I know this is probably a trival thing to be worried about..

[moonriver]

But am I being unreasonable?

I have just discovered that my cleaner brings along a friend to help when she does my weekly cleaning. So it takes her two hours to do the cleaning instead of the four I am paying her for.

I only found out as I am home today, she looked rather shocked to see me here when she walked in. I asked her why her friend was there (who I have met before) and she looked at the floor and mumbled that she always came along to help.

Just to get it into prospective, she cleans two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, one bathroom and one conservatory. She also does a little ironing, mainly my DP`s work shirts. Do you think I am asking too much for four hours?

I am just a little put out that 1) I never would have found out that she bought her friend along had I not been here today and 2) I am paying her for four hours, when she has only been here for two, at least today.

Am I right to be annoyed?

Many thanks.

[kelly2525]

She is a fucking cheeky cow, and I would fire her.

Shes brought a stranger into your house, to sit and read the paper and watch tv, Id be checking drawers and cupboards.

[Mumtothreeboys27b]

I would suggest both can clean in the 2 hours and pay the same but friend gets half of what you pay with the same contract as the cleaner. She is basically subcontracting without your knowledge or permission.

[helenthemadex]

I dont think its a trivial thing to find out that a stranger you havent invited or employed is coming into your house without your consent or knowledge for what ever reason and particularloy to 'chill out with the paper and tv'

and she isnt doing the hours you are paying her for

[kaid100]

You are right that your cleaner is being unreasonable, but not for the reason you give. She may only be there for two hours, but four hours are "being worked" in total and your house is as clean as it would be with one person staying there four hours. The issue here is that she is bringing someone else into your house without permission. You have trusted her with your keys, you have not trusted her friend or had the opportunity to check her references etc. I can understand why bringing someone else along is compelling, it must get pretty boring being a cleaner on your own, but she should have asked you first.

[mollymole]

understand the man hours thing but i believe this is about TRUST and I would out her now
her friend 'chilling out & watching tv' in your house !!!

[apprenticemum]

Just noted that when confronted, the cleaner says her mate watches the TV or reads the paper....Response might be...Tell your mate if she isnt cleaning, she shouldnt be there -your home is not a doss house!

[stapledmythumb]

YANBU! I would sack any cleaner I found doing this-regardless of how good they were or how long they had been with me.

The stuff about man hours and whether the arrangement is a good one is totally irrelevant imo. It may well be a good arrangement and if she had asked you might have said yes. But she did not ask and it sounds as if she was banking on you never finding out.

I am quite soft about some things - but I cannot tolerate the idea that anyone woud, for any reason, be in my home without my knowledge and permission.

Clearly you do not feel quite that strongly - otherwise you would not have bothered to post. However you need to either make this a regular arrangement and arrive at a suitable pay/number of hours OR tell her it is unacceptable and must not happen again if she wants to continue working for you.

[NewTeacher]

i dont think you are asking too much. In fact that work should easily be done in 3 hours.

All of the cleaners I've had (no 3 in 5 years) manage to do my house in 4 hours and there are more bedrooms and bathrooms.

I wouldnt have been happy about the friend coming along without my knowledge though. If she'd mentioned it, it wouldnt be a problem.

[Birdsgottafly]

It doesn't sound as though the 'friend' is getting minimum wage, now you know that, as it s illegal, it puts you in a dilema, depending on your employment, possibly?

[Birdsgottafly]

You do need to find out what is going on, what if they have a falling out and the 'friend' has been working on the side and someone reports it, as i said you have then illegially empolyed them, as your cleaner may be breaking the law, it is the employers responsibility to take details of a national insurance number, even if they are self employed. Depending on your job, it could cause problems for you or your DH. If she had not have had permission to work in the Uk and she had of stolen off you, you may have been fined more than the value of what you lost.

[RevoltingPeasant]

I wouldn't necessarily fire her. I'd sit her down and say calmly that you feel your trust has been betrayed, but could she explain what happened?

People find themselves in difficult circs, it's a tough economic climate - 'mate' might be a rellie or close friend with DCs who's just lost her job and desperately needs cash to buy food or pay a bill. If she's a good cleaner and your own cleaner doesn't mind splitting the money, I'd say no problem.

BUT I would make it clear that you don't want anyone else around, and that you want to know when the other woman is coming etc.

[betterwhenthesunshines]

YANBU: 4 hrs is plenty of time for the work you describe. 2 people sharing it is fine.

But - if they are not getting paid equally that is wrong. I would be LIVID if my cleaner had someone else in the house without checking with me first, especially if sometimes they 'chilled out with the paper and TV' !!! On that basis I would ask for your keys back and find someone else to do the job. If you are not there when she is what other kind of liberties could she be taking? Not worth the risk, we get flyers through our door ona regular basis from people offering cleaning so hopefully you will be able to find a replacement.

[diddl]

I think you need to talk to your cleaner & tell her it has to stop tbh.

She´s either taking advantage of her friend or you.

[moonriver]

Thanks for all the replies- didnt expect so many!<br /> <br /> Yes cleaner has keys to my house, both me and DP normally work stupidly long hours so wouldnt be around to let her in.

Good point about having a back up cleaner.

Your suggestion is a good one, apprenticemum.

[idratherbeboarding]

Our cleaner often has a helper, doesn't concern me in the slightest.

[RevoltingPeasant]

OP does your cleaner have keys to your house, then?

I'd find this a little worrying. Er, not to be paranoid, but have you definitely checked that nothing is missing?

Sorry if that sounds funny, but IMO it is a big trust thing to let someone into your house. And it's a betrayal not to tell someone when you're letting a stranger into their house.

[apprenticemum]

Yes, I think it is a trust thing. Your cleaner has broken your trust. Provided that you are happy with the standard of work, I think that you should point out to the cleaner that had she asked and given you the opportunity to give her mate the once over, you would have been fine about it. As others have said, you have built in holiday and sickness cover. However ask her what she would have done if something had been stolen or broken. You need her assurance that nobody will enter your home without your say so and that if it happens again.....She is history. (good cleaners are hard to come by)

[ScroobiousPip]

I don't think you can complain about what you are paying if you are still getting 4 hours work. But, what would bother me is the lack of communication and respect - she could and should have asked you upfront if it was OK to bring someone else into your home. I'm guessing you got references for your cleaner. You'd presumably want to do the same for anyone helping her out.

I'd be tempted to call her and say that if she wants to bring someone with her in future, she needs to ask your permission. It would also be sensible to ask for that person's full details and a reference before you say yes.

[Punkatheart]

'Friend' does also sound if she is being exploited. So not an ideal situation.

[Birdsgottafly]

I am not saying stop the agrangement, i know of a gardener who used to let a family member with learning dificulties help him out, his relative wasn't on mean tested benefits, but if there is an accident, you need to know that you are not liable.

[brickwallspringstomind]

There

[squeakytoy]

Maybe as she feels you wouldnt approve, she is just saying that to cover up for the fact she is splitting the money with her mate.

As someone else pointed out, it could be beneficial to you, as if your regular cleaner is ill, or on holiday, you have a replacement who you know and can come in and do the work without any training/supervision needed.

[brickwallspringstomind]

It's your house, she should have told you someone else was going to be in their. That would really annoy me.

[Birdsgottafly]

Perhaps the friend lives in a hostel or has other circumstances? I would want some answers tbh.