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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to recommend a door sensor to everyone who has a cleaner

82 replies

Metoodear · 04/07/2018 16:31

So just caught my cleaner defrauding us

For a while I have been having a odd feeling bins not being emptied and other things didn’t add up but didn’t want to think the worse however dh was not having any we have a door sensor for my teen as we were tired of the disputes over what time he came in at night once we were in bed but don’t usually have it on during the day

Dh put it on today yep cleaner spend 45minutes then left she is paid for 2 hours Confused rand the company and she told her before you say anything they have it all tracked she confessed she being doing this since she started Shock if we didn’t have the sensor we would have never known

OP posts:
Original poster
Metoodear · 04/07/2018 17:21

I would have not cared really if she spent 45 minutes and big a bang up job but very basic things were not being done like the bins being emptied

If she she was leaving the house sparkling I wouldn’t have had any cause to put the sensor on in the first place

OP posts:
RebelRogue · 04/07/2018 17:25

When I was a cleaner sometimes I finished early,sometimes on time sometimes even a few minutes later. I mostly went by what needs to be done rather than time and I found that nearly always,as Igot usedto the house and the jobs I did finish earlier.
Some clients really did take the piss though.

Badbadtromance · 04/07/2018 17:28

I just let my cleaner go for cheating me

CherryPavlova · 04/07/2018 17:28

I wouldn’t have someone in my house if I didn’t trust them. Mine are lovely and do all sorts of things extras.

user139328237 · 04/07/2018 17:30

Surely the bins should be emptied when they are full not on a schedule?
If the bins not being emptied is the only thing you think wasn't being done I wonder if there has been no communication to them that you wanted the bins emptying (as for most people this is a 30 second job that gets done when the bag is full rather than every x days however full the bag is.)

Clubcuts · 04/07/2018 17:31

My cleaner is excellent, I happy that the jobs done to my satisfaction and don't care if she does it in shorter hours. Of course if it was below standard it could be different!

Movablefeast · 04/07/2018 17:31

I am in the US, we have the NEST smarthome system and I don't know if it available in the UK. Originally we got it for the smart thermostat function which learns when you use heat and when you don't and adjusts accordingly.

I have suddenly become bed ridden since May and now we use the NEST entry monitoring system. It shows everyone approaching the front door and entering and leaving the house. The camera is tiny and not noticeable. As soon as someone approaches the front door you are notified in real time and you can immediately see camera footage on your phone wherever you are. You can speak to people or send a message which is relayed by the system.

It works great as I can see if my friends and relatives are at the door and let them in. I believe you can also have codes for when people enter and so they have a unique code for entering your house which we don't use but could be a good idea for cleaner, builders, etc. You can therefore go completely keyless if you prefer and can easily change entry codes.

We also get a lot of deliveries which I cannot bring in but I can be sure they don't go missing.

It is perfect for my situation

Yerroblemom1923 · 04/07/2018 17:32

My sister is a cleaner and this drives her mad as it makes people wary of the profession as a whole and every cleaner is viewed with suspicion.
She always does at least the allotted time, usually more if she wants to get a job finished/ done properly. Many of her clients try to catch her out by popping home for "lunch" or coming home "early". And leaving money lying around is another trick. Needless to say she takes her business seriously. I think perhaps the issue lies with cleaning companies who charge £15 per hr and then only pay their workers the minimum wage. There's a lot of resentment.

HaroldsSocalledBluetits · 04/07/2018 17:33

One just can't get the staff, can one.

Movablefeast · 04/07/2018 17:34

Ok just googled and it is available in the UK.

Housecoatdiva · 04/07/2018 17:37

HaroldsSocalledBluetits
Grin my thoughts exactly!

Confusedbeetle · 04/07/2018 17:38

The bigger issue here is not whether you can trust the cleaner to do the hours, but rather can you TRUST the cleaner. This is a person who can let herself into your home. Find the person you can trust first. A person you trust is the most valuable one of all

Milfromhades · 04/07/2018 17:39

Imo any woman who employs a cleaner is being a bit hypocritical to complain about laziness!
I'm not including the Royal family in that btw, they are excellent value for money.

SoddingUnicorns · 04/07/2018 17:41

Imo any woman who employs a cleaner is being a bit hypocritical to complain about laziness!

Why? Are we still in the 1900s? I don’t have a cleaner btw but I still think your comment was a bit outdated and snotty.

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree · 04/07/2018 17:41

I'd hate to live like this, or think about the world this way.

Ratarse · 04/07/2018 17:43

Milfromhades Does that include disabled and elderly women? Also men are ok to get a cleaner?

HollowTalk · 04/07/2018 17:45

What do you mean, @Milfromhades? If a woman is working full time and has young children, she has a choice between cleaning when the children are still up, cleaning late at night or employing a cleaner. Why the hell does that make them lazy? And what about their partners?

gamerchick · 04/07/2018 17:46

And leaving money lying around is another trick

I think that's the most irritating one. The client deserves to be binned off for that stunt.

Movablefeast · 04/07/2018 17:46

Not to say sexist. Is it ok to have a cleaner if you are male? Because apparently noone expects you to clean your house if you would prefer to pay someone else to do it? While a woman should be shamed for bring "lazy".

Movablefeast · 04/07/2018 17:47

Being lazy.

Movablefeast · 04/07/2018 17:49

When we had 3 kids under 5 having a cleaner saved our sanity, actually they were a husband and wife team!

Chewbecca · 04/07/2018 17:49

I can tell if my bins are emptied or not and I don't have a door sensor.

SoddingUnicorns · 04/07/2018 17:51

Not to say sexist. Is it ok to have a cleaner if you are male? Because apparently noone expects you to clean your house if you would prefer to pay someone else to do it? While a woman should be shamed for bring "lazy"

Kind of what I meant by the 1900s comment. You’re right though, it is profoundly sexist.

OrchidInTheSun · 04/07/2018 17:52

I have a cleaner who invited me to her wedding and we exchange Xmas and birthday presents. I'm not worried about her stealing from me. And if she finishes cleaning the house 1/2 an hour early, I don't give a toss

gillybeanz · 04/07/2018 17:53

I wouldn't trust someone else in my home, who isn't going to take the piss if they can?
I have a couple of friends who have thought their cleaners were fabulous, one could hers stealing, the other not working agreed hours.
They both really trusted their cleaners.
Nah, I like good standards and honesty so we do our own, it's easier as well. Who wants to have to tidy up for when they come round to clean.