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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to think that my cleaners are taking the piss?

43 replies

BeeBread · 22/12/2011 15:54

First ever AIBU and fully prepared to accept that I am BU if that's the verdict.

We have a new set of cleaners - two ladies - who we first used a few weeks back, but had to put them on standby while we were doing some building work. They normally charge £10 per hour.

The first (two) times we have used them, we were a little Xmas Hmm about what they had managed to achieve in 4 man hours (ie 2 hours each). As was my mum who has used cleaners for years and was positively harrumphing about what they had not done.

Anyway, fast forward to today. Building work has just finished, there is still a decorator in the house doing bits and bobs and a couple of no-go zones (which obviously I wouldn't expect them to try to clean). So they are left with kitchen, dining room, lounge, 2 decent sized bedrooms, one small box room, a bathroom and ensuite.

We've been living in the house in the meantime and I have been keeping on top of cleaning - so for example, all floors were hoovered/mopped on Sunday, bathrooms cleaned Monday, kitchen was pretty much spotless when I left for work today. It's really not as though the whole thing is a building site, although there is certainly a bit more dust and I had wanted a thorough clean including the windows (internally), shutters, doors, picture rails etc. So I asked them to do a double session - ie £80 and 8 man hours - today.

I'd said that if the decorator was still about and had dust sheets down, not to bother with hallway, stairs, and landing - which was the case.

Because of our concerns about their performance last time, I did them a checklist of what I'd like them to do. They called me as soon as they arrived to say that:

(a) they wouldn't be working while the builders - ie the decorator - was in the house; and

(b) what I had asked for was a "builders clean" which they would do for £220 when there were no "builders" in the house. I asked how long it would take and they said 4-5 hours each. So, assuming it would take 10 hours, their charge out rate has jumped to £22 per hour.

Surely they are taking the michael? Or AIBU?

Sorry this is so long (and dull!). Am just a bit Xmas Sad because I was so looking forward to it all being done for Christmas when we have family turning up. I'm 36 weeks' pregnant, knackered and will have to do it with DH now. Grrr.

OP posts:
ThatVikRinA22 · 22/12/2011 16:00

id say YANBU, from what you have said.

id find a new cleaner i think. Are they from an agency? you might be better off just asking around and getting someone word of mouth.

i cant see the problem with cleaning while the builder was in, the other rooms still need doing and you had said to leave the spaces where the builders were.

i used to clean for a guy, i wouldnt have had a problem with it.

i have also now considered employing a cleaner as i work full time shifts and have no time to iron/clean properly.

usualsuspect · 22/12/2011 16:00

I think asking them to clean up after the builders is more than just ordinary cleaning

Eglu · 22/12/2011 16:05

I'd tell them not to bother coming back and look for someone else.

Original poster
BeeBread · 22/12/2011 16:07

I think I am going to find a new cleaner. If they had been impressive first time round I'd be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt but it all feels a little difficult.

It took so long to find someone first time round though!

Honestly, Usual most rooms are fine: a little dusty but no more than that. The work was a loft conversion, so mostly the builders have been on the new top floor and we aren't asking them to clean that.

All of the bedrooms have been closed off to the builders while they have been here, so other than the dust which inevitably settles everywhere (and has been cleaned up periodically) they are as they would usually be. The builders have used our bathroom but I have obviously been cleaning that too. There's been a bit of work in the kitchen but, as I said, that was spotless when I left this morning.

I accept that there would be more to do that normal, hence the double shift. I thought 8 hours would be ok for a thorough clean of what is effectively a 3 bed house at the mo. But why the double charge out rate?

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 22/12/2011 16:10

My Dp was in the cleaning trade for years ,its standard practise to charge more for builders cleans

But yours doesn't sound too bad tbh

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 22/12/2011 16:12

Because it's Christmas, they figure you will be having guests, and as you are obviously pregnant, they think you can't do it so are over a barrell and are trying it on. Just smile sweetly and say "thank you but no thanks, we've found someone who will do a great job for much less".

Original poster
BeeBread · 22/12/2011 16:19

Oooh, PomBear I hadn't thought of that. Their offer to come back tomorrow when the decorator had gone was phrased as "we wouldn't want to leave you in the lurch, so we could come back tomorrow and fleece you do a builders clean for £220".

I'd rather spend the entire of Saturday cleaning than give them the satisfaction.

Shall be joining DM in some therapeutic harrumphing tonight I think.

