Our cleaning dude...a vent

Brit's Luna154

For a while, I have susupected that our cleaning dude has been coming into our apartment while we aren't home. We instructed our landlord that Cleaning Dude is not to have a key to our apartment, but he clearly does anyway.

Last week I was presenting on a call for work, so I didn't answer the door when Cleaning Dude knocked. I was stunned when suddenly we were face to face in my living room as the door had been deadbolted and I was not expecting him to come in anyway. I interrupted my call to lecture him on "You are not supposed to enter my apartment unless I open the door for you." and sent him on his way. (He had already cleaned for the day several hours earlier.)

When I told H about this event, he wondered why I didn't ask Cleaning Dude for his key when I confronted him. I should have and regret that I didn't, but I was so stunned that it didn't even occur to me.

This weekend, while we were in Singapore, Cleaning Dude (or someone else) was in here again. Our sofa reeks of BO today and there was an apron on our back balcony. H confronted him a few minutes ago, but Cleaning Dude doesn't speak enough English (or does not let on that he speaks enough English) to even respond coherently. I feel so violated and frustrated. Unfortunately, we did not hire him, he "comes with" the apartment.

We have been trying to contact the management for nearly a week now to get them to tell this guy to stay out of here. Not that it matters anyway. If he has a key and is in here when we are away for the weekend, I'm sure he doesn't care if he is allowed in or not, right? The management has not responded to us at all. I'm so frustrated that I seriously just want to move out.

/vent

jldittber

OMG I would be so pi**ed!  And freaked out!  I don't really trust anyone.  If I were you, I'd put in some kind of chain lock or something for when you are home.  Even just put a chair by the door so you can hear if someone (cleaning dude) comes in. 

expatjen

wow.  Takes some balls for the cleaning dude to do that.  If I were you (or your DH), I'd still make it clear (from tone of voice and a louder volume of voice) that he is not to come into your house without your permission - most Indians will understand a few English words (police being one they are sure to know!)   Maybe you can get the locks changed?  Hope he doesn't barge in on you again.  Have you checked around your apartment to see if anything is missing?  

azure_azure

That's not acceptable! Can you change the locks? I hope the management can do something for you!

We had a maid who had a key as she would come 3 times a week when we were at work. One evening I was looking through our photos on our camera and the last picture was of some guy in our living room, it was time/date stamped for when the maid would have been there. We also found "love juice" on one of our sofa cushions.

We printed out the photo like a wanted sign and showed the maid the next time she came to clean, she explained that she had been sick, so she sent her friend instead who must have brought her boyfriend. We fired her right then and got our keys. Although we changed the locks too.

ebartzen

Ick. Apartments here often come with a "domestic" as they call it. I've been sure to refuse from the very beginning. Even if I get stressed about keeping the apartment decent, I'm still not comfortable with the idea of someone having a key and doing stuff while we're not there (or when we are there for that matter).

Brit's Luna154

ebartzen:

Ick. Apartments here often come with a "domestic" as they call it. I've been sure to refuse from the very beginning. Even if I get stressed about keeping the apartment decent, I'm still not comfortable with the idea of someone having a key and doing stuff while we're not there (or when we are there for that matter).

I should have refused from the beginning. I did refuse for Cleaning Dude to have a key, but clearly the landlord didn't listen.

Ugh. This makes me angry all over again each time I think about it.

Brit's Luna154

azure_azure:

That's not acceptable! Can you change the locks? I hope the management can do something for you!

We had a maid who had a key as she would come 3 times a week when we were at work. One evening I was looking through our photos on our camera and the last picture was of some guy in our living room, it was time/date stamped for when the maid would have been there. We also found "love juice" on one of our sofa cushions.

We printed out the photo like a wanted sign and showed the maid the next time she came to clean, she explained that she had been sick, so she sent her friend instead who must have brought her boyfriend. We fired her right then and got our keys. Although we changed the locks too.

Ewww. That is just wrong!

We are not allowed to change the locks. I am considering chains for the doors for when I am home alone, but I don't think he is threatening to me as much as he is using our apartment to hang out in when we leave it.

Brit's Luna154

expatjen:

Have you checked around your apartment to see if anything is missing?  

We do not seem to be missing anything important or valuable. However, for weeks we have been noticing hangers missing. Like the nice heavy wooden kind that my H uses to hang his suits/sport coats/dress pants on. Obviously we only brought so many of them over here because he only brought so many dress clothes. H will put his stuff on lighter weight hangers when he packs it to travel and when the nice wooden hangers are empty they seem to go bye-bye. Odd, right? He also only has about half as many dress shirts as when we arrived. Cleaning Dude was also Shirt Laundering Dude until we put an end to that a few weeks ago after H realized that he was running out of clothes.

