To ask how many sarky comments you would tolerate

[Tootsey11]

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?

It sounds like she's taking up too much of your energy. Being nice to someone who is rude to you is tiering and you're not getting paid for that. Cut your losses and accept a new client instead.

If you're in SW London I can give you a long term role . Any day any time!!

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.

But you will fill her slot with a permanent client no problem, so ditch her and forget her.

You're no less deserving of respect than anyone else doing any other job. A good reliable cleaner is worth their weight in gold!

How about trialling a replacement then if you like them send her a polite message saying you've had to fill your time with regular bookings and no longer have room for ad hoc work. I've cut 2 difficult houses citing 'health reasons' and it was such a relief.

Drop her. She won't even commit to a proper slot so u can't actually rely on the work from her. Mostly though she's an old patronising bitch! So the best thing about working for urself is that u decide who to do work for. Sounds like a no brainer!