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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:
Isonthecase · 27/04/2022 10:35

I think you should out your prices up but say that clients who pay in advance can keep the current prices. If they could say buy a block of 10 hour cleans for £150 or each clean for £17 an hour I think they'd manage...

For what it's worth I think it's acceptable if a normally reliable person is late to remind them the next day as it may well be an issue with online banking or some sort of crisis situation. We all have those, and I'd expect them to be understanding of you had some sort of emergency come up too. If they're just a flake, dump them.

Rosebel · 27/04/2022 10:38

My friend is a cleaner and if people are WFH she asks for the money before she starts work. If people are out and haven't left her money she does the same as you used to. Texts to explain why she's not cleaned that day.
Can you email your clients and say from now on you need to be paid at the start of work? Then if they are at home and don't give you the money explain you won't be cleaning this week.
I don't know why people think they can do this, do they go shopping in Tesco and forget to pay? Of course not.
So I'd go with an email and if they still mess you around, then walk away.

Onthegrid · 27/04/2022 10:43

My cleaner does variable hours (depends on the state of my house) so tells me how much I owe as she leaves, I always transfer the money by the end of the day. I'd like to say it was immediate but as I am WFH it can be a while before I have the gap to send the payment (I know it is quick but I can't do it whilst presenting!). I have a reminder set for 9pm as this is outside my working hours.

ArialAnna · 27/04/2022 10:46

Some people are CFs and some are just forgetful. As you seem happy to accept a bank transfer, I would send a message to all slow / non payers along the lines of:

Unfortunately I am finding that I'm having to spend a lot of time chasing up for payments, therefore going forward I'm asking all clients to set up a standing order into my account. Please let me know if you do not wish to do this.

If they won't do it, then let them know they can find another cleaner.

Onthegrid · 27/04/2022 10:48

Sorry to answer your question, if I hadn't paid by the following morning I would expect a reminder via SMS, if I needed more than this without a really good genuine excuse I would not be expecting the cleaner to work for me without pre-payment again. If I didn't have the funds I wouldn't have a cleaner.

Pre-covid I used a company who billed monthly with 7 day payment terms, I never exceeded this so I don't know what they did if clients didn't pay.

OfstedOffred · 27/04/2022 10:53

Do you tell them how much and specify when they need to pay by?

Due to missed weeks, holidays etc what I need to pay my cleaner changes each month and she often is slow to tell me what I owe.

EvilPea · 27/04/2022 10:55

BoredZelda · 27/04/2022 10:23

I don’t do cash because we never have cash. If I’m here and she is here, I make the payment when she turns up. If I’m at work, I often forget to make the payment as she comes once a fortnight and I can lose track. I usually do it when I get home, but when I was working away it can be missed. I’ve said to her to drop me a text when she leaves if I’m not there but she often forgets that too. I’ve made it very clear that she should never be embarrassed to remind me to pay.

“Please sir can I have my wages”

please set reminders on your phone, it’s shitty having to chase even if she’s not embarrassed by it.

caoraich · 27/04/2022 11:03

I don't understand this at all. I have a standing order for my cleaner that goes in on the day she comes.

I'd be inclined to ditch the disorganised payers and move on to people waiting. Good cleaners are always in demand!

BoredZelda · 27/04/2022 11:11

It's you that should be embarrassed to be honest. Presumably you've gone to the effort of trying to find and book a cleaner because it benefits you. But you can't put the same amount of effort into remembering to pay them? Actually I'm
Embarrassed for you.

Absolutely, the embarrassment is mine, which is why I told her never to be embarrassed to remind me to pay. And the three times I’ve forgotten in two years, she has dropped me a text the next day to remind me to pay.

“Please sir can I have my wages”

Oh don’t be silly. Every business I have worked with sends an invoice as a reminder to pay. It’s no different to that.

please set reminders on your phone, it’s shitty having to chase even if she’s not embarrassed by it.

She often switches days, setting a reminder wouldn’t work. If the few times I’ve not been a perfect human are a problem, she can choose to ditch me. I recently had a situation where I couldn’t be sure I’d be able to make the payments (no internet) so I paid 3 visits in advance.

reeeeeeee · 27/04/2022 11:13

On booking take a payment of half and then when the job is done check the client is pleased and then say 'great, I'm so glad you're pleased, the balance is £25' and stand there until they give it to you.

IF they are not there specify that when you arrive the payment of the balance should be on a counter in an envelope and if it isn't there unfortunately you will have to leave for another job.

