To have ‘fired’ the cleaner?

[Cleanerhohum]

Live in an average three bed detached house in cheap part of the country.

recently had to look for a new cleaner as mine left. Wanted to go off recommendation but all the ones that were recommended to me had no availability, but said if they did it’d be £10-£12 an hour and take about 3 hours (for future reference)

Found one (although now realise she’d recommended herself…) who came to ‘price up’. She said she didn’t charge an hourly rate as she thought cleaners took the mick with this, went too slowly, had lots of breaks etc. Said she was quick but thorough and would charge flat rate of £30. Great.

the first time she did it, it took her an hour and a half. I was astounded she was that quick but went round and sure enough, she’d done the majority of what I’d asked. However, the next two times she came, she was in and out under an hour and literally hadn’t dusted anything, not even around things. I texted her nicely and asked her if she could include doing x, y and z in her cleans going forward. She replied to say she already did (she didn’t) but would carry on doing so. I thought fair enough, she knows now that I’ve clocked she’s not doing things she agreed to, and I’ve given her the opportunity of sorting it out for next time.

Next time she came - she again didn’t clean those things.

i contacted her and said thank you but services no longer required. Dh thinks I’m being mean. I said I’m not on £30 an hour and have no intention of paying a cleaner who doesn’t dust £30 an hour either.

aibu?

YANBU

Nah, she’s taken the piss.

No YANBU at all, she's charging more than a decent cleaner will per hour and not doing the work!

Yes get rid if she doesn't do what you want. 3 hours I would expect for a 3 bed house including cleaning bathrooms and kitchen etc

You definitely did the right thing OP, she was taking the P!

It’s not how long she takes, it’s how much you are paying her.

it you don’t feel she’s cleaning for £30, she’s not value for money.

How are you being unreasonable? You’re not satisfied with the service. It could be any reason at all.

I'm being charged £30 to have four windows cleaned inside, the skirting boards washed and two floors mopped. Is this too much? It's a 1 bedroomed flat.

@tillytoodles1 i can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not…

No, I'm just wanted to know if it was too much.

@tillytoodles1 if that’s all they’re doing for £30, I’m in the wrong job.

I pay a cleaner £30 for an hours job, it’s not worth anyones time coming out for anything less.

So what's the average price per hour for a cleaner up north if you think that's too much? I haven't got a clue.

I think you did the right thing. I'm a cleaner and a 3 bed two bathroom would take 3 hours and I'd charge £45. I'd keep asking around for a recommendation from a friend or colleague.

I'm a cleaner, in 3 hours I do an entire house, 3 floors including windows and door frames etc. I charge £12 an hour

@HotCoffee22 do you need a new cleaner? I work nearly 3 hours to earn £30!

It’s for adhoc work in a b&b. I pay my regular cleaner £15 an hour because she works really fast but is really good - I’d much rather she cracked on and left asap than messed about for extra money.

She was clever, making it sound like she was saving you money. Cut throat business lady but perhaps not so good a cleaner.

@HotCoffee22 oh trust me, I earn every penny of my £12 an hour! I certainly don't "mess about to earn more money"! My clients are usually at home so they'd soon suss me out if I did!

I’m sure you do - it wasn’t meant to be a judgment. I just think my cleaner is fab and recognise she works hard so pay her more. When I’ve had other cleaners they take an hour or so longer and don’t do such a good job so the way I see it I’m just paying what the job is worth 😊 if you’re local to me I do need another adhoc cleaner for the b&b work!

£15 whilst on site. Pension. Sickness. Holiday . Actual wage..,, plus cost of business.

really cleaners should be charging a min £20ph.

I like in the NE and the going rate is £15 ph direct or more for agency. I think you’re probably under charging.

@upfucked I am cheap for our area but I'd rather be busy than have empty days. I used to work for a care company for £9.70 so comparatively I'm still better off!

Even on the first clean, she only did "the majority of what you asked for" (and I presume the £30 was quoted to cover what youd asked for, not just most of it).

Why are we so nice and polite and humble even when someone is overtly, blatantly taking the piss out of us and robbing us blind?

"I texted her nicely..."

"I said thank you but services no longer required..."

JFC OP, you should have been telling her she was a cheeky fucker for brazenly ripping you off and told her she's sacked and never to darken your door again.