to get rid of cleaner because she won't accept a bank transfer?

[changers5]

She's really nice, I like her, does a decent job, but she always wants cast and charges £17.50 each time she's here. I have a 3 month old and am very disorganised/exhausted. I almost always forget to get money out for her and end up having to make an early morning trip to the shops (which are miles away as I'm rural). She's through an agency so pays taxes and isn't tax dodging, but just won't accept me putting money in her account. She wants cash. That's fair enough but it's a PITA for very disorganised me... would it be harsh to get rid of her and hire someone else for this reason alone?

Go through the immense hassle of finding a new cleaner for more money then... simple.

If it's to be accepted that the OPs personal circumstances dictate that she is unable to orgainise getting cash out periodically then it should be accepted that the cleaner's personal circumstances dictate that she needs her wages weekly in cash.
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One's needs shouldn't outweigh the other. There are other cleaners out there just as good who will work for less than £10 per hour (are there ... ?) and there are definitely other clients. No need for either of you to be stuck with the other.*

THIS!

It would be the same agency @WendyCope so exactly the same price just without the need for cash...

I’m afraid I’m also this disorganised, it would drive me insane to have to remember to have an amount of cash including particular coins on a certain day every week when I barely use cash. People saying take out a month or more of money at a time, this means doing it at a bank or post office to get the correct coins - total faff and significant cost (at least for me) to park in town where the branches are - £70 in £10 notes from a nearby cash point doesn’t solve the problem at all.
I now have a cleaner who accepts a bank transfer. I have a standing order set up, it is in her bank account reliably every week on the same morning she does the clean, suits us both. At Christmas when she had a week off it went in as usual and I called it her Christmas bonus - it has just totally taken the stress out of it.

It's 2019, I avoid shops that don't take card

I don't carry cash. If I can't pay by card, I don't shop there. If they don't want my money, that isn't my problem.

Worth an ask OP? If not, perhaps ask the agency if you can add it to your DD?

Exactly, pay her 20 pounds a week, once a month, directly.

Simple.

I agree with the poster who said pay £20 one week and £15 the next. No 50 pence pieces or £1 coins to mess about with. Then you can just use the cash point when you would use it anyway. We do that with our music teacher and they also find that easier. Maybe your cleaner has change. She ought to . I think this would be far less hassel than getting a new person, especially if you like her. What does she think?

I insist on bank transfer, partly because it's easier for me and partly because it's traceable that way and they are more likely to be legitimate. £17.50 is very cheap, I'm wondering if it's not declared?

Avoid the agency. And, I hate to tell you, you are going to have to be mega organised as your DC gets older. MEGA. This will pale into insignificance.

Homework, uniform, playdates, birthday parties, presents for those, cards, school trips and as a previous poster mentioned they always need money for something at school, packed lunches, presents for teachers, fancy dress for halloween...

You need to see this as a way to start organising your life.

Harsh but true, it really is.

If it's below a certain amount a year she doesn"t uave to declare it, does she?

Yes Daisies It used to be 8,000 a billion years ago, I think it is 15,000 now. But no idea.

In Spain it is certainly 20,000 euros a year AFAIK.

£17.50 is the cleaners net income surely. The agency would pay national insurance, tax, pension etc otherwise what's the £40 paying for (a lot for a management fee imo)

It's a bit unfair to say the cleaner is being dishonest - I believe the agency sets the fee as the op has stated if she asks for another cleaner it will cost the same. If you don't want to pay cash then get someone else but they may not be as good.

@WendyCope I'm organised with things I need to be organised for. I never missed an antenatal appt, my sons jabs, family birthdays, important stuff. I've paid for DSDs school things before as DP is away during the week (she still comes though as she now has a brother!) and thankfully they give change.

It's a symptom of severe anxiety that makes me so organised with some things but so disorganised with others.

I can get through a PhD but can't remember to get cash out. It's awful and so hard to explain. I'm amazed I've made it this far through life to be honest!

I can't stand how so many people assume if someone insists on being paid in cash, they must be cheating on taxes.

This cleaner is being paid just over the national minimum wage for 2019. She also has to travel to clients houses for a few hours work, her travelling time is unpaid. This means it makes no economic sense to have to chase people for payment. And if you accept bank transfers, you will spend time chasing people. So cash makes much more sense.

OP I would ask if she would accept a bank transfer if you pay a week in advance? Then she knows she has been paid before doing the work, so no possibility of late payment and having to chase for it.

And if I was her I would assume that anyone too disorganised to get cash every week would also be too disorganised to do a bank transfer on the day the cleaning is done.

I think the agency pay the NI and tax for her I'm just reading the contract now. I guess their way of avoiding tax dodging!

Lots of cleaners do not earn enough to pay tax.

@marymarkle she doesn't know I am disorganised. I always 'pop out' when she is here (which I think is normal anyway when you have a cleaner?) and come back, have a brew with her, then pay her. Or maybe I'm kidding myself and am really transparent

changers I truly sympathise with the anxiety, I have it too (thanks early menopause) but you need to go back to the doctor and sort it out.

Sometimes DD comes home from school and says for eg 'I need a pumpkin for tomorrow' You can't direct debit some things.

It will get much harder than getting a bit of cash out the bank once a month and divvying it up.

I had to get a plumber in last week (hard in itself) and didn't, for one second assume he would take a card. I went and got out cash.

Honestly, you really can get out the cash once a month from the bank.

@WendyCope you're right.

It's awful. I've been trying to sort it for years. Medication, counselling and CBT later and I am still no nether (I'm actually worse!) ugh... awful!

YABVVU and could do with checking your privilege if I'm quite honest. I can't really believe that you're prepared to potentially stop this woman from feeding her kids just because you can't be arsed walking to a cash point. It's your responsibility to pay her in the manner prescribed as she's not at your every beck and call to meet your every wish.

She is probably in debt and doesn't want the money sucked up.

Can you not remember to draw a few days money out every week? Really? That's not hard to remember. Write it down.

Yes, it's horrible, I nearly cry sometimes when DD comes home with unusual requests. 'Oh God, I've got to go out AGAIN' etc.

I just don't think it's unusual for a cleaner to demand cash and, if their good (as in you feel ok with them) I'd just do it.

Good luck

I meal plan, do online shopping at last now, plan to the nth detail but there is always, always something last minute that you have to jump to.

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