How do you deal with caregiver theft on a Holiday weekend?
So this morning, in email there was an email from Capital One stating 2 new subscriptions were charged to an account, one for porn and one for BET+ on Roku. We tore the house apart looking for the credit card and it was under the cushion where workers sit. So, the credit card company was called. A Roku was bought and there were several Amazon charges for movies, exercise equipment and personal care. Amazon cannot look up purchases by credit card number, only by account information which I do not believe, but whatever. I sent an email to Roku and am waiting back.
So, the agency was called, they said all they can do is ask employees if they have Roku. They said it happens often and they cannot do anything if their employees lie to them. They so stated it is a holiday weekend, they are short staffed and it would have to wait until HR comes in Tuesday.
The day all of the purchases started, there was a nasty worker at the house. She had attitude because I told her there was Covid exposure at the time in house and she needed to wear a mask. She said she lost hers. So I put a box of 50 disposable out. After the shift, the whole box was gone with one wrapper left on the floor. So at that point, the agency did not believe masks were taken because they provide them to employees.
So I want none of these people except the 2 long term people here. Would you cancel all other help? What would you do?
Thanks.
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Second, file theft report with police.
Third, look for new agency.
I just got an email back from Roku, about logging into her non-existent account to cancel.
As for agencies, the govenor allocated CARES act money for a $1600 bonus for newly hired caregivers and they are pulling qualified CNAs from agencies to work in facilities or hospitals which are at capacity and short staffed. So, to be quite blunt, they are scraping the bottom of the barrel. The largest provider in the state closed home care operations to focus on hospice and there are major shortages no matter who you use.
The agency stated maybe the charges were authorized. The person does not have any type of advice like Roku, Firestick and does not even have a smart tv. The pad she uses does not even have a Google icon, it is hidden and wouldnt know what to do if she opened it. Half the time it is in Philipino or another language she does not speak. It is a child one with Casino games.
The cameras are installed outside, on medications, the safe and my junk area where my deceased grandmother's silver, jewels and antiques were placed.
About two months ago, we had a worker who was stabbed by her boyfriend. He ended up marrying her so she couldn't testify against him. They showed up in the middle of the night, pulled a gun and took my phone and tools which had her messages about what he did. Since then, I have been really moody, do not really sleep at night and have very little tolerance. I do not believe in guns, so do not suggest it. I really do not believe in locking doors either and it is a really rough adjustment.
Capital One is disputing charges now but ugh. The people here do not want to call the police because $500 could ruin a life which is not going over very well with me. I am enraged.
You need to start locking doors
Your ex-MIL is living with you along with another (?) of her family members, who you are trying to get evicted - except that process is now on hold because of COVID restrictions?
Are they actual tenants? Or do you have to go the eviction route because they have lived under your roof for "X" number of days and now they have tenant rights?
I ask this, because if you are "just" a landlord, were I you, I would remove myself from any sort of caregiving responsibilities. Especially if there is a written lease. Being a landlord does not obligate you to also be the caregiver of anyone under your roof. If you are acting just as a landlord, I would send a letter, certified mail, to the POA telling him (her?) you will no longer be acting as the de-facto caregiver, you will no longer assume any responsibility for hiring/overseeing outside caregivers, and to remove your name as such from any doctors/medical facilities. Put everything in writing and keep records of who you sent it to and when you sent it. Keep a paper trail. E-mails are great, but for whatever reason I have found people seem to respond much more to actual paper than electronic communication; so even if you communicate electronically, send a letter after the fact.
If you are evicting because of squatter rights, were I you, I would contact an attorney versed in tenant/landlord disputes and explain all of this to them. Then ask what your criminal liability is in regards to caregiving your ex-MIL while you are waiting to get her removed.
In regards to the credit card fraud - I am going to assume the card is your ex-MIL's, since you say you were questioned by the police in regards to the illegal charges. If she isn't worked up about the charges, maybe you need to let it be also. I mean, if it's her card, it's her money; even if she's upset, let her or the POA deal with the phone calls. But really, and I'm not trying to be mean here, but if you're doing all the heavy lifting - so to speak - then it seems like the rest of them are willing to let you have at it. Maybe it's time for you to become a little passive-aggressive! However, if you are financially responsible for this card in any way, shape or form, call the card right away and tell them you don't recognize the charges, you did not authorize the charges, and you want them reversed. Then I would ask them (if indeed, you are somehow on this account) how you could remove yourself from the account.
Credit card fraud is so stressful, I don't blame you for being upset.
Good luck, I hope you can get this resolved sooner rather than later.
I had one court hearing for eviction, the judge did a 30 day adjournment at the Medicaid attorney request. Last week, all hearings got postponed to Feb 2021. The man who runs our volunteer FD is a witness for me because of all the calls to him and his calls to POA. I turned all of my user name and password for Amazon over to the police so f*ck them if they want to look at receipts for imported pasta, shelf stable almond milk, seeds and oils, I do not care. Just done with it.
I turned the breakers off the utility kitchen, there is now an induction burner. No more heating with the oven, 78 is fine. I cancelled Charter phone and internet because I am no longer paying for it. POA can buy an SD card and she can use her pad for entertainment and phone calls. It is not my problem she presses buttons and it is in Filipino and has no memory. I guess Medicaid can pay for the phone and tv if they can hire an eviction lawyer, right?
So, the other night after I posted, I told her I was done with her sorry a** and her and her family were grifters and vendictive POS. She said I wanted her to get placed and die and I said I was willing to play the odds. She said POA does not like getting drug into things and I said I really do not care what he likes because neither did I. I told her to call someone who give two s**ts about her because she is such a "c" word that no one will do anything about it.
They told her they would pick her up at 1 pm yesterday so she did not have to deal with me being mean. They did not show and did not return her calls. I laughed and said go figure.
If that's not the definition of "raw deal" I don't know what is.
Especially be careful with debit cards. They are easily used and they have fewer protections than charge cards.
Are there other agencies you can use? What is this agencies vetting process in terms of criminal history? You have a right to know this, but of course they cannot know every detail about their employees.
Thanks for asking.
WHY is she in your home again? Why did you allow it?
My client is a nice guy but an idiot. One of those Covid deniers, no mask, even though he has one kidney due to cancer. His mom called me and the hospital suggested a private dr and comfort care. Pnemonia (sp) in both lungs. How do you explain that is hospice to a 93 year old?
My problems really feel insignificant now.
I want to say that your home sounds absolutely charming. It sounds beautiful. Now if we could just wedge out your Unwelcome House Guest. Good luck, Stacy.
I know they are some kind of different religion, Greek Orthodox. She was talking about a 40 day period? I was not really understanding her through the tears.