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Original poster

Help- cleaner drank my gin!

614 replies

kayde12 · 19/01/2020 10:48

Hi all,
I’m new to mumsnet, but would really love some advice!

I’ve just signed up to a cleaning company and had my first clean, which I was thrilled about.
Then I noticed that half of my bottle of pink drink has gone!
I only got the bottle given to me as a gift last week from my sister in law.
My Dh doesn’t drink and I have my two ds in the house.
It was the cleaner definitely!
The company have been awful at getting back to me and sent me a poor email saying she said she didn’t drink it Hmm and was too early in the morning.

I feel really gutted and not sure how to move forward or get some sort of justice!!

OP posts:
MaisWeee · 19/01/2020 12:53

So the DH who never drinks as he doesn't like it, not only decides he fancies half a bottle of gin - but does so in secret! OP - maybe your DH has been a closet alco for all these years!!!

ClappyFlappy · 19/01/2020 12:54

Jesus wept.the husband doesn’t drink and people assume it’s because he’s an alcoholic? People are nuts.

Gingertam · 19/01/2020 12:54

I would be amazed if it was the cleaner. How awful to accuse somebody of theft and ruin her reputation when you have no proof. I would put money on it being your son. You should all be ashamed.

MaisWeee · 19/01/2020 12:56

I'm sure the OP would have noticed if her son was scuttered drunk.

ChickenyChick · 19/01/2020 12:56

OP, would you take advice?

As a mother of teen boys, I would:

Tell the boy that you are sacking the cleaner for taking the gin. then just watch his reaction....

madcatladyforever · 19/01/2020 12:56

You have NO proof whatsoever and at 12 I drank half a bottle of my parents whisky and had to be taken to hospital.
You will be lucky if you get another cleaner from that company.

C8H10N4O2 · 19/01/2020 12:56

u should have set up a camera and kept quiet

In the UK? Illegal, you have to at least inform them and there should be a notice up to remind people they are being snooped on.

madcatladyforever · 19/01/2020 12:57

Also your DS could have taken it for a get together with friends and may not have drunk any in the house. That's what I would have done.

ClappyFlappy · 19/01/2020 12:58

Not sure why people think that the cleaner decanting it drinking is impossible. Quite strange really.

No I don’t either. And the “why would she risk her job” comments are hopelessly naive. Or maybe I’m just a cynic after a career in HR and the absolutely nuts things people do and get sacked for.

Every job has its share of bad eggs. I’m sure the vast majority of cleaners are utterly trustworthy and honest but as with every job there will be some that aren’t.

MaisWeee · 19/01/2020 12:58

at 12 I drank half a bottle of my parents whisky and had to be taken to hospital.

The OP might have noticed if her 13 yo was drunk? She might recall the trip to A&E don't ya think?

messolini9 · 19/01/2020 12:59

u should have set up a camera and kept quiet

In the UK? Illegal, you have to at least inform them and there should be a notice up to remind people they are being snooped on.

Of course the cleaner will be informed that there is a nanny cam.
No need to tell the son.
50/50 you will either find your culprit or be left wondering.

messolini9 · 19/01/2020 13:01

OP still hasn't said if the bottle was open or unopened.
Plenty of people have thought they had more gin left than they actually do ...

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 19/01/2020 13:01

Pretty sure that's illegal

Under what legislation? Or is it just that you personally didn't like the sound of it, so decided on that basis it must be a criminal offence? I've noticed people on here often do that.

Geometricprince · 19/01/2020 13:01

If I really thought the cleaner had taken it and I didn't feel comfortable with her in my home I would have told the agency that we'd had a change in circumstances and no longer required their services. Then I would have looked for a new cleaner.

What I wouldn't have done is contact the agency and accuse the woman of stealing as you have absolutely no proof that she did and mud sticks. Your first post talks about justice for your half bottle of gin, seems like you wanted to get her into trouble which isn't fair as you don't actually know that she's done anything wrong.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 19/01/2020 13:02

In the UK? Illegal, you have to at least inform them and there should be a notice up to remind people they are being snooped on.

Utter nonsense. You have the total right to put cameras up in your own home and inform no one. The only time you have to inform people is if you’re running a business from home and they are customers, but even that can be gotten around. You’re even entitled to video the neighbours and the road around your home, if you can show that the camera is intended to video your property but inadvertently includes part of your neighbour’s property.

rwalker · 19/01/2020 13:02

It well could of been the cleaner but it could of be someone else. So basically you have now branded her a thief to her employer with zero proof WELL DONE.

NumbersStation · 19/01/2020 13:03

I feel sorry for the cleaner.

Having been wrongly accused of much worse by a deranged bullying colleague, I have an intense dislike of being accused without proof.

MaisWeee · 19/01/2020 13:07

I don't feel sorry for the cleaner. Usually, the most obvious answer is the answer.

I got an air of jealousy off this particular cleaner/thief that I had. An attitude of 'who the fuck does she think she is'. I deserve to be robbed. If I can afford a cleaner, I can afford to lose £5 sort of mentality.

CassidyStone · 19/01/2020 13:08

You've immediately assumed the cleaner took your gin or drank it whilst cleaning. If she was drinking on the job, I doubt you'd have been thrilled with the end result - which you say you were. Also, if she took it, she'd have topped it up with water so you didn't notice straightaway.

It's your teenage son and/or his mates.

OldEvilOwl · 19/01/2020 13:08

You have no proof that it's the cleaner

MimiLaRue · 19/01/2020 13:08

People are being very weird on this thread-of course its possible a cleaner could have taken it. Cleaners aren't some mythical species with pristine morals higher than the rest of us- they are normal people just like everyone else and some of them aren't honest (just as SOME people in any profession aren't going to be ethical and honest).

I am LMFAO at people thinking a 13 year old could drink half a bottle of gin and act normal/hide it.

Geometricprince · 19/01/2020 13:08

The most obvious answer to most people on here seems to be the 13 year old!

MaisWeee · 19/01/2020 13:10

What my thieving witch didn't realise was that I was suffering from depression and sinking under the weight of a full time job and living up to the ridiculous standards I set for myself (which she didn't meet btw - in cleaning terms either). It's really insulting to be robbed. It shows a distinct disdain for you and lack of respect.

OP - just don't use that agency again. Source someone from a word of mouth recommendation.

Bluntness100 · 19/01/2020 13:11

If I genuinely thought it was the cleaner, I'd have done one of two things, I'd have realised I had no proof and that it could have been someone else, so I'd either have given her the benefit of the doubt, possibly set a test for thr following week, ie left another bottle of booze but made sure there could be no one else drinking it, or I'd have simply called the agency and said due to a change in circumstances I needed to cancel the contract. But if the cleaning job had been done well I'd have praised it so they didn't think that was the reason for cancellation.

I'd not have phoned them and accused the cleaner of downing or nicking half a bottle of gin in thr morning.

bruffin · 19/01/2020 13:11
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