Comments on: Moving Out

By: El Comodoro

El Comodoro — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:14:13 +0000

So some of you want her to get agreements in writing and negotiate and formally resign and make a paper trail and determine actual rent and calculate pay...

Golly gee, that sounds awfully responsible and adult and keen. (And swell, too.) But what would be the possible upside? I'm with EHRL and Lynn, this is all being done under the table by shady jerks, and the answer is to get outta Dodge. Fast.

Is she going to file suit? Make a formal to complaint to Agency X or Y? Does she sound capable of sicking the IRS on them for spite? Would she likely recover any money at all from a family with a PAPER ROUTE? No on all counts.

"Get it in writing." Uh huh. Sheesh.

And EHRL, you're far more capable than Dear Abby (and LOTS less mawkish). Attagirl.

By: Marsha Keeffer

Marsha Keeffer — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:48:53 +0000

Getting out and into a temporary place for 6 months would provide some breathing room. Staying is clearly impossible. If her mother is not capable, perhaps a trusted adult (teacher, counselor, friend's parent, aunt or uncle) can provide some help. Get out ASAP!

By: Lynn Dessert

Lynn Dessert — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:13:03 +0000

I will venture to guess this young woman is not experienced enough to negotiate with her family on what rent should be. The dynamics she is facing is wrought with emotion and history; my hunch is there is no desire to come up with or even agree on rent.

My advice – do not upset the apple cart and plan the escape fast – there were a lot of good suggestions on how to do that above. Chalk it up to a great life lesson.

By: lignum

lignum — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:54:52 +0000

Maybe I missed it, but does she have anything in writing? There's a lot of issues to address and she can better represent herself if she had something in writing stating she was employed by her in-laws, etc. If she does, take them to court. If nothing else I'm sure she has a case #1 they cannot garnish her whole pay check.

By: Phil Neujahr

Phil Neujahr — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:25:15 +0000

Quite the interesting post. You must determine the conditions of the rent. It sounds like a pretty sketchy situation.

By: JobFull

JobFull — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:20:25 +0000

Determine the rent.
Determine the pay per day for the papers.
Then you can see how much (if anything) that is owed.
But still probably needs to move out sooner rather than later because at 19 it is time to grow up and got a job or goto school.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:48:50 +0000

Great point Inside, I was thinking a major problem with the situation was that she didn't have anything in writing. It's hard to prove anything without documentation. I definitely agree seeking full-time employment and getting out of that environment is the best way to go. Sometimes stepping away from a job is the best policy, especially if your employer (relative or not) keeps changing the rules of the agreement.

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:40:10 +0000

Great question Greggen. Also this seems like a hard situation to get out of. I think she should try to involve her mother, but it seems she would probably be with her mother if she presented a better situation.

By: Greggen

Greggen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:27:11 +0000

Wow, are these people claiming the rent money as income?

By: Inside the Philosophy Factory

Inside the Philosophy Factory — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:58:49 +0000

Until she can get her finances figured out, she needs to ask, exactly what room and board are — and get it in writing. She also needs to know, as of that day — what she "owes" them. She probably shouldn't argue with any of that… Part of their written agreement should also include the provision that any extra "charges" need to be agreed to in writing…

Once they tell her the figure, she should also formally resign from the "company", and pay every month's room and board by check — so she has a paper trail.

These are the kinds of people who will bring her to People's Court…