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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cleaner adding half an hour each time

138 replies

DinoHat · 17/01/2023 15:53

I have had the same cleaner for over two years, always liked her and she worked so hard initially I have always paid her more than she charged. So she charges £12 p/h and I pay her £15 p/h.
Recommended her to friends when she was starting out - she got around 7 houses from me.

I used to rely on her to tell me how many hours she’d done but noticed lately she is missing bits off, like not cleaning a couple of rooms just tidying them - a few times she’d say she was in a rush today so I accepted that for what it was. Missed her last week and thought that was odd as I’d not been out long and she used to take 3-4 hours. I have CCTV and saw she was at my house 2 hours 11 minutes. That’s pulling on and off the drive so not necessarily working, but to be fair I paid her for 2 hours 20 mins. She text back and said she’d done half an hour longer. Which I know isn’t true.

Same this week - she was here an hour, my DH was home and of course we have CCTV and she added an extra half an hour when she told me- if she’d have asked for fuel money I’d have given it to her. Although was expecting a 3 hour clean. (She had missed bits).

This is obviously intentional - if she wanted to increase her rates I’d accept that. But AIBU to be pissed off shes lying? I thought we got along but feel she’s taking the mick out of my generosity.

OP posts:
Littlemissprosecco · 17/01/2023 15:56

Yes, unfortunately you’ve been too kind for too long.
I think you need to find another cleaner

Conkersinautumn · 17/01/2023 15:56

I'd ask her to confirm that, so i could catch her in the lie and not be trapped in a notice period.

Start hunting for someone else, I'd be warning people I'd previously recommended her to.

highlyrecommendit · 17/01/2023 15:56

Get rid of her. This happened to me too. Find a new cleaner.
Never pay anybody more than they charge. I used to do it all the time but they don't see it as kindness, they see it as a weakness. And you, as someone to take the piss out of.

Nad28 · 17/01/2023 15:56

Personally I’d sack her.

LordSugarTits · 17/01/2023 15:57

Hiya Joanne, think you must be mistaken as you were here just over 2 hours that day. Would it be possible to go back to the 3 hour clean we'd agreed please since I would really like the bedrooms/windows/utility including still. Thanks

Crumpledstilstkin · 17/01/2023 15:57

Had the same with a cleaner. Fired her after the second time on the basis once could be a mistake.

Lindtcat · 17/01/2023 15:58

LordSugarTits · 17/01/2023 15:57

Hiya Joanne, think you must be mistaken as you were here just over 2 hours that day. Would it be possible to go back to the 3 hour clean we'd agreed please since I would really like the bedrooms/windows/utility including still. Thanks

This.

catsnore · 17/01/2023 15:59

If you want to keep her, just tell her you checked the cctv and she was only there for 2 hours and 11 minutes, offer to pay her for those hours and ask her to double check her times next time. Make it clear you will be checking again. She'll most likely smarten up her act....... however, she is lying to you so it might be difficult to trust her from now on!!!!!

Original poster
DinoHat · 17/01/2023 16:00

LordSugarTits · 17/01/2023 15:57

Hiya Joanne, think you must be mistaken as you were here just over 2 hours that day. Would it be possible to go back to the 3 hour clean we'd agreed please since I would really like the bedrooms/windows/utility including still. Thanks

Thing is she knows all this stuff needs doing - she’s been doing my house over two years! I don’t want to have to remind her. We have basics that she always does and then I will text with extras like cleaning the fridge or occasionally the ovens - always if she has time and I’ll always pay her if it takes longer.

I feel she’s intentionally ripping me off, which is what annoys me the most.

OP posts:
Original poster
DinoHat · 17/01/2023 16:01

highlyrecommendit · 17/01/2023 15:56

Get rid of her. This happened to me too. Find a new cleaner.
Never pay anybody more than they charge. I used to do it all the time but they don't see it as kindness, they see it as a weakness. And you, as someone to take the piss out of.

Yeah this is what I’m starting to think! I gave her a Christmas tip. I thought if I looked after her she’d look after me. Which she did, until maybe the last 6 months when she’s been less and less reliable.

OP posts:
Nad28 · 17/01/2023 16:02

Once the trust has gone, it’s gone.

