Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU not to pay the cleaners for this week?

80 replies

Miha17 · 09/02/2019 13:11

We got cleaners coming in every Sat at 12pm. It’s in fact a couple where DH is quite disabled physically and comes with his wife for a bit of exercise and helps her with communication too. She barely speaks any English. So in fact she is doing the cleaning whereas he is helping a little with surfaces and a bit of company. We pay them £15/h which I think it’s a good rate and they do 2 hours. We also pay them a bonus of £30 at Xmas and if we cancel the cleaning (let’s say due to having builders around) we pay them that week too without them having to to any extra for it.

Now, today we asked in the morning if they can come any other day due to having a sick toddler. She’s been very poorly with fever and on strong antibiotics and we had a rough night. We can’t be in the house when they do cleaning as it’s not much space and also we didn’t get a chance to do the pre-tidy up. They texted back saying they can’t do any other day or time, so they’ll come next Sat. My DH thinks we should pay them for this week too as it’s not their fault. I’m very surprised that they didn’t take any alternatives as we very rarely asked them to reschedule, whereas they do it every couples of months and we were always flexible, every single time, despite having a baby (I.e. they’ll text saying they forgot the keys and went back home, can they come next day...or he has some appointment, can they come an hour later etc., usually at the last minute ..etc). AIBU to think that they should not be paid for this week?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 09/02/2019 13:14

You cancelled so you pay

moreismore · 09/02/2019 13:16

I would say you need to pay, but up to you how accommodating you want to be should they try to rearrange with you in future.

Shoxfordian · 09/02/2019 13:18

Yeah you should pay them

FredFlinstoneMadeOfBones · 09/02/2019 13:18

I think you should pay since you cancelled.

Popc0rn · 09/02/2019 13:20

"If we cancel the cleaning (let’s say due to having builders around) we pay them that week too without them having to to any extra for it."

So why is this any different? You've not given them much notice to rearrange for another day if you messaged them this morning and they were due at 12, I think you should pay them as usual.

Original poster
Miha17 · 09/02/2019 13:22

Our relationship is quite casual and we are always very generous with them. I’m just thinking that they don’t allow for any flexibility at all whereas we always always make adjustments for them, it seems a bit unbalanced. This is the first time we try to change the date in over a year and it’s exceptional circumstances. I think it’s unfair. We will perhaps pay them this time but will do the same when they want to reschedule. They’ll have to lose that week’s money.

OP posts:
Original poster
Miha17 · 09/02/2019 13:25

@Popc0rn they always reschedule at the last minute. Sometimes we would be already out and receive a call half an hour later saying they couldn’t come for whatever reason, can they come next day? And we make an effort for the next day with not much trouble. Perhaps next time we should say no and ask them to come next week?

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 09/02/2019 13:27

You don't sound particularly generous, at least not in spirit. And a sick toddler is not an exceptional circumstance.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 09/02/2019 13:28

Your husband is right.

Popc0rn · 09/02/2019 13:28

If you think that you pay them too generously for what they do, and that they are unreliable and totally not flexible, then maybe it's time to start looking for a different cleaner? £60 is a lot to fork out every week if you're not happy with the service you get.

Original poster
Miha17 · 09/02/2019 13:29

@Bombardier25966 a sick toddler who spent half a night in A&e and was suspected of sepsis is not exceptional circumstance? Are you a parent fgs??!!

OP posts:
JustHereForThePooStories · 09/02/2019 13:33

None of the background info is relevant. You’ve cancelled at very short notice so you need to pay them.

MyDcAreMarvel · 09/02/2019 13:33

Popc0rn They pay £30 not£60

Original poster
Miha17 · 09/02/2019 13:38

Thanks everyone. We offered them alternatives for any other day or time, which they didn’t take. That’s fine, will pay them but will do exactly the same when they reschedule, which they do a lot and at the last minute. It’s only fair.

OP posts:
Allyballybeee · 09/02/2019 13:38

@MyDcAreMarvel

They pay 2 people £15 p/h for 2 hours, once a week. So that’s £60.

Springwalk · 09/02/2019 13:38

I wouldn’t pay them. You gave them the option of any other day or time and they declined. You gave them notice too.

If anything you have been over generous (re builders) as long as you have given notice, offered any other date (it is only two hours after all) Then you should not pay. Esp as you are typically reliable.

They don’t offer any flexiability that is hardly your fault. Given it is only two hours it was hardly a huge ask.

Hope your lo feels better soon.

FredFlinstoneMadeOfBones · 09/02/2019 13:40

@Allyballybeee

No I don't think so I think OP pays the pair of them £15 an hour (since the husband doesn't do much). They pay £30 in total.

supersop60 · 09/02/2019 13:42

You cancelled, you pay.
I also totally agree that if they cancel, you don't pay.

Original poster
Miha17 · 09/02/2019 13:42

@Springwalk thank you. We will probably pay them after all but I feel a bit hurt that they just don’t allow any flexibility when we’ve always been so generous and flexible with them. That’s the first time we cancel at the last minute and like I said my little is extremely unwell.

OP posts:
bouncydog · 09/02/2019 13:42

I use a cleaning company. Cancellations by me within x hours means I still have to pay. If the regular cleaner is unable to come it’s up to them to provide somebody else. Perhaps you would be better having a more formal contract so everyone knows where they are?

Jaxhog · 09/02/2019 13:56

You cancel you pay.

Unless you think they're being deliberately difficult, then you have to accept that perhaps they cannot change their arrangements so easily.

AlexaAmbidextra · 09/02/2019 13:56

I agree that you should pay if you cancel but the next time they request flexibility I would say no, it doesn’t suit and ensure they know they won’t be paid. This may well make them decide to come anyway as they don’t want to lose money. If they don’t then presumably your house can withstand not being cleaned for one week or you do it yourself.

Alternatively, you could use a cleaning company. I used to do this and if for any reason my regular cleaner couldn’t come they would send a replacement. This was no more expensive than the £30 you’re paying weekly.

GottenGottenGotten · 09/02/2019 13:59

Yeah, you cancelled at short notice, you pay.

areyoubeingserviced · 09/02/2019 14:01

My dd was sick last week so we ended up cancelling her private tuition at the last minute
We paid the tutor in full
You should definitely pay them. It is possible that they can’t change the day because they have other clients or responsibilities.
It is easier for you to be flexible, because they come to your home to clean

storeandscale · 09/02/2019 14:01

You seem to be taking this very personally as if they are deliberately being inflexible. It may be that they really can't make any other time due to other commitments.