Whether or not it is true, put it aside. What if it is true? If it is not, then it's her call to answer something to her agency and also to your neighbour. Then, serves her right. Else, you've done something good to her. You might have saved her life.
@it_online (66)
• Philippines
9 Feb 07
You can help her if you want but be observer first. This is to ensure that she's really been abused. If you found out that she's been abused, you can seek the help of the authority.
2 people like this
@smartnrich (1067)
• Malaysia
9 Feb 07
I suggest you to report this matter to the police station and let the police and court take the action. As a human being, we must know that the maid also a human and we must make them as a human being because they have serve to their employer with a lot of their sacrifice and leave their homeland,children and family because to improve their life earning.
@preetikiran (76)
• India
8 Feb 07
If she is in a real trouble try to help her as soon as possible.I definately suggest u to call the agency.Dont ignore it dear.Only a freind in need is a friend in deed.Try to help her out.
2 people like this
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
8 Feb 07
You HAVE to help this woman. Call her agency. It would be absolutely horrible of you to ignore it. She went to you forl help! She needs you to help her. You HAVE to act on it. How can you even think of ignoring it?
People who are being abused need your help. They often times are unable to help themselves. This is obviously the fact here. SHe gave you the note because that was her way of helping herself. Now you need to do your part. The neighbor won't even know that you did it, and you will be saving an innocent soul. Don't you feel any responsibility here?
2 people like this
@thunderofsins (738)
• United States
8 Feb 07
If you still won't help her can you please just give me the number and I'll call. I tried to get people to help me for TWELVE YEARS while I was being abused but everyone thought that my birthfather was a "nice guy" and I didn't "look" like I was being abused so no one helped me until I was 17 years old and by then he'd started abusing two of my siblings too. I can't just sit here knowing that you have the power to save someone and you're just sitting there waiting while someone is being abused. This is disgusting.
2 people like this
@spitfire147 (468)
• India
8 Feb 07
I think you should call the agency as you would feel very bad if you came to know that she is being abused yet you did not do anything. It may be possible that she is not being abused too but I think you should definitely call up the agency and have the matter investigated and don't misplace the letter or else you could end up being in trouble.
2 people like this
@joygermino (466)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
this is one situation you should not ignore. the person came to you in her honest self to get some help and she is hoping that you can do her a favor. try to talk to the agency. you can just request that your name be hide or not to appear before the owner of the house for some interrogations so as to protect yourself also.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
9 Feb 07
i agree with thunder! IF it turns out she is b.s-ing the police will find out and your neighbours will be fine, charge free etc though granted they may be a little ticked at you BUT the fact is you DIDNT KNOW so you handed it over to someone who could handle it best..IF however, it turns out she is telling the truth, you have the opportunity to help her.....
How about this, is there ever a time when you can see the maid alone? if so, have her show you any marks she may have, take pics etc for her...if shes lying she wont do it if she's telling the truth you'll have your proof that someone is abusing her and you can help
@thunderofsins (738)
• United States
8 Feb 07
That is not your problem or your decision to make! If she is not telling the truth then the agency and/or the police will figure that out and no charges against your neighbors will be pressed. YOU NEED TO GO GET HER HELP!
@xelissa (776)
• New Zealand
8 Feb 07
You should definitely report it, tell someone, anyone, spread the word! It could get worse and it might just be too late when you actually decide to do something, if it was just a false call then its not your fault for getting help and you will know better for next time, but if it was the real thing, you could save this maid for the pain she has suffered. You've got nothing to loose so you should do something right now.
2 people like this
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
21 Feb 07
Well before you do something you have to do a little investigation of your neighbors character, you can feel if she is really abused or maltreated. Then maybe you befriended your neighbor too and that you can come in their house. Then you can also try to call the number if its really an agency. Remember you might be saving each other's lives if you will know who are lying. Or if ever the maid is in the losing situation please don't ignore.
