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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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 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 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:

roses2 · 23/12/2011 06:49

If it's an hourly rate then why should they charge more for a "builders clean"? Surely a builders clean takes longer than a normal clean so they are paid more because they work longer, not because they work harder.

YANBU and I would find another cleaner.

ZillionChocolate · 23/12/2011 07:30

I interviewed a two lady cleaning team in the southern Welsh border. They were real jobsworths (refused to clean internal windows in case they had an accident) and slated existing clients for leaving washing up. I didn't go ahead and found a cooperative cleaner instead.

Yours are taking the piss. Get rid of them.

breatheslowly · 23/12/2011 07:30

Please tell us you said no.

empirestateofmind · 23/12/2011 07:37

The fact they slated existing clients (esp when they hardly know you) would put me off them for starters. Hardly professional is it?

Find a new cleaner who does a good job, with a smile and charges reasonably.

I have one- they do exist!

myBOYSareBONKERS · 23/12/2011 07:38

I think they didnt want to work whilst the decorator was there as he would spot them drinking tea instead of cleaning.

My cleaner charges £10/hr. She cleans 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, hall, stairs, landing and kitchen. In one hour!! and is very through.

Find someone else

Bossybritches22 · 23/12/2011 07:47

If your DH is prepared to pay the £220 to get the job done, contact a local agency & get a team in for a one off. (If they have one spare at this time of year) Especially if you lay it on thick about being let down, you're pg etc all of which are true & valid reasons!

Might not be cheaper but for a one off,you'd know it was bottomed & you weren't being fleeced.

Used to be a firm called Molly Maids in SE London when I lived there, some years ago but there'll be a similar one I'm sure.

Good luck!

Fuzzywuzzywozabear · 23/12/2011 09:05

Nooooo not Molly maids - I had to sack them - they were expensive and didn't clean properly - I'm not the only one - I know others who think the same

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 23/12/2011 09:14

I really think I should set up as a cleaner. I bloody love cleaning.
Builders clean up is very different though. Doesnt sound like yours is a proper builders clean up but they are taking advantage and calling it that so they can charge.

CocktailQueen · 23/12/2011 09:22

YANBU. Cleaners are taking the piss. Sounds like your hosue is lovely and clean already!!! I'd look for new cleaners tbh.

BlissfulMistletoe · 23/12/2011 09:23

www.perfectclean.co.uk/afterbuilders_cleaning_london.php

BlissfulMistletoe · 23/12/2011 09:24

that company is charging £14 per hour per cleaner if you supply the materials, but £16 if they bring there own.

KittyFane · 23/12/2011 09:31

I find it strange that they could come back the next day.
They are not booked up then? I wonder why.
Sound like a couple of cowboys to me.
Our cleaner does 2 hrs a week and does everything on your list.

trixie123 · 23/12/2011 09:38

def taking the piss. Doesn't sound like you are asking for a builders clean, just one off things that you wouldn't do normally anyway. Can I ask if you usually do as much cleaning as you said in your OP? Only I don't mop and hoover and clean the bathrooms precisely because we do have a cleaner. Anyway, if you pay per hour, that should be the rate they get and they do what they can in the time surely?

Original poster

BeeBread · 23/12/2011 11:18

Loving not being unreasonable!

Didn't pay. In fact we have problems with our shower today so I'm sure they wouldn't want to come back anyway, so I said instead that we'd be in touch in the New Year.

Trixie, I wasn't sure if you were asking whether I normally do all the extras or the mopping/cleaning? Anyway, DH and I do the mopping/hoovering/bathroom cleaning etc pretty regularly and the rest (picture rails, shutters) when we have the time/will but not that often.

It's not hard - running a hoover along the picture rails, a cloth along the skirting boards etc - and doesn't involve extra kit, it is just time consuming.

OP posts:

SarahBumBarer · 23/12/2011 11:26

Outrageous! YANBU

I think charging "builders clean" rates if it is a one off job with no real likelihood of repeat business is fine but when it is a regular job/repeat business where they are just being asked to do a few extra hours (and recompensed for it) then it is a cheek.

Nancy66 · 23/12/2011 11:42

There's absolutely no point in having the place professionally cleaned while there is still building work in progress - building dust gets everywhere - even if it's several rooms away.

When our kitchen was done the plaster dust reached all the downstairs rooms even though the doors were all shut and sealed with masking tape

onessa · 23/12/2011 11:42

Spiderslegs--whi is this mavellous cleaning lady? Does she cover North Wales? How much does she charge?.........

KittyFane · 23/12/2011 12:52

So glad you didn't let them do it. :)
In the New Year get someone in for a 'one off'. It's a good way to see what they are like. If they're good make it more regular.

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