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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU or my cleaner?

20 replies

Blanchedupetitpois · 08/11/2018 18:34

I have a cleaner who comes once a week, is paid £10ph which I usually give her by bank transfer. Her terms are that if she cancels she doesn’t get paid (or she makes up the day another time) and if I cancel with less than a week’s notice I pay.

In the last few weeks for various reasons she has been very unreliable and has missed several days - often with no notice at all, so I only know she hasn’t been when I get home and can see it. On most of these occasions I have already done the bank transfer. I do think her reasons for missing days have been very genuine (she’s had a rough patch with her and her mother both being unwell) and so I haven’t minded too much about paying her for days she hasn’t done. In total though I think we have paid £80 for days that she didn’t come, and I’ve just let it go.

Last week she didn’t come but was paid. Today she did come but I forgot to do the bank transfer. She has just texted me to remind me. I have said that as she didn’t come last week but was paid, I don’t think I owe her for this week. But she has texted back to insist that I have to transfer her money for today.

AIBU? I accept that in the past I have been lax about the days I paid her when she didn’t come, but it’s in her own terms and conditions that she provided that she doesn’t get paid if she cancels, and she knows she’s had £80 from us for cancelled days. Surely she should accept last friday’s wages carrying over to today?

(I expect some people will recommend I get a new cleaner btw - I am looking for one! They are scarce in my area).

OP posts:
Racecardriver · 08/11/2018 18:37

YABU. You paid her and she didn’t turn up. Now she is making up the hours.

DDogMum · 08/11/2018 18:37

Definitely don't pay her twice. Are you able to screenshot the payments you've made to her online and look back (on texts or your diary for instance) to list the days she's actually cleaned for her?

It sounds like she's trying to pull a fast one, but she MAY just be a bit mixed up with having stuff going on at home and with other cleaning jobs etc.

HelloPeopl3 · 08/11/2018 18:38

I'd tell her to fuck right off

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 08/11/2018 18:39

YANBU

Blanchedupetitpois · 08/11/2018 18:41

You paid her and she didn’t turn up. Now she is making up the hours. but surely if this is her making up the hours she shouldn’t be paid for them twice?

DDogMum that’s a good idea - I can see the money going out on my bank statement on the same day that she texted to say she hadn’t come because she had a family emergency. I can definitely show her those. She tends to be quite scatty so it may be a mistake.

OP posts:
CoughLaughFart · 08/11/2018 18:41

There seems to be a very simple solution - in future, pay her after the work is done.

Blanchedupetitpois · 08/11/2018 18:46

I'd tell her to fuck right off

Tempting!!

There seems to be a very simple solution - in future, pay her after the work is done.

Indeed, will be doing so going forward!

OP posts:
Mercurial123 · 08/11/2018 18:53

You were too nice by paying her for hours she didn't work. She's taking advantage of your generosity.

RebootYourEngine · 08/11/2018 18:54

I think because you have previously been paying her that you should pay her this time but tell her that this will be the last time. From now on if she doesnt come she doesnt get paid. Then pay her that evening or the day after.

Returnofthesmileybar · 08/11/2018 18:58

No way that is super cheeky! Honestly I think I might just say "I disagree that I owe you the money but if you drop back my key I will pay you cash as a gesture of good will and we will not require you to come again"

Brickswithstones · 08/11/2018 18:58

YANBU. What does she think the £80 you paid into her account is? A gift?

Buscake · 08/11/2018 19:01

Just say ‘sorry I can’t pay you twice’

Thehop · 08/11/2018 19:01

Find evidence of hours paid and not worked and tell her how many hours you are owed.

BlueCurious · 08/11/2018 19:04

If be sending her an outline of the payments made with no work completed and total the hours owed to you. Then ask does she prefer to make up the hours or give you a refund?

ButchyRestingFace · 08/11/2018 19:11

Why on earth did you keep paying her first without checking whether the work had been done?

Definitely don’t pay her!

SawnUpLooRoll · 08/11/2018 19:24

Unreasonable cleaner.

Blanchedupetitpois · 08/11/2018 21:03

Thanks everyone! I feel reassured (but also agree I made a rod for my own back by letting the situation get to where it is!)

OP posts:
Seadreamer2020 · 02/07/2020 10:11

As a house cleaner I would say fire her and hire another house cleaner.

MyOwnSummer · 02/07/2020 11:06

Yep, it sucks if she has personal problems but ultimately she owes you the time. You need set out clear boundaries with her, and she needs to work the hours she is paid to work.

YouDirtyMare · 02/07/2020 11:09

ZOMBIE THREAD

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