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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is my cleaner taking the piss?

585 replies

hazykates · 24/10/2018 19:16

So - I'm a maths teacher - my cleaner (a much needed luxury as I'm a messy bint) asked if I could tutor her little girl who's struggling at school. I'm mad busy with work and family life but I'm also pretty terrible at saying no and like our cleaner a lot (she's really good!!!) so I said yes! I wasn't expecting her to pay, if the tutoring went on for more than a few sessions I thought I might ask for reciprocal payment if the subject was raised (she could clean for the hour I tutor her child for example). As things have turned out she hasn't ever offered anything in reciprocation for the favour, she's consistently late for the lesson without apology, and was downright rude when I had to rearrange the other day as my little girl was ill and my husband away. I'm loathe to say I can't do it anymore as think she'd have the hump and it took me so long to find a cleaner that works for us - but I can't help but feel a bit pissed off about feeling like she's taking advantage! AIBU?!

OP posts:
cheesefield · 25/10/2018 14:08

How long was she cleaning for you?

platesandflowers · 25/10/2018 14:08

I hadn't read the 2nd part of your update before my last post.

Yep. You get £45 an hour for just sitting there while she's doing hard manual labour?! Oh how the other half live. Bet she's glad she got the tutoring off you for free that she did. Stuck up, rich cow.

Fuck it op. You're a nice person, she's a cheeky, grabby cow. Don't waste another thought on her.

FullMetalRabbit · 25/10/2018 14:08

goodness me - she sounds awful

OP, I know this is done and dusted now, but by not charging (or reciprocity in the first place) you've given away your time and skills for free. When things are free, people place no value on them.

I work for myself and I always try and think to myself "another lesson learned"

well done for facing it head on - it can't have been easy

CallMeRachel · 25/10/2018 14:08

Well done you!

This was the very best way it could end. What a cheap skate she is!!

Anyone who had any decency would clean extra in return for lessons, even do your ironing.

Best off without her!

Round of applause 👏

hellojim · 25/10/2018 14:08

Well done for putting an end to it. She probably thinks you've done alright for yourself and owe the world a favour.

SilverLining10 · 25/10/2018 14:09

You handled it brilliantly. What a nasty cow. At least you saw her true colors.
She probably thought she could guilt you over it because it involves her child. She didnt even offer a thanks. Good riddance.

Want2bSupermum · 25/10/2018 14:10

I agree with platesandflowers. We haven't had a cleaner and I got one. A housekeeper because with 3DC it's a never ending job. She asked for a raise because 'clearly I could afford it'. No I couldn't afford it. I let her go and honestly it's easier to just do my own cleaning.

TeddybearBaby · 25/10/2018 14:11

What pride tbh 🤷🏻‍♀️ @hazykates x

carr1e1977 · 25/10/2018 14:15

Phew that was tense. Well done for being so calm and articulate with her! She sounds like a right ignorant twat

cheesefield · 25/10/2018 14:18

Do you think you've heard the last of her OP?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/10/2018 14:18

I think I insulted her sense of pride somehow

No, you offended her massive sense of entitlement. I'm afraid the "we've not all got that kind of money" attitude was to be expected, but well done for handling it so well

And at least you won't allow yourself to be caught out like this again Wink

Volant · 25/10/2018 14:18

How extraordinary that she thinks her daughter's education is worth you giving up an hour of your free time, but not worth her giving up an hour of hers. You're well rid.

SingaporeSlinky · 25/10/2018 14:19

Well done for standing your ground. I don’t think I would have paid her for today, since she was late and didn’t actually do any cleaning today, but I can see it was just better to get the keys back and end it.

Can’t believe that instead of a thank you for 6 free lessons she’s had a go at you for charging so much. Hopefully when she looks back, she’ll realise what she’s lost out on, not to mention a job.

hazykates · 25/10/2018 14:19

Cheesefield - I hope so - though there's a distinct possibility her daughter (who's currently year 6) could come to my school next year. That'll make for a tasty parent's evening!

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/10/2018 14:19

Oh, and make sure to change your lock - knowing what was coming, you can't be sure she's not had others cut

EK36 · 25/10/2018 14:20

Well done OP. Thanks for the updates. You did a good deed which was unappreciated. Massive over reaction on the cleaner's behalf. How ridiculous of her, instead of saying "no but thanks for all your help" she showed her true colours and now has lost one her cleaning jobs! Glad its all stopped now.

SugarCoatIt · 25/10/2018 14:20

Firstly OP, I think the text you sent her was worded perfectly, and would also have been miffed at her response.

Moreover, you've done something to try and help, which is commendable, but unwittingly got yourself into a pickle in the process.

You sound very much like myself, a people pleaser, and fixer of problems, but I've learned this isn't always a good thing, for either party - not everybody wants or needs help or fixing and then when you lend or give it, it can wind up biting you in the arse, for want of putting it more eloquently and you find yourself too overly involved in other people's lives, at a cost to your own, on emotional and time levels (plus, invariably, sometimes at a financial cost to yourself too)

Chalk it up to experience, try and learn when to take a step back (I'm still very much working on this myself) and lastly, well done for how you stood your ground - although as a side note, whilst she may have been slightly naive to the £45 per hour cost, it maybe hit a nerve, I don't know whether you needed to mention the monetary cost in order to drive the message home, however, no matter, not berating you just mentioning it as it maybe put her back up a bit, even though it wasn't your intention.

hazykates · 25/10/2018 14:21

Oh god Puzzled - do you really think so??? 

OP posts:
Witchofzog · 25/10/2018 14:24

Well done op. You did amazing.

I have been a cleaner. It can be a literally and metaphorically shitty job. But I trained in a job that is better paid and that I enjoy better. I worked bloody hard to get my career and like you, deserve the extra money. Your cleaner sounds dissatisfied with her lot which has made her entitled and unpleasant. She feels like she is owed this as some sort of redistribution of the difference you both charge which is crazy. You would have had to train hard to be a teacher and she does not recognise this at all

SingaporeSlinky · 25/10/2018 14:25

I wouldn’t change the locks. She couldn’t have known she’d lose her job today and I’m sure didn’t want to. And she’d know that if anything happened to OP’s house she’d be a prime suspect.
A CF maybe but that doesn’t mean she’s a burglar!

platesandflowers · 25/10/2018 14:26

I would 100% get my locks changed. She portably wouldn't do anything but she knew what was coming and sounds both unpleasant and entitled so....

0lgaDaPolga · 25/10/2018 14:30

Wow I’m shocked at her sense of entitlement! She would have been getting a great deal if she’d cleaned for one hours tutoring. I can’t believe she’d rather give up the lessons when she was just sat texting anyway Shock well done for sorting it out.

hazykates · 25/10/2018 14:31

Oh fuck - she just texted!

OP posts:
cheesefield · 25/10/2018 14:32

?????????

Happygummibear · 25/10/2018 14:33

waits for the thread.... teacher wouldn't help my child who is struggling with her math
Luckily for your cleaner I don't get the vibe that you hold a grudge so her daughter has nothing to worry about come high school

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