I have had a cleaner for my business for 3 years now. She needed to leave as was starting a much more lucrative cleaning job with more hours.
I was going to start doing the cleaning myself but there was a month between her wanting to stop and me being able to start. She said she would stay on, and also she desperately needed the extra money. So it was all good.
She then asked me if her mum could do the job instead of her. The mum has just left a terrible coersive controlling relationship where the guy had forced her into prostitution, she had just managed to leave and move away.
I said of course, and it just seemed assumed by both of them that the mum would carry on cleaning, not stop after a month. I was really aware that this was a fresh start for her, I wanted to help and I hate cleaning so decided to let her take the job on permanently, despite the fact I only really needed someone for a month.
After 2 cleans she phoned me saying she needed some money for a deposit on a flat, and could I pay her a month in advance. She said she had nowhere to live and I was worried she would go back to her old life, so I paid her.
2 weeks later she phoned in tears saying she had no money for food and could I advance her 2 weeks money. Again, I thought she might be tempted back if she was skint.
I think you can guess where this is going.
She has called in sick for the last two weeks. I also discovered that when she last cleaned she did around £100 worth of damage, which she knows about but hasn't apologised for.
I feel stupid, but she was so grateful for me giving her the job, and SO grateful when I gave her the money in advance. I trusted her daughter who used to clean for me implicitly. But I know I have been really gullible. I am £600 down which I just can't afford really.
My dad controlled my mum horribly, which I think is why I felt I needed to help her. She has had a terrible time and I'm sure she hasn't set out to fleece me. But the fact still remains that I have lost money! I feel really stupid.