The deposit is non-refundable.

Stop taking this crap. Set up a system and stick to it and don't be afraid of walking out of a home where the envelop is not there either.

SeedyBloomer · 27/04/2022 11:52

If you text clients I’d message repeat offenders saying something like: ‘Just a reminder that payment is due on the day of the cleaning service. Unfortunately, due to a number of late payments, I may need to ask for payment in advance in order to ensure that I have security of income and my direct debits etc are not rejected.”

eurochick · 27/04/2022 12:03

I occasionally forget. I have a cleaner because I am busy. Sometimes I work 15 hour days. Sometimes I travel and will be on the other side of the world when she comes. I have a reminder on my phone but I am not perfect and occasionally I will forget. She texts me, I pay, the end. No drama. She has cleaned for us for years over two houses. So she can't find us too objectionable. We recently, unprompted gave her a 20% pay rise due to the cost of living increase. We treat her well and she doesn't make a thing out of us being shit at admin.

I did set up an SO but there is no option with my bank to skip a week, so every time she had a holiday I had to cancel it and then set it up again. And then she changed banks so I had to set it up all over again. So now I put through manual payments.

MarshaBradyo · 27/04/2022 12:05

I always leave the money out so there’s no question before starting that they will have it

I’m SE and I don’t want anyone to ever stress about payment being late

Eeksteek · 27/04/2022 12:08

I can imagine this a problem. I’ve been on both sides - I’m often forgetful (and have been broke. Although not broke with a cleaner) and also had to push for payment. It’s not comfortable for me from either end, but some people just don’t care.

Is it possible to set up direct debits as an ordinary person, or are they only big companies/banks? Then you could stipulate you only clean for people that have them, following delayed payment issues. That way you can set it up, and only go once they’ve agreed it, rather than relying on them to set up a transfer.

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/04/2022 12:09

Standing order?

Userg1234 · 27/04/2022 12:23

Walk away and tell them why. I worked for a lovely lady for years, she had to go into a home and her Dil asked me to keep gardening. Every time I had to chase at least twice.
The house was sold but fell through. She asked me to come back, I politely declined and she got shitty.....so I reminded her that as a teacher she would be fed up chasing the headmaster every pay day

Chooksnroses · 27/04/2022 12:23

@DoubleHelix79 I used to clean for a lady who often asked for extra bits to be done, so I used to write my times of arrival and leaving on her calendar in the kitchen, and she would work out the hours and leave the cash at the end of the month.

yellowsuninthesky · 27/04/2022 12:24

If I wasn't paid, I wouldn't do the next job for them. I'd ask for payment after a visit, and until I got paid I wouldn't do the next one. That would generally concentrate their minds I think.

heyitsthistle · 27/04/2022 12:30

I would write up a new contract that requires payment via standing order. You can't spend half your work day chasing payments.

beachcitygirl · 27/04/2022 14:03

My cleaner has a card machine for such clients. Some who "always " forget, some just find themselves out when cleaned comes. She says it's the best thing she's ever done. I pay by standing order as I know I'm scatty.

caringcarer · 27/04/2022 14:09

I transfer money before cleaner leaves our house. You should ask for cash or payment transfer on day you clean. Ask them to transfer money before you leave. They are being very inconsiderate.

Longcovid21 · 27/04/2022 14:10

Can they pay for a month upfront at a time. Using a standing order?

NumberTheory · 27/04/2022 16:16

Yellownightmare · 27/04/2022 09:02

For the regular late payers just say you have changed your paying structure and you can only clean now for them if they've paid by the time you've arrived.

Show quote history

Not “By the time you have arrived” because that gives the impression they can give you cash on the door but if they don’t want you that day they can just not bother and you’ll have travelled there.

If you want paying up front make it a set day each month/week and follow up if I payment isn’t made with a deadline that suits you and gives you time to readjust your day or workload if they don’t pay in time.

If there is plenty of work to be had it’s a sellers’ (cleaners’!) market and you can set your terms to suit yourself. Build up a good clientele who match you in need and willingness for flexibility. Ditch the ones who are too flakey or inflexible.

StripeyDeckchair · 27/04/2022 16:53

Change your terms so it has to be a weekly direct debit or payment into your account (so you can see it) in advance otherwise you don't go.

Crankley · 27/04/2022 17:39

No need reminding - I have paid my cleaner on time every week for the last 20 years she has been coming.