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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:

LeftRightCentre · 06/08/2018 20:32

She won't pay you, Loo.

Jessiemay88 · 06/08/2018 20:33

Im a cleaner..or at least was til maternity leave. Have had clients with unreasonable expectations or trying to put off payment. I dont make a big deal to them and suggest simply explain point. Offer to rectify on reciept of payment however i charge at least 70quid for each oven if a deep clean is required..due to time consuming and having to use and completely and safely remove noxious chemicals. If you dont get the pay scrap the flats job. Sounds like the doctors surgery are happy

SisterNotCisTerf · 06/08/2018 20:34

Do not do anymore work for them, tell them you won’t be doing anymore and present a full and final bill for services.

I’m a cleaner and I actually don’t do ovens other than cleaning the hob. Oven cleaning is a specialised service that costs at least £30 for a single oven in my area. No way am I doing that for £10/hr (or £15/hr in your case) using my own products and breathing in all that crap whilst also completeing a full property clean.

RideOn · 06/08/2018 20:40

Oven cleaning is usually something separate.

I also would be suspicious. I'd meet her and go through what needs to be "put right" but ask to be payed before doing any further work.

category12 · 06/08/2018 20:44

Ovens wouldn't be included without prior agreement - she's taking the piss there. Unless she's talking about wiping down the exterior only.

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 20:45

Ok so I spoke to her earlier and agreed to go Wednesday morning but there's no way I will.
I'll wait till tomorrow to text her, what should my text say? If I write her off I write the doctor's off as well, as I said they're related (I think she is married to the boss) doctor's haven't paid me yet either!

What would HMRC do?

I've only ever cleaned for private (lovely) clients so I guess I'm a bit naive.

OP posts:

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 20:46

@category she expect the oven cleaned inside and it was filthy!

OP posts:

CSIblonde · 06/08/2018 20:47

Get your money then bin that job. Verbal agreements mean you get fleeced by people like her & have no proof as to what was agreed if you go to Court. It needs to be in writing: a simple template email saved in drafts folder...

Dear ......
As discussed, please confirm your requirements, as outlined below:

Day/hours @ £15 p/hr:

My cleaning products supplied:

Your products supplied:

Downstairs:
All floors mopped & hoovered. Dust/wipe all surfaces

Upstairs:
Hoover & dust bedrooms.
Clean bathroom floor, loo, bath & shower.

I look forward to receiving your confirmation: and starting work on ....

Regards
Loobyloo

wiilowmelangell · 06/08/2018 20:52

Crikey Looby! That is a lot of money to walk away from. There must be a compromise.
"I notice it took you an hour to do a proper job with the hoover I'll reduce my bill by £15."
"You didn't mention the ovens were uncleaned for a month, so I could only give them a moderate clean. I can see you are disappointed. I will take £3 off my bill.
"The 18th? Ah no, booked up. So I will call around for my money on Friday, or Thursday if that is more convenient, less the £18. "
The one thing I have taken from this Looby, is, if I am ever cleaning for someone, I will take a 'before' photo!

ivykaty44 · 06/08/2018 21:06

I’d expect you to bring your own supplies etc but you’ve said you regret that

As someone else said, compromise and knock some of for the hoover mistake, as a gesture of goodwill - but do request that in future any issues be raised sooner.

Have you sent an invoice? How many days on invoice do you give to pay? It’s usually 30 days, has this time lapsed?

My cleaner always leaves me an invoice, it’s a straight forward house clean, but invoice is there and I have x time to pay ( I pay promptly)

petrolpump28 · 06/08/2018 21:12

horrible graspy woman. You try it, and see how you feel. Get lost.

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 06/08/2018 22:01

@ivy I asked how I would be paid, she said they had my bank details and would do a transfer. I will send an invoice to the company.

