[laurajane]

Hi there
What with my last post i am sure everyone will think i am a sandwhich short of a picnic but i have a problem now that is very upsetting.

A family member and known troublemaker came to me a couple of weeks ago and said she was trying to turn her life around and wanted to try and get a resort job, and would i write her a letter of recommendation to help her. We own our own business so i said yes and stated she had worked for us for 9 months and earned a pretty low wage. I realise this is unethical but if you cant help family every now and again what is the point, right?

Anyway two days later she came to the house and gave me a peice of paper from the secreteria de trabajo saying i owed her $16,000 pesos in liquidation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She had used the letter of recommendation as documentation and said she had been fired from our company. I can't believe anyone would do such a thing, but now i have a problem. I have not been to the secreteria yet as i am actually at home supposed to be having complete bed rest, and i waqnted to know if anyone had any advice before i went.

Firstly, can this type of documentation be used as proof that she worked for us. Obviously she has no pay slips, no contract, no other papers that say she ever worked for us.

Secondly can the secreteria de trabajo force us to pay liquidation, or will this young lady be told to find a lawyer. which i know she can not afford.

Thirdly, I know she never worked for us but she has no proof to show the secreteria she was fired without cause, i could maybe go for the angle that she resigned maybe.

This young girl once lived in my home and stole money and designer clothes from me, I am an idiot to have listened to her heart breaking story and should not have helped her, but i am a sucker.

If anyone has any advice on what i should do, please please help!