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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think my client could have given me more than one day's notice

137 replies

Pollyxcx · 20/12/2016 23:33

That she won't be needing me for the next 4 weeks?

I'm a cleaner, I cleaned this evening and she left a note next to my money saying "off on hols tomorrow, see you again 17th Jan!"

It has completely fucked my budget for the month and next month (I work 5 hours once a week so that's £200 I'm down)

I'm really bloody pissed off that she didn't think to tell me before

OP posts:

SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 21/12/2016 01:12

Hmm, I have the opposite problem that my cleaner announced last week that she wouldn't be back until well into the new year, with no notice. Not that she turns up most weeks anyway. So frustrating! Any chance you want to come and work for me instead?

OneADayAndThenWhat · 21/12/2016 01:14

Are you sure she isn't paying you?

Perhaps you could text and ask? It might piss her off but I wouldn't care.

I'd text her something at the very least.

Bit suprised to get your text today. I had budgeted on working and wanted to check whether you were going to pay me or not. Its normal for clients to let me know in advance if they won't be needing me so that I'm able to arrange other work

someonestolemynick · 21/12/2016 01:23

It might be worth for you to have a holiday/cancellation policy you give to your clients.
I tutor and stuff like that realot used to be a problem. My policy is I need 48 hours notice of cancellation or I charge full price. Be upfront and be assertive.

MrsMozart · 21/12/2016 02:12

Ditto the others (and are you in the East Midlands by any chance...?).

Manumission · 21/12/2016 03:25

That's shockingly rude.

user1477282676 · 21/12/2016 04:13

Text back "No you won't see me on the 17th...I'd prefer a client who thought about me when booking their holidays and perhaps gave me some notice of a drastic cut in my income. Have a shit time!"

What a cow!

I had similar...a client of mine...large corporation....let me know ONE week before a shut down....and kindly informed me that my latest invoice wouldn't be paid till' new year.

Bastards. That was my Christmas budget!

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 21/12/2016 05:06

I agree that this is totally shitty! What the others say about notice in advance and funding other clients definitely holds true.

However, I would check first that she definitely doesn't want you to clean over that period. I'd interpret her note, perhaps naively, as she won't personally see you for a few weeks. I appreciate that this is less likely given you clean for 5hrs a week rather than one or two but worth clarifying.

Ditsy4 · 21/12/2016 05:11

In the meantime could you advertise a one off service try teaching staff as this is the worse term for being behind in Christmas prep. You have so much to do then come in and dump stuff. It has taken me two days so far and I haven't finished cleaning. I would love some help as a one off or maybe two big cleans in the holidays so I start next term with a clean tidy house. I want to enjoy Christmas too so there will be others that would like a cleaner to help catch up.
Check your local council website as some schools haven't broken up yet and you could ask to put some flyers in the staff room.
It wasn't pleasant of her to do this.

EnglishNotBingo · 21/12/2016 05:53

Are you sure she does not expect you to still go in and clean and she to pay you while away? That is the sort of text I'd send to my cleaner, but I would literally mean 'see you' when I got back... and she would still clean.

But we have had our gem of a cleaner for 13 years and so kind of know what each other means.

HermioneWoozle · 21/12/2016 05:58

I give our cleaner a Christmas bonus to help out a bit when there may be a week or two she can't come in, and she does do a clean while we are away. I love coming back to a nice clean house. I pay her for the month at the beginning of each month also.

ZogsAnon · 21/12/2016 05:58

If you're in nappy valley, get on the Facebook groups and advertise a "Christmas Clean". There seem to be a few posts of ppl being abandoned by their cleaners right before Christmas and I'm desperate need of help. Good luck!

CiderwithBuda · 21/12/2016 06:01

Text her to clarify but it does sound like she isn't expecting you to still work. My cleaner has a couple of people who do the same. I pay her when I go away or as others do get her to do stuff she doesn't normally have time for.

Maybe text asking if she would like you to deep clean while she is away? Might focus her mind!

JigglyTuff · 21/12/2016 06:06

I always pay my cleaner when I go on holiday too.

Londonlady2015 · 21/12/2016 06:35

If you're south London I could do with a cleaner too! Though can only afford 2 hours a week

SeriousSteve · 21/12/2016 06:41

West Midlands? (hopeful!)

trinity0097 · 21/12/2016 06:43

I only don't pay when my cleaner can't come. My cleaner always comes when I am on holiday and I pay up as expected!

witsender · 21/12/2016 06:48

I wonder if she means that they're away so she won't actually see you until then, but wants you to continue?

FrogTime · 21/12/2016 06:52

Was thinking the same witsender

Perhaps shes just not going to be there but wants you to carry on?

MrsHiddleston · 21/12/2016 06:56

I would read that note as literally she's off on hols and won't see you, but you're to still come (although if she pays you cash then I'm not sure how she is going to pay you). I would call her and clarify and also explain that you need notice. Finally inform all your clients of your cancellation policy.

FrostyWind · 21/12/2016 06:57

My cleaner refuses money when we are away or when she's away so we buy her extravagant presents back from holiday and at Christmas. A good cleaner is to be treasured.

Find other clients, OP.

WipsGlitter · 21/12/2016 06:59

I agree - she might still expect you to go. I'd text

No problem. Is there anything in particular you'd like me to clean / do while you are away?

Then if she says "we don't want you to come" reply "I expect three weeks notice if you don't need me to clean as I budget according to projected income"

fishybits · 21/12/2016 07:02

Not on OP, I pay our cleaner weekly by standing order ensuring she gets paid no matter what I choose to do.

scaryteacher · 21/12/2016 07:06

Another one here who pays her cleaner when I am away, as it's my choice to be away. I don't pay her when she is away, but we are in Belgium, and the service cheque company would pick up she was being paid whilst on holiday, which I don't think is allowed.

topcat2014 · 21/12/2016 07:09

If there is no contract then there is no 'implied' agreement to pay for holidays. This is self employment where one earns for the hours one works - not PAYE work.

A bit shit, yes, but technically I don't think the 'client' has actually done anything wrong as such under contract law.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 21/12/2016 07:12

I would pay a cleaner while we are away.

(I would pay a cleaner danger money for turning up at all)

I agree with what others said, ask what deep cleaning jobs they want done while they are away.

And if you are near Reading....

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