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AIBU?

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Original poster

School aquaintance rang up to offer to employ me as a cleaner....

142 replies

Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 06/07/2022 21:12

This person - shall we call her Miranda? She's from a rich family and I knew her at school. I work in Ceramics and she's moving in posh dynamic circles, with a large house, no kids, single - etc. We're struggling artists, but we make do.

She rang me up and said, "I need a cleaner" in a brisk tone.
I said, "I can't help you. We do our own cleaning, so I don't know of anyone who employs a cleaner... and... nope sorry"
She got irritated and said "I want YOU to be my cleaner. Tenner an hour"
I thought, "huh?????" I explained that I didn't have time, but thanks alot, etc.
Put the phone down.
And thought - did that just happen???

OP posts:
Bonitalazenia · 07/07/2022 08:42

Shocked at cleaners rates! I'm a registered nurse and I earn £17 per hour...I foresee a career change.

Dibbydoos · 07/07/2022 09:00

Now that is privilege for you. How rude!

Now go laugh about it with your mates ;)

rnsaslkih · 07/07/2022 09:05

Could someone have told her you do cleaning? esp if you have a popular name. She might have heard someone say oh Sarah does cleaning and got the wrong Sarah. Otherwise really weird.

Rainallnight · 07/07/2022 09:05

Everyone suggesting the OP rings back with offers of sex work or ‘arse wiping’ is being so bloody offensive to a whole range of working women. What ‘Miranda’ did is clearly bonkers but no need to bring other women trying to make a living down with you.

cigiwi · 07/07/2022 09:06

"I've thought about your offer, Miranda. Sure, let's give it a go.

"You should know, I don't get out of bed for less than a grand-and-a-half sterling these days. Per hour. Upfront. Plus expenses.

"We on? Tuesday mornings? Let's know."

womaninatightspot · 07/07/2022 09:07

Bonitalazenia · 07/07/2022 08:42

Shocked at cleaners rates! I'm a registered nurse and I earn £17 per hour...I foresee a career change.

You have to consider travel time in between clients though and the costs of being self employed. I'm effectively charging a client 27 quid an hour as they are paying travel costs/time as they are rural. I'm making £11 an hour when I knock off costs etc.

everythingssogrey · 07/07/2022 09:10

If she'd offered £20 I'd have said yes but a tenner is an insult.

ladydoris · 07/07/2022 09:13

Well, now I have to pay my cleaner more.

SarahSissions · 07/07/2022 09:18

Do you have any mutual friends? Is it possible she thought you were looking for a side hustle?

Lochroy · 07/07/2022 09:29

I know exactly the type you mean. I have a dear friend who is remarkably sociable and who came into quite a bit of money. She will easily spend £20k on a ski holiday and meets other similarly wealthy types who we then dare to rub shoulders with at events she hosts. Fortunately my firmly middle class upbringing means I can conduct myself in social situations even if I don't have the wealth to host them.

I'm quite disappointed I haven't been asked to skivvy for one of them!

mam0918 · 07/07/2022 09:40

School aquantance as in someone who went to your school?

Are you very young? (late teens, early 20s... not long out of school)

Otherwise bizaare, I haven't spoken to anyone from my school in like 14 years (left 17 years ago) never mind just an 'aquantance'.

How did she get your number?

Viviennemary · 07/07/2022 09:48

I reckon she got the wrong person. Its a mix up. Why would she think you are a cleaner.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 07/07/2022 09:51

If it were me I think I’d send her a pair of Marigolds with a post-it on top, saying Good Luck!

Then it occurred to me - OT I know - to wonder whether anyone with those really monstrous fake nails could ever find any Marigolds to accommodate them.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 07/07/2022 09:55

Bloody rude and ignorant and to get a cleaner at that price no way!

Reminds me of someone I was sort of friends with at school but was one of the richest girls in my class (secondary, private girls school) and she made fun of me for not having an answerphone!

We were in touch for a few years and suddenly she's doing Soul Plan/Life Coaching etc sessions and messaged me to see if I'd be interested, first session free etc (she thinks I have money!). She messaged me several times about these free sessions and I was never interested partly because she also bullied me at school for a short time! I last messaged her about could she maybe do a workshop and got a very snippy long reply saying she 'didn't cater for rudeness' and had 'lots of clients who pay a lot of money for her services!'. (I wasn't really rude she just took ages to respond!) and I then cut off the 'contact'. I think because she thinks she's posh it gives her a licence to be rude!

