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Original poster

To ask how many sarky comments you would tolerate

55 replies

Tootsey11 · 27/02/2022 13:24

I work for myself as a cleaner. Generally clients are polite etc

I have one older lady client who is irritating me slightly with her attitude and demands.

A few of her comments:

Telling me 'I should know that I don't have a good job'. This from someone who has never worked and 3 of her adult children don't work either.

She is a casual client who does not have a regular slot so the start time of her cleans are approx. 99.9 % of the cleans I arrive on time I have stated to her, the other 0.1% I may be 2 minutes after. I was told 'I do not expect you to be more than a few minutes late'. Then I've had 'One day you give me a morning clean, the next you give me a afternoon, I just can't keep up with it, said in a condescending way. I suggested booking a permanent space,' I don't want to'.

I'm reminded a lot of the time that she's elderly, and can't manage. So on occasion has asked for her yard to be brushed. This time, she had left a note, brush front yard and back yard. Bearing in mind this was on a day of one of the recent storms, I checked the front yard, clean. I looked at the back, it was wet on the ground, it was raining and a strong wind blowing. I gave it a quick brush. She arrived back while I was doing this, walking past me she said' you must be freezing and laughed' going on into the house.

So, I have texted and stated no more outside work, also cutting down the frequency of cleans due to cost of travel. I'm now getting the silent treatment, she has always replied straight away.

I'm thinking of dropping her as a client, because of her little digs at me. But am conscious of the fact of price rises and protecting my income.

Would you or do you tolerate comments in your job by clients. Where do you draw the line?

OP posts:
woodhill · 27/02/2022 14:09

Her non working adult dc could clean for her

Drop her OP. You don't need that nonsense

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/02/2022 14:12

@Thatsinteresting22, she lives in a council owned property on pension and other benefits. Her adult children, are the same. One works the rest don't, never have. She has told me, and has no problem with it.

I'm too much a softie, I like working, and the biggest majority of people are fine. But every so often come across a client who throws in a personal comment. Why do people do this.

Another thing is I am never off sick, I clean 50 weeks a year. I got omicron a few weeks back and was obviously off. I got 'when are you coming to clean the house then'.

OP posts:
C152 · 27/02/2022 14:13

I get it OP. When you're self employed, it's very hard to turn down any work, out of fear that another job won't come. But some clients really do need to be dropped - either because the time you spend on them outweighs the financial benefit or because the stress they cause you isn't actually worth any price...it sounds like it's time to drop this client, particularly as you say you're turning down work at the moment. Replace her!

QuirkyTurtle · 27/02/2022 14:14

OP, you are a much more patient person than I am!

I would have walked out as soon as the first comment came out of her mouth.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/02/2022 14:15

@CreamEggThief, that's it.

I'm loyal to anyone I work for, too bloody soft for my own good.

OP posts:
Thatsinteresting22 · 27/02/2022 14:15

@Tootsey11
You don’t deserve being treated like this.
I’m learning the same lesson because I’ve been targeted with so many micro aggressions and similar behaviour, it’s destroying me little by little.

AdoraBell · 27/02/2022 14:17

Definitely drop her.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/02/2022 14:20

@C152,

Yep, it's the fear of dropping one for another and the new one not working out. Then stressing to find someone quickly to fill the space.

My wage is the only one in the house, ds studying, so its always there in the back of my mind, am I doing the right thing.

OP posts:
gemloving · 27/02/2022 14:22

If you're in SE London, come and clean my house instead. No digs, 100% appreciation as I know it's a hard job.

Not worth your time and if infrequent probably not worth the agg over the money.

CoraPirbright · 27/02/2022 14:23

Im not short of work, I'm turning down work

I think you should book in someone else to replace this client and then ditch her. She is absolutely horrible - condescending and rude - and she and her slacker family should perhaps feel the consequences of such nastiness.

“Dear
As of next week I am no longer available to clean for you. I hope you manage to find someone else to replace me. Best Wishes, Tootsey”

Job done and I bet you will feel a wonderful lightness not having to work for such a horrible person anymore! Life is too, too short!

