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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not clean for them again.

68 replies

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 19:43

I'm a self employed cleaner with many happy clients & over 8 years experience.

I got a new temporary Job cleaning at a doctors surgery a few weeks back which then led to more work cleaning some flats. Same management.
I went last Monday to clean the flats (3) £15 p hr. Told the woman woman I'd done 5 hours heard nothing.
This morning I texted her to ask when I would be getting paid, she rang me and gave a list of things I hadn't done and would have to put right before I got paid.
She said the floor wasn't mopped, I said I'd done it, she said she had photo evidence that I hadnt then offered to send it to me. She said the ovens weren't cleaned properly (I'll hold my hands up to that one) I did my best but didn't have proper oven cleaning stuff.
I hadn't vacuumed one of the room (I had, the vac was rubbish) so she had to spend an hour doing it (it's a 10 foot sq room)

I said I'd meet her Wednesday morning to put right what wasn't done (under her supervision) I then asked her if I'd then get paid, she said she had some more work for me after the 18th and she may as well pay me for it all together.

I also wasn't paid for the doctor's surgery last Friday which was the agreement. I've asked today but still no payment.

Wibu to just not turn up to do the cleaning (I supposedly) didn't do right and just write the money off.

I'm scared I'll do another three hours cleaning and not get paid.

OP posts:

Singlenotsingle · 06/08/2018 19:47

I'd want to get paid before I did anything else. She's a CF if she thinks you're going to wait for your money, and do more work in the meantime.

LaGattaNera · 06/08/2018 19:47

I would definitely not do anymore work for her and I would explain that you did hoover but her vacuum is not up to the job & that you did your best to clean the oven despite her not providing oven cleaning materials (I assume that you don't provide the cleaning materials). I'd tell her that I required full payment before Friday and if she doesn't pay then I'd write it and her off - you don't need this!

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 19:51

I was asked to supply my own cleaning equipment but wasn't told I'd be cleaning an oven.
I had my own vac In the car but didn't fancy carrying it through the the town centre. I had to park a bit away from the flats & pay for parking.

OP posts:

eightfacesofthemoon · 06/08/2018 19:52

Do not do more cleaning. Go and meet with her and go through the problems.
She’s going to have the same problem with the next person.
No one expects a cleaner to bring their own oven cleaner or vac. Unless they’re doing a special deep clean.
But you should have raised these problems as an when “I couldn’t do the best job on the oven as there were not the appropriate cleaning products”
“Your hoover is not up to the standards needed and unless you want me to spend the whole time hoovering one room I expect a decent hoover”
Don’t do the work first without insisting on decent appliances to do it with

AviatorShades · 06/08/2018 19:52

If you can afford to,I'd write it off, OP.
Bloody galling, tho.
No way you can demand payment for the dr's surgery tho? If not, clean cut and chalk it up to experience.
What a bitch.

eightfacesofthemoon · 06/08/2018 19:53

Oh cross post, well then aside from the oven
You’re in the wrong!! Sorry

Merryoldgoat · 06/08/2018 19:54

You are self employed. You choose which jobs to do and in your situation I would absolutely do no further work.

I’d say that you aren’t returning until you’re paid for the surgery.

I’d actually say a lot more than that, which is why I don’t have a customer facing job...

eightfacesofthemoon · 06/08/2018 19:56

It’s not really her problem about the vac if she’s asked you to bring your own stuff!
If you didn’t want to carry it, you just say, sorry I don’t bring my own vac

ShumpaLumpa · 06/08/2018 19:56

An oven clean is usually separately charged I thought?

Demand your money OP, don't let her get away with this.

Don't do any more cleaning.

Di11y · 06/08/2018 20:05

Agree you'll rectify the cleaning If she pays what she owes beforehand.

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 20:05

She's related in some way to the guy who owns the surgery so I have a feeling it could be related although I was told what a good job I was doing at the surgery. If I write it all off I'd be £170 down
She did say I cleaned the bathrooms very well.

