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AIBU?

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Original poster

WIBU to contact client about this.

55 replies

Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 17:47

I am a cleaner. This morning I went into clients house with my cleaning caddy full of its usual stuff. I had £40 a 20 and 2 10's folded inside each other and pushed down the side of one of the products that I don't take out of caddy. The money was there as I checked this morning and was there as I entered the house.

I left the caddy on the kitchen table and proceeded to work in the living room. One of the 2 occupants arrived back and was in the kitchen for about 10 minutes. They then went upstairs.

I took products in and out of caddy throughout the clean.

Caddy was also left on landing floor as I cleaned main bathroom, with door closed. Again occupant was up and down stairs past caddy.

The floors were done last and everywhere was clear. I lifted my payment off the kitchen table, put in the caddy and left. Put caddy straight into boot and drove home.

Ate lunch, went out to check caddy for next clean and only today's payment in it. The other £40 had gone.

What would you do. WIBU to ask if they seen it in house lying around or would that look like I'm accusing them. As I said I do the floors last and everything was clear.

OP posts:
Bluetrews25 · 02/06/2021 18:53

Was it hidden in anything, (envelope?) or was it plainly in view?

Aprilx · 02/06/2021 19:00

@Tootsey11

I don't leave it out. I keep it folded in caddy for change for clients. Often even though people know I'm coming round they never have the right money, so carry a small amount in notes.
I am not sure a twenty and two tenners sounds particularly helpful if you need change for clients. Anyway, I think you can ask so long as you keep it very breezy, but going forward keep money in a more secure place or even better start taking bank payments.
Original poster
Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 19:03

The notes were rolled inside each other and pushed down the side of to boxes of zoflora. I did not use it today, product wasn't removed from caddy. You would have had to look into caddy to actually see it there.

I know I've been stupid, but have always done this for years and never had any issues.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 19:05

To pp, some clients would give me a fifty for a thirty pound clean, hence having the 20. Others hand you 40.

OP posts:
BelleBlueBell · 02/06/2021 19:14

@Tootsey11

The notes were rolled inside each other and pushed down the side of to boxes of zoflora. I did not use it today, product wasn't removed from caddy. You would have had to look into caddy to actually see it there.

I know I've been stupid, but have always done this for years and never had any issues.

Tbh that makes it sound very unlikely that anyone stole the money, why would they randomly be going through your zoflora supplies? How would anyone know it was there?
Original poster
Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 19:30

Not the inside of the boxes, along the outside.

If someone looked at it for say 3 seconds they would see it. But I do not expect the people that I work for to be touching my things.

OP posts:
JustLyra · 02/06/2021 19:36

Just message and say that your float, and be specific about the £20 and 2 x £10, has fallen out your caddy and ask them to have a look while you tear your car apart.

TheLastLotus · 02/06/2021 19:45

YANBU to ask OP (just say that you 'dropped it') but I doubt it was them.
Was the money visible with a cursory glance? Otherwise a cleaning caddy is the last place someone would look.

Also was the other occupant a teenager/young adult?
Parents may have paid cleaners but children still living there may be short of cash...

TheLastLotus · 02/06/2021 19:46

Ah sorry didn't RTFT!
Yes... YANBU to ask.
But do u think they could have taken it?
WIll you still continue working for them if they say no?
If you message one occupant you dont know if the other took it..

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 19:47

Caddy stays in boot. I've stripped it bare. It aint there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 19:49

No, 2 adults. One didn't come out of the office, the other all over the house and same rooms as me.

OP posts:
SnarkyBag · 02/06/2021 19:53

@2bazookas

Tell client " I accidentally dropped £40 cash in your house, could you find out who's keeping it for me please",
That’s a really odd message don’t send that!

Can understand you needing to keep cash but best to find a way you keep it on your person in future or in the car. Alternatively tell all clients that as you’ve had some money go missing you will no longer be able to give change so please have the correct amount or pay by bank transfer

DinoHat · 02/06/2021 19:54

You could have easily dropped it - so just ask.

