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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

oh oh i hate that i'm posting in this topic, but AIBU in giving my cleaner a bit of a rollicking?

103 replies

Tutter · 23/05/2007 09:49

ds and i were upstairs just now and i heard something downstairs - came down to find our cleaner had let herself in (she has a key) to drop off some ironing

she normally brings ironing back when she comes to clean - she's due to clean tomorrow

if i'd been out, the alarm would have been on, and it's one of those that alerts the police who come straight to the house. 3 strikes and you're out, so setting it off is not something i want to happen

also just hate the fact that she didn't call to ask if it was ok for her to come around - she just waltzed in

she cleaned on monday and didn't lock the door she uses, so it was unlocked for 48hrs til i noticed it

i mentioned this to her just now (as well as saying i'd rather she didn't just let herslef in) and she appeared completely unbothered and didn't apologise

grrr

if it wasn't so blardy hard to find a decent cleaner around here i'd let her go

OP posts:
Original poster
Tutter · 23/05/2007 09:49

ps re letting her go, she's not ackshewerly that great a cleaner either

OP posts:
Kelly1978 · 23/05/2007 09:50

maybe you need to issue a warning, so she realises the seriousness. I don't think it is unreasonable, jsut because she has a key doesn't mean she can waltz in whenever she feels like it.

elasticbandstand · 23/05/2007 10:00

effing liberty

HonoriaGlossop · 23/05/2007 10:08

hmm, I wouldn't dream of letting myself into someone else's house even if I had a key.

I even ask my mum if I can pop into her flat to pick something up when she's not in!

I know the temptation is to be erring on the side of telling her not to do it again, and hoping it's a one off, but I think having a cleaner in your own home is so much about trust and if that's gone it's not nice.

I think if she's not even that good at it either.....

GiantSquirrelSpotter · 23/05/2007 10:14

No YANBU.

She shouldn't be letting herself into your house unless there is a clear agreement that she does so. It's basic normal manners imo, extraordinary that some people are so clueless about them.

dmo · 23/05/2007 10:29

my cleaner has a key but always knocks first incase i'm in
would not be inpressed that she left the door unlocked
as for dropping the ironing off would not be to bothered as maybe she has to go somewhere tomorrow before yours so cant take the ironing with her, does she know about the alarm? would have been nice for her to ring you to say she was on her way round i supose

LongDistanceClara · 23/05/2007 10:31

Get rid, IMO. What if you'd been in the plod?

LieselVentouse · 23/05/2007 10:42

Ive gone right off you Tutter

duchesse · 23/05/2007 10:47

I don't think you're being at all unreasonable. I would personally feel like putting her on a final warning- it's outrageous that she is doing things that could either cost you a lot of money (setting off burglar alarm), or leaving your house open to burglars themselves. Any more incidents like this would confirm to me that she is either taking the piss or casing your house for a mate...

LongDistanceClara · 23/05/2007 10:52

Why, LV?

GrumpyOldHorsewoman · 23/05/2007 10:56

Just wondered what door she uses...is it the servant's entrance?

Just kidding. You're right to be annoyed. I have the same problem with the estate manager here (tied house). He has a key and can (and has) let himself in any time. It's an invasion of privacy when it is your home and they don't let you know they are coming, never mind the alarm issue.

niceglasses · 23/05/2007 10:57

Wouldn't bother me. I'd be s glad to see the ironing!!

Elasticwoman · 23/05/2007 11:05

How about if you have the key back? Could you manage that way? When I've had a cleaner in the past, I've not given her a key till she'd been working for me quite a while.

However, must say it was useful that she had it when one day we were half way down the motorway when I realised I'd left something on in the house that should be turned off so I rang her and she went straight away to see to it.

Personally I'd rather have more cleaning done and do the ironing myself.

IcingOnTheCake · 23/05/2007 11:14

I think you need to make it clear about what you want from her, no she shouldn't have just come in your house but if you look at it from her point of view she came in your house to bring your ironing back, doing you a favour, not to snoop or rob you. She probably didn't realise about the alarm, she sounds genuine enough to me and was kind bringing your ironing a day early.

You need to say to her that you would rather she only came in the house on the arranged days and i am sure she won't mind. My mother is a cleaner so i can see it from that point of view.

Tortington · 23/05/2007 11:16

i think you are being unreasonable and a power happy meglamaniac to boot with the " if it wasn't so hard to get a decent cleaner...."

she was only dropping some ironing off early for FUCKS SAKE.

a simple " doris, can you come in on the day we talked about, if the bleedin alarm goes off the chuffin police will be round!"

SimplySparkling · 23/05/2007 11:25

Leaving the door unlocked was a pretty big mistake. Would the insurance company have paid up if you'd had stuff stolen?

Did she already know about the alarm and the three strikes? If so, that was very thoughtless at best and inconsiderate if she just didn't care.

She should have knocked the door or rung the bell if she'd realised you were in and it was the wrong day.

As for her not being a good cleaner, ask around or do some research now and then you can decide what to do, knowing what options you have. The lady that cleans for me has done so for the last time this morning. I wasn't 100% happy with the work and it was pretty expensive (£20 for 1 hr 20mins/30 mins). She said as she left (with bottle of wine as a thankyou) that I should ring if I'm ever stuck and she's not busy atm so would be able to fit me in. A neighbour (who she used to clean for) now have someone they are very happy with so I feel free now to ask for the details!

Good luck with it all.

JulietFarkinBravo · 23/05/2007 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WanderingTrolley · 23/05/2007 11:31

I think you have to reiterate she's to bring the ironing back on her cleaning day/s.

Mention that you have a problem with the alarm and if she drops it back outside of the agreed cleaning time it will cost you a lot of money to fix it. I'm assuming she doesn't have the code, here.

Leaving your house unlocked not on.

YANBU

Original poster
Tutter · 23/05/2007 11:40

thanks all

will give her a call and explain the alarm thing (she knows we have am alarm but not that it goes directly to the police)

custy, got out of bed the wrong side this morning?

OP posts:
LongDistanceClara · 23/05/2007 11:49

I would honestly be livid if somebody just frilled their way into my house without knocking.

Original poster
Tutter · 23/05/2007 11:56

clara, are you hunker?

OP posts:
LongDistanceClara · 23/05/2007 11:56
Tortington · 23/05/2007 11:57

nope tutter - i am always this vile.

foxinsocks · 23/05/2007 11:59

is she mad messing with a heavily pregnant woman?

does she understand about the alarm? is it a language barrier problem?

Original poster
Tutter · 23/05/2007 12:01

who, foxy, my cleaner, or custy?

she's from reading so don't think there's a language problem - she's just a bit dippy
will call her and explain it, slowly

OP posts: