Background: Last week, we had to let our cleaner go because she was being very unreliable. We went back to the agency we originally found her through and asked for a new cleaner. Agency allows for lots of instructions for things like how to open the doors and where things are etc. to be left online, and doesn't allow direct contact between you and the cleaner (they can call you, buy via the office). Our house has a front gate, small bin area, and a double locked front door. Access for the cleaner is by using a key safe found in the bin area.
New cleaner called this morning twice, first because she couldn't find the key safe, and then because she couldn't open it (I have left instructions for both of these things). I gave her my number verbally over the phone as I would not be able to answer calls for a couple of hours to text me if any more problems. No word from her. I get home from work 6 hours later, and the front gate is open, and my front door is ajar. Thankfully, nobody had taken advantage of this (no idea how, i live in a not great area of London), and my two disabled indoor cats hadn't escaped. I've emailed the agency to call me first thing, but it's out of office hours now. I imagine what has happened is that as the front door has a knack, she's tried and failed to properly shut it, meaning it didn't lock properly. I am very concerned that she didn't read the instructions on this, and that she didn't attempt to contact me with this issue. She has however done an excellent job at cleaning.
What would you do, Mumsnet? I am pretty shaken by this, as anything could have happened, but I'm also now worried the same thing would happen if I got a new cleaner, even though I find it hard to trust her now. Do I ask for a new one, or do I get her to come round and show her how the doors work?