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Paid agreed amount but is demanding more

53 replies

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 14:49

ive had a cleaner for over a year and it seems shes always made prices up. for over 3 months i was paying a set amount of £80, this is for her and her son to clean for an hour. lately she keeps saying she did something extra so will need an extra £20 or she had to put clothes away of move cushions or toys, extra £30 even thought shes never stayed any longer and sometimes leaves early.
The final straw was shes now charged me £120 this week, she was on her own and i asked why and she's stating that she had to fold clothes that were on the table and pick toys up, i said she should of asked about this before deciding to add an extra £40, she still only stayed an hour, that's £120 for an hours work. i replied saying we agreed a set amount every 2 weeks so this is what i am paying. does this not sound like extortionate amount of money. i am north of the UK. She did deep clean for me when she started and this was for 5 hours of work for £220 which i thought was reasonable at the time, but £120 for an hour? she is saying she will make a claim.

OP posts:
Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 23/08/2024 15:30

*then

countrysidelife2024 · 23/08/2024 15:31

cleaners are usually between 15 and £25 an hour so you are being robbed here and she knows she can trick you

BaronessBomburst · 23/08/2024 15:44

Fire her, get your key back, change the locks, and mention the Inland Revenue.

Onemorepenny · 23/08/2024 15:53

Those prices! Should be closer to £15-20 per hour.

Theunamedcat · 23/08/2024 15:53

As a former cleaner myself I echo sack her she is taking the piss

MadBlack · 23/08/2024 16:04

40 quid an hour! Far too expensive, I pay 17 an hour for 3 hours and he does the whole house.
Just tell her you dont want her back and will not be paying any extra.
You'll find a replacement easily enough

Waystation · 23/08/2024 16:06

I pay £16 an hour - my cleaner does two hours per week and the jobs can change week to week depending on what I need/want done - if I have no particular need she just gets on with a general clean - OP I would dispense with her services I think she is taking advantage massively!

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:14

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 23/08/2024 15:30

I’d pay the prior agreed £80 and not a penny more. They find someone else and sign a contract

this is what i have done, i messaged her back and stated i was paying the agreed amount, and that the extra is not justifiable

OP posts:
NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:15

invisiblecat · 23/08/2024 14:57

A claim? Where? In the small claims court? She can't make a claim unless she has some proof that a price was agreed in advance, and you are refusing to pay. She doesn't have that, so let her crack on.

In the meantime, find another cleaner.

I thought this aswell, i never agreed to the price change and if she told me before hand i would of told her no

OP posts:
NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:17

Deipara · 23/08/2024 14:58

Let her make her claim 🙄 whilst you get a new cleaner. She's taking the piss out of you. You've made it easy for her tbf but now you get a new cleaner and start out by agreeing that any extra work she does she needs to ask whether you want it doing and agree a price beforehand.

i know, in the past i have just paid to avoid confrontation and it seems it has worked for her.
i am looking into cleaning agencys now

OP posts:
outdamnedspots · 23/08/2024 16:18

£80 for her and her son to clean for an hour!! Is he even a cleaner?

The second you agreed to this, they must have thought you were a mug.

Tell her you were paying her an hourly rate and she's sacked.

What a CF!

Then leave negative reviews for her everywhere.

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:21

99RedBallonz · 23/08/2024 15:07

Your paying £40 an hour for a cleaner. She is already charging you way beyond the usual price. I pay £17 an hour and get two cleaners, so that's £34 a week.

The agreement was they work per hour, not per task. So they don't randomly charge me an extra £20 for folding up some throws. What was the original agreement you had? Personally I think they are pistakers and see you as a bit of a mug. I'd get someone new.

a clean every 2 weeks. when she came every week it was £40 then when i changed to every 2 weeks it was £80 as she said more dirt builds up and they have to use more product, still only there for an hour.

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 23/08/2024 16:28

She's taking the piss. Tell her to jog on

Otherstories2002 · 23/08/2024 16:30

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:17

i know, in the past i have just paid to avoid confrontation and it seems it has worked for her.
i am looking into cleaning agencys now

You’re paying cleaners £40 PER HOUR?!

have you lost your mind?!

mindutopia · 23/08/2024 16:34

I haven’t had a cleaner since before COVID, but I paid £24 for 2 hours (£12 an hour). She was lovely and excellent. £80 an hour! She better be dusting things in gold as she goes. 😳

saveforthat · 23/08/2024 16:35

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:21

a clean every 2 weeks. when she came every week it was £40 then when i changed to every 2 weeks it was £80 as she said more dirt builds up and they have to use more product, still only there for an hour.

Oh come on. I believed you up to this point but now I think you are joking.

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:35

Otherstories2002 · 23/08/2024 16:30

You’re paying cleaners £40 PER HOUR?!

have you lost your mind?!

I know and yes i clearly did. i cannot believe i let this carry on

OP posts:
WoolyMammoth55 · 23/08/2024 16:40

Sorry OP, you've been really taken advantage of here.

We pay £15/hr for a truly AMAZING cleaner who makes our place immaculate and deals with our busy house without batting an eyelid.

That is considered top-whack around here, but she's so good we pay it anyway.

Even £40/hr is outrageous - £120/hr is absolute robbery! She can make her claim, and good luck to her - she's bluffing and would get absolutely nowhere.

But yes if she had a key from you then you will need to change your locks.

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:40

saveforthat · 23/08/2024 16:35

Oh come on. I believed you up to this point but now I think you are joking.

nope this defo happened. i have the convos as i queried why it would be the same price for every week as oppose to every 2 weeks.

OP posts:
MtClair · 23/08/2024 16:40

£120 for a one hour of work?
On which planet is she living?

motherofawhirlwind · 23/08/2024 16:45

If you're in Leeds, I can recommend an agency?

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:46

She has also said i can afford it so i feel like shes seen a payslip or something. this shouldn't even be up for discussion

OP posts:
DreamW3aver · 23/08/2024 16:48

Nicely, do you have someone who can help you with your money management? Something's not quite right here

Dotto · 23/08/2024 16:52

This is verging on criminal, I'd report to trading standards. Are you a vulnerable person OP?

NimbleGreyDeer · 23/08/2024 16:56

Dotto · 23/08/2024 16:52

This is verging on criminal, I'd report to trading standards. Are you a vulnerable person OP?

i suffer from anxiety and depression. not vulnerable but i have alot on at the moment.

OP posts: