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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

You don't hire someone to do a job then tell them how to do it!

47 replies

LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:21

I'm an experienced housekeeper, cleaner and cook and I've run two businesses. Today I started with a new client who followed me about for an hour whilst on the phone, pointing at things and snapping her fingers. After the phone call ended she proceeded to tell me how to wet dust. She said I needed to learn to divide my time into dusting, floors etc and that I should be quicker at dusting. Never seen the place before, 1001 nick nacks to move...

I can't lie, I'm affronted.

OP posts:
MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 02/05/2017 12:23

For the pointing and finger snapping alone I wouldn't go back!

JaxingJump · 02/05/2017 12:23

Very annoying! I suspect she won't be a client for long?

But basically she obviously has some issues, I'd humour her under that understanding.

SumThucker · 02/05/2017 12:23

I bet you are, cheeky cow Grin

Original poster
LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:24

I told her the position wasn't for me and politely left.

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityyhat · 02/05/2017 12:26

Oh gawd! Do you need the job. I would be SOOOOO tempted to put my duster down and tell her where to stuff it!

Original poster
LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:26

I've done this for 20 years. I know how to dust 😂

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityyhat · 02/05/2017 12:26

Ah, crossed post!

Well done Brew.

pinkmagic1 · 02/05/2017 12:27

What a rude, entitled bitch. Who did she honestly think she was snapping her fingers at you? I don't think I would have been anywhere near as polite as you were.

Original poster
LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:28

I've got others to look at so not too worried. I don't know what her previous experience is of having a cleaner but she will struggle to get another one.

OP posts:
Biggreygoose · 02/05/2017 12:32

I'm an civil engineer and I have clients do this, although maybe with slightly less finger snapping.

I don't get it. They are willing/found it necessary to spend thousands on proffesional advice yet will dictate to you how they want you to do it, and what the answer will be like you're some fucking personal pocket calculator with PI insurance.

Those clients can fuck right off.

Fucking arse holes.

may or may not have had a truly depressing conversation with a client wanting me to break the law and physics to get the answer he wants and having to explain for the third time why that ain't happening

Original poster
LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:35

Exactly, Goose. Leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth doesn't it?

OP posts:
Biggreygoose · 02/05/2017 12:42

I find coffee helps.

and rum

expatinscotland · 02/05/2017 12:44

Hope you got your money first.

Original poster
LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:44

Lol yes. Brew

OP posts:
UppityHumpty · 02/05/2017 12:45

100 per cent agree with you!

Want2bSupermum · 02/05/2017 12:48

You had me Shock at snapping of fingers. I would have snapped them off. Well done for walking out. She can do her own cleaning. Cheeky mare.

Original poster
LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:49

I did expat Grin

OP posts:
DanglyEarOrnaments · 02/05/2017 12:51

Wow - we have a cleaning business and served 100's of clients over the years but I feel so lucky that we never came across anyone like that. Not even when the staff go alone.

It's a bit uncomfortable to think you could go happily off to provide your service one day and have a bad experience like that. I would just feel so disrespected if that happened.

We just need to look at it that this hardly ever happens, so that lady was in the 'strange' category of people who will do 'strange' stuff like that and unfortunately you were the one who had to deal with her.

But you don't now! Grin

Original poster
LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/05/2017 12:55

Dangly I have never turned a job down in my life! I do think I've been lucky though, I've worked with some lovely people.

OP posts:
HazelBite · 02/05/2017 12:56

Gosh I used to make celebration cakes for people, I got sick of people telling me they wanted a very light sponge covered with lots of icing decorations, you just really couldn't explain that heavy icing needed a more solid cake, they would just ignore you and carry on describing what the decorations should be like, and when you told them what it cost they would gasp and say "I can get one for XX from Tesco"
Some people have no idea that because you do something day in day out you might know what you are talking about!

donajimena · 02/05/2017 12:58

dangly I've had a few! One who showed me how she wanted me to vacuum her stairs. With the nozzle. Taking extra care around the edges. I was Hmm after all I've only done it a million times.

luckylucky24 · 02/05/2017 12:58

I left a cleaner a list of specific cleaning to do after she missed some very basic stuff when asked to "do a full clean top to bottom". She missed the shower, sinks, wooden floor still had a few marks. She was no better with a list and after ending the list of instructions with "please do not clean the kitchen", the kitchen was pretty much the only bit she cleaned!!

I wish I had a cleaner like you OP!

Maudlinmaud · 02/05/2017 13:01

My late father (lovely man) was like this. He'd watch me do a task then take over and show me how to do it properly.Grin I miss him. He never snapped his fingers at me, that's just plain rude. YANBU.

doubleshotespresso · 02/05/2017 13:01

Having spent years in hospitality, I developed a lot of responses for finger clicking/whistling type of actions...

"Sorry did you lose your dog?" usually works a treat.Wink

Money does not make manners, but manners cost nothing OP.

April229 · 02/05/2017 13:05

What's wet dusting OP?

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