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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do I pay our lovely cleaner?

137 replies

Alwaysfullofquestions · 13/12/2021 09:46

We’re hiring a woman to clean once a week because work is getting busier and busier and i also have a chronic illness which causes fatigue so I struggle to keep on top of it.

My only question is how do I pay her? She wants to be paid in cash but I want to make sure I’m doing it correctly, should I be paying by BACs? Or does it not matter? Anyone I’ve hired before for things like gardening or rubbish removal has been online banking.

Just want to make sure I’m doing it right and sorry if this seems like a stupid question!

OP posts:
maddening · 13/12/2021 10:57

Customers saying "oh I will transfer the cash later etc and then having to keep an eye out for multiple transfers would be a pita.

thisplaceisweird · 13/12/2021 10:58

Just pay her in cash, on the day.

Amberflames · 13/12/2021 11:00

@Triffid1

No, it is her responsibility to pay her tax, not yours as she is self employed.
Not true. You are knowingly enabling tax evasion.
AnnaSW1 · 13/12/2021 11:02

I wouldn't care about the tax thing. But I wouldn't pay cash. I don't go to cashpoints or use cash at all any more so that would annoy me as an extra thing to have to do rather than just paying her via my online banking app on my phone.

Offmyfence · 13/12/2021 11:02

@logsonlogsoff

‘ What the fuck?? You think people who claim benefits can’t work too?’

Jesus, take a chill pill! I meant benefits not entitled to… maybe you don’t know people who say their not working, claim for everything then do cash in hand work but I do.

Well then you report them! Don't decide that someone who you don't know is living by the same low standards as the people you know. I presume that you know these people well to be able to comment on their benefit claims and income.
Proudboomer · 13/12/2021 11:02

Funny how it is always the cleaners who get called tax dodgers for wanting cash payments.
I have never seen a thread about a gardener, window cleaner or private tutor being questioned over a cash payment.
I have had all three and paid cash so it can’t be that unusual.

logsonlogsoff · 13/12/2021 11:04

‘ I wouldn't usually correct you but you're benefit bashing a cleaner just because she wants to be paid cash, which is completely legal ’

Typo love, it happens,
Even to educators. I’m not bashing the cleaner - I said she SHOULD pay her cleaner cash if she wants to be paid in cash. I pay my cleaner in cash.
I’ve been a cleaner and paid in cash.
And if OP isn’t happy for whatever reason then she should find another cleaner.

AltitudeCheck · 13/12/2021 11:04

@MsAgnesDiPesto
🤣🤣

Amberflames · 13/12/2021 11:06

@Proudboomer

Funny how it is always the cleaners who get called tax dodgers for wanting cash payments. I have never seen a thread about a gardener, window cleaner or private tutor being questioned over a cash payment. I have had all three and paid cash so it can’t be that unusual.
Even our window cleaner has a card reader now.
logsonlogsoff · 13/12/2021 11:06

‘ I have never seen a thread about a gardener, window cleaner or private tutor being questioned over a cash payment.’

Actually I make the assumption that anyone wanting cash in hand may be doing some creative accounting. ESP since the last guy to ask for cash offered to knock 20% off the over all bill for cash rather than BACs ( mechanic)
I’m not sure our window cleaner pays his tax, but he’s self employed so it’s up to him to keep it legit.

Offmyfence · 13/12/2021 11:08

@Proudboomer

Funny how it is always the cleaners who get called tax dodgers for wanting cash payments. I have never seen a thread about a gardener, window cleaner or private tutor being questioned over a cash payment. I have had all three and paid cash so it can’t be that unusual.
Exactly and how many people who don't want to pay the cleaner tax in case she is going to tax evade, yet the likes of Caffe Nero and they'll gladly hand over a fiver there!

Ridiculous!

Also a cleaner earning £15 per hour, working 48 weeks of the year, would need to do c. 4 hours per day for five days of a week to even need to pay tax. That's without expenses. Most I am sure do not get paid when of sick or on holiday.

Some will do more than that, but a lot wont.

All the hand wringers are judging the wrong people.

JustLikea · 13/12/2021 11:08

Maybe she has a shared bank account and a
controlling partner who knows just pay the woman and stop moaning

thickthighs73 · 13/12/2021 11:08

@logsonlogsoff

Unless she’s claiming benefits too - in which case report her.
Are you for fucking real Angry
MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 13/12/2021 11:08

Not true. You are knowingly enabling tax evasion.

