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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To remind you to pay your cleaner…?

224 replies

honeyandbutterontoast · 27/04/2022 06:12

Ive been working for years as a self employed cleaner. I charge a reasonable rate, do an excellent job but am really struggling to get clients to pay on time.

I understand it’s easy to forget to have the cash or not to bank transfer right away, but clients don’t seem to understand that I work because I need the money! If it’s not in my account I can’t pay my bills!

Already this week I have two clients who haven’t paid. Last week it was four in total I had to politely remind on Friday to pay me. Two of those had done the same the previous week.

Is there a nice way I can remind people? I’m wondering if it’s best just to drop those jobs and find new clients for their slots.

If you have a cleaner, how would you like her to broach this with you?

OP posts:
NearlyHeadlessNick · 27/04/2022 06:17

Can you request that they set up a regular payment?
Do you have any mention on your invoice of late fees?

devildeepbluesea · 27/04/2022 06:18

I recently introduced my excellent cleaner to a friend. He forgot to pay her a couple of times so she “strongly advised” him to set an alarm on his phone.

Good cleaners are like gold dust. Remind them on the day that they forgot and that if it happens next week you’ll have to withhold your services til they’ve paid.

Clymene · 27/04/2022 06:19

I would ask them to set up a standing order bank transfer. Mine goes out automatically so my cleaner doesn't have to ask and I don't have to remember. If they won't do they and they've repeatedly failed to pay you then I'd fire them as clients.

fairybaby · 27/04/2022 06:27

How do you like to get paid? Do the clients leave cash or cheque for you or do they transfer the payment to your account? I had a lady that used to text me a message to remind me she was coming the next day. In the message she would also remind me of the payment and leave an envelope for the payment. My current cleaner doesn’t do that, but I am still pretty good at paying her on time.

Could you text them confirming you finished the job and remind the of the payment via the text? I am not sure what is the best approach. Regardless, you shouldn’t feel bad for expecting to be paid on time.

Stodge · 27/04/2022 06:32

I really don't understand how people can be such arseholes. You aren't cleaning their house for fun.

Do you have a waiting list of clients? If people do this habitually then bin them off and get new clients.

Also, I don't think there's any harm in pointing out specifically that you cannot pay your bills if they don't pay you.

gemloving · 27/04/2022 06:35

I don't get it. We get the money out the day before or on the day.

Maybe tell them to have a reminder on Theo phone two days prior to get the money out?

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 27/04/2022 06:37

It was never an issue pre-Covid as people would be out at work so leave me cash. If ever I went into a house with no cash (or note saying they would drop it to me that evening) then I would text them to say “hi just got to yours and my money isn’t here, presumably you don’t want me to clean this week, do you want me next week?” or similar. It then never happened again.

but now, people are wfh, they say goodbye when I leave and that they will go and transfer me my money, then they don’t do it!!! Like I say, I can understand getting distracted for a couple of hours with work or whatever but it just seems so rude to forget for days.

OP posts:
ellesbellesxxx · 27/04/2022 06:46

I hear you op. Self employed music teacher and I feel like I am always chasing up money. Some people are mortified and pay straightaway, some just ignore my messages… I have had to start withholding lessons if I haven’t been paid as otherwise there is no incentive to pay!

DockOTheBay · 27/04/2022 06:47

Could you introduce late penalties? Or tell them you will drop them as clients if it keeps happening, as there is plenty of work around for good cleaners

autumnboys · 27/04/2022 06:58

My cleaners invoice me monthly. You shouldn’t have to, but could you look at invoicing so they have a physical reminder? Even a quarter of A4 with a ‘I cleaned for you today!’ And a space left to write how much. Hope it improves, but if it doesn’t, I would deffo sack them off and look for new clients. I know mine are very in demand.

orangeisthenewpuce · 27/04/2022 07:04

I'd tell them that 2 late payments in a row will mean you're no longer going to clean for them and suggest they set up an automatic bank payment for the days you come.

yoshiblue · 27/04/2022 07:08

That's terrible and I really feel for you. Our window cleaner has his own contactless payment machine now, I think a Sumup.

The unit is quite cheap and there would be no excuse if people don't have the cash. You would have to look at the card fees involved but could be a solution that is worthwhile to stop late payments. You could always increase the cleaning fee by say £1 to cover costs?

