Hello
Sporadic poster, but I really need some outsider advice.
DH and I have had the same cleaner since we moved out of London 4 years ago.
We've had cleaners for more than 15 years and in terms of the standard of the clean, she's one of the best we've had, which is why we've stuck with her. We pay her £14 an hour for four hours a week, in a single block. It's a five bedroom house and this is normally ample to get the job done.
However, over the past year (since Covid, really) things have been getting very hit and miss. Some of this, I fully admit, is our fault. She's a single mum of young kids, so we sometime let her bring her kids when she's struggling for childcare. She rarely does a full four hours (more like 2.5 or 3) but because the clean is generally decent, we've let it slide.
My biggest mistake is that sometimes, she would text earlier in the week, asking for prepayment as she was short of cash. Against my better judgement (and if you knew me, you'd know how out of character this is) I would generally pay her, and to be fair, she always did the job as booked, so it was fine.
However, there's been a shift in the last couple of months. A couple of times, she's just not turned up (no message/call) and then text later pretending that nothing's happened, or come up with some bollocks story re one of her kids being sick.
This week, she has taken the piss and I'm not sure how to proceed. She was meant to come on Monday and clean our house (much needed, as we'd had guests) and also do a first clean for a neighbour who we'd passed her details to.
On the Friday, she asked for the money in advance. I had a niggle, but sent it anyway, assuming she wouldn't flake on two jobs. But she has done. No messages since, seems to have blocked me, no refund, no update. According to her FB, she's been on a weekend break and got lip filler on Saturday (probably using my cash). Absolute piss take.
DH thinks we should chalk it up to experience, kiss goodbye to the cash and get a new cleaner (which we'll obvs be doing anyway).
I, however, an SEETHING. I feel like she's played me for a twat because I was an uncharacteristically soft touch, and want my fucking money back.
So:
YABU - let it go, life's too short.
YANBU - pursue in case she does it to someone else.