Original poster
Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 07/07/2022 09:57

rnsaslkih · 07/07/2022 09:05

Could someone have told her you do cleaning? esp if you have a popular name. She might have heard someone say oh Sarah does cleaning and got the wrong Sarah. Otherwise really weird.

Nobody I know would have said that I do cleaning - particuarly those who visit me.

OP posts:
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 07/07/2022 09:57

Viviennemary · 07/07/2022 09:48

I reckon she got the wrong person. Its a mix up. Why would she think you are a cleaner.

It's not a mix up - it's a posh person trying to be magnanimous and knows of OP and thinks she's doing her a big favour by offering her work - because OP's a struggling artist in her eyes and in need of handouts! Hmm

Original poster
Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 07/07/2022 10:00

SarahSissions · 07/07/2022 09:18

Do you have any mutual friends? Is it possible she thought you were looking for a side hustle?

We have mutual acquaintances and it is possible, but like I said, I wouldn't say I was much good at housework.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 07/07/2022 10:03

mam0918 · 07/07/2022 09:40

School aquantance as in someone who went to your school?

Are you very young? (late teens, early 20s... not long out of school)

Otherwise bizaare, I haven't spoken to anyone from my school in like 14 years (left 17 years ago) never mind just an 'aquantance'.

How did she get your number?

I think that everyone has a different experience, when it comes to keeping up with school friends. As I come from a small town, there are alot of phone numbers on my list, that are not "pals" but just "people you happen to know on a casual basis"

OP posts:
Original poster
Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 07/07/2022 10:05

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 07/07/2022 09:55

Bloody rude and ignorant and to get a cleaner at that price no way!

Reminds me of someone I was sort of friends with at school but was one of the richest girls in my class (secondary, private girls school) and she made fun of me for not having an answerphone!

We were in touch for a few years and suddenly she's doing Soul Plan/Life Coaching etc sessions and messaged me to see if I'd be interested, first session free etc (she thinks I have money!). She messaged me several times about these free sessions and I was never interested partly because she also bullied me at school for a short time! I last messaged her about could she maybe do a workshop and got a very snippy long reply saying she 'didn't cater for rudeness' and had 'lots of clients who pay a lot of money for her services!'. (I wasn't really rude she just took ages to respond!) and I then cut off the 'contact'. I think because she thinks she's posh it gives her a licence to be rude!

She sounds insane and a bit obsessive with "regard to her need to have power over you"

OP posts:
Original poster
Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 07/07/2022 10:10

cigiwi · 07/07/2022 09:06

"I've thought about your offer, Miranda. Sure, let's give it a go.

"You should know, I don't get out of bed for less than a grand-and-a-half sterling these days. Per hour. Upfront. Plus expenses.

"We on? Tuesday mornings? Let's know."

Ha ha ha So funny xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 07/07/2022 10:13

Lochroy · 07/07/2022 09:29

I know exactly the type you mean. I have a dear friend who is remarkably sociable and who came into quite a bit of money. She will easily spend £20k on a ski holiday and meets other similarly wealthy types who we then dare to rub shoulders with at events she hosts. Fortunately my firmly middle class upbringing means I can conduct myself in social situations even if I don't have the wealth to host them.

I'm quite disappointed I haven't been asked to skivvy for one of them!

I honestly cannot fathom why anyone would spend £20,000 to slide around on snow. But I know the sort of people who are rich enough to do that - and I'm so sorry that you haven't made it to their "potential skivvy" list. Try harder Lochroy.😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Yougottalaffdarlin888 · 07/07/2022 10:21

Dear Boris,
Hurrah! You're out!! Listen chum. Remember me from Eton? Well - if you are in need of a job, I've got alot of toy soldiers that need repainting, in the back cupboard in the nursery of Castle Rumplebat, Hampshire. Call Anniseed the butler (yah - he's still with us) and he'll sort you out. Minimum wage allright for you Bozza? Good chap.

Lord Pants

OP posts:
mumda · 07/07/2022 10:38

Better answer:
"I don't do body removal anymore"

Fraaahnces · 07/07/2022 11:01

I’d give her the number of a forensic cleanup team and say “See if they’ll sort you out.”
Also… Boris. From the other side of the world, I can say that I do hope an anti-corruption investigation will bring you to justice, you bumbling fool. (And take out our ex PM too.)

Duttercup · 07/07/2022 11:06

Goodness, such creativity on display in the replies to this, let me stress, extremely plausible situation. The denizens of Mumsnet would make quite wonderful authors.