RockinHorseShit · 27/02/2022 14:28

You are way too tolerant

When younger I was soft too & would have bitten my lip too long, but I would have still hit a point where I'd have verbally & politely ripped her a new arsehole & dumped her nasty arse.

Nowadays & older & wiser, the very first comment would have me tell her straight to stop projecting her hatred of her own inability to do a days work onto me. If it was such a worthless job, why did she need to pay me to do it for her & then tell her where to go.

Do not allow this nasty insecure bully to bother you a second longer. Dump her ass

Chloemol · 27/02/2022 14:31

Drop her especially as you are turning work down

WouldIwasShookspeared · 27/02/2022 14:37

Don't turn work down!
Bin her.
Enough people always want cleaners for you to be able to lose arseholes.

If you are turning work down they how will you be losing anything? You'll be able to fill her hours.

supersop60 · 27/02/2022 14:39

Don't turn work down.
Accept it and then bin her.
You do not need that in your life.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/02/2022 14:57

She's probably the type who will whinge at her Doctor/Nurse/any other person if they're running a bit late .
(And maybe a I pay your wages merchant)

Deffo get rid . Either just tell her you won't be able to if you're worried about any comeback . Say you are concentrating on your regulars and cannot accomodate a random casual ( she'd love to be called a Random Casual )
Or tell her why if you wish to !

howardmoonseyebrow · 27/02/2022 15:03

Bin her off! Understand you’re worried but if you’re already turning down work it’ll be fine . You don’t need this when it doesn’t sound like she’s even a regular client Flowers

Babadook76 · 27/02/2022 15:12

I’m used to dealing with rude people in my job. This would either go over my head or I’d find it funny, I’d just roll my eyes and laugh to myself. If she’s upsetting you though and you don’t need her as a client, I’d quit

DrSbaitso · 27/02/2022 15:14

@Tootsey11

Im not short of work, I'm turning down work.

One part of me is saying why am I keeping this client, the other half is saying fuel and food prices are rising, don't cancel anyone.

I'm not sarky or rude to anyone, so why is it necessary.

Don't cancel anyone? But you're already turning down work?
Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/02/2022 15:32

Don't cancel anyone that is already a client. That's what I meant. The people I've turned down are those have asked me to take on their house as a new client.

Not all new houses work out. I have found in the past, that when you give a space to to a new house, a few months or even weeks down the line you get a text to say we have realised we can't afford it, so cancel you.

It's the risk of cancelling a long term client for a new one. I'm in two minds to do it.

OP posts:
skybluee · 27/02/2022 15:53

The next time she says anything like that say wow, that's rude.

Jellykat · 27/02/2022 16:00

Sounds exactly like someone i used to work for! (Im a cleaner too)
Test out other cleans, then bin her off when youve found a decent one!
Life is too short to put up with other peoples crap..

DrSbaitso · 27/02/2022 16:17

@Tootsey11

Don't cancel anyone that is already a client. That's what I meant. The people I've turned down are those have asked me to take on their house as a new client.

Not all new houses work out. I have found in the past, that when you give a space to to a new house, a few months or even weeks down the line you get a text to say we have realised we can't afford it, so cancel you.

It's the risk of cancelling a long term client for a new one. I'm in two minds to do it.

Well, this one's not working out and I can't believe that all the potential new clients will be such bad ones.
Frolicinameadow · 27/02/2022 16:19

Please drop this person. She’s using you as an emotional punchbag to make herself feel better about her own life. What an utter cow.
Drop her, take on some other clients you’re turning down and don’t give this person another second of your headspace.

Iamnotamermaid · 27/02/2022 16:23

Drop her - If you are turning down work to accommodate her I would be accommodating those new clients. She will show you no loyalty and appreciation.

KitKattaktik · 27/02/2022 16:29

@Tootsey11
It's the risk of cancelling a long term client for a new one. I'm in two minds to do it

But she's not a long term client. She's an as-and-when occasional customer who is a very rude woman.