OP posts:

starfishmummy · 06/08/2018 22:07

Cleaners round here seem to use their own vacuums - I've seen them.

eightfacesofthemoon · 06/08/2018 22:11

Send an invoice now. Cc someone else in
You need to make it clear you expect payment within a set time (30 days is standard)
A friend of mine told me the best trick is to add a £50 charge for every week/day that it’s late.
Not sure you can get away with that post cleaning, but it’s worth a go

If nothing else. Be HARD AS NAILS. She doesn’t except you to.
But I would offer £15 off for the hoovering

CSIblonde · 06/08/2018 22:18

Wiilowmelangell
Before & after photos is genius. No arguing with a photo. And great if things get to Court.

Where I'm from (semi rural) clients supply vacumn & products: but hourly rate is £10 an hour.

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 07/08/2018 06:43

Help! She wants to do the clean this morning.
Do I pretend I'm poorly and hope to be paid by the doctor later today (due last friday) I fear if I'm honest and say I'm not doing anymore cleaning for her I won't get paid by the doctor either.
I fear I wont anyway!

OP posts:

BoomBoomsCousin · 07/08/2018 06:59

You can just tell her you aren't free this morning. You need to ask her to ensure payment for the doctors' office is in your bank before the end of business today and that if that is not possible let her know she will need to provide cash tomorrow before you proceed with rectifying the apartment cleaning.

You also need to let her know that payment for all work is due upon completion and that you will not be able to proceed with further work for her until all money due has been paid. Make sure these terms are in your contract in the future along with additional fees for cleaning major appliances (which must be arranged in advance) and a fee if parking is not made available close to the premises when you are providing your own equipment.

These are normal terms for businesses. Unless you have made arrangements in advance to provide her with longer she has no reason to assume anything else and if she kicks off about it be aware she is just trying her luck, tell her you're sorry she's unused to this normal business practice, but these are your terms and you aren't budging from them. Don't write the money off. She owes you for the work you have done.

category12 · 07/08/2018 07:05

"That doesn't work for me".

Boomboom's post makes a lot of sense.

footballmum · 07/08/2018 07:10

Just say you can’t do this morning and won’t be able to do any more cleaning for them until they settle what they owe you to date.

BlueBug45 · 07/08/2018 07:40

OP HMRC will do nothing.

You have to do debt recovery yourself and you have received lots of advice on how to go about it and what to do in future.

As you pay all your taxes take the PPs advice about ensuring each of your clients has an email about what's agreed as soon as you take them on. Also stick in a line about any issues need to be notified to you within 48 hours. ( 48 hours is a lot for a commercial/communal premises to get dirty again, but not for all domestic premises.) Then another line or two about payment terms.

Chasing debts from the first customer/client you have to do it for is hard but after that if you mistakenly deal with a CF again it becomes easier.

In regards to small claims court - judgements are made on the balance of probabilities and most customers/clients won't risk it especially if you have enough things written down to show both what was in your initial agreement and that you tried to resolve the dispute before it got to the court.

Original poster

Loobyloo16 · 07/08/2018 07:55

@bluebig in future I will be sticking to domestic cleans only.
Thanks for all the advice everyone.
I've told her I'm not available today. If the money isn't in my bank by 5 I'm not doing any more cleaning at the doctors. I won't hold my breath.

OP posts:

twoshedsjackson · 07/08/2018 08:53

She wants you to clean this morning? The last lot of cleaning you did for her can't have been that unsatisfactory then, can it? You might well bring that up when negotiating the settling up of your outstanding account.
You are, of course, already booked up for today; you are a good cleaner in demand, and booking you cannot be undertaken on a whim.
If you're not sure of the connection to the doctor, treat that late payment as a separate matter, but it seems very likely that they're in cahoots, and have not got the message that (I repeat) a good cleaner is hard to find and not to be despised, and (being Biblical for a moment) "the labourer is worthy of his hire".

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 08/08/2018 06:02

Did they pay you yesterday?

Childrenofthestones · 08/08/2018 06:14

Your client is lucky to have you, I'd be popping fresh prawns into the hem of her curtains.😀

Aridane · 08/08/2018 06:32

Require payment of,outstanding amount before doing any more cleaning

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