To think she's taking the piss a bit now?

[GallopingFoxley]

I recently set up my own cleaning business and it's all going well. I've got enough clients to fill the hours that I wanted to work and so far it's all good.

When I've taken on a client, I've discussed my hourly rate of course and also when I expect to be paid. I ask for the money via bank transfer within 24 hours.. ( when you are doing a weekly clean for someone it can soon stack up and I like to keep on top of this ) . Everyone has paid immediately apart from one lady.

I've cleaned for her twice now. The first time she said ' I'll transfer you the money this evening ..' but she didn't do it for two days. I wasn't concerned - my 24 hour rule isn't set in stone or anything! - and she sent a text saying how forgetful she was and she'd done it. Fine no problem.

The second time though was last Tuesday. As I left she said ' I'll transfer you the money this evening ' and I said ' great thank you ' ..come last night though, she still hadn't. As it was almost 6 days later I sent her a friendly message saying ' hello! I'm just doing my end of week accounts and wondered if you'd had chance to pop the money over to me' ... She responded this morning with a text saying how rubbish and forgetful she is and that she would do it straight away. That was ten hours ago and nope, she's still not paid it.

I'm due back again tomorrow. Would you just leave it until then and mention it again tomorrow? It's irritating me a bit

^ what Rookie said. I had a client like this and I found I just had to keep on top of nagging her more than the others. In my case she was happy to pay, just ignored the payment terms, but you can't tell and you've been patient enough. It's not her first offense, either.

Oh OP I feel for you, asking for manoney is always the hardest part of my job. I go all cringingly British about it.

Be brave. What's the worst that can happen? You lose this client who's a PITA anyay. I'm sure you'll find another

It's too late now, but waiting til this evening wasn't a brilliant idea.

The only leverage you have is that you won't clean without payment for last week, and you don't have much time now to say that, and for her to make the transfer, and then for it to show in your account.

You should also bear in mind that some banks do not have the faster payment scheme (Santander doesn't, for example) do s transfer today might now not be received until Wednesday.

I would suggest you need to insist on a payment in advance for this particular client, in the future.

Perhaps you should just tell her that when you visit tomorrow, you expect either cash or a cheque for this week and last week.

Don't wait til 9. You're just putting it off. She will not randomly remember in the next 2 hours and she be asleep at 9. Just text now, then she has all evening to do it. I would say you can't come if she hasn't paid you for last time, it would be silly to do so imo as if she's intending not to pay you're giving her more free time. Also imo she is beyong 'a bit crap' she is pisstaking. You'd probably be better off without her custom unless her shitness improves imminently. Text now!

I'd make it personal actually and say you really need the money, can she leave you cash tomorrow please? Or something like that. And longer term, I'm not sure you want her as a client. This is poor form.

I think you should phone her.

I'm that woman. Can't she pay fortnightly or set up a standing order?

I'm forgetful and disorganised so that's what I would do

I have just hired a cleaner. The first week i left cash as i didn't have her bank details. She comes again tomorrow and i have set up a weekly standing order to ensure she gets paid on the day does the clean. N It is only right to pay for services promptly and now it is set up i don't need to think about it. You are completely within your rights to withhold services until she stumps up.

I pay my lovely cleaner by online transfer weekly. Simple to do. I would never not do it on the day as presumably she relies on the income for bills etc. You definitely need to be firm with this client - it's not ok. Good luck.

I would text her to say that you need the money in tonight and if this happens again then you'll be wanting payment in advance. She's taking the piss.

Whether she is genuinely forgetful or not you still need to treat her the same way.

Being genuinely forgetful is like having only three spaces for things on your todo list so even important things get accidentally forgotten.

OTOH if she's taking the piss and not paying even if she's remembered then that means she's ignoring it even if it is on her todo list.

Either way the solution is to be firm. "I require paying by such and such a time or I will have to reassign your slot to someone else". Something like that.

A forgetful person will find it much easier to remember something if there's a bit of fear associated with it. You can bet the things above paying you on her list are either very immediate (feeding kids) or have a bit of fear associated with them (paying electricity bill which is six days after the red warning).

Equally a piss-taker also needs to realise that you won't wait any longer.

The key point here is that a genuinely forgetful person can actually be helped by a harder deadline and a bit of fear of missing it. And obviously that's what a piss-taker needs too. Either way, lots of "would you mind paying soon if you get a chance and it's not too much trouble" helps no one even though it might feel like being friendly - sure do that once or twice if you like but after that no more.

Well 9pm has come and gone. I decided to call her. No reply and no option to leave a message. I'm not texting again.

Ugh. Hate all this!

And yes I think good advice re one self employed person to another.

I would just text and say you'll check again in the morning but won't be able to come and clean until she is up to date on her payments.

Why aren't you texting again? At least to tell her you will not be cleaning tomorrow.

I hope you aren't going to clean without being paid?

I would also text what Million said above. Better to do that than have to bring it up from scratch in conversation tomorrow.

not on. agree the standing order or payment within 24 hours or you will have to give her session to someone else.

Told you so! She's piss taking, you need to end this. Just text and say you can't come tomorrow as last weeks hasn't been paid yet. Once she pays (if ever), decline any future work from her (just don't even discuss it before she pays you).

I leave cash for my cleaner. I would be mortified if I forgot to pay her.

Just send a text. Don't be a pushover! Tell her to leave cash tomorrow or pay via app tonight. If neither are done then don't clean tomorrow.