Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Why do clients leave a penny on the table?

48 replies

astrorosa · 13/01/2020 18:23

Are they testing the cleaner, to see if they'll take it?

This is the third time this has happened. I'm cleaning for my side job and they always make it so obvious. Why the table and why a penny ffs?

Are there really people out there who think the cleaner wants to steal a worthless penny?

OP posts:
ScienceNut · 13/01/2020 18:24

I kick copper out all over the house

NemophilistRebel · 13/01/2020 18:25

No one would be concerned over a lost copper

If it’s pound coins under the rug then they are testing you

NemophilistRebel · 13/01/2020 18:26

Ps - I sometimes leave pound coins in a pile by the kitchen window

It’s for good luck, not to be spent and not to be moved so definitely not a trick

NailsNeedDoing · 13/01/2020 18:26

I’d have thought it was to see if the penny had moved, indicating whether the table had been cleaned or not.

I doubt anyone thinks cleaners would want to steal a penny.

lostsoulsunited · 13/01/2020 18:27

Are there really people out there who think the cleaner wants to steal a worthless penny?

You never know, they might think you'd need to spend a penny.

Southmouth · 13/01/2020 18:28

I’m a cleaner and I’m glad you mentioned this as I always see the odd change laying about in various sometimes unusual places.

I’m guessing it’s to see if it’s been moved to check the area is being cleaned or if you would take it Confused

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 13/01/2020 18:28

If you think they’re testing you, then always carry a few really really shiny coins with you and swap them over. They’ll be thinking you took the time out to clean the coin. Grin

Leedsmom · 13/01/2020 18:30

There are always random coins around our house-certainly not by design!

I say always but as soon as I need some I can never find any!

Bunnybigears · 13/01/2020 18:31

It's probably to check you wiped the table.

SapphosRock · 13/01/2020 18:49

In my case it's come out of my bag or pocket and been completely forgotten about. Definitely not a test for the cleaner.

Chemenger · 13/01/2020 18:52

I would think I can find at least four coins lying around in this house and we don’t have a cleaner. They just appear, like pens disappear.

SanAntonio · 13/01/2020 18:53

What clients? Where do you clean?

I think it has connotations for sex workers if that is applicable? The penny hooker/prostitute -ie worthless

prisscalledwanda · 13/01/2020 18:54

I think it's money that people just don't want to carry in their purse but don't know where to put so leave lying around the house. Messiness rather than a test in my view!

Scarletoharaseyebrows · 13/01/2020 18:54

I've just started to clear out the living room ready to decorate and found several in odd places on ledges!

SpaceCadet4000 · 13/01/2020 18:55

There's no way anyone would try and test a cleaner with a coin. Random coins scattered around our house drive me crazy. Where they come from defies me as we almost never use cash.

saraclara · 13/01/2020 18:57

There are random low value coins all over my house. And there's often a pound coin on my dressing table as I frequently have a supermarket trolley one in my pocket, which I have to fish out when I put my jeans in the linen basket in my bedroom when I get undressed.

I'd be horrified if it turned out my cleaner thought they're there as a test.

TigerBreadAddict · 13/01/2020 18:59

Because they nip to the shop for an item that is £X.99 and they put the change on the table with their shopping when they come back?

edgeware · 13/01/2020 19:00

I hope my cleaner doesn’t think this - my toddler ds is obsessd with coins and squirrels them around the house

OneForMeToo · 13/01/2020 19:01

There is change all over the place here. I have a toddler who uses anything 5p and lower as play money in her shop and games with older siblings.

LolaSmiles · 13/01/2020 19:03

I dump change from my pocket on the closest surface when I empty my pockets. It irritates my DH.

If I had a cleaner it wouldn't be a trick.

ReorderProduct · 13/01/2020 19:04

My first (only) thought was that someone just left it there because they didnt want it i their pocket/purse but it seems it's a thing for testing the cleaners cleaning.

One the one hand genius! OTOH how paranoid do you need to be to set traps for the cleaners?

Knittedfairies · 13/01/2020 19:13

It's either to check your honesty or your cleaning!
Years ago a car brought in for my mechanic dad to service always had a half crown somewhere inside it. After about the fourth time he glued it to the floor... There was no half crown when the car was brought in for the next service.

LittleLongDog · 13/01/2020 19:16

I always see the odd change laying about in various sometimes unusual places.

Is that not just due to people emptying their pockets about all over the place?

ElbasAbsentPenis · 13/01/2020 19:16

Unless the houses you are cleaning are already very clean, it’s not a trick or a test, just messiness. I’d be mortified if my cleaners thought I was testing them!

Mumtown · 13/01/2020 19:21

Our house is littered in loose change often in weord places. It’s nit a test. We’re just lazy.