LordSugarTits · 17/01/2023 16:03

"Thing is she knows all this stuff needs doing - she’s been doing my house over two years! I don’t want to have to remind her. We have basics that she always does and then I will text with extras like cleaning the fridge or occasionally the ovens - always if she has time and I’ll always pay her if it takes longer.

I feel she’s intentionally ripping me off, which is what annoys me the most."

Then get rid. Your mistake has been recommending her to too many people. She can afford to lose you now but thinks you think she's irreplaceable

highlyrecommendit · 17/01/2023 16:03

@DinoHat I completely understand your thinking on it. That's how I used to feel. In my case she stole from me, and neglected her job completely.
I'm naturally kind and generous but I'm so
much more careful now because I think people just come to expect it from you and they don't appreciate it at all.

ColdHandsHotHead · 17/01/2023 16:04

Does she know you've got CCTV? It seems odd she's lying to you when you can prove she is.

Ineedtosleep79 · 17/01/2023 16:05

Awkward! I'm a self-employed cleaner! I'll work for you!

inappropriateraspberry · 17/01/2023 16:06

I'd let her know you're aware. If she's just started doing it I'd give her a chance to be honest and get back to proper hours. She may have some issues that mean she's short of time - childcare, ill family etc. But she'd be on a warning and I would make it clear that if she does it again you'll have to let her go.
I'd rather she was honest and just say she didn't have time than lie and hope you'll still pay up the full 3 hours +

Original poster
DinoHat · 17/01/2023 16:06

ColdHandsHotHead · 17/01/2023 16:04

Does she know you've got CCTV? It seems odd she's lying to you when you can prove she is.

She might not, we have 6 cameras but they’re quite discreet.

If she doesn’t, she did know my DH was home and so would know how long she was there!

I feel uneasy about confronting it as clearly she’s lying but she’s on her own in my home. I think you have to have an element of trust to allow people in your home on their own.

OP posts:
RudsyFarmer · 17/01/2023 16:06

She’s mistaken kindness for weakness.

IglesiasPiggl · 17/01/2023 16:10

This is quite an odd set up. It would be much simpler to pay her what she charges, have a set amount of time each week and a set list of tasks. Having the leeway has lead to her taking the mick.

Roundabout78 · 17/01/2023 16:12

I would find a new cleaner. Dishonestly is a massive no for me. It is essentially stealing- she is billing you for time she hasnt worked.

Original poster
DinoHat · 17/01/2023 16:12

IglesiasPiggl · 17/01/2023 16:10

This is quite an odd set up. It would be much simpler to pay her what she charges, have a set amount of time each week and a set list of tasks. Having the leeway has lead to her taking the mick.

It’s not really odd - I told her that I appreciate she works fast and decided she was better value at £15 p/h than someone who can’t get it done in 3-4 hours but charges the same. I’ve had cleaners who can’t get to all the room in that time so when she started I wanted to keep hold of her, as by contrast to the others she was much better.

She has a set list of tasks that we agreed at the outset. But occasionally I’ll ask her to do adhoc bits. I don’t think that’s especially unusual?

OP posts:
amonsteronthehill · 17/01/2023 16:15

She's stealing from you.

That is how you need to look at it.

Get ride of her. Tell her why if she asks.

Original poster
DinoHat · 17/01/2023 16:15

Roundabout78 · 17/01/2023 16:12

I would find a new cleaner. Dishonestly is a massive no for me. It is essentially stealing- she is billing you for time she hasnt worked.

I think I’m reaching that conclusion - only issue is that when she’s on it she’s really good! Much better than other cleaners who you can barely tell have been!

OP posts:
littlelid · 17/01/2023 16:18

Don't let her back into your house.

She's not trustworthy.

Roundabout78 · 17/01/2023 16:18

DinoHat · 17/01/2023 16:15

I think I’m reaching that conclusion - only issue is that when she’s on it she’s really good! Much better than other cleaners who you can barely tell have been!

Show quote history

It’s such a dilemma isn’t it.
Any chance she’s made a mistake, and calculated the hours wrong? I’m grasping at straws here 😂 just wondering whether it’s worth a frank conversation.

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