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Original poster

Client assumes I will clean if I have down time. How do I handle this?

118 replies

someonestolemynick · 13/04/2016 21:22

I've NC'd for this and will keep things as vague as possible.

Basically I'm a tutor who occasionally does childcare/babysitting. As a favour to an excisting client I took on a new client for a regular after school babysitting gig. The dc are around 10 years old so won't require constant supervision.

I have to say as babysitting goes, my rates aren't cheap. But as i don't need to prepare for babysitting, they are cheaper than my tuition fees. So I get that hiring me to sit in your house while the dc get on with stuff. I pointed that out to get, but she was happy with the fee.

I want to an initial meeting with her. All really great until the mother said: and when c happens, they'll probably just be upstairs playing, so you can do some cleaning. I didn't react at all. I think I probably looked quite put out. She proceeds to show me where she keeps different things including showing me subtly where the cleaning products are.

I know I should have said something at the time but I was incredibly stunned. I have been in this job for almost 10 years and I've never been asked to clean someone's house. Of course I tidy up (with the kids) after a session and will clean any mess when It comes up, but I am not a cleaner.

You can probably tell, that i am not happy with this. I'm actually quite offended that she would simply assume I would because
F

  1. I'm doing her and an excisting client a favour.
  2. I am shot at cleaning and hate it. For that reason I employ a cleaner in my own home.

So how do I deal with this?

  1. Have a conversation with her stating firmly and politely that she needs to hire a cleaner, if she wants someone else to clean her house.
  2. Get on with my job and wait for her to comment.
  3. Tell her that my commitements have changed and I won't be able to babysit for her again.

Or am I being previous and should just clean.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
thecatfromjapan · 15/04/2016 17:32

You are very polite and restrained. Hope this never happens to yo again.Smile

Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 17:17

The message is out. I thanked her for the payment, apologised for the short notice and pointed her to some online agency that would be able to sort out cover at short notice.

OP posts:
Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 15:10

Thanks cat, i understood your post in the spirit it was intended and agree that i am an odd choice for what she needs.

OP posts:
Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 15:06

I must say this thread has really helped me not to crazy. Thanks everyone sometimes it's good to hear that it's really not you.

In the past I encountered some piss takers. I'm normally assertive enough to say boundaries. Her level of entitlement is just from a different planet Shock

OP posts:
Primaryteach87 · 15/04/2016 14:54

I've done some tutoring, and people who take the mick don't get better, they get worse.... I second what others have said, cut this woman off. She is totally unreasonable!

thecatfromjapan · 15/04/2016 14:43

I completely agree with expat.

To be clear: I never thought you should be doing cleaning, and your charging rate is your business - I was just expressing what I thought she might be thinking.

She is extremely rude - and she has underpaid you.

expatinscotland · 15/04/2016 14:32

'Sadly, I'm not able to provide service to pisstaker. She told me to clean her house whilst there, came back two hours late with no warning and then didn't pay me for the extra time. ' That's what you tell the client who asked you to help her.

expatinscotland · 15/04/2016 14:20

Don't thank her for paying you, the bitch.

Just one message along the lines of, 'Unfortunately I am no longer available for any further engagements with (names of children). Kind regards, some.'

DO tell your client exactly what this person did.

donajimena · 15/04/2016 14:16

I can see this thread has moved on but my children would be mortified if the babysitter tried to interact with them!
I say to him here is the sky remote I'll see you at 11pm Smile
glad you got paid!

HSMMaCM · 15/04/2016 14:11

I'm amazed she paid you at all. You're better off out of there. Good luck with your new clients. I'd be tempted to text and say sorry I'm not available to do cleaning and unpaid work, but I wouldn't, I'd probably just wimp out and say sorry I'm not available any more.

Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 14:10

Arfar Grin

Am I fuck?

I want to be done with this. Waiting for the red most to settle so I can send a calm and measured e-mail that give her any ammunition over me.

OP posts:
Lweji · 15/04/2016 14:10

So, she didn't pay you the extra time?

Do send her a message asking for it. Preferably at over time rates.

RattusRattus · 15/04/2016 14:07

Ruth = with

hejsvejs · 15/04/2016 14:06

Did she not pay you for the extra time? Bloody hell!

RattusRattus · 15/04/2016 14:06

OMG so she was essentially two hours late and didn't pay you for that extra time?!

This explains why she sounded desperate to have you as she's clearly burnt her bridges Ruth everyone else she's used if this is her M.O.

Are you going to ask her to compensate you for the extra time?

Arfarfanarf · 15/04/2016 14:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 13:56

Just been paid. The exact amount I quoted her.

Piss taker can piss off!

OP posts:
parissont · 15/04/2016 13:56

What do you charge?

Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 13:55

Well, i think I'm underemployed and overpaid.

I teach a language and most of my babysitting gigs are tutoring clients who like that i speak to the dc in the target language and the fact they already know and trust me.

For what new client wants she could get a local student for about half what i charge. I'm not prepared to work for those rates especially not considering that i have to cross London to get to her.

I voiced my concerns about this at the time she hired me. She was adamant that she wanted me but I get the feeling she was desperate.

OP posts:
RattusRattus · 15/04/2016 13:45

Ooh she is a total piss taker isn't she. Hate hate hate people like this.

Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 13:38

Dates not water: d'OH!

OP posts:
Original poster
someonestolemynick · 15/04/2016 13:37

Good point about speaking to client x. She will be mortified so have to word it very carefully.

Still haven't been paid. Sent a friendly reminder. I have a response saying she is doing it atm and can I do x water next week. I think I may be ignoring my phone for a while.

OP posts:
pluck · 15/04/2016 13:24

Arrogant twerp! Also an idiot, as you've got it in writing that she was late!

thecatfromjapan · 15/04/2016 11:54

I'd recommend having a word with the other client, too. Particularly because you ended up in this situation partly as a favour for her.

I'm not massively surprised you haven't been paid. I wouldn't be surprised if she pays you at a lower rate, or only for the initially discussed hours and not the surprise add-ons. My feeling is that she thought you were over-paid and under-employed from the start.

Hope I'm wrong!

DPotter · 15/04/2016 11:18

Would it be worth a quiet word with your other client who asked you to help out with this soon-to-be-X-client ? A gentle " I'm going to have to step away as she wants me to do the cleaning and was over 2 hours late coming home. And oh yes she hasn't paid me..." . Get in first before she bad mouths you to your client sort of thing

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