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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:
Redglitter · 04/07/2018 17:56

My cleaner is fantastic. I trust her implicitly with my keys & I know she's done her work as the house is sparkling.

If I was having to resort to tracking her I'd get rid of her & get someone I did trust

Figmentofmyimagination · 04/07/2018 18:04

Is that a misprint or did the OP seriously install a tracking device to record what time her husband comes in at night? Now that's creepy, never mind the business about tracking the cleaner. There are some trust issues here!

Pengggwn · 04/07/2018 18:06

Like the agency didn't know. Hmm

HelenTheHunter · 04/07/2018 18:11

I leave money lying around all the time because I'm careless and trusting, not as a test :/ I hope my cleaner doesn't think I'm setting a trap! It's never large amounts.
I also often pop in and out of the house when they're here - as I do every day though. I hope they don't think I'm checking up on them!
I leave them enough for four hours and they leave me change if they've done significantly less. I know they sometimes do a bit more and sometimes a bit less. I'm sure it evens out and I don't mind as long as the job is done well, which it always is.

blackteasplease · 04/07/2018 18:12

This is why I use a reputable cleaning company. They send 2 cleaners for 3 hours once a fortnight. I'd love it once a week but can't afford it. They pay a proper wage and the cleaners are proper employees - so tax and everything done above board. Means we never miss a clean as someone else just comes if our regular cleaner is off.

Had years of difficulties with cleaners and wish I'd paid for a proper company years ago.

Original poster
Metoodear · 04/07/2018 18:18

OrchidInTheSun

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
you would if you were coming back to a house that was not clean

OP posts:
Original poster
Metoodear · 04/07/2018 18:23

@blackteasplease this was a proper company recommended to be by my mate who live in a vicarage Confused she used them since she has moved here

So I thought it was all above board my last cleaner was really good but left to go and clean in a consortium of schools full time
So this new one has only been with us a month its not about the amount of time per say it’s the fact she wasn’t getting her work done

OP posts:
blackteasplease · 04/07/2018 18:40

Well no wonder you thought they would be better.

We had two companies before - one was just an individual trading as a company, the other was more of an agency who took a fee but we paid the cleaners direct. I wondered if it was more like that set up.

We now use a company which employs cleaners on a salary which is a very different experience.

Original poster
Metoodear · 04/07/2018 19:04

Figmentofmyimagination

Is that a misprint or did the OP seriously install a tracking device to record what time her husband comes in at night? Now that's creepy, never mind the business about tracking the cleaner. There are some trust issues here!
no I did use the sensor for my husband it’s was for my son who has mental health issues

OP posts:
Original poster
Metoodear · 04/07/2018 19:06

blackteasplease

Well no wonder you thought they would be better.

We had two companies before - one was just an individual trading as a company, the other was more of an agency who took a fee but we paid the cleaners direct. I wondered if it was more like that set up.

We now use a company which employs cleaners on a salary which is a very different experience.
yes we paid the cleaner direct then paid the agancey a fee I thought then at least I would know the cleaner was getting the agreed wage and not just what the agancey told me they were gettingConfused seems employing a cleaner is a mind field

OP posts:
OrchidInTheSun · 04/07/2018 19:10

My house is clean obviously. OShocktherwise I wouldn't employ her. Why did you carry on paying a cleaner who was doing a bad job? Confused

OrchidInTheSun · 04/07/2018 19:12

Sorry I pressed post when I didn't mean to. Hope it makes sense

anotherangel2 · 04/07/2018 19:52

SoddingUnicorns I need one of those door bells. What are they called and where do you get them from?

AWomanIsAnAdultHumanFemale · 04/07/2018 19:55

What’s your job OP?

luniz · 04/07/2018 19:58

That must have been very frustrating OP. I do trust my cleaner but doubt she does the full 2 hours. You can tell she scrimps on some bits but she is lovely so it is worth it.

What door sensor do you have? Can anyone recommend one for a flat?

AWomanIsAnAdultHumanFemale · 04/07/2018 20:00

who isn't going to take the piss if they can?

Err, loads of decent, trustworthy people.

user1487194234 · 04/07/2018 20:09

I don’t care if my cleaner does the full 3 hours twice a week as long as the work is done
I would find spying on her degrading for both parties
Do you cheat your employer
If not why assume your stuff would

user1487194234 · 04/07/2018 20:10

Staff not stuff

N0rfolkEnchants · 05/07/2018 13:34

Oh I so am with you in this. Had a thread last week I think. It's a new cleaner and she did her first clean, took the money for it but I know for a fact she left at least 25 minutes early. Ok so it's not much but it smacks of dishonesty to me. Especially on a first clean. I'm going to see if she stays the full time tomorrow and if not I'll bin her

Off to read the thread in full now

N0rfolkEnchants · 05/07/2018 13:47

User - just to be clear.. cleaners arent 'staff' Confused They offer a service on a self employed basis and you choose whether or not to take up that service.

user1487194234 · 05/07/2018 14:43

Fair point.I was thinking more generally of my employees at work.Dont think it really changes my point

Tubbyinthehottub · 05/07/2018 16:51

I've got a smart lock on my front door but I don't really use it for spying on the cleaner.

Myownwendyhouse · 05/07/2018 17:23

I'm a cleaner. Sometimes I work 5 mins over and other times 5 mins under. I never leave until everyone one of my jobs are done but the two levels I clean... If I clean them the same every week takes the same amount of time.

Leaving 5 mind early is not too bad in my opinion but only staying 45 mins is just awful. If I felt it would take longer I would say and get paid less. My clients are very happy with my cleaning as they have told me. If I did finish 20 mins early for some reason I would find something else to clean.

NameChangingParanoid · 05/07/2018 17:28

I’ve never had this with a cleaner but my friend got suspicious that her dog walker was just collecting the money & not walking the dog.

She got her neighbour to do some spying for her & sure enough - no walking was happening!

Mindchilder · 05/07/2018 17:30

The work in my house is never 'done' - I pay for 2 hours but there is easily enough work to fill 4.