OP posts:
theincredibequeenofwands · 22/12/2011 17:01

Bloody hell! I agree with the sweetly saying no thing. They're properly taking the piss!!

There should be loads of people who would clean at £10 per hour.

Could you not ask friend's teenagers??

101North · 22/12/2011 17:05

they are taking the piss. bloody hell is that how much cleaners get paid? - i do all that for nowt in my own house and i bet its much more fun doing it in someone elses!

usualsuspect · 22/12/2011 17:07

I don't think cleaners do it for fun Hmm

Original poster
BeeBread · 22/12/2011 17:33

Hmm, DH is thinking of paying them the £220 tomorrow just to get it all done.

He must have found a money tree in the back garden somewhere.

OP posts:
MrsOzz · 22/12/2011 17:47

Nooooo Bee!

It's not a builders clean. A builders clean would be in the house was in a proper state after having work done. Which it isn't. And the only areas that maybe a proper state (not suggesting anything) you have asked them to leave.

If its not too much work, and you feel up to it. I would do it yourself with DHs help. What I don't understand is that no matter how hard the clean, it should still be the same hourly rate? Or are they suggesting they don't work as hard normally!??

Original poster
BeeBread · 22/12/2011 18:01

Yes exactly! This is what I don't understand.

Okay, I've asked them to hoover the shutters, clean the windows, etc which isn't on their normal list of things to do, and I'm prepared to pay them for the extra time it takes, but why should that cost £22 per hour instead of £10 per hour?

If they had to hire special tools, or it was really filthy, I'd have no problem with some kind of uplift. Actually I don't have a problem with a bit of an uplift in these circumstances, but an extra £12 per hour is steep, no?

OP posts:
Original poster
BeeBread · 22/12/2011 18:03
OP posts:
Lotkinsgonecurly · 22/12/2011 18:07

I get the feeling they really don't want your business!

spiderslegs · 22/12/2011 18:13

YADNBU - they appear to be taking the piss, my lovely cleaner does four hours a week & manages to get a large seven bedroomed house looking spick & span (& I leave a pile of washing up & do not clean the bathrooms or mop the floors in between because I am a slattern).

Where are you? I'll send her round.

I would look elsewhere in the new year & see if any of your friends home for the holidays student DCs want to make some spare cash tomorrow.

Original poster
BeeBread · 22/12/2011 18:27

Oooh Spiderslegs she sounds wonderful!! I'm in SE London - is that anywhere remotely nearby?

I did ask around extensively before taking these ladies on, but all of my friends cleaners had no spare slots. Frankly if they are any good they seem to get booked up early!

OP posts:
Laquitar · 22/12/2011 18:30

£80 its not bad money and if the job was so easy they would have done it and get the money. Especially as they have travelled already to your house and had refused other bookings for that day.

Perhaps the Agency did not allow them to do the cleaning with the decorator in?

spiderslegs · 22/12/2011 18:38

Bee sadly not, Welsh Borders here.

Ah well - she's looking for extra work too.

Original poster
BeeBread · 22/12/2011 18:40

They aren't agency workers Laquitar - they are two ladies who have set up their own cleaning company. I'm not saying that the job was easy - 8 hours' cleaning isn't my idea of fun - but am unsure why they thought it differed so much from a normal clean.

That's a shame, Spiderlegs, let me know if she ever moves this way!

OP posts:
Laquitar · 22/12/2011 18:45

Ah no Agency workers.
It is their loss then as they did the travelling anyway and ruined their day.

Builders and decorators usually know local cleaners so they might help.

Pixieonthemoor · 22/12/2011 18:51

Yup they are taking the piss. It would be fair enough if you had a serious refurb underway but you are still living there and you are also doing cleaning yourself aside from what you are asking of them. Get rid and ask your neighbours - we got a stellar cleaner that way.

G1nger · 22/12/2011 18:53

I found, in the past when I had cleaners, that some were far better and quicker than others. And yes, some took the mick with their estimates of how many hours it would take to clean my then 1 bedroom flat. Try someone else...

Driftwood999 · 22/12/2011 19:01

I think yab a tad u, if the cleaners have to negoiate a path over landing/decorators,dust sheets etc... Also, unless rooms are sealed off, (plaster?) dust will travel. I sympathise, I do!

breatheslowly · 22/12/2011 19:06

They're idiots if they had the time to do it today and don't have any work on tomorrow either and are willing to risk you turning them away and earning nothing either today or tomorrow.