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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Was AIBU re our cleaner

75 replies

Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 13:48

DH and I are in two minds whether we were too harsh so genuinely seeking opinions.

We've used the same agency for the last five years. During that time we've had two different cleaners (both excellent) for a couple of hours twice a week.

Four weeks ago our regular cleaner (with us for two years) got a new job outside the industry so the owner of the agency assigned a new lady.

The cleaning hasn't been quite as good as previously but I put that down to newness and getting used to the property etc.

However, yesterday I came home and immediately clocked that something was off as the door wasn't double locked as usual. I went inside and could tell someone had been in the house (things moved around a bit) but only one of the bathrooms had been "cleaned" (still filthy), the carpet hadn't been hoovered and the draining board was full of still-dirty plates that looked like they'd been rinsed without detergent and heaped up, in the process cracking our teapot.

No note left about the breakage or lack of cleaning (e.g. she'd been called away in an emergency) all really weird, so I called the agency owner.

After she'd made several calls she established that our normal cleaner had decided to go on holiday and given our house keys to her "best friend" to do the job.

Neither we, nor the agency owner, have ever met this person or have a clue who they are.

Not only was the flat uncleaned and our things broken but we have two rescue cats who can't go outside; luckily they hid under the bed but we'd have been devastated if they'd escaped.

So in short I was fucking fuming that a stranger had been in our home and told the agency owner (I was cross but civil) that we'd no longer need her company's services.

DH was in full agreement but thought this morning we may have been too harsh as it was one of her employees who was a dick, not her, and that could happen to any of us. My feeling is that as owner, it's her responsibility to supply safe, sensible people and we clearly can't trust her to do that any longer.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Epilepsyhelp · 28/10/2015 13:54

I don't think you have been unreasonable but I don't really see what the agency woman could do to prevent this except potentially be more rigorous in her hiring process, obviously the cleaner was acting entirely off her own back in what she did and presumably knew that was not acceptable.

I still don't think your response was outside the range of reasonable though.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 28/10/2015 13:55

I imagine that many agencies don't put that much effort into assessing their employees.

Probably another cleaner via this agency will be OK.

But why not employ someone directly, rather than via an agency? You could get recommendations from neighbours. Then you can build trust with someone, and they are more accountable as you are dealing with them directly. And the cleaner gets the full fee.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 28/10/2015 13:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OneFlewOverTheDodosNest · 28/10/2015 13:59

YADNBU, it's completely unacceptable - I'd ask for a refund plus money towards changing locks tbh, who knows who may have copies of your keys now?

TheBitchOfDestiny · 28/10/2015 14:01
Shock

that's shocking, i would be fuming

Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 14:03

Thanks all.

Oneflew I rather thought we should so that.

I'd LOVE to ditch the agencies and make a direct hire but all our neighbours are in the same boat and good recommendations are hard to find, especially in London where all the amazing people are snapped up in a second!

It's really made me realise how vulnerable your home is and how much trust you place in people.

OP posts:
IrritableBitchSyndrome · 28/10/2015 14:07

YANBU, that's outrageous! I'd be fuming/worried! Although the agency did not condone or arrange this, it's absolutely their responsibility.

Yokohamajojo · 28/10/2015 14:07

I would be very angry too! surely that is part of why people use agencies so that you can trust that they employ the correct people? The 'best friend' was obviously also very stupid not to do a proper job in order not to get found out....

And what can the agency do? well they can make it very clear to their employees that if they can't do a job or if they are going on holiday than it has to be clearly communicated to the agency

I wouldn't trust that agency again tbh

Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 14:09

Totally - I expect some kind of accountability and vetting.

Glad I wasn't too harsh, DH is a bit of a soft touch with this sort of thing!

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 28/10/2015 14:14

That's ridiculous.
As the new woman works for the agency, then she should have told them she was going on holiday and they should have sorted out a replacement - not given her keys to her best friend, what kind of idiot does that?! Her "best friend" could have, and probably has, lost her her job by being useless.

I agree that maybe you were a bit harsh on the agency, but that's only assuming they're telling you the absolute truth - and really, they have to tighten up their employee policies and procedures to avoid such a thing ever happening again! What if the "best friend" had a drug addict boyfriend who just "borrowed" the keys and lifted half your stuff? Just not on.

gladisgood · 28/10/2015 14:18

YANBU

Before we met, DH had absolutely everything stolen from his house in London as his cleaner had copied his keys - they also knew when he would be at work, so they "sold" the keys to someone else.

I would change your locks ASAP

Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 14:19

Exactly.

I was always told that the keys went back to HQ after a job (one of the reasons we went with this agency) but that appears to be utter bollocks.

If anything had happened to the cats I'd have had the place shut down.

OP posts:
wickedwaterwitch · 28/10/2015 14:20

YANBU

Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 14:21

Right, I'm changing the locks asap!

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 28/10/2015 14:24

I think that's probably a good plan, Lipstick!

ohtheholidays · 28/10/2015 14:25

Awful behavior,I'm glad your poor cats were alright and I agree about asking for them to pay to get your locks changed,I hope you weren't charged for the supposed clean?

Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 14:30

Actually we normally pay via BACS at the end of the week so no money has changed hands thankfully!

But no offer made yet to replace teapot or locks either - total radio silence and not answering my calls.

Grrrrrr.......

OP posts:
GayByrne · 28/10/2015 14:41

Get three quotes to change the locks, use middle quote, invoice agency. Keep all docs incase.

JassyRadlett · 28/10/2015 14:42

Which bit of London are you in? (My cleaner is a total gem.)

Apart from word of mouth, I've found local mums Facebook groups to be a brilliant source of referrals for all sorts of things. Worth a try?

Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 14:48

Thanks Jassy - we're South (Dulwich area) - will def check out FB.

OP posts:
Lipstickandlashes · 28/10/2015 14:49

GayByrne I think we'll do that, want it get it sorted asap and then we can look at getting compensated later.

OP posts:
thepiratenextdoor · 28/10/2015 14:51

I also have an an awesome cleaner who I can recommend. We employ direct. We're in North London.

Branleuse · 28/10/2015 14:56

i would also sack a cleaner for this

HedgehogAtHome · 28/10/2015 14:56

You might be able to claim the cost from their liability insurance.

FoodPorn · 28/10/2015 14:57

Kudos to the agency for being honest about it though. I think I'd actually stick with them!

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