To feel annoyed I have to pay?

I’d be annoyed at her response and her assumption she’s entitled to be paid when it’s her error.
Had she have said “I’m sorry I’ve mixed up my dates. My mistake don’t worry about paying me” I would have offered to pay/pay half.

I’d have emailef back and say “no it’s ok I will use it as one of my cancellations still see you next week “

Just cancel the next due cleaning session and pay her at that time instead of now / soon. Explain to her that, on reflection, it feels like the fairest option as it had been agreed by both parties that she would not clean whilst you were in hospital and your wages have diminished due to time off.

If she reacts in an arsey way or tries to argue for payment now, then I suspect she knew what she was doing and is clearly taking the piss out of you whilst knowing you are vulnerable.

But it is a big deal...op cancelled, as per thier contract, that means no clean or payment for this week

Cleaner then chose to come and clean a clean house anyway, just with an "oops, pay me an hour less!" Nah, shes taking the piss

you will just have to pay her, she has said 3 hours instead of 4,
no point cutting off your nose to spite your face

You obviously have a different contract with your cleaner than op does, who has it written into her contract that each side can cancel 2 cleans a year, with no charge.

Cleaner acknowledged that this wek would be a none clean and none payment. She then chose to come in and clean anyway and now expects payment even though it is her mistake.

But you don’t HAVE to pay! You gave notice to cancel the ‘clean’ during your hospital stay and the cleaner acknowledged that. The cleaner then forgot about the cancellation and cleaned the house anyway……..their mistake, just refuse to pay or give a reduced payment based on what you can afford but you DO NOT have to pay.

If your house is kept spotless anyway I doubt if you will lose her . Most cleaners have a load of cleaning to do when they turn up so if yours is because you like to keep it immaculate and show home , she prob doesn’t have a lot of dirt to deal with. Can’t you say because you were going in hospital so short on wages and knew you wouldn’t be in the house you would have one of your free cancellations, there shouldn’t of been anything at all to clean . I think she is royally taking the P tbh

Isn’t this exactly the same post as an earlier one, except with a hospital stay instead of a holiday?

Agreed.

OP, she’s running rings around you! I really wouldn’t want her back in my house after this.

not a big deal. pay her and focus and your recovery

You know how self employed works right? If you book a cab driver who is self employed and you cancel it the week before would you pay them anyway? If you book a dentist appointment but then cancel it the week before would you pay for it anyway? If you book a hairdresser appointment and they are self employed but you cancel it the week before would you pay for it anyway? I mean surely if you book all these things you can afford them so you can pay them even if you cancel them.

As self employed there is an element of financial risk.
There is always a risk with self employment that you may earn less some months. You are supposed to charge a suitable amount that this covers this. If you want a profession that earns you a set amount every single month without fail then self employment is not right for you. The self employed person is meant to factor in slower months.

Well, you agreed you'd pay her in your message back, so that's that really.

Going forward, I think I'd probably remind her closer to the time if you're cancelling so you don't get the same again.

If you hadn’t texted her, she would have made you think she did 4 hours. Flaky. Maybe change your tone with her - “What a shame you made a mistake. Yes, I told you on x that I wouldnt need you and was taking one of the cancellations.” Obviously you won’t be needing her next week.

Not sure I could trust her, tbh!

You said you messaged her to cancel ages ago - how long ago exactly?

If you messaged weeks/ months ago and haven't mentioned it again since and just expected her not to turn up that day, then I can see why the mistake might have happened.

Did you not message her earlier in the week/ last week to confirm she didn't need to come?

It's not required obviously but I think most people would have done that if the original agreement was ages ago.

The mistake is still on her, but I can see why it happened if it was agreed so long ago.

All cleaners do this. She had notice. They advertise one offs and they are snapped up

Everyone’s missing the point here

You cancelled and she let herself into your home. Whether to clean, collect a mop or steal from you, there is literally no reason for her to have done so and it’s a violation in my opinion. I wouldn’t be accepting an “oops” either

Your cleaner is an idiot, she doesn't use a calendar or hold accountability, she's not acting very professionally. To say you cancel another clean, how does that help? If she can't walk into a house that was left untouched since she last cleaned and not notice is beggars belief. She should take the loss, it's her mistake. She should be embarrassed. What the hell was she cleaning as it was clean already.

What was she even doing for 3 hours considering there shouldn't be much to clean? Sounds like she might be trying it on anyway. She 'forgot' sounds like a good excuse to get paid for an easy job.

Oops indeed. Why is she getting confused? She’s a business woman so that shouldn’t be happening, she’s supposed to be organised with cleaning schedules. I wouldn’t pay her.

This

Don't pay

OP, I think you just have to be more firm and less friendly in your messages and cut the emojis.

I would use ChatGPT or Google AI next time, to refine what you want to say.

This is irrelevant to the OP. She stated above her cleaner had a cancellation period, and she cancelled well before the time requested by the cleaner.

It's not always about the money !

‘Oh you messed up, here, have a bunch of flowers!’

As a former private cleaner and I went into a house that was already cleaned previously by myself , it's clear to see if its not been touched, I would've had a quick dust but just because I believe it's just what you do as a professional cleaner just for your own satisfaction in your job.

Charging for that I wouldn't have done as its my own error however if I got a bunch of flowers or a token gift for it then that would be more than enough, but nothing at all wouldn't deter me either as would've been my own error.