Cleaner wants internet access - WWYD

[BlankProfile]

We have had our cleaner for several years. She's honest, reliable and does a reasonable job.
Our internet password is on the back of the box and at some point she has seen this and used it to sign into our network. I found out today because we have recently changed our password and she asked me for the new one, obviously forgetting she had never asked me for the password in the first place.
It's annoyed me, but we have unlimited data and in the time she's been using it, it's never caused a problem.
Should I give her the new password?

No fucking way. Anyone who says 'yes' is a fool. She is there to clean. End of. There is no reason whatsoever she needs your internet access. Not a single reason. If she needs data for her phone, that's her responsibility.

@BlankProfile so what did you say when she asked?

I'm amazed that so many of you think taking the password without asking or mentioning it is OK. Just shows how it of touch I am with this sort of thing.

OP, I’m even more out of touch then you. It never occurred to me to ask for a password. I always use my mobile or wait until I’m back home.

@Aquamarine1029

No fucking way. Anyone who says 'yes' is a fool. She is there to clean. End of. There is no reason whatsoever she needs your internet access. Not a single reason. If she needs data for her phone, that's her responsibility.

But it's literally costing you nothing, she likely just what's to be able to stream some music whilst she's working!

I don't think she is doing anything dodgy at all. She's a good, honest, reliable person. I trust her with keys to the house, she knows the alarm code, has access to all our stuff. Which is why taking the password without asking seems like an odd thing to do. But maybe I am behind the times - she's probably 20 years younger than me and may have a different view on this.

I can see why she would want Internet access, it's useful if her provider's signal is poor in your home and if she's streaming music or something while she works, as well as making any other use of data faster and making it so she conserves any minutes and data allowance on her plan.

However, I think her taking the password without telling you is poor, though I know a lot of people probably don't think it matters much as they assume everyone has unlimited and that that's all that matters. Given everything else about her is fine and you do have an unlimited data plan I would take it on the chin, accept it as a difference of opinion and forget about it. But, if your router allows it, I'd also set up a separate, guest LAN for her to access the Internet through, instead of just using your regular network that you're all on. This gives you more security and makes it easier to rescind access or put limits on should there be an issue in the future.

Thanks to all of you for the guest network suggestion - I'll sort that out.

I'd find that a bit odd, tbh

I always use the wifi connection in the houses I clean as I listen to the radio/podcasts on my phone as I go into different rooms.

Nothing dodgy just a bit of company as I work. Especially with more people working from home. They don't want the radio on loud enough for me to hear it everywhere in the house.

No-one has ever even asked why I want the password.

But maybe I am behind the times - she's probably 20 years younger than me and may have a different view on this.

Her age and her "view" are irrelevant. Sharing access to your Wi-Fi makes your devices vulnerable, and she does not need it to do her job. Tell her no.

But it's literally costing you nothing, she likely just what's to be able to stream some music whilst she's working!

The cost is not the issue.

For the people who don’t give their WiFi password to anyone, because they’re worried about security, what happens?

A friend comes over for a coffee, asks for the WiFi password. You say “sorry, just in case you download anything illegal, and it’s difficult to prove it wasn’t me, I can’t let you use my internet?”

Or “sorry, it’s a security issue, and I don’t want you making my devices vulnerable”

Does this genuinely happen? Surely people don’t prevent their friends using their internet?

I know many on mumsnet treat cleaners as second class citizens. But I’m asking about the PPs who have said they don’t let ANYONE use their internet.

She could be listening to music, YouTube, podcast or audiobooks on her phone while she cleans.

I'd give it to her.

We have a guest network so she wouldn’t be able to access our computers, printers, or media servers, just the internet. She might enjoy listening to music or podcasts while she works. I don’t see the harm. Actually, if it was a regular cleaner I might even set up a special wifi channel for her so she could access our home media server so she can listen to our music.

I don’t find it odd she was using it. Are there really many people who have a cleaner that don’t have unlimited home data?

You didnt even notice she had it before, so shes hardly using all your data.

You sound super uptight tbh.

She might enjoy listening to music or podcasts while she works

But that would all download automatically while she's at home so I don't understand why she would want or need to do it off the OPs WiFi.

I find it weird that everyone thinks it's normal or necessary to log into WiFi in other people's homes.

You're either there to socialise or work, not be on your phone and if you needed a call, you'd use your own data etc.

There can't be many people who don't pay at least a fiver a month for a basic service and need to rely on other people's WiFi networks. It would be a pain to keep up with all the passwords for a start.

I’m very interested in the fault-lines in this thread. I’m betting it’s a generational thing.

I’m 49 (for info) and I’m hitting up against these issues a bit at the moment with people from 10-25yo. As an example, my child’s singing teacher. She’s 19, and thought it perfectly reasonable to conduct her zoom lesson lying on her bed in her loungewear. I was quite when I walked past the screen. I checked around and it seems that this is comprehensively acceptable for young adults, and I’m the fuddy-duddy. My counter-argument is that since I’m the client (who pays handsomely), my norms for these things get a say. My norms aren’t wrong, just different. And sometimes my preferences are allowed a voice, even if different other age-groups prefer something different.

I’d be very about anyone working for me assuming I was fine with them accessing my passwords and data services without asking. And without offering a reason. I’d be ok with ‘Do you mind if I hook in to your Wifi to listen to music/podcasts while I iron’ but not ok with TV in the background of cleaning work paid by the hour or downloading stuff via my account. Nopety nope.

Call me old. I don’t care. My house, my money, my rules. At work we all dance to someone else’s tune, consider it one of those things.

I’d be saying (friendly tone) ‘We don’t hand out our passwords as a rule, can you tell me more about why you need it?’ and I’d base my answer on the response. At my house I do confidential online work, so I’d prolly use that as an excuse and say no.

You only ever enter a password once and then your phone automatically connects to it when you enter the property again.

I listen to podcasts and would never download them beforehand. I listen to the radio on my phone so also can't download it beforehand.

I would check with that someone else in your household hasn't shared it with her. Seven years is a long time. It is possible one of you gave permission eons ago and just forgot about it.

Either way not something I would get in a froth about.

I think it was a bit cheeky of her not to ask in the first place, but she clearly didn't think of it as an issue because she's openly asking you for the new password. She obviously thought you didn't mind.

If she had asked you in the first instance and you had refused, I think you would look pretty and mean. But some others upthread seem to disagree with me. Clearly it's a divisive issue!

Mine has ot. She listens to music. She id yrust worthy, works well and if she needs yo fo a whsttsapp or domething while shes in my house ot costs me nothing but would cost her. I don't see the problem.

*petty and mean, not pretty!

Although I am sure you do also look very pretty

Of course you should give it to her why on earth wouldn’t you? You sound like you think you are a cut above .

@SleepingStandingUp

So what did you say when she asked? That you'd get back to her??