WWYD cleaner lying about time spent cleaning

[sleepingflower]

We have had the same cleaner for about 5 years now. She's really nice we get on well and in the last few years she's also started cleaning for a couple of other family members. DH and I are usually at work when she comes but sometimes we are working from home when she comes.

We leave a notebook in the hall and she writes in the book how long she's spent that day (and whether she needs any more cleaning products) and I leave the appropriate amount of cash based on her hourly rate for her to collect the next week.

I left the house at just gone 8am and DH (who wasn't at work today) came home just after 11am. The cleaner wasn't there but it was obvious she had been. The notebook says she's spent 3 hours cleaning which given our comings and going's doesn't seem to be possible. Out of curiosity he checked our CCTV cameras - they show she arrived at 8.40 and left just before 11am, so 2 hours 20 mins. It's not a huge difference but I'm really disappointed she hasn't been honest.

How would you handle this?

Is this the first time in 5 years she's done less than 3 hours?

Yes she's done less than 3 hours before and has just written that time in the book and been paid accordingly. Thanks for all the opinions lots to consider!

I would let it go this time to be honest!

I’ve had two cleaners with really different approaches to this. The first one did exact hours to the dot. So, she’d find something to do if she hadn’t filled the time. However, she sometimes was a bit slow in hindsight. My second one speeds around like a rocket and often doesn’t do the full hours I’m paying for but the house looks amazing. One was a pure cleaner, the other a tidier. I’m happy enough to pay for the job as long as my house looks nice it is money well spent but I found it quite an adjustment for the 2nd lady’s approach after the first one.