There was no point taking the vac as there was only the one small room to vacuum. Wish I had now though.

OP posts:

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 20:07

@Di11y I don't think she'd agree to that, but could be worth a try.

OP posts:

eightfacesofthemoon · 06/08/2018 20:12

Ok so the vac room offer £15 off for not bringing you’re own. And explain the reasons why you didn’t bring it.

Everything else she owes you for.
I would come to a compromise, say you need to have rules between you. No one brings oven cleaner, as someone else said, that’s usually separate.

I guess it depends if you want or need more work from these people.

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 20:12

Another thing, why wait a week after the clean when I asked for payment to say all that was wrong?

OP posts:

LeftRightCentre · 06/08/2018 20:13

I'd take this woman to small claims court tbh but NFW I'd do another minute of work for her pisstaking arse.

twoshedsjackson · 06/08/2018 20:14

If she's related in some way to the guy who owns the surgery, would be worth asking him if he's still happy with the work you do for him? Let him know that you are concerned that she is finding fault, as you pride yourself on your professional standards.
Good cleaners are hard to find, and I don't suppose he'd be pleased that you are being cheesed off by someone who he gave a recommendation to.
I agree about not doing any more cleaning; just say you'd like to get this sorted out before you confuse the issue by doing any more; too hard to keep track. I wonder is she's trying to beat the price down, before graciously letting you do some more work? She'll have trouble getting and keeping any good cleaner with that attitude!

TedAndLola · 06/08/2018 20:17

They're trying it on and I think you've marked yourself as an easy target by going along with it. There's no way that woman is going to cough up the full amount, so it depends how much energy you want to devote to fighting a partial payment...

mumsastudent · 06/08/2018 20:18

small claims court & contact HMRC they love to hear from people who have been treated this way are you considered self employed or is she employing you? if she is employing you the minimum wage comes into it! It would be interesting to find out if she has done this before - name & shame on the internet maybe???

Tartsamazeballs · 06/08/2018 20:19

Tell her she's got X days to pay you and if she doesn't pay you take her to small claims court. Don't put up with that shite!

category12 · 06/08/2018 20:21

Don't do any more work for her. If that means writing off the money, then write it off.

jarhead123 · 06/08/2018 20:25

I don't think she can not pay you for work you've done.

I wouldnt do any more work, but speak to citizens advice, or send a strong worded letter to the company asking for payment by x date. You worked those hours and they owe you

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 20:25

I'm thinking the small claims court, especially if I don't get paid for the surgery as well.
@twoshed I think she may be married to him but I'm not 100%.

I'm covering for a woman who's on holiday, she's normally cleans the flats and surgery and is (according to this woman) 'is very fast'

It's a huge building with loads of flats and I found it hard to navigate. I am very speedy normally.

OP posts:

BlueBug45 · 06/08/2018 20:27

Agree to rectify your mistakes and get that agreement in an email (best) or a text conversation (worst). However tell her unfortunately due to having more clients you can't do any further work for her.

If she then doesn't pay you within another 7 days, chase her via recorded signed for letter letter asking for payment in 28 days. Mention that she delayed telling you there were issues with the cleaning until X days after, but you agreed to rectify them on a whatever date you said. Make sure you also state if she doesn't pay up you will take debt recovery action which may include court action and she will be liable for all costs.

As someone who is also self employed but in a different field I've learnt it is not worth dealing with clients who are hard work. In your case the women is a CF and sounds like she simply doesn't want to pay.

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 20:29

@mumsat I'm self employed. She should be paying me £15 ph.
My gut is telling me not to do anymore work for her.
Thanks all, some really good advice. I thought I was BU.

OP posts:

LeftRightCentre · 06/08/2018 20:31

I'd go with the suggestion of informing her that she needs to pay you for the work you did by X date or you'll need to take legal steps and that you are no longer interested in cleaning for them again or a simple, 'I cannot do any more work for you without payment'. I'd report her to the HMRC, too. She's majorly taking the piss! The fuck I'd go there and correct it all with her standing there.

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