To expect to be paid on the same day every week?

[Marymarg]

I started cleaning at a restaurant about six months ago, all good. I'd put an invoice In on the Sunday then they'd pay me.
Five weeks ago they asked if they could pay me cash as the bank were charging a lot for transferring money, I said no problem.

I clean Tue through to sun.

The first week I got the money on the Tuesday, second week on the wed, but only because I had to get them out of bed because of a problem (they unlock doors early then go back to bed) otherwise who knows. Third week I had to ask on the Wednesday as she was going out without mentioning it, she paid me.
Last week I asked her on the Tuesday as again she was going out without mentioning it. This morning I missed her, she'd gone out before I realised. Tomorrow I won't see them as I go very early. I'm getting a bit pissed off at having to ask for the money every week.

Last week I did say to her that I'd appreciate been paid on the same day each week as I have direct debits to cover, then this morning she buggers off without a word!

I could afford to give up as I don't think this is going to get any better, but then if I say I'm giving up I have no way of getting the money if they get funny, they are a very strange couple, even rude to some of their customers.

What to do? I don't think I'm been unreasonable am I? I hate asking for money! so hate been in the position where I have to. I'm self employed and my private clients always pay me on time.

This is new to me and I don't quite know what to do/say. Apart from what I said last week (which she clearly has taken no notice off)

If you’re not going to see her can you call or message her and say you’re going to have to go back to bank transfers as it’s clearly not working for either of you because you’re not getting paid on time. You could look at adding a late payment charge to your invoice but if I were you I’d probably just drop them and look for another job in that time slot.

Maybe if you threaten to drop them and tell them why they might get their fingers out of their asses and get their act together. Good cleaners are hard to come by. It may be worth a shot.

You need to make that little part of you that hates being assertive rock hard OP. It's shit when people don't pay you! How many people ask to pay their window cleaner or bin cleaner next time? Just a small amount of money to those who need to pay it but it's these people's living and it mounts up.

Tell her in person that payment needs to be on X date and if she doesn't pay on that next date tell her you'll be unavailable until this week's money has been transferred or paypaled over. Then after that she knows the score, you won't have to say anything. You just don't go into work.

Or bin her off. Shit payers are not worth the aggro.

I'm going to see what happens this week then get rid if no mention. She's always complaining they can't keep staff too, I'm not bloody surprised!

Thanks all.