Can't believe my cleaner just asked me this?!

[marplessparkles]

Cleaner texted me to ask if I could pay her cash this week (£60). I said sure, is it just for this week or is this something you want to do every week?

She replied if I could do it every week because she found out she and her partner can get housing benefit if she can prove she has a lower income, so obviously not declaring or paying tax on her cash jobs.

I'm a bit On a moral and ethical level I can't see how she is so blatantly happy in doing this; ripping of hard working taxpayers and councils who will have to fund her benefits.

AIBU to let her go?

If your conscience won't let you agree to her request then maybe it's better to let her go. Not saying she's potentially a thief but she might hold a grudge if you say no

I'm stunned the cleaner actually said that to you. Do people really behave like that in real life?

I would not let her go. I would just say no.

Also, on the offchance that this is real (I don't believe that someone would merrily tell their employer that they intend to commit benefit fraud), I am actually a bit more concerned about huge coffee chains not paying their corporation tax of hundreds of millions of pounds than some woman scrubbing toilets for a tenner an hour getting a few hundred quid.

'Steal a little and they throw you in jail' and all that...

I think asking to be paid in cash is common in the UK to avoid paying tax. I have a wealthy retired friend who teaches music Monday to Friday between 4pm to 8 pm. She charges £40 an hour and it has to be handed over in cash. She only declares income if it is not in cash. It isn't only builders and cleaners who ask for cash but increasing numbers of self employed people. I find it amazing that there are people who moan about the struggle to survive on benefits but turn a blind eye to people cheating the system and who make sure there is less in the pot for those who need it.
Wasn't one of the reasons the Greece had so many financial problems due to tax avoidance at all levels. Many people feel it is their human right not to pay tax if at all possible.

There are lots of legitimate reasons to ask for cash. For a start on lots of small amounts of money, you pay for each cheque you cash on a business account. Not a problem if you are a well off builder, but if you are earning very little, this does matter.

Don't simply let her go!! Report her else she will just continue to do the same with her other clients!

Pay her cash, keep notes, report her for benefit fraud a few months in.

Don't simply let her go!! Report her else she will just continue to do the same with her other clients!

Yeah! Fuck her over properly! Don't rest until she is face down in the dirt.

Pay her cash, keep notes, report her for benefit fraud a few months in

Even better! Mount your own sting-operation.

Well she was very honest with you even if her reason isn't what you would call an honest one.
So if you are uncomfortable with it then just say no and continue to pay her the old way.

Thanks for all your replies. I think the best thing to do is let her go as I don't want to be associated with benefit fraud.

For those asking:

• yes she texted me that
• She is an immigrant but so am I so don't really see that as an issue here
• not new to MN and have NC for this
• yes it's quite a big house (I think 3,500 sq ft) so she's here for 6 hours

Allchattedout I'm with you, nay I'd go further, put her in the village stocks with a sign round her neck saying DIRTY THIEF. That'll learn her

To the pp I pay my cleaner 50-70 a week. Don't think that's unusual, 12.50 an hour

Quite allchattedout.
Make sure you report the person who cleans up after you for a living OP. MN fucking loves to have someone to report.

Hateloggingin lol

It's not just about grassing people up. If you are employed in a financial job or high security job or any industry where even if you're caught smoking marijuana you are fired, and you are seen to be part of the fraud you will lose your job. Save your own arse and let others save theirs.

My cleaner goes to the job centre before she comes to clean for me...and I know she works pretty much full time cleaning. All cash in hand. Yes it's somewhat annoying but I pay her £6 an hour and she's honest and reliable.

My cleaner goes to the job centre before she comes to clean for me...and I know she works pretty much full time cleaning. All cash in hand. Yes it's somewhat annoying but I pay her £6 an hour and she's honest and reliable

Um yeah, so that is well below the minimum wage. What do you realistically expect if that's what you pay her?

The circumstances here are a bit different, in that the cleaner actually said why she wanted cash only.

In general (unless an employee of a cleaning company) I doubt there would be many independent cleaners around the place if they had to keep books and do a self assessment return every year for HMRC.

Wind in yer Mumsnet necks for a minute.

YANBU OP. If everyone paid what they should there would be more money in the pot for those in genuine need. Can't have it both ways of being paid cash in hand but expect everyone else to pay taxes for your benefit (No pun intended).

state pension is not always £8500, the 70 year old may not have a full pension.

I only pay cash if I am given a receipt. Whether the recipient pays taxes or not is up to them but if told they were asking for cash to evade tax they wouldnt get it.

Maybe ring 101?

:D

Tootsies how is your cleaner a sahm?

Well said @Tootsiepops

If I was going to commit benefit fraud the last person I'd tell is a wealthy client with a big house