Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cleaner has over charged, WWYD

78 replies

MintyMabel · 04/03/2020 17:53

I've had a new cleaner started the last month, doing 3 hours a week.

When she came round before she started, we discussed the number of hours we thought she would need to do the work and we agreed she'd need 3. She said if she ever did less than three hours she would only charge me for the hours done. (I didn't ask this, she said that was how she worked)

The first few times she was here, she did three hours (or two of them did an hour and a half) But this week she turned up alone, and only did two hours. She's charged me for three.

She did all the work to an ok standard, I have no complaints about the clean and normally I'd just pay three hours. It's the fact she initially said she'd only charge for the hours she actually did but obviously isn't sticking to that. I also don't know if she realises the camera doorbell lets me see when she arrived and left.

WWYD? I'm leaning towards just paying because I'm happy with the work and cleaners aren't paid a brilliant wage, but there is a bit of me that says she offered to only charge for the hours but is clearly not being honest about that!

OP posts:
SweetMarmalade · 04/03/2020 17:55

I just query the 3 hours, asking are you sure this is right as you’d got her working for 2 that day?

thistimelastweek · 04/03/2020 18:00

I would pay her the three hours. She achieved the standard required and may have had to work like crazy to do so.

hazell42 · 04/03/2020 18:04

Did you pay more when she worked over 3 hours?
If you did, fair enough.
If you didnt, you are paying for the job, which she has done to your satisfaction, so you should pay her the full 3 hours
You can't have it both ways

Chamomileteaplease · 04/03/2020 18:05

You want to be able to trust her so I would find a way to diplomatically query the hours she has done. Might she have forgotten that she only did 2 that day?

Once you know what she is thinking, you can remind her that she said she only charges for the hours she has done. Which surely is perfectly sensible?

caulkheaded · 04/03/2020 18:07

Was there more she could have done in the extra hour?

Hiddenfigurines · 04/03/2020 18:10

How much of a difference are we talking?
Up to 20 mins I would let go but any more I would queiry it.

Original poster
MintyMabel · 04/03/2020 21:36

Did you pay more when she worked over 3 hours?

This is her fourth week, the other three she did three hours. If any day she needed more to complete the work, yes I’d pay the extra.

She achieved the standard required and may have had to work like crazy to do so.

That has been my attitude with previous cleaners, if they’ve managed it in two hours, fair play to them. Is only because she specifically said she wouldn’t charge for hours she didn’t do that is making me wonder.

Was there more she could have done in the extra hour?

Yes, there is the usual to do list with some “extras if you have time” at the bottom. She usually does at least one of them, this time she did none. Not a problem usually but a bit annoying if I’m paying for an hour she didn’t do.

How much of a difference are we talking?

An hour. Again, not a whole lot of money in the scheme of things, but when you see it as a third of the invoice that makes a difference.

OP posts:
drinkygin · 04/03/2020 21:50

It’s not the money but the principle. It’s essentially stealing- i would worry that she isn’t trustworthy.

thewinkingprawn · 04/03/2020 21:53

Yes I think it does matter. If she can get a clean done in 2 hours then clearly you only need 2 hours per week OR she needs to spend another hour doing it better or cleaning something else. I’d be tempted to let it go this once without saying anything but if it happens again then raise both times.

ThePants999 · 04/03/2020 21:57

There's absolutely no reason to just let it slide without saying anything - it's not at all unreasonable to point out what she previously said. Could be an honest mistake, and she'll fix it. Could be she was trying to pull a fast one, and she'll realise immediately she's not going to get away with that and will stop trying. Could be she's changed her mind, in which case that's not something she can unilaterally impose on you - you need the opportunity to agree or disagree.

SeaGale · 04/03/2020 22:02

She doesn't realise you can track her hours. She's pulling a fast one. Just query it and say that you can see the times of arrival and departure. Hopefully she won't do it again. And the cleaning standard might go up if she suspects you may also have hidden cameras in the house 😂

kiki22 · 04/03/2020 22:15

Yeah that's not ok. If she left 10 mins early ok sometimes it happens your finished with not enough time to start a new task and can't run over but generally there is always something you can find to do.

