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Original poster

Who's right, me or DH?

30 replies

Workyticket · 19/12/2022 20:38

The cleaner has broken something today. 3rd visit and this is the second breakage!

First was a large vase - cost about £40 years ago. She apologised and I said it was fine - these things happen

She's text today to say she's broken something else.

Dh has ordered a replacement for £25 and thinks we should suck up the cost

I think the cleaner should pay. Who's right??

OP posts:
TedMullins · 19/12/2022 20:38

You. The cleaner should pay

Morechocmorechoc · 19/12/2022 20:39

Get a new cleaner

Newusernameaug · 19/12/2022 20:39

DH - that will probably take up her whole wages to clean your place? That’s cruel.

Dacadactyl · 19/12/2022 20:40

I would give the cleaner the choice: pay for what she's broken or she loses you as a client.

MonkeyPuddle · 19/12/2022 20:41

She should have PL insurance which should cover for instances like this.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/12/2022 20:42

Sack the cleaner and pay for it yourself. I wouldn't bother going after £25.

SouthOfFrance · 19/12/2022 20:44

I would speak to her and ask if she has insurance for breakages like this

Lkydfju · 19/12/2022 20:44

She should pay and should have insurance for this

MelchiorsMistress · 19/12/2022 20:47

The cleaner should pay, obviously. You shouldn’t even be in the position where you have to bring it up with her because with any basic manners the onus is on her to insist on replacing it.

Original poster
Workyticket · 19/12/2022 20:50

Sorry, I should have said. She has said she'll pay if needs be (did try to say it was maybe already damaged, it 100% wasn't)

Dh just thinks we should suck it up. I did too the first time but this is the second!

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 19/12/2022 20:51

Dacadactyl · 19/12/2022 20:40

I would give the cleaner the choice: pay for what she's broken or she loses you as a client.

Or alternatively, don’t act like an arsehole?

Most ad hoc cleaners don’t have insurance (if that bothers you you need to check that to begin with). An agency should though.

Ask her if she has insurance, if she does, great. assuming she doesn’t, you will have to pay in practice - she doesn’t have the money, and it isn’t worth you perusing through the small claims court. (And given what cleaners earn and the COL crisis it would be a crap thing to try and do.)

You could reasonably ditch her for 2 breakages in 2 sessions, but personally if she’s otherwise good, I would say to her that you really want to keep her but you can’t afford to keep replacing things. (Three strikes and she’s out, obviously.)

Logginglogger · 19/12/2022 20:55

I’ve had this, I’d say that’s twice now, we will cover this time, but next time you pay.

piedbeauty · 19/12/2022 20:56

She have professional insurance that will cover her. She should pay.

Windtunnel · 19/12/2022 20:57

Logginglogger · 19/12/2022 20:55

I’ve had this, I’d say that’s twice now, we will cover this time, but next time you pay.

This sounds fair to me

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 19/12/2022 20:59

I think I would rather get rid of the cleaner than take probably a whole shifts wages off her and create hostility in this new working relationship

Dacadactyl · 19/12/2022 21:04

Luredbyapomegranate · 19/12/2022 20:51

Or alternatively, don’t act like an arsehole?

Most ad hoc cleaners don’t have insurance (if that bothers you you need to check that to begin with). An agency should though.

Ask her if she has insurance, if she does, great. assuming she doesn’t, you will have to pay in practice - she doesn’t have the money, and it isn’t worth you perusing through the small claims court. (And given what cleaners earn and the COL crisis it would be a crap thing to try and do.)

You could reasonably ditch her for 2 breakages in 2 sessions, but personally if she’s otherwise good, I would say to her that you really want to keep her but you can’t afford to keep replacing things. (Three strikes and she’s out, obviously.)

Show quote history

Don't call me an arsehole.

I'm not being funny, but if I broke 2 items as a cleaner there is no way I'd expect my client to just suck it up. I'd replace it myself.

If i had a cleaner and she went round breaking stuff, she would either need to pay for it herself or lose a client. It's her choice.

She's running a business and the fact she's not well paid doesnt mean I have to treat her like a charity case.

piedbeauty · 19/12/2022 21:11

@Luredbyapomegranate - it's really not being an arsehole to expect a cleaner to pay for things she has broken. 🙄🙄 Two breakages in three visits!! Very poor. Wtf was she doing?!

Sugarplumfairy65 · 19/12/2022 21:15

MonkeyPuddle · 19/12/2022 20:41

She should have PL insurance which should cover for instances like this.

With a large excess for Her to pay.

Original poster
Workyticket · 19/12/2022 22:10

She's been lovely about it - messaged again apologising

I think she should pay for it, otherwise at what point do we say she pay if she breaks things in future? It's not a badly paid job (£15 an hour so above NLW)

We're not rich. I got a small payrise at work and the cleaner coming once a fortnight takes up 80% of it!

OP posts:
MuggleMe · 19/12/2022 22:51

Fwiw my cleaner of 8 years has never broken anything. Is she rushing to get round, are you asking her to complete too much, is she slapdash or is your house cluttered?

Alexandernevermind · 19/12/2022 22:59

When you are at work, in an office, shop, wherever, and break something, does it get knocked off your wages? Probably not. She isn't a friend in your home, she is someone employed by you.

Original poster
Workyticket · 19/12/2022 23:13

MuggleMe · 19/12/2022 22:51

Fwiw my cleaner of 8 years has never broken anything. Is she rushing to get round, are you asking her to complete too much, is she slapdash or is your house cluttered?

It's a very relaxed arrangement. 2 ladies here for an hour and 45 minutes. Rough plan is floors, bathroom, kitchen and whatever else they manage. No big list for them to get through.

It was the TV base - on its own on a large 4 by 2 Kalax other than a photo frame and ds' money box. Definitely not cluttered.

OP posts:
GuyGomasWife · 19/12/2022 23:35

Workyticket · 19/12/2022 22:10

She's been lovely about it - messaged again apologising

I think she should pay for it, otherwise at what point do we say she pay if she breaks things in future? It's not a badly paid job (£15 an hour so above NLW)

We're not rich. I got a small payrise at work and the cleaner coming once a fortnight takes up 80% of it!

Are you paying her tax and NI, expenses for getting to your house and all cleaning materials? If not then she's hardly raking it in. I wouldn't keep a cleaner with that record but I wouldn't necessarily expect her to pay for damage either, especially as it isn't much in the grand scheme of things

Original poster
Workyticket · 19/12/2022 23:41

No, I literally just pay her what she asked. She sets the wage she's happy with.

OP posts:
Original poster
Workyticket · 25/12/2022 10:06

Just noticed she's blocked me! Looks like I'll be searching for a new cleaner in the New Year!

OP posts:
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