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?

As someone else said as long as she can change a $20, otherwise it's too hard I would find someone else.

Have you tried talking to her honestly about this?

A someone else suggested she probably wants the cash to make sure that she's being paid, rather than having to check up on people.

If you just explain to her how difficult it is for you, and say that in future you are only able to pay by bank transfer, then maybe she'll allow you to do this rather than losing the job. You could even agree to show her on your phone that you've just done the transfer everytime, that way she knows it's sorted before she leaves.

If she still says no then find a new cleaner. YANBU, the arrangement isn't working for you.

Great username @theonlylivingboyinnewcross

I'm a cleaner. I've only ever insisted on cash payments for one client, and that was because they always forgot to pay me. I got fed up of having to chase them up and the ridiculous excuses the client would dream up (accidentally paid to babysitter or ex sister in law, left cash on the side wasn't it there? etc, etc)

Some of my clients choose cash though, and it is required by my agency that I am able to give change as needed. Agency sets the fees, the amount can be a bit random as agency fee is included and I get a set hourly amount - eg. $73, $99, $151 . I wouldn't dream of rounding up unless a client invited me to keep the change, so I come prepared.

Op, your cleaner should anticipate giving you change imo, if she is going to insist on cash - you definitely shouldn't feel you have to give £20.

Could your DP get the cash out for you?

Don't feel bad about getting another cleaner if the arrangement isn't working for you though. As a cleaner, it's expected that this will happen from time to time and she has the agency to help her fill the gap.

Hmmm. Well I consider myself to be the world's most disorganised person but each week I manage to play the cleaner (£38 for 3 hours here), music teacher #1 £30 and music teacher #2 £25, all on different days of the week. It's not splitting the atom is it?

Ex cleaner here and I preferred being paid cash and I would request it. Bank transfer is a nightmare as you had to wait for ages and remind people to send your wages. I would spend at least an 30 mins a night checking the bank and sending out texts and WhatsApps to clients to remind them to pay me. Fricking nightmare. I would insist on cash. And if you got rid of me for this reason I'd be angry.

Just go cash point each month and get enough for month. I don't see the issue.

Why do so many people not read the full thread.
It's been stated that OP doesn't have a car so it's not a 30 minute round trip.
She's offered to pay monthly, cleaner says no.
She doesn't only pay £17.50 as she pays a fee to an agency!

I'd speak to the agency and see if they have someone else or be straight with your cleaner as to why you can't do cash. If she has pingit you can ping the money immediately and she'll see it there.

She's probably trying to avoid her earnings being eaten by an overdraft. Cheques and bank transfers will be eaten by that, so you need to respect her wishes or find another cleaner.

Set an alarm to remind you to draw out the money, it's not difficult. You can set multiple alarms.

I used to be a cleaner. I needed to be paid in cash from clients as that would be used to pay for petrol in order for me to get to my next job and I needed the actual physical money. If it got paid into my bank my husband would spend it.

In our area cleaners are like gold dust so I was a bit nonplussed that anyone would let a cleaner go.because she wanted cash.
If she is easily replaceable via the agency then make sure you ask for one who doesn't require cash. Otherwise you will have to write yourself notes or set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself about the cash.
I pay my cleaner cash and it is a bit of a pain, but better than no cleaner.

Yanbu. I don't have a cleaner but have switched all other services - window cleaner, milkman etc.- to ones that accept bank transfer. I too have a 3 month old and although our nearest ATM is only half a mile away it's just too much extra faff if I have to go to it regularly.
I hate cash for budgeting - especially on mat pay it's so much easier to keep track of everything as every penny is accounted for when it's online.
I think she's hoping you'll just bung her £20 and for that alone - instead of just telling you her prices have gone up- I'd look elsewhere.

I'm wondering as well if there is financial abuse going on at home. I'd say to her if you bring the £2.50 change i'll give you a £20 otherwise it will be a bank transfer (just a thought do these take longer to clear and she needs the money immediately? if so try paypal).

Ask her to bring £ 2.50 change as you have issues getting the change. If she is awkward she can make the effort to provide change.

Can't your DP get the money out when he's home?

I haven’t rtft but my friend is a self employed cleaner. She has had to chase payment ab awful lot from clients that have said they’d transfer it. It’s often not just once she has to ask and finds it embarrassing.

Also, if someone if overdrawn then their money could get swallowed once it gets transferred so they need cash to buy food or petrol.

Try and work with her if you can,, her circumstances may mean she desperately needs the cash.

That’s a terribly low rate. I’d pay at least £12 per hour.

Not me but a relative providing a similar service used to say she spent more time chasing payments than anything else (and she did her own tax, NI etc). She insisted on cash from certain clients, and she could always make change if necessary.
In the end she gave up and took paid employment, in no small part due to the inconvenience and annoyance of dealing with people seemingly being unwilling to pay for a service they claimed to need and value...

if it really is not having the pounds and 50ps to pay cash, pay her £20 and agree how much extra time she has to stay for that. Take the cash out once a month.
Or don't have a cleaner if it's so much trouble

Have you posted about this before op? I remember someone who also couldn’t get themselves sorted to get cash.

I'd tell her that if she wants cash, she needs to ensure SHE has £2.50 each week for change of £20. Then she has responsibility for the inconvenience.
Or, if you can keep a record on a calendar or by text, overpay the £2.50 for 3 weeks, then pay £10 on the fourth.
In the past I have been both a client (paying cash) and a cleaner (preferring bank transfers).

anyone who is so disorganised they cant get out a lump sum, put in in a box and get it out as required (snowflake much) will not pay on time by bank transfer and will have to be chased.

If you have a good cleaner keep them, they arent that easy to find.

I much prefer to be paid by cash, because I know immediately that I have been paid! When people prefer to pay by bank transfer or Paypal I have to remember to check that they have paid - and chase the small number who forget. This extra admin is tedious and an unnecessary draw on my time.

I did the same with a gardener and felt no guilt about it. I set up standing orders for regular payments and then don't have to worry about rerouting to cash points.

If I'm paying for something then it should be convenient for me, within reason. Paying by bank transfer/standing order is reasonable.

I’d discuss this with her. Eg is she amenable if you set up a standing order? So she knows it’s always in there, you could even pay in advance (either weekly or two weekly).

I don’t pay anyone in cash. I like to have a footprint of any money I pay anyone.

I'd give her £20 not £17.50 to avoid needing change and get out £100 at a time like a PP suggested.