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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off and sack my cleaner

160 replies

Nightnight23 · 23/05/2019 20:55

Another cleaner related thread...

Background so as not to drip feed. Had this cleaner for a year, she is very reliable and competitively (but fairly) priced.
Had some issues as her cleaning is average to poor depending on whether I’m there or not. I try to be a good person to clean for - make regular cups of tea if I’m in, make sure everything is tidied away before etc so she only has to clean, during half terms I give her alterations etc to do from home of an evening as she has a young son and childcare is difficult in hols but that way she doesn’t lose out financially.

Issues are:
She brought her son without pre agreeing it with me, he then took a piece of tech with him, I hadn’t realised it had gone missing but she brought it round the next day laughing about it. I get that he’s a kid (10) but why should I have to worry about things being stolen when I’m employing a cleaner to make my life easier?

I pay her for 2 hours cleaning, I recently got a camera installed on the door. I don’t think she is aware but it’s not a secret as the unit is in the house and she would see it if she ever dusted the window sill (it’s mainly to track deliveries whilst I’m out but it notifies my phone when someone comes or goes as it points to the drive).

I have been out the past 3 weeks. The first week she did 1 hour 15 mins, I didn’t question it as I presumed it was a 1 off and she’d automatically make it up the following week.
The second week I was out she did 1 hour 5 mins, I questioned her and she said she did everything really quickly as she had another job to go on to but she’d make it up next time. Then last week she did an hour and five again. I messaged her at the weekend with a list of jobs to do if she finishes with half an hour or more to spare to make it up to the two hours. She replied that’s fine and she did two hours last week and would keep to two hours going forward. I know it’s a lie as the camera recorded her coming and going after just over an hour.

I genuinely wouldn’t mind if things were cleaned quickly and to a high standard but they’re not. So much basic stuff is missed.

Another issue (god this is so long sorry!) is I bulk buy large quantities of cleaning products as it’s cheaper to do so. I’ve found out she’s been refilling her bottles with my products each week. The price agreed is meant to include all her own cleaning materials. Not only is she using my products for my house (I could tolerate that) but it seems I’m also supplying her other clients cleaning products too as she refills a whole bottle each week.

Aibu to be pissed off with her? I feel she’s taking me for a total mug. We get on so nicely face to face but she clearly thinks I’m an idiot. We are not well off and I have a cleaner because I’m disabled so it is a massive luxury meant to make life easier. Hmm

OP posts:
starryskies4 · 24/05/2019 06:34

Hi op,

Sorry you're having to deal with this.

Pleased you've talken the decision to get rid. I really wouldn't give her another chance. Especially if she knows it's her last one, she'll probably do even less.

Good luck in your search to find a proper cleaner.

AnalyseThis · 24/05/2019 07:10

Yanbu. She sounds very unprofessional, to say the least.

There's cleaners out there who offer a professional and reliable service. Hope you find a better one next time.

writerperson · 24/05/2019 07:37

Our last cleaner was similarly sloppy with timings, one of us was always home, but they'd show up later and later each week, sometimes not turn up at all, then when they were here they'd do 1 hour and a bit instead of 2 and do a rush job that wasn't very thorough. Before them we had a woman who also rushed the clean, finished early and didn't do a great job.

We now have a new person who so far seems very reliable and does a very thorough clean. Good luck with your next cleaner OP.

rookiemere · 24/05/2019 08:01

We had a cleaner who was great for a number of years but then it was clear that time at the house was declining. Bought a robohoover for the vacuuming and with a couple of hours concerted effort per week can keep the place reasonably ok. Do miss the walking in to a newly cleaned house though.

Shoxfordian · 24/05/2019 08:06

Hope your new cleaner works out

If not then you could try using an agency, you can address any issues with the agency and not the cleaner if it makes you feel awkward

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 24/05/2019 08:11

Shes in a position if trust abd is treating you in a shit way...

Id text her.
Let her be in no doubt why....I loathe people like this as it gives everyone a bad name....

Dear Cheeky Fucker.
Ive decides to permanently cancel our arrangement so please don't come on Monday /whenever . I'm unhappy with your general standard if work.
Moreso by misleading me over the time worked. At oewst three tomes i know youve left only ab hour ibto the 2 hours i lay you for.This is fraud.
Also bringing your 10 year old child that takes things from my house.
And...I know that you have been refilling YOUR cleaning supplies .that we agreed you would bring as part of your fee,from my cupboards...not to clean my house but presumably for your other customers. This is theft.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 24/05/2019 08:20

I think you have more than enough evidence. ...
Most people would sack purely for the leaving halfway through the time you pay for.

We've employed cleaners ...both when I was growing up and more recently. ...most have been fab. Luckily my mum would give people a three week paid trial.
One stayed for 20 years. ...it always looked like a show home when she had left.

LIZS · 24/05/2019 08:22

Those are just the things you are aware of. She's effectively stealing from you - paid time, cleaning products, odd items. Would you as easily tolerate her putting her hand in your purse?

gotosleepalready · 24/05/2019 08:30

@malificent7 can only assume you also take the piss off your employer. Do you also leave 45 mins early and refill your cleaning products from their personal stash? If so, you're a thief.

fedup21 · 24/05/2019 08:35

I wouldn’t wait until she comes round next week to tell her, I’d tell her now by phone or text that you’ve made the decision.