Original poster
MintyMabel · 04/03/2020 22:18

She doesn't realise you can track her hours. She's pulling a fast one.

This is actually one reason I’m reluctant to say anything as it feels a bit underhand, like I’m spying. The only reason I noticed was that my phone pings when the door opens. I knew the first one was her arriving and ignored it but when it pinged a couple of hours later I was just checking who it was as I’m not sure if she locks the door when she is in, and it was her leaving.

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyMabel · 04/03/2020 22:19

I also (maybe naively) assumed she knew it was a camera doorbell.

OP posts:
ThrreeGoldfinches · 04/03/2020 22:22

I had a similar situation where my cleaner had taken all the money I’d left out for 5 hours cleaning and only worked 3. I also have a ring doorbell. I sent her a message and asked if everything was ok, as I’d seen from my doorbell records that she’d only stayed 3 hours. I wanted to give her a chance to explain (which she did) but also she now knows that I can tell when she comes and goes and it hasn’t been a problem since.

SD1978 · 04/03/2020 22:38

Personally I would pay for the three hours this time- but if it ever happened again would decline to and point out you know that is wasn't three hours on this occasion too.

Pompei36 · 04/03/2020 22:41

You should wait until next time, maybe she’ll do the extra hour , if she doesn’t then you know where you stand

Original poster
MintyMabel · 04/03/2020 22:53

Personally I would pay for the three hours this time- but if it ever happened again would decline to and point out you know that is wasn't three hours on this occasion too.

I think I’m going to go with this option.

OP posts:
DickAmbush · 04/03/2020 23:09

I clean part time for pin money. One client has me contracted for 4 hours per week, but the work usually takes me 3 hours tops. She always pays me the full 4 hours, as she knows I work my arse off to do a good job.

The first time I cleaned for her, she left 4 hours' pay in an envelope for me (she was in hospital). I immediately messaged her to tell her I'd only worked for 3 hours, and to knock the extra hour's pay off of my next wage. She appreciated my honesty and insisted she pay the full 4 hours.

Ultimately it's up to you if you pay your cleaner for the time specified, or the actual time she's worked for, but she should be honest with you. It doesn't sit right with me to blithely take money for time I haven't worked, without querying it with the client.

gamerchick · 04/03/2020 23:13

Nooo don't pay and wait. Ask her if everything is ok as your ring doorbell alerted you to her coming and going and if she needs less time to clean now.

Whyhaveidonethis · 04/03/2020 23:29

I don't pay my cleaner an hourly rate. I pay her a set amount of money each month and for that I get a certain list of jobs done. For example on a Tuesday she will do a quick wipe through of the kitchen and living room and steam the floor. On a Friday she does the stairs, the downstairs, bathrooms and bedrooms.

Some weeks it takes her 15 minutes on a Tuesday and then 2 hours on the Friday. Some weeks she will only be here 1.5 hours all week. I don't care, I agreed x price for x jobs, as long as they get done I don't give a fig how long it takes her.

My cleaner is amazing. I'd rather starve then stop having her!!

DamnYouAutoCarrot · 05/03/2020 00:00

My cleaner is amazing. I'd rather starve then stop having her!!

I'm struggling to recall ever reading something so ridiculous!

OlaEliza · 05/03/2020 00:27

Was there more she could have done in the extra hour?

Yes, there is the usual to do list with some “extras if you have time” at the bottom. She usually does at least one of them, this time she did none. Not a problem usually but a bit annoying if I’m paying for an hour she didn’t do.

So she did in 2hrs what she would normally do in 3? And to a reasonable standard?

She obviously worked extra hard to do that. She might have had an appointment or something to get to. If it was a one off, I'd leave it but if it's a regular occurrence I'd question it.

Tobebythesea · 05/03/2020 05:49

I would pay for the 3 hours this time and see if it happens again. If it does, ask her in person how many hours she did. If she lies explain the Ring doorbell recorded times and rethink. Maybe cut down to 2 hours or get rid.

Tobebythesea · 05/03/2020 05:51

@DamnYouAutoCarrot

Our cleaner is definitely the very last thing we would cut from our bills. Smile.