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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
HelloooCanYouHearMe · 26/05/2019 21:01

As a professional domestic housekeeper myself I'm shocked you haven't terminated her services sooner OP. It's people like her who give cleaners a bad name.

I wouldn't dream of ever leaving early, bringing anyone else along to a clean (especially my dc!), using clients products without their permission (occasionally I have left one of my own products at another clients property) or doing anything except the best clean possible in the agreed service time. And if I've been unable to finish something I inform the client, explain why and assure them it will be done on my next visit.

And stealing is just low. Which is what she does each time she charges you for work she hasn't done and when she fills her bottles with your products.

Also, I invoice all my clients on the same day each week so they can pay by b/t, and at a time thats convenient for them. I always keep a small percentage of my earnings back so it builds up. I can then still pay myself the same money on the same day every week even if I get an occasional late payer. I couldn't bring myself to demand cash payment as soon as I finished a job.

Don't ever be guilted by "but I'm just a poor single mother". We all have a troubles in life, and its nice to be nice to one another, but a cleaner is a service provider who needs to fullfill their service agreement or risk losing work. Pleading poverty and taking advantage of good natured people is disgusting. She deserves to lose your custom. This is why I maintain a certain emotional distance with clients and not wander too close into the 'friend zone' as I want my clients to feel they can approach me about the service Im providing without feeling any sort of friendship guilt. My main focus is always providing a satisfactory service.

Shes highly unprofessional and I wouldn't allow her back next week for one last clean. She may take some vengeance.

Good luck with your new cleaner, I hope she has more integrity and honesty than your current one.

Nightnight23 · 27/05/2019 08:20

@hellooocanyouhearme you sound like an amazing cleaner! You’re definitely right re the friends zone. Some good advice thanks.

OP posts:
NorthernRunner · 27/05/2019 08:29

Hey Op
You did the right thing.
We have had similar difficulties, we used a agency to begin with and each week a different person would come. Some would clean to an exceptional standard and would stay for the 3hrs, others would pretty much just Hoover, mop and dust and leave after 90mins. Anyway after putting up with this for far too long we found a lady that works for herself. She is absolutely wonderful. I trust her and she does such a good job every week.
If you happen to live in NE London I will happily give you her details!

hibbledibble · 27/05/2019 08:48

I agree, I wouldn't keep her for the dishonesty alone.

GrandmaSharkdodo · 27/05/2019 09:06

You employ a cleaner based on one of two outcomes, they do the jobs requested in whatever time they can, and you pay for the job as a whole, or you pay an hourly rate and they do what they can in the time paid. If you're paying by the hour she should work the hours paid, even if she is really quick, you are paying for her time.

gingerbiscuits · 27/05/2019 13:02

Oh my God! She's blatantly taking the piss! Get rid of her immediately & don't feel at all guilty about it!! There are much more honest reliable cleaners out there.

Fallingbythedozens · 29/05/2019 00:43

So what happened? Did she show up or reply?

puppylovebaby · 29/05/2019 00:50

Get rid of her. Find someone more reliable or a cleaning company. I have got through so many cleaners as the ones I have had have been really poor. However, I have now found a great local cleaning company who are superb! I pay a lot more but it is so worth it. I value their time and effort so much.

Nat6999 · 29/05/2019 01:07

I'm disabled & will shortly be looking for a cleaner as I'm struggling to manage home myself. What do you all recommend looking for in a good cleaner? I've never employed anyone before, it will only be for about 2 hours a week.

BitOfFun · 29/05/2019 01:12

You'd probably get more replies if you started your own thread, Nat.

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