To be annoyed that she turned me down

[Ihatepeelingoranges2]

So today would have been day 1 of my cleaning business or so I thought , I put an ad up last week and got a reply from a woman. We arranged me for to come round today, when I got there I was excited to get stuck in and finally earn some money, we spoke for a bit and she asked me if I have any references, I said no. She turned me down because of this reason.

I could understand if she didn't like the way I clean, but give me a chance for goodness sake and see if you like it or not. Everyone has to start somewhere right?

Just annoyed that I wasted this day and this whole situation could have been avoided.

Rant over.

She isn't bu to want references, it's not about the standard of cleaning it's about letting a stranger into your home. You could be anyone and seeing as most people have cleaners in their homes when they are out you can see why she would want to know you are genuine.
BUT she should have asked before having you come over, it's easy enough to ask via message/call instead of wasting your time.

Have you registered with HMRC too? I also want insurance, if my cleaner broke anything whilst they were here then I'd expect them to repair or replace.

We have public liability for our dog so I'd expect someone with their own business to have it too. Apologies if you do already.

DBS for a cleaner? Don't be daft.

What's daft about it. I don't want a convicted thief, amongst other things, in my home.

It costs £70. I don't know why any professional cleaner setting themselves up in business woudn't get one?

@WeHaveSnowDrops.... A basic criminal background check should be the bare minimal as far as cleaning staff goes.

Op, a pp has got a good point, do you have insurance? If you break something or ruin something expensive in someone's home (easy done if you use the wrong product) , you will need it.

Getting references and insurance is likely the basic here in starting up a cleaning business.

YABU. It’s not just about how good a cleaner you are; references are very important when it comes to letting someone have access to your home.

Not only that, but a lot of people don’t actually know how to clean properly, so someone just starting up a cleaning business with no references and thus no experiences of being a professional cleaner is a red flag. Professional cleaning isn’t like cleaning your own home.

Not sure what your phone conversation with her was about but I think she should have asked you on the phone. Some people do like to make every single thing a face to face issue.

Secondly, unless your phone conversation was a "Come at so and so date and time and start work (cleaning)", then you were unreasonable and a bit naive to not expect it to be some sort of interview first before the arrangement of your first day of cleaning.

You should have prepared all the papers, etc you may need to show.

But if she had told you to come and clean on that day only to turn around and say no, then she was out of order.

Absolutely no way would I hire you without a reference. It's not just how you clean, it's whether I can trust you in my house when I'm not there - for all I know you'll break my very precious and expensive possessions, steal from me or take the piss and nit work.

so someone just starting up a cleaning business with no references and thus no experiences of being a professional cleaner is a red flag.

A bit risky? Yes.
Red flag? That's a bit much.

People do start somewhere and not everyone likes to work for someone. For most self employed, it only takes one person to give you a chance and you do a good job, there! Your first reference.

But the person shouldn't feel entitled to people giving them a chance. People do have a genuine need to be cautious.

You need some character references at least, OP.

How have you advertised your business op?not as in where,but how you have promoted yourself?have you put experienced cleaner?(other than at home)then potential clients would expect references from previous clients.
Someone working within your home environment is in a position of trust so of course people want some form of reassurance about you,your work ethic and honesty.
It is quite naive to forge ahead without considering this,look at it not from your own point of view but theirs.you know you are honest,hard working,thorough and keen but they do not and it will be difficult for a lot of pro take your word for it.
As pp have advised,get some references,a dbs if financially viable and try again.
Good luck!🌼🌼

I wouldn't have hired you without references, but YANBU as she should have made this clear to you on the telephone, rather than bring it up for the first time in her house.

Hope that you can gather some personal references together - something including the number of years that people have known you, your good character, honesty and integrity should be fine.

Everyone needs to start somewhere! Could you get a reference from any job for now until you get a network of customers? Most employers only do start date and end date references nowadays so they're never too helpful!

The least I'd expect is a character reference but ideally DBS as you have unsupervised access to areas of a house that no other trades person (who would have to have these references) would have access to.
I certainly wouldn't want you going through my house until I knew you were trustworthy.

She should have informed you before you went there that references are essential. NEVER let anyone work in your home without personal recommendations(s) &/or reference(s).

Start with an agency. If you get picked up by a regular then you’re set.
If happens all the time with agency cleaners. Must annoy the agency but I guess they know how the game is played.

DBS may be worth getting to be honest because there's a good client base within elderly people living at home or who possibly have care at home etc. For 13 pounds a year you can sign up to the updating service so you don't need to pay full price. A DBS is only as good as the day it was checked after all so the updating service is bril. You must sign up within a month of obtaining the original I believe.

Its entirely possible she assumed the op would have references, dbs, character reference etc

OP is going into peoples homes, may be on her own. Its standard to have something to prove who you are that you are, as far as can be known, a trustworthy person.

I am really shocked OP would set up a business, research it and advertise and not have that.

Just because you do a good job, doesnt mean that you are trustworthy.

No you need some sort of reference even if it's a good character one. YABU.

Personally I think OP should have made it clear she didnt have any references, as well.

Its entirely normal to have references for someone working for you.

She should have mentioned it on the phone beforehand. Personally I would want references yes.

Not a service I would use but if I had to for illness etc I’d want a DBS, insurance and several references from past customers. Its not just about how you clean.

It costs £70. I don't know why any professional cleaner setting themselves up in business woudn't get one?

Because it's only cleaning not personal care. A cheek to ask someone on minimum wage to fork out for a DBS.

My cleaner of 7+ years doesn't have one. So far so good. Her other clients are happy as well.

I had a cleaning business at one time op. I started with no references but made sure I had dbs check and liability insurance and used my experience as an employed cleaner and supervisor to prove my experience of some kind. It will work out eventually just keep trying

DBS checks are only allowed if you're going to be working with children or vulnerable adults.