Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

DryHeave · 05/03/2020 06:15

I’d approach it from - it’s been a month, shall we review if the hours are working?

MinnieMountain · 05/03/2020 06:23

Ask about it.

Our cleaner charges the same per clean, even if it takes less than 2.5 hours or longer. That's what she told us and we're fine with it. Yours should stick to what she told you.

Peapod29 · 05/03/2020 06:46

I think you need to let her know it’s a camera doorbell. She won’t do it again. It does feel sneaky, like you are trying to catch her out and I wouldn’t like that. She has also been a bit cheeky. Whether that’s a sackable offence only you can decide. Personally if I was happy with the work I’d probably keep her. It sounds like she has done 3 hours worth of work in 2 because she was working super fast.

Wowwe · 05/03/2020 07:02

I wouldn’t say anything now. But if she ever Went over the 3 hours in the future and tried to charge for over 3 hours, I’d say ‘oh I thought I always just paid you for 3 hours because sometimes you’ve only done 2 and You have still charged for 3’
or something like that.

BoucleEponine · 05/03/2020 07:14

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

I know- it's a MN thing, acknowledging what a little treasure their cleaner is. Like this one:

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

Yes, get the electricity cut off and taken to court for non payment of council tax rather than clean your own bog!

OP - you need to be able to trust someone you're giving unsupervised access to your home to. She didn't do the list of extras but is charging you for them.

daisychain01 · 05/03/2020 07:33

But this week she turned up alone, and only did two hours. She's charged me for three.

You needed to take this up with her soon after it happen so it's clear what happened.

Are you there in the house when she cleans or do you have to be out at work? It's easier to deal with stuff like time keeping and cleaning quality if you're there, but it isn't always possible depending on one's job. I always have my cleaner over on a Friday as I know I can wfh that day.

I'd have a review and find out if she thinks there's enough to keep her busy for the full 3 hours.

fwiw I will never again allow a cleaner to "bring a friend " - it never works as well as one person ime - I once had a cleaner who then took it upon herself to bring two friends and it was impossible to keep track, plus I didn't want random people I didn't know in my house. I've had the same cleaner for 3 years and she's fab, I can trust her to do a full 3 hours, and she takes initiative to clean whatever needs doing without me asking.

Sushiroller · 05/03/2020 07:37

I'd give her the benefit of doubt and assume 2 hours like mad.

If its a pattern you need to address it but if you are happy with standard then I would be inclined to leave it

Whyhaveidonethis · 05/03/2020 07:40

@DamnYouAutoCarrot some people just don't get humour do you? 🙄 Do you always take everything so literally?

Youngatheart00 · 05/03/2020 07:44

We have this problem and it has been going on for a while but I don’t have the guts to bring it up with her. Worse still, we pay for 4 hours and some weeks I’m sure she barely does 2. What’s more, she hates cleaning with someone else in the house. I’m not working at the moment for health reasons but if I’m in when she turns up she asks if she can come back another day.

Job is not always done to a great standard - it’s like she has a set routine that she speeds around but the same things are missed every week and some parts of the bathroom are downright grimy because of it. Of course, I could do it myself but I’ll confess to having left it on the basis “she’s got to notice it this week, surely” and no. Problem is I just hate confrontation and also there’s a huge amount of trust giving someone keys to your home and I don’t want to piss her off.

What happened to the OP could be a one off - perhaps she had a medical appt to go to that day - or could be the start of a pattern. At least you have the Ring doorbell - that’s an excellent way of providing ‘impartial’ evidence (whilst I’d just feel like I was accusing). Monitor the next couple of weeks and take from there. Let us know!

PineappleDanish · 05/03/2020 07:45

But if she;s a lazy worker then she's an untrustworthy, lazy worker. If she knows that you have a doorbell which tells you when she arrives and leaves, she'll just stay for her allotted time but do no more work - either by being very slow, or doing two hours and then sitting on her phone for an hour playing Candy Crush.

I'd start looking around for another cleaner.

NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite · 05/03/2020 07:54

Personally, I wouldn't want her as my cleaner because she is dishonest and I wouldn't leave her unattended in my home.

I would look for another cleaner.

Noconceptofnormal · 05/03/2020 08:02

I think as it is only her fourth time you need to bring it up with her. I think I'd position it as a clerical error on her behalf rather than dishonesty (ie I think you made a mistake this week) and make a joke about your phone pinging.

She then knows you've got the app and won't do it again.

My cleaner has done this before every now and then, done two hours when I pay her for three, when she's got an appointment, but I've had her for three years and like her so I let it go. But I wouldnt be happy if it was only the fourth time.

SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo · 05/03/2020 08:09

I'd let it go this time, but make sure you drop into conversation soon that you have a camera doorbell. She may well realise you caught her out last time and I very much doubt she'll do it again.

pilates · 05/03/2020 08:17

Hmm I’m just imagining my boss’s face if I nipped off an hour early 🤔

bizmum1 · 05/03/2020 08:50

Ha, this very thing happened to me too. I just paid the cleaner for two hours and when she queried it, I said 'Oh, dm was here and said you just did two hours. Is that not right?' She then tried to make out she'd done three hours so I told her I'd check on our CCTV. I then sent her screen grabs of her arriving and leaving. She apologised and said she didn't realise. It's never happened again :)

DamnYouAutoCarrot · 05/03/2020 09:38

@Whyhaveidonethis there's humour, then there's pure stupidity. There are actual people starving in this world, but you carry on with your first world problems.

@BoucleEponine I'm glad it's not just me. The cleaner would be the first thing to go!!

Whyhaveidonethis · 05/03/2020 09:51

@DamnYouAutoCarrot I sincerely hope you are donating all your spare cash to feed the starving. 🙄🙄 Not exactly sure why you think I have a problem, first world or otherwise. I just have a messy house and 2 jobs so employ a cleaner that I highly value.... Nothing to see here. On your way

Waterandlemonjuice · 05/03/2020 09:54

Haven’t rtft but she’s taking the piss. Ask her.

Waterandlemonjuice · 05/03/2020 09:55

@Youngatheart00 yours definitely needs sacking!

Youngatheart00 · 05/03/2020 10:06

Yeah @waterandlemonjuice I just need to (wo)man the f*ck up and do it!

Dustarr73 · 05/03/2020 10:15

You need to mention it to her.It will get harder the longer you allow it to go on for.

BoucleEponine · 05/03/2020 10:19

I think some people have a problem confronting their cleaner because they feel uncomfortable having someone doing what they regard as menial tasks for them in their home. Hence the gushing my cleaner is amazing I couldn't live without her posts that always crop up.on MN.

I wouldn't trust the OP's cleaner in my home now.

tenlittlecygnets · 05/03/2020 10:27

It's only the fourth time she has been to clean for you and already she's taking the piss??

I'd sack her, tell her why, and get a new cleaner.

JustInCaseCakeHappens · 05/03/2020 10:27

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

but that's why I love MN!

Winter2020 · 05/03/2020 10:31

You can see when she comes and goes but unless you have cameras in your home you can’t see what she is up to when she is there - so she could stay three hours but spend an hour on her phone or snooping through your drawers which would be pointless/creepy.

Why not focus on if you were happy with the work for the price. After doing your home in two hours (perhaps because of other commitments) she may have been an exhausted sweaty mess. If you make her stay 3 hours she will just potter about - no benefit to you.

I would just leave it unless you are unhappy with her work for the price and if you are then tell her that you are unhappy or look for another cleaner.

Flip

1 2 3 4