To remind you to pay your cleaner…?

[honeyandbutterontoast]

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?

I stayed in a hotel in Australia

Every day the cleaners would leave a card with their names This was so that if you tipped it went to the correct people

You can get business cards printed for not very much or print your own, leave the back blank so you can put the amount, and put it in red if it is late

Insist on bank transfer and suggest they setup a regular payment.

Send a text which looks like it is to all clients - Apologise for having to send the text but as this had become a regular issue since covid you need to remind everyone of payment terms and introduce a late payment fee. Tell them some clients are not paying on the date of clean, this is your income and you need payment as agreed. Due to this you are introducing a late fee of £5 a day. Any clients who regularly pay late you will consider replacing. Thank you for your understanding and custom.

I pay a month in advance by bank transfer

Perhaps a reminder text with a PayPal link that makes it easy to action straight away.

You shouldn't have to ask them to set up a regular payment they can do that themselves if they cared. If you've got a waiting list I'd go with 2 late payments and they are off the list.

It’s not hard to ensure you have cash (you just have to be sufficiently organised and withdraw enough in advance whenever you see a cash machine!)

For those who don’t pay on time, Op, could you politely suggest a Direct Debit might be more convenient for both parties.

I pay my cleaner when she walks in the door in order that I don't forget. I've also paid her whilst abroad even though she says don't worry about it until she gets back. Of course it's not unreasonable to expect payment on time.

I'd suggest get all outstanding payments that you're owed.

Then send a text to all your clients

"Hi X,

I have found that after the pandemic, more people want to pay via bank transfer, so I'm changing my payment terms as of 1st May.

The options are either (a) to pay cash prior to the clean or (b) to transfer me the money 24 hours prior to the clean.

I know that you usually like to transfer me the money, and I clean for you on Wednesdays, so if you could ensure the money is transferred by Tuesday at the latest, I would be very grateful.

My rates and availability remain unchanged.

Happy to discuss further when I see you on Wednesday. Speak soon!"

Then if they haven't paid by Tuesday evening just send a text "Hi X, I see there has been no payment made for tomorrow, so just confirming whether you would like me to clean this week? Thanks!"

Agree they're idiotic and YA most definitely NBU

It's the same principle. If it's a small amount of money (to them) it's not very high on their radar. I had a strong conversation with husband over paying the bin cleaner on time. It's just 3 quid, so in his mind it doesn't matter. But if a ton of people didn't pay that 3 quid you have a business not being able to pay their bills or any staff.

Stop being nice. Send a message to those who havent paid that as they haven't, do they want you to work the next appointment slot or can you book someone else in.

Oof I know that pain O.P. One of our clients was like this and ended up owing me £1k, I chased her down until it was paid (Hope you're reading this Sharon) Then a different client would only pay once I had emailed her with a detailed breakdown of the cleans she had had, which dates, which products etc (She was present everytime the cleans happened) and still took an age to pay. They're both gone now and the clients remaining pay through GoCardless.

I know what you're saying but OP is cleaning houses because she needs the money, and it's not always possible to just ditch people in these circumstances. It's far better for her to manage the situation and get the work and the money.

Cleaners are like gold dust around my area, most with a waiting list. If it’s like that where you are, I’d have a word with the offenders first and then if they don’t pay after a couple of reminders I’d be getting new clients. It’s totally unreasonable of them to leave you short of cash and having to chase them.

Text reminder the day before you go
if a set amount per clean then ask to be paid before you go ‘as unfortunately several clients are paying late and I’m no longer able to offer services j til payment has been made’

send them a text confirmation when you’ve reduced the money and time you’ll be going

no payment - text to say you’re not going
less awkward plus written record by text!

Tell all clients that you don’t accept cash any more and must be paid by Standing Order or card payment on the day. Get yourself a small card machine like Square or iZettle then you can shove it under their nose at the end of your shift. I think Square only costs £20

Ooh card machine is a good shout!

just tell them as it is - you have bills to pay can they pay on time.

Yanbu

How much do you enjoy cleaning their houses? If they’re tidy and easy to clean, maybe factor that in. If they’re cluttered and unhygienic, it’s a no brainer really.

My cleaning lady is fab. She says she likes cleaning my house as it’s tidy. I try to tidy up before she comes and put some things away to make it easier etc. Occasionally we don’t have enough money in the house as I’ve forgotten to withdraw some. I ensure she gets paid even if I have to drop cash to her home. She says not to worry about it. But it’s impolite to make people wait.

We are never late, and find it incredible people are not paying you op.

I would ask them all to set up direct debits or standing orders, and if it needs to be adjusted on the odd week then it can be. I would explain that the bank transfer isn't working for you as it is often late, and you can't pay your bills and are getting into financial difficulty.

Either they set up SO or DD or go back to cash on the day - they have two choices and no longer offer transfers as an option and put it into writing with a letter for each customer. From this date on transfers will no longer be an option direct debit/standing orders or cash only.

Good luck

Exactly what I was going to suggest, I use one for my business as I just don’t trust people to transfer. You don’t need to pay a standing charge, you just pay a small fee for each transaction. It does take a few days to go into your account though but at least you know you are getting it.

I would send a text message that looks like a general one that you're sending to everyone (so they don't feel singled out)

"Hi all. This is a polite reminder that payment is due on the day of the clean. If people consistently pay late it may result in their slot being reallocated. Hope you all understand"

It's such a piss take. We leave cash for our cleaner and always pay the window cleaner straight away. I'd be fucking furious if my boss paid me late so I don't see why it's different.

Something like that (but better ha)

On checking our records we note that there is an overdue balance of ...... on your account.
Please could you let us have a payment by return or your reasons for non-payment would be appreciated?
Unfortunately, if we do not receive your payment by .... we will have to place your
ON HOLD until such time as your payment is received. In addition, we reserve the right to charge compensation and interest pursuant to The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998
If payment has already been sent please disregard this reminder and accept our apologies.

One of my clients was so disgusted by my boss asking her to pay on time that she dropped us.

Apparently she didn't like her attitude. Well we don't like cleaning for free!

We have very occasionally been a day or two late paying our cleaner (although always paid immediately when reminded).

She frequently rearranges at the last minute, or can't come for the full time we booked, so setting up a regular payment won't work. It's also not always clear how long she's actually been, so we won't know how much to pay until we confirm. I would much prefer to just have a regular, reliable cleaning slot and just have a standing payment coming out.

I am very mindful though of the fact that she has very few resources and relies on prompt payment.

Cash is really inconvenient to manage for us, because we have virtually stopped using cash and are rarely near a cash machine. I wouldn't employ a cleaner again who insisted on cash.

The thing is I’m sure in their minds it is only a small amount. And (no offence meant by this) they are always the kind of people who probably don’t realise what it’s like to have earmarked that money for the petrol I need that day, or the pet food I need to buy on the way home.

Right I need to toughen up I think and start sending reminders and then dropping clients. There is lots of work at the moment out there.

And yes it’s usually the really messy houses too. There’s obviously some kind of pattern there!!

I do this. I'm usually home when she comes and even though she says goodbye if I'm busy I'll forget. The reminder goes off 15 minutes after she's due to leave and I do a transfer immediately.