Deshi2013

It is your husband's job that brought you to India right? Do they have a security office? My husband's company put a second lock on our door for us since our apartment also came with domestic help this way when we go out of town or just don't want the maid coming in we lock both locks. 

If they don't just tell your landlord to either get the key back from the guy (and fire him because WTH)  or allow you to put a second lock on the door.  (without giving him the key) If they still refuse, threaten to move out.  Your security is too important. That might work for you because while we have not had to levy such a threat on our landlord personally (because the office does that) we know for a fact the company is paying way more for the apartment then the landlord would get from the average Bangladeshi and they often remind him of that when he drags his feet on other repairs, so maybe a similar threat would work for you to either get a new lock or a second lock.  

 

 

Brit's Luna154

Deshi2013:

It is your husband's job that brought you to India right? Do they have a security office? My husband's company put a second lock on our door for us since our apartment also came with domestic help this way when we go out of town or just don't want the maid coming in we lock both locks. 

If they don't just tell your landlord to either get the key back from the guy (and fire him because WTH)  or allow you to put a second lock on the door.  (without giving him the key) If they still refuse, threaten to move out.  Your security is too important. That might work for you because while we have not had to levy such a threat on our landlord personally (because the office does that) we know for a fact the company is paying way more for the apartment then the landlord would get from the average Bangladeshi and they often remind him of that when he drags his feet on other repairs, so maybe a similar threat would work for you to either get a new lock or a second lock.  

Yes, we are here for H's job. I doubt that they will do much to help though. They have been pretty lame so far with anything and everything related to this relocation. It is worth a shot nontheless. Like yours, this apartment is insanely expensive. A move-out threat might be useful. (Only problem is H's employer pays our rent, so we would need to coordinate it through their less than helpful Int'l Relo Specialists.) He's fired up now, so we'll see what H can figure out.

Avion22

Wow.  

People entering your home when you're not there, without your permission, with a key that you expressly forbid they be given....there are so many things wrong with that that I don't know where to start.

I would try to resolve this as simply as possible.  Change the locks, add a chain or a second lock, etc.   If your landlord doesn't let you, or gives away the new key anyay (!) then I would elevate.   With all of the "unspecified terrorist threats" against Americans, I think you have every reason to demand that your home remain secure against anyone who isn't YOU or your landlord. 

Brit's Luna154

Avion22:

Wow.  

People entering your home when you're not there, without your permission, with a key that you expressly forbid they be given....there are so many things wrong with that that I don't know where to start.

Agreed. I get so fired up just thinking about it. We are not allowed to change locks, but we are exploring other options for securing our apartment and H has been on this all day. Hopefully we have some tangible progress soon!

Reysgirl

I know you keep saying you are not allowed to change the locks by why are you playing by the landlord's rules (not changing locks) when he is not playing by your rules (not giving the cleaning dude a key).  I would lodge a "formal" complaint (not sure how that works in India) with the landlord/building management & document everything, (BO couch, missing hangers & clothes) and I would also do the same w/ DH's company so they are aware of what is going on, just to cover yourself.  Probably would be best to do this in writing & keep a copy of it for yourself.

expatjen

If I were in your position, I'd still change the locks anyway.  Then when you move out, just change them back to the original.  Feeling safe and secure in your home is what matters.  Just deal with the "management" or lack of management later.  Besides, you never know if the manager and cleaning dude are in cahoots together and that's why he gave cleaning dude your key in the first place.  

PittPurple

Wow. I'm flabbergasted by this. I would do anythig and everything to get this sorted out immediately. I think you should change the locks and just wait for someone to notice honestly. What's the worst they can do? If you're willing to move, then there isn't much they can do to you. It's totally unacceptable for someone to be in your house who you don't want there, that's like a basic rule of having a place to live! I am just overwhelmed at the thought of someone just living in your apartment while youre away!! I really, really think you should just change the locks and see what happens next. If your landlords are hard to get in touch with, can't you just say you lost your keys or had your bag stolen and couldn't get in touch with him?

PittPurple

Oh, and at bare minimum, get a bolt installed for when you're home. Stuff can always be replaced, but your safety has to come first. At least he can't get in while you're home. I'm seriously overwhelmed by this!!!

Stay safe!!