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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Difficult client

10 replies

Goldfishbowls · 11/11/2022 14:07

I’ve worked as a s/empl cleaner for this person for a few years and generally we don’t see one another when I work in their house. Recently they’ve been at home, they’ve offered me a drink and invited me to sit with them. I’ve no problem with a quick chat but this lasted nearly an hour with me attempting to get up multiple times to carry on with my work. The client practically begged me to stay and chat as “we don’t see each other often”. There was no actual conversation, the client did all the talking and talked over me when I got a word in edgeways.

Ffwd to the next clean, the client attempted to do the same so I refused the drink and cited time constraints. Client is now moody and often sharp with me on a one to one but very nice and complimentary by text or written note. On the last occasion, the client wasn’t there but their friend showed up for some odd reason, attempted to talk at me and was dismissive of my work (isn’t the house clean, it doesn’t need much work etc).

AIBU to think this is turning unpleasant
YANBU to think I’m dealing with a toxic person and I should drop the client

OP posts:
Teadrinkingmumofone · 11/11/2022 14:10

If you can fill the slot with a client, if you need or want to, then drop them. Nobody needs that.

Goldfishbowls · 11/11/2022 14:21

Thanks. Yes i guess i will have to replace them.

OP posts:
KettrickenSmiled · 11/11/2022 14:21

AIBU to think this is turning unpleasant
If you subjectively feel it is unpleasant, then it is unpleasant for you!

YANBU to think I’m dealing with a toxic person and I should drop the client
Dunno. Only if you think her she was deliberately working in tandem with her friend, & they had a cunning plan to 1) distract you with chat 2) then spring the friend's criticism on you as part of a knowing sabotage.
And that would be a paranoia too far, no?

How about a middle ground, where you communicate with your client to find out what's going on, then find a way of working you can both be comfortable with?
Next time she asks you to sit down & make conversation:
"Client, I'm here to clean, & stopping to chat means I don't get to do what you are paying me for. We spoke for an hour last time! - so while it's nice to catch up with you, if we keep stopping to chat, I need to know that you are happy to extend the hours I'm here so that I can get your work done."

ie you are opening the door to a conversation about paying for your time - whether that time is spent in chat, or active cleaning.

If that's something you're happy to do - win/win. You get an extra PAID hour, your client gets a clean house and her conversation.

If you are not happy to do that, you need to either shut down the chat, or dump the client. Don't go down this rabbit hole of suspicion - she's obviously just looking for companionship. You simply need to make it clear what your terms are. E.g. if you usually clean for 3 hours at £15/hour, that's £45.
If she wants to continue the 3 hours PLUS an hour's chat, that's £60 of your time.

Don't muddle companionship/attempts at friendship with professionalism & billing. Be clear what you are offering, & if both are you are happy - great. If one of you is not - quit.

Aquamarine1029 · 11/11/2022 14:26

Sack your client. Life is too short for that shit.

Goldfishbowls · 11/11/2022 14:35

“Don't muddle companionship/attempts at friendship with professionalism & billing. Be clear what you are offering, & if both are you are happy - great. If one of you is not - quit.”

Client is well aware of time constraints and claimed they would either be out or be working in the office. I’m not convinced that the person is looking for companionship. This is coming across as misplaced authority and entitlement.

OP posts:
KettrickenSmiled · 11/11/2022 14:47

Client is well aware of time constraints and claimed they would either be out or be working in the office. I’m not convinced that the person is looking for companionship. This is coming across as misplaced authority and entitlement.

OK I hear ya OP - dump them.
I'm sure you'll find plenty more clients interested in a hard worker who knows her own value 😀

Goldfishbowls · 11/11/2022 15:53

@KettrickenSmiled thanks

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 11/11/2022 19:12

Gosh, I started reading your post and was wondering if I knew your client! The person I know has said he has employed a cleaner because he is lonely. He is on his third now.

Stand firm. You are there for your job, and you need the time/space to get it done.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 11/11/2022 19:17

This client assumes you've nothing better to do than talk to the Lady of the House. How rude of her. I'd fill her spot.

Thighdentitycrisis · 11/11/2022 19:20

I worked for someone similar they kind of thought they could pay me for other stuff that I wasn’t there for, it’s a kind of entitlement. I left.

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