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AIBU?

Neighbour spying on cleaner

25 replies

Lou654272 · 20/12/2016 13:57

Have lurked on here for ages but never actually posted.
We live in a quiet little village opposite a very lovely but very nosey old lady (chair of neighbourhood watch and just about every other thing in the village!) She came over this morning to tell me that our cleaner, who I have used for about 3 years, has started to leave at 10 for the past few weeks now instead of 10:30 like usual and asked if I knew!
I have 2 albu

  1. No I didn't know the cleaner has been sneaking off early I still leave the same money which she takes and I have noticed that she isn't doing such a good job aibu to get rid of her or should I ask her about it 1st?
  2. Aibu to find the neighbour a bit too interested in our comings and goings? She sits at her window making notes but I have no idea what about I just smile and wave if I see her.

Not spoken to dh yet but sure his opinion will be to get rid of cleaner as he has noticed that it is not as good as usual so it must be badGrin
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DJBaggySmalls · 20/12/2016 14:01

I would have a word with the cleaner, and make up exciting stuff for the neighbour to take notes about.

Dare dare double dare you to hire a stripper for your front garden.

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Lou654272 · 20/12/2016 14:16

Dj that would be hilarious but would probably give her heart failure

I am a wuss when it comes to confrontation and without saying the neighbours been watching and I know you leave early I have no idea how to bring it up with her Confused

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Randytortoise · 20/12/2016 14:18

I dare you to do out once it's dark with a dustbin sack body bag and burry it in the garden Xmas Grin

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PenguinsandPebbles · 20/12/2016 14:20

Start closing your curtains at odd time during the day, ruffle your hair when you open them.

That's bound to drive the crazy woman nuts... yes it is nuts to be logging everything but nothing you can do about it unless you buy a huge fence.

Speak to the cleaner about the fact you have noticed that not all the normal work has been being done.

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Daisyfrumps · 20/12/2016 14:26

Ah I'd love to have someone keep a close eye on the street like this. She's worth her weight in gold!

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xStefx · 20/12/2016 14:32

Nothing you can do about the neighbour, she may come in handy one day. Sack the cleaner and tell the new one that you had to sack the old cleaner because the old woman across the road told you she was sneaking off early. That way the new cleaner wont be tempted to do the same. She may have done you a favour

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harderandharder2breathe · 20/12/2016 14:36

Mention to cleaner that you've noticed that not as much is being done and see what she says

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elodie2000 · 20/12/2016 14:38

Thank your neighbour and confront your cleaner.

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shrunkenhead · 20/12/2016 14:39

Tell cleaner you popped home at 10.10am because you forgot your lunch and noticed she'd already gone....does she need to add extra chores to her workload if she's getting through them so quickly...?

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Lou654272 · 20/12/2016 14:42

I will be the talk of the village if I start doing all that! To be fair to the old dear we have never had a break in on the whole Street, a fact she takes great pride in!
I don't really want a massive fence up as our front garden is small so will have to put up with it I suppose.
Will speak to the cleaner when she comes on Friday and just say I've noticed she hasn't done the usual clean for past few weeks is everything alright etc.

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FrizzBombDelight · 20/12/2016 14:44

I'd be honest with the cleaner and explain what you have been told (give her a chance to defend herself) and be grateful for a nosey neighbour! You have free 24hr surveillance :) It can be reassuring if you are away.

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CauliflowerSqueeze · 20/12/2016 14:44

I would also say to cleaner that you came back at 10:10 and she wasn't there - was everything ok? It's useful the neighbour told you but I agree she sounds nosy.

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Lou654272 · 20/12/2016 14:45

Good idea about popping back shrunken no she isn't getting through them at all we have both noticed bits haven't been done such as kickboards in kitchen etc. which she always used to.
She did mention a new client a few weeks ago so can only think she has cut us short to fit them in

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CauliflowerSqueeze · 20/12/2016 14:45

Mind you - it has been for the past "few weeks" suggesting at least 2 or 3 times that she has defrauded you.

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SapphireStrange · 20/12/2016 14:46

Speak to the cleaner as you suggest.

I'd tell the neighbour that my cleaner is my business. But I'm quite stroppy.

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aretheyhavingalaff · 20/12/2016 14:48

Your cleaner is obviously very efficient. If you are happy with her then just do as suggested above and mention you nipped home early (or phoned the house etc). The old busy body of a neighbour sounds like bad news.

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Eaglesandbeagles · 20/12/2016 14:49

Cleaner is taking payment for the time she is there and not doing the work. She's not been honest with you and she's allowed unsupervised access to your home. I'd probably talk to her or come home at 10am if you can so you can catch her leaving. She'll have to explain then.

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Eaglesandbeagles · 20/12/2016 14:50

But also be honest when you talk to her. she's been doing it for weeks and the only way to explain that really is to tell the truth x

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Jaxhog · 20/12/2016 15:00

You'll be grateful for a 'nosy' neighbour when they disturb would-be burglers, like ours did.

As for your cleaner, don't assume your neigbour is correct. But do talk to her about the standard of cleaning.

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DanglyEarOrnaments · 20/12/2016 15:02

Personally I wouldn't tell the cleaner that someone was clockwatching her as that sounds really bad but I would definitely let her know about the missed areas.

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User006point5 · 20/12/2016 15:06

To be fair to the old dear Blimey, that's a bit patronising. She's done you a favour. What does it matter if she's got nothing else to do. And if only more people took on jobs like Neighbourhood Watch and community events.

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DeepanKrispanEven · 20/12/2016 15:09

What's the problem with telling the cleaner that your neighbour shopped her? It's hardly your fault.

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LentilBolognaise · 20/12/2016 15:09

If the cleaner usually does a good job but things have been slipping recently there may be an explanation. Eg she may have a problem at home that means she has to leave earlier or she's more tired/distracted than usual - is she also a carer for young/old/disabled person? She may have newly diagnosed health problem she hasn't told you about. It's worth finding out if everything is okay before jumping off at the deep end. Does she need to change her hours and start/finish a bit earlier. How does she get to your house? If it's public transport, has the timetable changed? I don't see any problem in mentioning that you've noticed things haven't been up to the usual standard, find out why and ask for improvement otherwise you'll have to let her go, you are paying her to work for you after all.

Regarding the old lady over the road, does she actually have any proof that the cleaner has been leaving at 10 instead of 10:30am? I would go by your own experience ie cleaning not up to standard, rather than secondhand info from a gossipy old noseybonk lovely observant neighbour. So 1. YABU just to get rid of your cleaner without investigating first and 2. YANBU to feel the delightful old dear over the road is taking a bit too much interest in your comings and goings, to the point of it feeling intrusive.

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4men1lady · 20/12/2016 15:11

I agree with daisy. As annoying as it can be to have a nosey neighbour, it really is quite valuable to have.

My next door is quite nosey, but we use this to our advantage for when we go away, we ask him to keep an eye on things and we do the same back.

With regards your cleaner, she's taking the piss if she hasnt presented you she has to leave early so I'd confront her about that.

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Lou654272 · 20/12/2016 15:25

Lentil neighbour is normally very accurate on who's on holiday, knows names and who is who in the whole Street etc. and given the amount of time she dedicates to watching it is unlikely she is wrong but I take your point.
Cleaner has 2 older children both at secondary school and she drives so brings all her equipment with her in car, tbh it is probably the car the neighbour notices more anyway as cleaner uses side door to come and go which isn't as visible from her house. She hasn't mentioned any health problems issues etc. and I do usually talk to her most weeks before I leave for work unless she is running late.
I will definitely speak to her on Friday if I see her before she finishes for 2 weeks over Xmas

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