iMessage didn't deliver... she wants me to pay her.

[LiveLiveAnna]

Cleaner text me via iMessage asking if she can change her days. I responded through text saying 'no problem see you on ...' - my message didn't deliver to her as she hasn't connected to WiFi over the weekend and has her iMessage enabled. I text her again to confirm and had no response. I had no idea it hadn't delivered to her. She's now turned up on the original day (I haven't been at home to let her in as she has no keys yet) and she's claiming that I need to pay her the £30 for cleaning as I didn't ensure the messages had delivered.

My argument was that if you have your phone set up to receive iMessage, and you send ME an iMessage, you should then ensure that you are connected to WiFi in order to receive my response. If you have iMessage turned on and aren't connected to the WiFi, it's your fault you didn't receive the message...

Who is BU? Me for thinking it's a mix up and I shouldn't have to pay her £30 for cleaning that didn't happen? Or her, for expecting me to pay her £30 when she hasn't done the work because her phone couldn't receive my message?

I sound really annoyed but I haven't actually responded to her voicemail yet so trying to get some honest perspective from AIBU!

Thanks.

I think she’s been a bit out of order tbh. Maybe front up half the cost as a gesture of good will and part ways

If you do value her Could you pay her for the first hour..would cover her travelling and waiting time ....alternately will you still want a cleaner while on maternity leave if not then maybe you could finish things now.

Well, there's one good outcome from this thread. I have gone into my iPhone's settings and set it to send as an SMS when iMessage is not available. I knew nothing about any of this (and I would still venture that your cleaner didn't either)

How do you do this please?

You go into settings and then message settings and it's an option in there.

Fabulous. Thank you Dahlietta
That means at least two of us have benefited from this thread.

Don't turn it on if you ever iMessage family abroad though as it'll cost you a fortune in overseas texting

How could she be sure you had got her original message. She should have phoned to check. I would not pay her nor use her again.

YANBU as the fault is entirely on the cleaner’s side. She messaged you, asked for a favour and was not available to receive your reply. She also left a stroppy, if uncharacteristic, message when you demurred from paying when she had failed to do the work contracted.

I am rather cynical and feel this will be the thin end of the wedge and that a person who gets away with this amount of cf- ery will up the ante next time. It would be best to part company before further distress is caused.

However, I understand that the woman, reportedly, usually pleasant, might not be able to comprehend the morality of the situation and, therefore, Cardinalcat’s message seems reasonable and appropriate in order to set out the parameters of the situation going forward.

@Peonylover123 If you responded to someone's letter with another letter but they didn't get it because they nailed their letterbox closed, does that mean it's your fault they never received it?!

What happened OP? What did you say to her? X

Sorry it's taken so long to update. I got rid of the cleaner and have another trialling tomorrow. Fingers crossed! It's a shame but she was so rude on the voicemail I couldn't get past it.

Those who think it's the decent thing to do to just pay her because she needs the money.... I need the cleaner! It is my only luxury and I'm not rich or well off. I can do a lot with £30. I'm surprised people think I should give it to someone who hasn't done the work.

If she had no response from you to her text asking to change days, then why did she not ring you the day before to clarify? Or sent further messages until she got a reply?

It's her business and so her job to ensure appointments are clarified if changed.

Not a chance I would pay her for a clean she hasn't done.

Good update OP
Totally agree YWNBU

Yes OP I think you had no real choice but to do this, sadly.

She asked to change the day in the first place?
And didn't follow it up when she apparently hadn't had a response?
Her mistake.

My cleaner always texts me at the weekend about cleaning on the Monday and always says do I want Mon or Tues cleaning that week. If I don't reply, as last week as was in hosp she turned up on her usual day day. She has a key which helps.