Clymene · 27/04/2022 07:10

If they're there, I would ask for the money to be transferred before you even pick up a duster.

Stand there and watch them do it.

BottlingBurpsForGrandma · 27/04/2022 07:13

Our gardener uses Ascend by Wix to send an invoice. They partner with Square so I can pay by card. I have forgotten once or twice when I've not seen the email, and it sends an automated reminder about 2 days later. Perhaps this would work?

JustJam4Tea · 27/04/2022 07:14

Mine texts me monthly with an invoice. She has enough clients that 2 late payments and she drops you.

FlipFlops4Me · 27/04/2022 07:16

I pay monthly on the same day I get paid. My pay goes in, cleaner's goes out - simple and saves us both any problems. Also, it means she can rely on a sum coming in on that day each month.

LactoseTheIntolerant · 27/04/2022 07:22

It is really out of order of them, tbh I think it tells you quite a lot about a person. I pay my cleaner monthly but that is through an agency, its so easy though as its a bank transfer. When I was self employed I had this a few times as well as people just not turning up to appointments that I'd blocked out for them etc - some people are so self absorbed, or just want the service but don't really want to pay for it they are all CFs imo!

Ellmau · 27/04/2022 07:24

Anyone with a history of forgetting, I think you need to say, Can you transfer the money now please, and wait until they've done it.

Hrpuffnstuff1 · 27/04/2022 07:26

My business invoices say payment on receipt.
So for Callouts, they have to pay immediately.

My Brother has this problem as a window cleaner. People shouldn't need reminding, pay your bills.
A company I used to work for took 3-4 people to court a week over non-payments.

Dailywalk · 27/04/2022 07:30

I don’t know the answer to your question I’m afraid as I’m in similar position. I’m self employed and I send invoices for work and can be left waiting for weeks even months to be paid. It’s so rude. I’ve done my job at an agreed fee and deserve to be paid. I wouldn’t dream of keeping someone waiting and would be very apologetic if I did forget.

UnicornPooPoo · 27/04/2022 07:30

How easily can you get new clients? If it's fairly easy, I'd say if they've been difficult re payments twice (eg having to chase or not paid in over a week) then drop them. You're not a charity and you don't work for free. More tricky if it's hard to get clients, you might have to get some new clients first and then drop them? Or, could you set up a rule where they pay a week in advance for your service?

resuwen · 27/04/2022 07:31

Hrpuffnstuff1 · 27/04/2022 07:26

My business invoices say payment on receipt.
So for Callouts, they have to pay immediately.

My Brother has this problem as a window cleaner. People shouldn't need reminding, pay your bills.
A company I used to work for took 3-4 people to court a week over non-payments.

Oh dear. I hope he's not my window cleaner. I will pay today!Blush I do pay my wonderful cleaner by automatic bank payment though so on that point my conscience is clear.

Matildahoney · 27/04/2022 07:33

When my window cleaner has been he leaves a card through my door (which obviously you can't really do) if I haven't paid within a week (only once as I was away) he just sends a reminder text. It's not impolite at all, you've done your job, you don't work for free.

UnicornPooPoo · 27/04/2022 07:34

honeyandbutterontoast · 27/04/2022 06:37

It was never an issue pre-Covid as people would be out at work so leave me cash. If ever I went into a house with no cash (or note saying they would drop it to me that evening) then I would text them to say “hi just got to yours and my money isn’t here, presumably you don’t want me to clean this week, do you want me next week?” or similar. It then never happened again.

but now, people are wfh, they say goodbye when I leave and that they will go and transfer me my money, then they don’t do it!!! Like I say, I can understand getting distracted for a couple of hours with work or whatever but it just seems so rude to forget for days.

Then just say 'it's ok, I'll wait until you transfer. Otherwise, I won't be able to return next week'. Then say literally nothing. It'll be really awkward but it's a well known tactic in negotiating, letting them 'fill the gap'. Unless they're a real arsehole, the only thing they can do it pay you.

MinnieMountain · 27/04/2022 07:34

I have a reminder on my phone for a convenient time to leave our cleaner’s money out. It really isn’t hard.

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