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        If you are desperately looking for a maid servant for household work through manpower agencies think twice! For a resident of Virugambakkam had paid Rs 2,300 to the agency and was left in the lurch after one agency failed in providing proper, regular service.

        Besides losing the amount, the indifferent attitude shown by the agency has irked the resident. Moreover, the resident alleged that he and his family had been threatened by goondas claiming to be policemen

        The agency located on Arcot Road, Virugambakkam, was keen on collecting the amount but did not bother to respond when the maid refused to turn up for the duty within two weeks. What more, such incidents are becoming regular.

        A six-member joint family residing at Lambard Nagar, Virugambakkam, after seeing an advertisement in a tabloid, approached the manpower agency to hire a maid for baby sitting and washing clothes.

        The very next day a member from the agency brought a 19-year-old girl after fixing a salary of Rs 2,000 and asked them to pay Rs 300 as registration fee. Before paying the amount, a document was signed stating that the 'agency will be responsible in regard to the personal integrity and character of the maid servant'. The document also guaranteed the service for three months.

        On requisition from the family members, they were given a ration card and fingerprint of the girl and the personal phone number of the maid provided by the agency. After working for 12 days, the girl sought leave saying that her grandfather had expired.

        Later, when one of the members called up the family to find out the reason for her long absence, a person from the other side is said to have harshly demanded the salary. Shocked over the callous response, they approached the agency with a complaint.

        But the reluctant staff of the agency didn't respond. Later, two unidentified men claiming to be constables attached to the K K Nagar police station barged into their house in mufti along with the maid servant and allegedly threatened the family.

        This is not just a single incident, a petty shop owner near this agency said 'I have witnessed three such incidents in two months with people quarrelling with the agency members to pay back their money. Many complain that this was indeed a daylight robbery'. It is not just the creamy layer of society who fall victims, the most affected are the office-goers who are cheated by these agencies.

        When News Today enquired about this incident with the manpower agency they denied the charges and refused to provide details about the maid.

        A senior police official said, 'public shouldn't blindly trust any such manpower agency, for there is a possibility of organised crime taking place. We would not be able to curb such activities if public remain a mute spectator and not report them to the police.'