We have always been very careful who we let in our house for services, and of course we also always check for insurance (and keep a copy of it for the liability).  But even with the strictest screening, accidents happen…even when they aren’t accidental.

    As workaholics, we rarely have enough time for much of anything, so cleaning has been one of those things that we almost have to get a little help with from time to time.  Our security cameras have helped us cut short service from several local maid services when we have had things stolen (sometimes as ridiculous as a maid literally stuffing her purse with soda from our fridge).  But little did I think that we would actually save ourselves from a very large expense with those cameras.

Face blurred to protect the guilty

    However, one day our maid service (longest running we have had) expanded and hired a new maid…one who apparently was not as careful…or logical as previous employees.  Unfortunately, this employee decided that it would be prudent to stick a duster in front of the blades of 3 of our ceiling fans, as they were running on high…without turning the fan off first.  Then she proceeded to dust the 3 fans while holding them stopped, with the motor still running.  Needless to say, it was less than a matter of 48 hours before the fans all began clicking, followed by a grinding within another day.

The same maid nearly destroyed this chair and speaker

    Giving the maid service the benefit of the doubt, we of course contacted them directly, because we figured that after being a customer for 2 years, we owed them the option of how to deal with the issue.  At first they seemed like they would take care of the replacement of the fans…but as weeks turned into months, we began experiencing more problems, outside doors being left wide open, chairs being knocked over into walls and more.  And still no news back on our fans.  Finally got back in touch with them, and sent them the replacement cost of the fans.  Home Depot actually had a great price on them, almost the same model that we had.  They weren’t quite as nice as the ones that we had initially, but oh well that is life.

    Of course, once confronted with the price of the replacements, then the push-back began.  Of course stating that we didn’t have any proof that they wrecked our fans.  Well, that is where they were truly wrong.  Luckily enough, one of our hidden indoor security cameras was aimed high enough to show exactly what happened to the ceiling fans.  So I sent the video back to them…and we stopped hearing back from them…probably due as much to the fact that we had to fire them for leaving our garage door wide open leaving open access to our house to anyone on the street on a subsequent visit as anything else.  So finally we just had to take it to the insurance company directly.

Hidden Nanny Spy Cameras have many uses

   Well dealing with the insurance company was probably the easiest thing that I have ever had to do.  After receiving the video clips from our cameras, there weren’t any questions…not a single one at all.  Shortly after came a check for the replacement fans, and the labor to have them installed.  Saving us almost $800 in added expenses from a careless employee of our maid service. 

    A nice victory for home security cameras.  Sometimes the best benefit is saving you from those little, or not so little, unexpected expenses.