Whinginadeville · 02/06/2021 19:57

I had something similar and I was very direct I'd say something like. My £40 float (2 tens and a twenty) went missing from my float yesterday. I'm sure you understand its too much money for me to ignore please can you ensure it's returned.
I got my money back anonymously. You've got to 100% sure and it sounds like you are. Mine was a teenager chancing his luck I think but I didn't ask questions just said thankyou. Your client will feel accused however nicely you put it so don't dance around the houses say it straight. If you don't get it I wouldn't sack them as a client.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 19:58

Well, message sent.

OP posts:
GammyLeg · 02/06/2021 20:04

Such patronising replies - including the poster who queried the helpfulness of the amount of change OP carries, like she doesn’t know her own job!

As others have said, there’s a tactful way to ask OP. I hope you get it back and it just fell out rather than anything sinister.

RattlesnakesUnfold · 02/06/2021 20:42

Could it have been dislodged and fallen out between their house and your car? Or they borrowed a few drops of the Zoflora (it’s popular stuff!) and the notes fell out unnoticed?

Why not keep the change in a zip pocket on your clothes or a travel waistband/cross body pack in future? It’s a bit risky wedging it down the side of the caddy!

IntoAir · 02/06/2021 20:52

I know I've been stupid, but have always done this for years and never had any issues

@Tootsey11 I’m really sorry this happened to you.

But I hate it when people are made to feel stupid or foolish for being an ordinary trusting, NON-thieving human being. You are not stupid; whoever took it is a thief.

JustLyra · 02/06/2021 21:04

@Tootsey11

Caddy stays in boot. I've stripped it bare. It aint there.
I mentioned tearing your car apart as it gives someone the opportunity to “find” it without feeling accused.
Original poster
Tootsey11 · 02/06/2021 21:50

Car to house is about 15 feet. Completely open flat grass and a pad to door. The owner came in about 4 minutes after me, walking the same way. This is a dead end on a housing estate so four large houses all in a row. Everything out front of each is flat and clear. No one else came in and out as I was cleaning the windows, except the owner. If I had of dropped it on the way in there is no way they could have missed it. On leaving, I just had got the car started and moved a few feet when owner returned again driving past me. Again if I had of dropped it they couldn't have missed it as they walk the same few feet I did.

I'm ocd diagnosed. My thing is checking and checking and checking. I'm meticulous about how I do things. I've went over and over everything in my head and cannot see where possible it could have been lost.

I haven't received a reply.

OP posts:
JayAlfredPrufrock · 02/06/2021 21:58

Awkward

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 03/06/2021 12:54

So, an update.

Received a reply by the person in the office at home. They have said they didn't see it, but no mention of the other occupant. Short and sweet answer.

I'm going to ask at the neighbours, there was only 2 in, and no one else there except one bin man. I watched him lifting bins when I was doing windows, he didn't pick anything up.

OP posts:
melj1213 · 03/06/2021 13:11

Received a reply by the person in the office at home. They have said they didn't see it, but no mention of the other occupant. Short and sweet answer.

If they've only mentioned themselves and you know the other person was in the house could you ask them to check with them. Just a quick "Thanks for the reply, could you please ask Other Occupier to check they didn't find it either? It's a lot of money for me to lose so I want to cover all bases for finding it."

RattlesnakesUnfold · 03/06/2021 15:22

Why would you ask their neighbours? Sounds like a quick way to lose your job and reputation!

If the owners found it and are honest they’ll return it to you. If he’s kept it or mistaken it as his, he’s not going to return it and even if a neighbour saw him pick it up, what does it prove? He/she could say it was their own money or they were getting a cloth from your caddy.

If a neighbour saw it blowing about and managed to grab it they probably kept it!

I think you need to accept the money is lost, and in future keep it somewhere safe not loose in a cleaning caddy.

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 03/06/2021 15:35

I’d do what melj said.

If the answer is in the negative, you are probably working for both thieves and liars.

I wouldn’t be going back.

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