Cleaners - do you admit if you've broken something?

[Britishmanagersclub]

We've had cleaners for about 3 months, a small agency. In that time they've broken several glasses, a photo frame, and today a flower pot.

None of these things they've told me about. I've just found them after they've left. I haven't raised this so far, as the things they've broken haven't been valuable, but ffs, I'm pissed off now.

Are there any cleaners about? If you accidentally break something do you tell the customer?

I do. It’s hard as we move everything in the house. So breakages always Happen. Especially if our hands are wet or slippery. But I have always told them and have replaced.

I'd be less pissed off if they just told me.

I used to be one and never broke anything but would definitely tell my client! Have you complained to the agency?

It's not really an agency, it's a small local business. The owner is really nice and most of the cleaners are good, but they keep breaking stuff and not saying anything.

I've had the same problem. A small company whose owner is lovely as well as an amazing cleaner.

But the cleaners working for her aren't as good and break things on a regular basis, and usually don't tell me. They've done roughly £300 worth of damage in the last year. I am very close to getting rid of them because it's just too upsetting as well as too expensive for this constant damage.

Such a shame isn't it. I feel bad because the owner likely doesn't know.

We’ve had a few things broken by cleaners and have always had a text or apologetic note and a request for me to tell them how much to pay for it. I’ve never noticed anything broken and not been told (I’ve never accepted payment btw, accidents are bound to happen occasionally).

@HundredMilesAnHour good lord. That’s too much. I would find someone else. There are lots of independent people out there that are much better. As their reputation is based on their clients.

I had a cleaner who I felt was a bit off (but was recommended) and after a while noticed a beautiful China spoon (which went with a very unique Sugar bowl) was missing. She had clearly broken it and what was even more annoying was that as the entire shelf was covered in dust she'd just been being nosy (because the spoon was also very unusual) and dropped it rather than breaking it by accident via cleaning. I asked her about the spoon the next time I saw her and she admitted she'd broken it.

As others have said, I'd have been a lot more forgiving if she'd told me about it outright (she claimed she forgot to tell me). There were a few other weird incidents (the first time I ever met her she also asked to use my bank account to transfer money to someone- so weird!) and the broken spoon was the last straw.