Cleaner cancelled

[LuckyNumberThirteen]

I'm so annoyed.

My cleaner is becoming increasingly unreliable. She is supposed to come on a Friday but will often change to a Thursday instead. She never gives me a time, she just turns up whenever in the afternoon.

A few weeks ago she was due to come when I was called to go into school as my son had an accident and they wanted me to pick him up. This was 10 in the morning. While I was out the cleaner turned up and left without contacting me. It was only after I chased to see where she was that she told me she'd tried to come earlier. She has never cleaned on a Friday morning for me, so I hadn't even thought to tell her I wasn't home! She came the next week but left 15 minutes early (which was equals 30 minutes and there are two cleaners), and only mopped a bit of the hallway.

She was due to come today instead of Christmas Day. On Tuesday she changed it to yesterday. Yesterday she changed it back to today. This morning she cancelled.

Would it be unreasonable to let her know I'm not going to use her again, on Christmas Eve?

(If any of this sounds familiar, I commented on a recent thread about her turning up while I was out unexpectedly).

Has she given you an alternative day? If so I'd tell her not to bother and you'll contact her in the NY if you need her services again.

If she hasn't and you want to knock it on the head just be honest. You need a set time and reliability and therefore her services are no longer required.

I'm guessing there is a reason she has become unreliable, if you know her well maybe ask?

That does sound annoying, especially if she hasn't given you a good reason to excuse some temporary unreliability.

If you're going to fire her, I suppose it doesn't make much difference when you tell her, but you could easily wait until after Christmas, if you're worried about the timing seeming unkind.

Not at all unreasonable for you to tell her her service is not good enough so you won’t be using it.

It’s irrelevant that it’s Christmas Eve. It being Christmas Eve didn’t matter to her when she was messing you around and cancelling, so it doesn’t matter if today is when you tell her.

We had a cleaner who chopped and changed with no notice and it got so frustrating we let her go. I wouldn't sack someone on Christmas Eve though - tell her next week before she's due to come again.

There is a difference between someone not coming to clean and someone being fired...

Op, it's nkt ok messing you about like this. I would fire her on Monday or Tuesday. Not today.

Sorry - cleaning! 🤣

I don't know why (especially this year!) but I just love having a clean house for Christmas Day. This is the first year I've been able to afford a cleaner so I made sure I'd finished all the other things so I had today to relax with my son without having to worry about the cleaning.

Downstairs almost done.

Life is too short.
Get a new cleaner

just get rid OP - there's plenty of cleaners out there

Fair enough to have to change from time to time, but I couldn’t have such an unreliable cleaner. I had one who was like that and when he didn’t turn up three times in 4 weeks, I binned him.

There are lots of other cleaners out there so I’d get rid. However, I have only ever found one reliable cleaner and sadly she moved back to Spain.
I really think word of mouth is the best way to find a good one but they tend to be very busy!
The last time I used an agency cleaner I got a call 15 minutes after she’d arrived to say I needed to come back from work and let her in as she’d locked herself out going for a cigarette

Is it bad I wouldn’t think twice about firing her today? I would just say I’ve had a think about it and I need someone more reliable as I hired a cleaner to reduce stress but the last minute cancelling is increasing it. Thank you for everything so far.

Then I would shit myself and block their number

I’d end the contract. Too unreliable!

She let you down today, I'd fire her today

Another vote for get rid.

And when you find a cleaner who is reliable and does a good job, treat them well and hope they stay!

Then I would shit myself and block their number

Made me laugh.

Okay, I'll message today.

How do I word it?

I would give her marching orders she is to unreliable imo.
Look for another cleaner in the New Year try and see if you can find one who is recommended by a friend etc.

She never gives me a time, she just turns up whenever in the afternoon

You have made your own problem here by agreeing to this if it bothers you. If they come in a pair are they from an agency?

If the cleaning was good you simply say "you're a great cleaning team but we need regular slots" and stick to it. If the quality of the work is poor then you need a new cleaner anyway.

The problem cleaners often have is we don't always give them clear requirements and they are not psychic. They may think you are fine with changeable times. Some clients are.

I did message her before saying I need a set time every fortnight and she agreed. But she never gave me one because she kept changing the days.

It's her company and she brings either her sister or a young woman with her. The main cleaner did downstairs and the other did up. The young woman was amazing. She went above and beyond and my house just shone after she's been. I wish I could get her details and pay her directly!

Mine has a key and basically comes anytime on a set day, she texts me if she wants to change day. I'm fine with it (but she doesn't cancel unless she's poorly or cut visits short-term would be a deal breaker)

I would give her the chance to rectify this. Tell her that you are happy with their work, but have a strong preference for a regular slot, and if she can't commit to that, then you will need to make other arrangements

If she can't commit, that's fine

If she commits but messes you around, let her go

But she might come regularly he knows how important it is to you. It's unfair to casually let someone go without giving them a chance to turn it around

“I can manage myself today, but really need someone more reliable in the new year. I’m going to look for someone that’s happy with a more firm arrangement but thank you so much for the work you’ve done for us so far. “

If it isn't working for you (and it sounds as though it isn't and I don't think it would for me either), then just e-mail and say that you're finding it a bit difficult not knowing when/if she's coming so you've decided that you'll try doing the cleaning yourself for now......... you're happy for her to come next week as usual if she'd like but you'll go solo from the New Year.

So your house won’t be clean for Christmas. I’d sack her for this.

How to word it? “After being let down today and not being given a timed slot every week, I think it best if I find another cleaner. I won’t be needing you again, thank you.”

I did message her before saying I need a set time every fortnight and she agreed. But she never gave me one because she kept changing the days.

Then it isn't working and tbh, the best time to fix it is as it happens. You could offer to keep her if the times are fixed and she brings the other woman or you could cut your losses and try someone new.