Unless the cleaner says “I’m not declaring this” how is the client knowingly enabling it?

Proudboomer · 13/12/2021 11:09

My window cleaner accepts cash or bank transfer. I pay in cash as I tend to be home when he comes and it is easy enough to just hand over a £20 note. If I miss him he puts a note through the door with his bank details so I can do a transfer.

shouldistop · 13/12/2021 11:09

She's asked for cash so pay her cash?

Capricopia · 13/12/2021 11:09

Just because she wants paid in cash doesn’t automatically mean she’s tax dodging!

Either way OP - you won’t get in trouble for paying cash, it’s not your job to worry about her tax. Do whatever is convenient and mutually agreeable.

Offmyfence · 13/12/2021 11:10

Not true. You are knowingly enabling tax evasion.

Biscuit
logsonlogsoff · 13/12/2021 11:10

‘ Well then you report them! Don't decide that someone who you don't know is living by the same low standards as the people you know.’

I didn’t! FFS. I said pay the cleaner in cash, up to her to sort taxes. But OP has some issue with it, and personally I don’t really care if someone on low wages doesn’t declare everything but coming from an estate I knew a lot of people doing the ‘double’ and that does get on my tits.
But I’m not for one second saying that this cleaner is dodgy in some way.

MLMshouldbeillegal · 13/12/2021 11:10

@Proudboomer

Funny how it is always the cleaners who get called tax dodgers for wanting cash payments. I have never seen a thread about a gardener, window cleaner or private tutor being questioned over a cash payment. I have had all three and paid cash so it can’t be that unusual.
Yup, my window cleaner only takes cash. When DD had a maths tutor we paid him cash too. Pre-pandemic, I paid cash for dancing lessons too. And singing lessons.
WeLovePeaSoup · 13/12/2021 11:13

I mean seriously why people always assume cash means tax dodging?! I get paid cash lots of times and I do pay tax on till the penny.
Maybe she wants you to pay her cash because she only just starts to work for you and she doesn’t know you? Or perhaps like others said she might had problems with other clients of hers who didn’t pay? Or could be any other reason.
Just pay her cash if she’s a good cleaner. Good luck

Proudboomer · 13/12/2021 11:15

I pay most people in cash. When my son had a tutor I paid cash.
The gardener who does odd jobs for me gets paid in cash.
The electrician who came to fix a light switch got paid £60 cash( which for. 10 minute job is a good earner but I am not paying for just his time but his expertise)
The window cleaner is £20 a clean and if I am home he gets cash.
And shock horror I even pay cash in a shop or petrol.

Itsalmostanaccessory · 13/12/2021 11:15

@Amberflames

Can you explain how?
Are cash payments illegal now?
I used cash a lot. I used cash at all the stalls in the xmas market. I paid my window cleaner in cash. Did I enabled tax dodging? What are the sentencing guidelines for paying in cash? I've no proof whatsoever or any knowledge at all of their taxes. Can you please link the sentencing guidelines for the punishment I will receive if any stall holders or my window cleaners dont eat tax on my specific payments to them?

SleepingStandingUp · 13/12/2021 11:17

@logsonlogsoff

Unless she’s claiming benefits too - in which case report her.
I imagine a lot of cleaners are on benefits, that's what they're there for. And why the hell would anyone buy the cleaner have a right to know what benefits she's on? Oh ill pay you in cash, don't care if you tax dodge but can I check your entitlement to UC please?
bratzybaby · 13/12/2021 11:17

@Itsalmostanaccessory

It does not mean she is tax dodging. I'm fucking sick of hearing that.

Wanting cash payment can be for a lot of reasons. She gets paid the cash the day she does it, so she never has to chase anyone to make the bank transfers. I've seen threads on here which say, "I forgot to pay my cleaner and she has sent me 3 messages asking for the money. It's only been a few days, I'm thinking of letting her go after she hassled me for payment." Because some people dont understand that the cleaner bloody needs paid. Cash payments on the day prevent that issue.
Also, if she is living in an overdraft and you pay by bank transfer than the money can be swallowed up. Cash means she can then go and buy food. Whether or not you agree with living in debt and using unatranged overdrafts, lots of people are in that situation. Cash payments mean she can at least buy food and sort out paying back the overdraft as she can.

I'm self employed. I take cash and card payments. I pay tax on everything.

This!👆
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