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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:
Genidef · 23/05/2007 17:46

i started this reply AGES ago and cross posted about a dozen mess

foxinsocks · 23/05/2007 17:51

oooh Rhubarb, I wasn't presuming she wasn't English, I was just wondering whether Tutter may have explained to her and she (the cleaner) hadn't wanted to admit she couldn't understand a word she was saying that's all.

Round these necks of the woods, we have loads of non-English speaking people, no matter the job, and quite often they will be too proud to admit they don't fully understand instructions.

Pannacotta · 23/05/2007 17:55

DOnt think you are being at all unreasonable.
She sounds pretty unaware and for £10/hour I would def talk to her.
We also have cleaner who is not great and it is hard to know what to do, not that many good cleaners around who are also reliable/trustworthy. I have also cleaned as a job when I was younger so I do know whats it like, but that is no reason for her to take the piss IMHO...

ThisIsDavinaPleaseDoNotSwear · 23/05/2007 18:00

I do not think you are being unreasonable at all

I would be absolutley effing LIVID if someone let themselves into my house unannounced.

I am quite a laid back person normally and would probably overlook the shabby cleaning (to a point)but someone letting themselves in without calling or asking first would mortify me!

What A Fucking Liberty (as Swearing Nan would say )

inamuckingfuddle · 23/05/2007 19:04

YANBU at all, I have just sacked my cleaner who I got through an agency a few months ago, due to rpoblems in the past and noone available locally. I pay them a retainer and pay her weekly. The first one quit after a month with back trouble and this one has let me down more times than she's turned up. I got home from work today to find the house hadn't been cleaned and rang the agency to cancel. Not paying for a service I'm not getting.

So no, you're not unreasonable at all (tho I may be )

zandl · 23/05/2007 20:08

Rhubarb, you like a good drink don't you. I'm sure I've seen a rambling incoherent thread you started recently.

Elasticwoman · 23/05/2007 20:44

Tutter, with a big house and at 7 mos pg, it is a very good idea to have a cleaner if you can. It was the bending down that got me, when I was pg.

Rhubarb · 23/05/2007 21:25

zandl - I doubt it, I don't post as often as I used to so any drunken thread would hardly be recent.

But then I don't have to be pissed to start an incoherent rambling thread.

Genidef has just asked if Tutter's cleaner speaks English too.

Must be a general presumption about cleaners then.

Tutter, your cleaner sounds as though she'd quite like to be your friend too. If you just want her to keep her distance and be a paid employee only then you should perhaps stipulate that.

I still think you are over-reacting. Ok, she left the servant's door unlocked, a mistake that she needs a chat about AT THE TIME SHE DID IT, no point bleating about it if she did it months ago. She popped in with your ironing, perhaps she assumed you'd be in and thought she was doing a good deed by popping in outside of her working hours. Yes she should have thought about the alarm, but then on the other hand she is taking time out to deliver your ironing and she didn't charge for that little trip to your house did she? So again, chat to her about the alarm and how serious it would be if it went off.

As for her cleaning - that depends on your standards. As I said, sometimes it might be worth doing it yourself if your hired staff cause you more anxiety than you doing it.

Original poster
Tutter · 23/05/2007 22:05

pmsl at "servant's door" and "hired staff"

i'm not bleedin camilla you know

and she left the door unlocked on monday. that's 2 days ago, NOT MONTHS AGO (WHY ARE WE SHOUTING???)

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 23/05/2007 22:06

Cause preggers women go deaf, did you not know that?

I SAID DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT?

Original poster
Tutter · 23/05/2007 22:09

ah, but did you not know i have a man who comes to unblock my ears

one of my many staff dontcha know

OP posts:
Justaboutmanaging · 23/05/2007 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nappyaddict · 23/05/2007 22:43

why does your alarm go directly to the police Confused

Original poster
Tutter · 24/05/2007 08:45

it's just set up like that nappyaddict - we're renting so it's not a choice we made

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 24/05/2007 09:48

oh i thought alarms only did that in shops and the like.

Elasticwoman · 24/05/2007 14:21

Have you spoken to cleaner about leaving the door open?

Have you considered asking for your key back, and just being in when she comes?

lisasophie · 03/06/2007 21:24

YANBU. My parents run their own cleaning company. They have key for most of the houses they clean as the owners are usually at work when they clean.
They would NEVER turn up without calling first and always check all doors before leaving.
They are quite friendly and familar with their customers but because that is how the customers are to them. If you are telling her things then she will assume that you want to be friendly.
If her cleaning is substandard then sack her.
£10 ph for cleaning is much cheaper than my parents charge

Cammelia · 07/06/2007 09:25

Burglar alarms can be set up to the police station if you pay.

As for Tutters cleaner I'm starting to feel sorry for her, she's obviously lonely.

InternationalMouseOfMystery · 07/06/2007 09:27

shall i send her round for a chat then cammelia?

she does have a big family, locally, who she sees most days, so don't fret too much

InternationalMouseOfMystery · 07/06/2007 09:27

(this is tutter, btw)

oliveoil · 07/06/2007 09:44

arf at this thread

why do cleaning threads end up as some sort of class war rant off?

who cares if someone has a cleaner? not I.

and I don't see it being snide asking if they speak good english either, simple question

I love cleaning however so think you are INSANE to pay someone to do it

bran · 07/06/2007 09:56

Can I be really pedantic here (because I'm always overly pedantic before I've had my coffee). Asking Tutter if her cleaner is English speaking or not is not making any assumptions (negative or otherwise), it's simply asking for further details. It is, in fact, the opposite of making an assumption.

mrsmalumbas · 07/06/2007 09:56

10 pounds a bleeding hour - is that the going rate for a cleaner these days? Bloody hell.

mozhe · 07/06/2007 09:57

You're being too fussy...she's done your ironing and cleaned your house.Don't sweat the small stuff...My cleaner lets herself in and out,( we showed her how to arm/disarm alarm etc...they have brains you know ),just be happy you don't have to do such tiresome choes yourself

mozhe · 07/06/2007 09:58

Chores....and yes yabu....

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