to be upset my friend hasn’t paid me ?

[Germanpandalover1987]

I’m a nanny for my friend’s little girl and she was due to pay me yesterday on the 1st but she hasn’t so I think she will pay me next Monday (because of the bank holidays+ weekend) and I’ll get zero apology for the lateness. I won’t ask her because I don’t want things to be awkward between us but I’m upset with her. Its not the first time she doesn’t pay me on time. Would you also be upset or just let it go because she is a friend ? Thank you

Glad you’ve been paid.
I would expect they won’t manage to pay you 48 hours ahead of appointment each time….and then want you to turn up, with promises of payment on the day etc. Stick to what you’ve said. Don’t go.
In fact, I’d expect that this client is finished really. It’s good you’ve got your money, because sometimes cleaners have to walk away without their money. However, think seriously about if you want to work for them again. Their behaviour has been appalling.

Leave it now….don’t pursue them about whether they agree to pay in advance. Just wait to see if money arrives and if it doesn’t then don’t get in touch, but just don’t go. If the money arrives late but before the cleaning slot, I’d actually contact them and tell them you’ve given the slot away because they didn’t pay 48 hours in advance. You absolutely cannot be flexible over this as they are piss takers. Keep an eye out for a client to replace them and expect to end this client relationship. You can say with all honesty that you just need to fill your books with people who have reliably paid. If this is your friend, you can say you still want to be friends, but having a business relationship just hasn’t worked. To be honest, they can only blame themselves!

And with new clients, make sure you tell them that the expectation is they set up a standing order for weekly payment 48 hours in advance. I would say that cancellations after this are subject to a 50% charge (50% credited to next appointment and 50% kept by you - this way you don’t need to get into refunds) if cancellation is up to 24 hours in advance. If within this, the whole fee is forfeited. If they cancel ahead of this before having paid, I would say that if it happens twice or more within 3 or 6 months, you will have to request monthly payment in advance. You do have to protect yourself as this is your income. If people cancel their kids’ ballet lessons or swimming lessons, they don’t get money back. This is your income and you rely on knowing what will be coming in.

Good for you.

That sounds like the only way forward

Glad you finally got your money

@Chocolateismyfavourite great news!
Now, excellent advice from @WombatChocolate above, do not go back unless you're paid in advance.

@Germanpandalover1987 I really hope you've been paid now too, and you got a huge apology!

@WombatChocolate thanks for the absolutely great advice, I will be taking it. 🙂

@Rogue1001MNer thank you, me too!

Late payment of wages is not acceptable. You need to be able to cover your own bills on time too. Tell her this.

Oh sorry I see you've been paid. Some people are paid half in advance half in arrears, you could ask for that at least.

Out of sheer curiosity, have they paid for the next clean, @Chocolateismyfavourite ?

@AmaryIlis well, they've what's apped me today (of their own accord I might add) and have said they've set a standing order for Thursday ( I go Fridays) so we will see if the money appears.

Standing order Thursday? You asked for 48 hours advance payment. Seems they're pushing back on the very reasonable boundaries you have set.
Standing order Wednesday - just in case the money is "lost" in transit or mysteriously doesn't arrive in time

Absolutely this….
Because if you don’t have the money on a Wednesday morning, you need to rebook other clients into CF’s slot…..

Reply and say you did say payment would be required 48 hours before the agreed time slot, or you will need to book someone else in. Also add that this is non-negotiable. So they need to set up the standing order to pay on Wednesday.

Make it very clear that you will not be working for them unless you are paid on Wednesday. And seriously think about loosing them!

The trouble with any payment ahead of the slot by a certain date with jobs like cleaning, is if someone doesn’t pay, you are often unlikely to fill the slot, so lose out.

Even if this client/friend doesn’t pay by Weds and says they will pay in the day or after, resist saying yes, purely to have the work and pay. Instead, don’t contact them, just accept this working relationship is over and look for a new client for the slot. This person has had multiple chances and a line needs drawing under them. It’s too stressful to keep going week to week and wondering if you’ll get paid.

Most cleaning agencies will have a contract where someone is contracted to pay for cleaning weekly or monthly ahead of the cleans and perhaps a month of notice or longer is required to stop. Terms of cancelling appointments are clearly laid out, with any cancellations still incurring some costs and it not being possible to simply not have the slot and avoid paying. This is people livelihoods after all.

When you see potential new clients, being able to lay out clear terms and conditions and have them on paper, is a good thing. It makes you look like a serious business person and someone not to be pushed around. Of course some people won’t like it. They want someone they can cancel on last minute and not pay, who can be paid late etc. But is it better to take these people on as clients because you’re desperate for work…..and then find you face aggro, irregular payment and irregular work, or is it better to only take those who will agree to the mire rigid terms? Those people who agree, actually want a weekly cleaner and expect to pay for it.

Be a serious business person - someone who knows their terms and conditions, presents them to prospective clients and who has processes for those who don’t meet them. You might be a little flexible with long term established clients who have always paid well….but not with someone who tries messing you about in week 3. Otherwise you’ll never know wheee you are int eras if if you’ll. have work and if you’ll have pay. Seems unsatisfactory to me and you don’t need to put up with it. Good cleaners are hard to find. Assuming you’re good and reliable yourself, you can expect to be treated decently and paid sensibly.

Did you get your money?