Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you cancel this client?

91 replies

Tootsey11 · 04/10/2020 10:35

Client J, I clean for once a fortnight for 2 hours. Been there about 1.5 years. Client is always in, along with one other occupant. Their house is very clean, in fact I really don't have much to do at all, but I have been told to clean already clean areas, so just follow instructions.

Client can be quite moody and difficult. On one occasion, I was cleaning a display cabinet down, taking things off shelves, dusting etc. Client walked into room, sat down at table with their back to me. As I was working they said without turning round "Don't do that". I put everything back on and went into a different room to work.

Client knows of my health issues as we sometimes would chat for a few minutes at the end of a clean. I also know of some of theirs. Both occupants made it clear a while back that they did not care if they caught CV, they weren't bothered.

A few weeks back, I went to clean as normal. Went in and called 'morning'. From their reply I could tell that they did not sound well. I asked were they sick? They replied yes, I've got this terrible cough, they could barely speak for being short of breath, said they were exhausted and felt terrible. But it's not 'the covid'. I asked did they get tested? No. They said I could stay in one room and clean it or leave. They then said 'I can't really be bothered looking at you today'.

I told them I felt it was best I left and please let me know if someone in the house is not well before I drive round.

I was really annoyed after I left that they had that little thought for my health, knowing my issues and wasted my time driving round, a 20 mile trip for nothing.

So, would AIBU to cancel. I'm not short of work, in fact there isn't enough hours in the day ATM to fit everyone in.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 04/10/2020 10:37

I'd have cancelled them long ago as they seem incapable of showing you basic courtesy.

TheFuckingDogs · 04/10/2020 10:38

Bloody hell they sound awful - sack ‘em off it’s one of the pros of self employment!

DDiva · 04/10/2020 10:39

If you dont need the work I'd cancel.

arewethereyetmum78 · 04/10/2020 10:39

I would cancel them as they sound rude and don't seem to respect you.

User36258 · 04/10/2020 10:40

I would definitely cancel - there is no excuse for them being so rude and dismissive to you, and it’s totally inexcusable for them to put your health at risk!

Shizzlestix · 04/10/2020 10:41

Cancel. The person sounds like an absolute tosser.

TheLastStarfighter · 04/10/2020 10:42

Get rid of them! They sound horrendous. You are worth so much more than that, and hopefully your other clients appreciate you.

Is there any risk? Might they badmouth you and cause issues?

SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel · 04/10/2020 10:43

How rude?! Yeah cancel them, both for their rudeness and their stupidity re covid.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 04/10/2020 10:43

I suppose in my head I'm always nervous about sacking someone with the way things are at the moment. A job is a job, and there is only me earning in my house, just me and teenager at home. I've turned down about 10 new houses in the last few weeks, then I wonder why I am keeping a client like this one.

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 04/10/2020 10:43

I think you’ve answered your own question. A 30 second phone call would have been all that was needed to cancel. If they haven’t apologised to you by now, I wouldn’t bother going back.

PleasantVille · 04/10/2020 10:44

You don't need to ask, you're your own boss why on earth would you keep a client like that when you say you have too much work alreadyConfused

Mellonsprite · 04/10/2020 10:44

Cancel without a second thought.

funnylittlefloozie · 04/10/2020 10:46

If you needed the work, i'd say, suck it up and stay. As it is, just tell them you wont be cleaning for them any more. You dont have to show any more than the most basic of courtesy to such awful people.

Burnthurst187 · 04/10/2020 10:46

I would have ditched them after the first few times of going 1:5 years ago. They sound vile and they have absolutely no respect for you

ILovesPeanuts · 04/10/2020 10:50

Good grief! How ruuuuuuude! "I can't be bothered to look at you today". Who DO they think they are? We are many years beyond slavery and treating people who work like a sub-species.
How lovely if you could say "and I can't be bothered to work for such unpleasant people" but I can tell you're nice and questioning their behaviour to you. Answer: it's totally unacceptable.
Make sure you get paid for the last time you're due and tell them you will not be back. Up to you if you tell them the 2 reasons.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 04/10/2020 10:50

@PleasantVille, I consider myself loyal to my clients. I work hard and I have built myself a good name. I thought I was being over dramatic and over thinking instead of just letting the comments bounce off me and getting on with the job. But it was letting me walk in while they were clearly unwell, that pissed me off. Why would anyone do that to someone else. They don't give a fuck about me, and I've never let them down.

OP posts:
ColleagueFromMars · 04/10/2020 10:53

Cancel. They're not only rude but a liability.

FrolickingLemon · 04/10/2020 10:57

Gosh I'm really angry on your behalf here.
Yes. Ring them and say you won't be able to continue cleaning for them so won't be back. Off they fuck. You don't need to put up with being spoken to like that. They would have been put in their place long before now by me as my tolerance is low with downright nasty people. Take one of the other jobs that you were asked to do and don't look back.

AmandaHoldensLips · 04/10/2020 11:00

How rude. Sack them off.

I adore my cleaners - they are fantastic hard working self employed women and I respect them very much. I pay them whether or not they come - sick pay, lockdown pay, etc and we have a rule with each other about anyone not feeling well.

Some people are just c**ts.

I'm sure somebody else would be glad to take up those 2 hours and be a much better client.

MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 04/10/2020 11:00

Get a new job lined up first before you cancel! Ring some of those people back and get a firm booking for the best one.

Then cancel. A no brainer.

Merryoldgoat · 04/10/2020 11:01

Absolutely cancel them. They sound like arseholes.

BrigitsBigKnickers · 04/10/2020 11:02

Cancel- good cleaners are like gold dust- if you have had to recently turn down 10 houses then you must have a good reputation.

Let them abuse someone else. Life's too short to give rude people like this a minute's head space.

ColumbiaAGroupie · 04/10/2020 11:07

100% cancel. They are not only rude but selfish ~ you don't deserve to be treated that way.

PinkiOcelot · 04/10/2020 11:09

I can’t be bothered to look at you either?! Who the fuck do they think they are?!
I just wouldn’t bother going back and block their number. You do a 20 mile round trip to be treated like a second class citizens?! Fuck that!

AngryPrincess · 04/10/2020 11:10

Even if it wasn’t covid, (dubious), no-one wants to catch their horrible cough. Rude. Yeah,dump them.