OK, here's the cleaner rant from the other side of the fence. 
Rant 1 - a lady who is a casual acquaintance was telling me that she's increased her hours at work and she's persuaded her husband she can get "help". She then tells me that she's told him she'll get me in for a couple of hours a week to clean. Thanks for asking me! - I've got people waiting for me to find a slot for them, but they don't want early in the week so I tell her that I'm really full up, but could probably fit her in 2 hours on a Tuesday. She says great. I go on to say that I bring all my own consumables and equipment, have public liability insurance and will give her a copy and remind her that my hourly rate is £11 (which she already knows). Her reaction "Oh, well we're only prepared to pay £8 an hour, that's the abolute max DH will pay for a cleaner". (There's a kind of change of tone in her voice on the word "cleaner" that I can't really describe, but it gives me an almost overwhelming urge to tip her cappucino in her lap!). I take a calming breath and assure her that there are plenty of cards in the newsagents advertising cleaners and she should look there.
Rant 2 - cleaners are traditionally paid on the day that they work. When I start with a new customer I ask them to leave the money, cash or cheque, on the day I visit. So why is it considered OK to leave a note saying they have forgotten to go to the bank but will pay the money next week? Or even decide that because they are a bit skint it will be OK to leave me a post-dated cheque? If I get a day or two of people messing me about with money and I start to feel quite financially challenged. Grrr!
That's it really, just felt like getting that off my chest before I pack up my Miele and set off for 5 hours work. Nice people today, they make me tea and pay me. I may be giving some others their written warning if they're not careful.