BarnabasTheMaineCoon · 24/05/2019 08:36

Get a spine! Just text her and sack her now, no next week BS. 'This arrangement is no longer possible for me and I no longer require your services. Wish you the best of luck in the future. xOP' The end.

Skittlesandbeer · 24/05/2019 08:40

Please tell your old cleaner very clearly the exact reasons why she’s fired. Do it for all the future clients who trust her innocently and get defrauded. Who knows? You could be saving a Mumsnetter?!

She needs to know that slipping standards, and slipping morals, will be noticed and dealt with.

Amazing how quickly people can convince themselves that their ‘little’ fraud (or theft, or trickery) doesn’t matter. And then they double-down on it. Don’t waste your sympathy on her. Her kid(s) maybe, who lose out on the income and have a thief for a mum. But they’ve got bigger problems than you can solve.

thecatsthecats · 24/05/2019 08:46

So many individual reasons to get rid.

For what it's worth, my cleaner takes about 1h45 to do her '2h' job. She's become more efficient over time, and I give her extra little deep cleans to do each week (as I suspect she'd be done in 1h30 otherwise), but I'm happy for her to take that time as a tip so she can get the other jobs in our area done sooner the same day.

But she leaves the place brilliantly clean, and usually does a couple of extra jobs I wouldn't have thought to ask for, she's honest, and she even gets us presents every so often.

thecatsthecats · 24/05/2019 08:51

Oh, and my cleaner actually forgets some of her cleaning kit half the time she visits, so it's us who end up with the extras there!

Having said that, there's zero risk of DH and I using the stuff... Grin It just goes in the box and she picks it up later.

Adversecamber22 · 24/05/2019 08:56

So she has had access to a key and has shown she is very dishonest. I would definitely be changing the locks, you can do it yourself cheaply. I had a fabulous cleaner for six years and I haven’t replaced her as of yet and horror stories like yours put me off. My mates cleaner charges £14ph apparently she is crap but my mate is a softie like you. I think my mate has an element of guilt as she is very well off and her cleaner is also a single Mum.

YesimstillwatchingNetflix · 24/05/2019 08:57

Absolutely sack her, none of that behaviour is ok.

She should be making your life easier, not making you worry.

vintanner · 24/05/2019 08:59

You need to let this person go ASAP but make sure you get your key back and they leave immediately, she has been thieving from you and you should report it, even if you don't take it any further.

Skittlesss · 24/05/2019 09:03

Sack her off!

Ignore the two posters above who are attempting to gaslight you with their comments about your cctv. Hmm

I would have been very wary when she brought back the tech item her son took. At ten years old I would be thinking that that’s not a mistake.

PonderingPanda · 24/05/2019 09:06

I personally wouldn't tell your new cleaner how you found out about the last one not doing her full hours. The new one doesn't need to know and for your own peace of mind you will want to check that they are fulfilling their contract too

crispysausagerolls · 24/05/2019 09:11

The thing about her son wouldn’t bother me in the same way everyone else is bothered by it because it’s her son who stole it, not the cleaner, and she brought it back!

But working 1 hour instead of 2 and lying to you about it?!? Fuck.that.shit.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 24/05/2019 09:11

Here’s your text:

“Hi, XXX

I’m cancelling this weeks clean and bringing our arrangement to a close.

The reason for this is that I know you’re not doing the time I’m paying you for and that alone means I can’t rely on you, it’s a shame but you’ve left me no choice.

Take care

NightNight

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 24/05/2019 09:27

Why do you even need to question this? She's taking liberties, not doing her job properly and her son is taking stuff from your house. Game over.

Outanabout · 24/05/2019 09:34

There's a reason why firms don't allow some people to work out their notice, and instead have them escorted off the premises immediately. It removes the opportunity for malicious action.

You're a softy, you shouldn't put yourself in the position where you'll have to deal with confrontation, you won't be able for it, I suspect. Sack her by text, you don't owe her anything, she's taken advantage of you. What will you do if she turns on the waterworks and swears to do better? That's what she'll do if you sack her in person.

VanGoghsDog · 24/05/2019 09:37

My last one was like this, I once came home a bit earlier than she expected and she was sitting in the living room drinking a bottle of my beer (I had told her to help herself to anything, but everyone knows that means tea and coffee, and I showed her where they, and the squash, are. It also doesn't mean 'feel free to do fuck all'), she also brought her dc one time without asking and told me later 'all my kids have to work for their pocket money' - er, not in my house they don't. She once asked if she could bring her husband and clean in half the time, I said no as I don't want a random man in my house.

But I actually got rid of her for keeping changing her days, it drove me insane trying to keep up with when she was going to come. And she acted like she was doing me favour rather than me paying her £15ph. She would always mither me for her money (which she wanted paid by Paypal) within minutes of her finishing. I always pay promptly but I don't appreciate being nagged. Though all the annoyances added up, she was only with me about three months altogether.

The new one is £12ph and far, far better.

itsnotallbbqsandshrimp · 24/05/2019 10:08

@VanGoghsDog she sounds shit, except for your last point about asking for her money within minutes of finishing. She had every right to be paid straight away.