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'm a cleaner and sometimes people forget to pay me. If they haven't paid me by the following day I send them a text. "Hi (clients name) can you pay me for yesterday please. Thanks, frustrated" The client usually responds with " Sorry I forgot, I've just sent the money"

Most of my clients pay me by bank transfer. One client has set up a weekly bank transfer. It's usually the same people who forget! I understand that people are busy. I used to feel awkward sending a text, but I don't now. I've done the work so I need payment.

Mine texts me to remind me and I transfer immediately on the phone. She sometimes leaves early etc so she texts me with the amount owed each month at the end of the month and I transfer. I'm guessing you're paid weekly? Could you text every time you leave, something like 'just finished X hours. Please transfer £x by tomorrow. Thank you!'?

Lots of services incur a late payment fee. You could perhaps send an email to all of your clients saying something like “due to to changes in client’s working patterns since Covid, you are experiencing a high level of late payments and this is causing significant problems” for you “As a consequence, you now have to charge a late payment fee of 5% where payments are more than X days late”! That serves as a real heads-up and will probably get most paying on time because you are telling them that it is a big deal! The ones who don’t pay on time, charge them extra and if they don’t pay it, drop them!

I’m not a cleaner but I’m a freelancer and I use the sumup website for my invoicing. It sends automatic reminders when people haven’t paid. Doesn’t always work but it certainly has a positive effect on most clients, it also means you don’t have the hassle of chasing, once you have drawn up and sent the invoice.

My personal trainer has this issue - he’s introduced a contract which stipulates clients pay by standing order on the 1st of the month. He’s a lovely bloke and if there was a problem I’d discuss it with him but it seems to work for him.

Get new clients.

i have always paid my cleaner on time, the day she cleans.

im also self employed, a childminder. And I do understand the frustration. I’m being flippant saying get new clients. But different people might help. I’ve just had a whole round of new parents. I invoiced 8 days before it was due and within 24 hours I had 3 parents pay already. It’s still 3 days before it’s due and they have now all paid.
I’ve had parents in the past that I’ve had to chase every month. I charge a late fee of £10 per day that fees aren’t paid, and I think that helps as I message and says to avoid late fees please ensure invoice is paid by end of the day etc. maybe think about some kind of late fee system yourself. x

Incentivise prompt payment or a regular bank transfer - psychologically works much better than late fees or similar. So a small discount, one free clean a year - whatever works for you. Good luck!

I always leave the money on the side for my cleaner. Wouldn’t do it any other way.

I’m someone who genuinely forgets…my lovely cleaners come on a Friday morning (when I’m at work) and by the time I get home on a Friday night and have flopped on the sofa with a wine…I don’t think about the fact that they’ve been.

If I haven’t paid by 7pm, one of them will text me to say “can you let me know when you’ve transferred the money” and then I pay immediately. I immediately panic and do it straight away. I never don’t pay out of malice - it’s just easy to forget after a long week. A text or a note to remind me is very much welcomed!

unfortunately you will need to get ballsy about this. I think your options are

1. send a reminder text to each client the day before reminding them you are coming, the hours you will do and the cost. If they ask why you have started this, just say ‘because I’ve had a few clients who have forgotten so it’s just a gentle reminder’ that way it could easily be ‘forgot i was coming’ or ‘forgot the money’… and you don’t have to specify.


2. tell them to their face when they forget ‘I’m really sorry but I need the money paid in full at the end of each time I come. In future please have the money here. I’m sure you understand. For this week please can you transfer it by the end of the day. I’ll send you a text later to remind you.’ It’s an awkward convo but won’t need to be had twice I imagine


3. Send a group message to all clients telling reminding them that all hours must be paid in full on the day and any late payments will have to be transferred by the end of the day.

I bet you don't forget a work task that's part of ýour job remit every week. Pathetic excuse and how tiresome for your cleaner to have to remind you to pay her! Do you need to text your payroll department every month because they've forgotten you'd even been to work? No, thought not.

It’s really annoying to remind people, I feel for your cleaner having to text

Can you set a reminder so you don’t forget?

There is no excuse if they're WFH as they can see you're there and have all the time you're there to go into their bank app and pay you as one if their payees. Takes 30 seconds.
I pay my landlord my elec bill that way, seconds after the bill is emailed.
Don't let it go on any further. Before you start work, remind the late payers that you'd like it paid into your bank before you leave. They'd go ape shit if THEIR wages weren't in the bank when they were supposed to be there. You shouldn't have to explain that you need the money now...it's your right as you've done the work
Fingers crossed...🤞

Leave a receipt reminder on the side?

It's really humiliating to have to ask your clients to pay you.

How would you feel if you had to go to your boss every month and ask for your wages?

I really don't understand why you can't set a weekly reminder on your phone.

Why on earth should she have to lose out on money/time just to get her clients to pay on time?

My window cleaner sends me a text the night before (about every 6 weeks). Then I can either pay him cash, if I'm in, or do a bank transfer. If I forget then after 2 days I get a reminder text, as I've discovered this week😀. This works for me, and him, because it isn't a regular day.

@ellesbellesxxx same here- have had a few nightmare parents recently including one who claimed after a whole term of singing lessons had been delivered that she ‘didn’t know her daughter was even having them’ 🙄 even though she signed the consent form.

It’s so hard when you have to withhold lessons resulting in upset children but often it’s the only way to get paid!

I am shocked this is a thing. I would never dream of not paying my cleaner. I assume she is relying on the money in the same way I rely on my wages being on time!

That’s really poor. You should not have to remind anyone.

I don’t get the I just forget to pay posters on here. You wouldn’t forget if your clearer didn’t turn up or accept if they said sorry I just forgot to clean your house today. Just forgot, so easy done! Making people ask to be paid for a job they do for you every week is embarrassing.

I leave cash on the hall table with a note saying thank you. I treat both women who do my cleaning well. Tidy before they come. Christmas bonus. Easter Egg. Birthday bottle etc. They are super reliable and good. I want to keep them so I treat them well and pay a good hourly rate. I trust them and like both of them.

Start emailing or WhatsApp pdf invoices to all your clients. You may be too nice and a lot of mums betters have been posting about not wanting to pay their cleaner due to the rise in costs 😑sounds like they’re not paying and think you won’t kick up a fuss and it’s not right!

My cleaner pings me a little invoice 2 x month and I pay her by bacs immediately off my phone. It takes seconds once set up so no excuse!

People who have cleaners need to take responsibility for paying them on time, they shouldn't need reminders.

Get them all to pay in advance for a month like personal trainers do. They book a block of four weekly sessions with you and then another when that runs out. You don't work unless you are paid.

I know many businesses in our area use this go cardless. It sets up a direct debit and may be a good option for you to avoid chasing up payments