Should I pay my cleaner in full?

softpilllow · 30/11/2022 10:29

I would pay them £48 and tell them not to bother coming back.

Wickerblanketbasket · 30/11/2022 10:30

I'd ask for a meeting with the cleaner before her next visit and set out your expectations regarding the jobs she does, reliability, communication etc and let her know its her last chance.

If you let people take the piss they will.
Also I'd only pay for the time they were at yours cleaning.

RedDiamond · 30/11/2022 10:31

I had this kind of problem. I employed a woman as a cleaner and she kept sending her husband. Nothing ever felt or looked as clean. They were supposed to use environmentally products but kept using my products (not so friendly). In the end I gave notice as it was a simple thing like not having the cushions plumped on the sofa which pushed me over the edge. A woman would do the finishing touches.

Eleusa · 30/11/2022 10:31

Honestly, I wouldn't employ this cleaner at all, even though no one else is available. Better to muddle through yourself. You can't have someone in the house whom you can't trust.

LG93 · 30/11/2022 10:33

Obviously don't pay for 5 hours if they weren't there for that duration. I know cleaners are in high demand, we gave up in the end after our amazing cleaner gave up and couldn't find anyone suitable to replace her, but surely doing your own cleaning (assuming you're physically able, I know this isn't the case for everyone) even if only to a lower standard in the short term while you try and find someone than having a contract where you can't trust who will have access to your house, will overcharge you/cut hours without telling you and didn't even do a good job to boot!

5 hours is quite a block of time to find for a cleaner in their diary (even 2 people x2.5hr) could you perhaps take a shorter duration and top up yourself until they have more hours available, or have multiple contracts so one does 2 hrs on a Monday and one 3hrs on a Friday and ask them to let you know if any more availability opens up?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 30/11/2022 10:33

Pay them for the time they actually worked and then end the arrangement again. They are taking the piss.

chikp · 30/11/2022 10:43

I wouldn't be happy with someone other than the cleaner doing the cleaning. I wouldn't pay someone to bake me a cake then accept a cake their mate had had a go at baking.

JulieMarooley · 30/11/2022 11:15

I’ve preferred to do cleaning myself for the last year or two. I’d rather clean myself than deal with this type of situation.

Over several different cleaners there’s always been some awkward issue.

poefaced · 30/11/2022 11:27

Don’t have them back and don’t pay £80, they didn’t do the 5hrs

angelpoise · 30/11/2022 11:30

I might try speaking to her one last time but it sounds like you probably need to get rid of her. Definitely don't pay the £80 in full

KarmaStar · 30/11/2022 11:31

I would only pay for the hours worked and not have them back due to lack of cleaning standards and poor communication and reliability.

Fixyourself · 30/11/2022 11:58

You had 2 unknown men in your house! I would be fuming!

Quitelikeit · 30/11/2022 12:01

Husband and his friend?!?!?!

what a joke

i would have turned them away from my door

startfresh · 30/11/2022 13:27

Surely they don't get as much per hour as the contracted cleaner? Unless it was a "company" you employ? I wouldn't be paying them at her prices if they're not up to her standard.

Original poster

Eurydice84 · 30/11/2022 13:40

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, having these strangers in the house made me feel uncomfortable. I know the husband (they work as a couple) - but who is the other chap?

It's crazy how difficult it's become to find a domestic cleaner around here. I found a darling girl back in the summer, she was so amazing that her business skyrocketed and now she only does commercials. I must have sent 50 enquiries in the last month and all available cleaners have either moved on to other professions, are doing commercials only, or are fully booked. I contacted the two main UK cleaning agencies and they don't have anyone to send me.

It has become a captive market: Brexit, pandemic, cost of living crisis have led to a real shortage of domestic cleaners.

I can obviously clean myself but DH and I work full-time with a toddler, so a bit of help once every two weeks lets us have a bit of downtime at the weekend.

OP posts:

Snugglemonkey · 30/11/2022 13:44

Quitelikeit · 30/11/2022 12:01

Husband and his friend?!?!?!

what a joke

i would have turned them away from my door

Me too! No way would I allow this.

OnlyFannys · 30/11/2022 13:48

RedDiamond · 30/11/2022 10:31

I had this kind of problem. I employed a woman as a cleaner and she kept sending her husband. Nothing ever felt or looked as clean. They were supposed to use environmentally products but kept using my products (not so friendly). In the end I gave notice as it was a simple thing like not having the cushions plumped on the sofa which pushed me over the edge. A woman would do the finishing touches.

a woman would do the finishing touches

No I would say a professional would do the finishing touches, gender is irrelevant

Hooverphobe · 30/11/2022 13:51

I had one like this, she then got a bf and they were the type who couldn’t bear to be apart. 🤮 So she started bringing him with her.

I didn’t want a “random man” in my house and it was NOT what I signed up for.

She was a bloody excellent cleaner, he was meh…

I let them go and these days I do a bad job myself. I’ve never managed to find a truly excellent cleaner who doesn’t somehow take the piss.

VoiceOfCommonSense · 30/11/2022 14:00

Eurydice84 · 30/11/2022 10:26

My cleaner didn't show up twice last month, and I then cancelled the service. Bad karma - I then really struggled to find someone in this area (we live in a small village). She bargained hard to come back and offered a discount (£80 for 5 hours, using my products).

Today she was supposed to come back with her husband. I decided to work from home to check what they were doing. The husband showed up with a friend, the lady didn't come at all. Maybe she's sick but I would have liked to know! The two guys stayed only for 1.5 hours, so 3 hours in total, 2 less than agreed. The bathroom upstairs still looks dirty.

Am I right in arguing I should pay for less time? Really torn as this cleaner situation is making me stressed and I would like to find an alternative, but no one else is available in this area!

One alternative could be cleaning yourself.. just saying lol

OnlyFannys · 30/11/2022 14:03

VoiceOfCommonSense · 30/11/2022 14:00

One alternative could be cleaning yourself.. just saying lol

Show quote history

Helpful 🙄

Original poster

Eurydice84 · 30/11/2022 14:11

VoiceOfCommonSense · 30/11/2022 14:00

One alternative could be cleaning yourself.. just saying lol

Show quote history

You could cut your hair yourself but probably choose to outsource the job to a professional...

OP posts:

Crazydoglady1980 · 30/11/2022 14:12

Sometimes you have to ask why they are the only people with space, it’s likely because of this behaviour.
I would pay for the hours worked. Only you can decide if it relieves stress or adds to it? And then whether it is worth it?

VoiceOfCommonSense · 30/11/2022 14:15

Ha, I do. But only because it’s all shaved. Sorry, I’ve had problems with cleaners too and getting the right one. If the cleaner of good I would maybe pay the full amount this time but have a word with her explaining what was wrong and what you expect in future. Anymore problems and I would look for someone else.

Onnabugeisha · 30/11/2022 14:18

Id pay for the 3hrs worked as the job was also incomplete.
Its up to you if you want to be sexist about it and demand a woman cleaner.

YorkshireIndie · 30/11/2022 14:22

I think I would have a conversation with the cleaner before paying. I would be unhappy with people in the house I did not know.

A cleaner is a luxury but something that is needed to help with life