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Original poster

Cleaner left 40 minutes early because I wasn't home

357 replies

Scarletthoo2 · 18/04/2023 14:23

Our cleaner only did 1 hour and 20 minutes when I pay her for 2 hours. She doesn't realise I have a ring doorbell and majority of the time I'm working from home so I know when she arrives and leaves. However, I'm away for work and she is aware of that. I caught her arriving at 11:33 and leaving at 12:53. I'm obviously really pissed off about it. Do I mention it to her and let her know I can see her or just send her half of the money? She left 40 minutes early.

OP posts:
30slife · 19/04/2023 18:27

Hi, I own a cleaning company and this would be a big no-no to me. Many clients report of past cleaners doing this, or other people we know with other cleaners are doing/have done this and it completely breaches trust.

However, personally I'd agree with a first approach of sending a message as some others have suggested saying you got a notification she left early, hope everything was ok. I'd see what she said in response and if it was some kind of emergency, I'd then say ok but can you please send me a message if that happens in the future (particularly if significant time has passed, then I'd expect someone to have time to notify there was an emergency. Perhaps not right away if it's something urgent, but definitely to get in touch ASAP before you have the opportunity to pay her)

If she doesn't state emergency and you figure it's from doing the job quicker, she still should be staying the full agreed duration, in which case I'd suggest what other tasks she could do to make up the time if this happens in future, or to use her initiative and do extras she saw fit up until the time. Either that or if she is unwilling or turns out she'd prefer to revise the time allocated, then suggest cutting the time & therefore cost down.

If she's not let you down knowingly before, I'd do that and by communicating so, you make it clear this isn't what you agreed to. After the response I'd ask what I owe her for the 1 hour 20 mins and go from there.

Definitely best to have clear communication straight away, you're paying for a service at the end of the day, charged by the hour.

manticlimactic0 · 19/04/2023 18:39

Scarletthoo2 · 18/04/2023 16:27

So my cleaner has lied. Saying she left at 1:30 when I can see she clearly left at 12:33 on my camera...

Just in case ,I'm putting this out there andninknow nothing about ring doorbells

Is there a time difference where you are?

manticlimactic0 · 19/04/2023 18:42

And i also know nothing about using the right keys 😂

30slife · 19/04/2023 18:45

😂😂😂 You're welcome! I hit post too early! 😬

AnnieSnap · 19/04/2023 19:08

gamerchick · 18/04/2023 14:25

Message her you understand if she had an emergency and had to leave early and would she be going back to finish.

☝️ this is a good response

Poppingmad123 · 19/04/2023 19:24

I hear this a lot with cleaners. She may simply tell you she got everything done in less time. If this was true, I’d prefer them to stay on and find more to clean as they’re paid for 2 hours and not simply leave. I also find that if you don’t explicitly state what you want cleaned, they won’t use their common sense and see what else needs doing! They’ll just do exactly what’s asked and ignore the pile of dust etc blatantly staring at them!

Tabitha1960 · 19/04/2023 19:29

If she says she got the whole job done in 1hr 20 then from now onwards only pay her for 1 hr 20.

SmileyClare · 19/04/2023 19:41

Where do people source these cleaners with no common sense that ignore dust and pretend to clean? I can’t stress how important it is to go on recommendation and refs.

Sounds like you need someone who loves cleaning, there are many like me that get a huge buzz of turning round a house and leaving every room looking Wow.

I love a happy customer.

I put my ear buds and gym clothes on and just get into it. Worth paying the top rate going to get good service imo.

Generally self employed work out cheaper and perhaps take their work more seriously than agency staff because it’s their own business and they rely on word of mouth?

MeridaBrave · 19/04/2023 19:47

If you are paying her by the hour (and not for the job) then it sounds like she is an employee, and so you are paying paye etc. if that’s the case I would challenge her on it, that she’s employed to work or 2 hours and you know if was less. If she is self employed and you are paying without deductions I think just suck it up if she did the work.

SmileyClare · 19/04/2023 19:49

I must admit I’d be annoyed if a client started breaking my rate down and paying by the minute should I for once in a blue moon manage to finish a bit early.

Particularly as I’ll often round down to the nearest hour if I go over time.

My clients are all lovely though. They all know I charge to the nearest hour so if they want 40 mins extra they’re paying for an hour.
Ive been doing this too long to be micromanaged and timed per minute.

letsallmeetupinthehyear2000 · 19/04/2023 20:44

I agree - I would ask her about it - say something like my camera sends me a text when someone is entering and leaving property. See what her explanation is and I think you need to look for another cleaner. Trust us everything and if she took less time to do the work she should have told you.

letsallmeetupinthehyear2000 · 19/04/2023 20:54

Forgot to say - similar thing happened with my dog walker few years ago. Ring camera notified dog being “dragged” back to house after 25 mins - I paid for 1 hour. Called company they categorically denied it. Told them in a nice way I was notified by ring camera then they said - oh there was an emergency something to do with someone’s grandad. So I let it go - next time - same thing happened again - told them I wouldn’t need their services anymore. I felt so sorry for the dog because he was literally so unhappy at being dragged along at a rate of knots ( he had been taken to post office and back apparently / no country fields or grass to do his business on 😱

SmileyClare · 19/04/2023 21:10

I’m surprised how many workers don’t know what a RingDoorBell looks like or how it works. Clearly they’re not the sharpest tools in the box. Confused

You were totally justified in complaining/ not using the dog walking agency @letsallmeetupinthehyear2000.
I can’t help thinking a sole trader would provide a better service and show more care?

Its a shame because the bad pennies seem to give people that take pride in doing a good job, a bad name Sad

SmileyClare · 19/04/2023 21:18

I started cleaning for a retired couple two years ago and on my first day found a wad of notes under a sofa cushion. I handed it to my customers, they thanked me and acted suitably muddled about how it got there.

A few weeks later they admitted it was a “test” and I’d passed.

All a bit strange but they’re actually lovely people to work for and treat me very well, even paying me for two weeks when I was off with a slipped disc.

Its a shame they felt they had to view me with such suspicion when I started 😂

Poodles23 · 19/04/2023 21:41

I’ve got the same problem with my window cleaner, I have cctv at the front and they take ladder round the side (out of view), stand there for one minute then come back. There’s no way they could have cleaned my back windows plus climbing up and down a ladder in one minute. They’re thick to think I won’t notice, and even thicker because my car’s on the drive so I’m usually in anyway to see them. They don’t even ring my doorbell to check if I’m in or not! I’m now going to wait to see them come next time and either cancel them or just pay for the front where I can monitor them.

Macinae · 19/04/2023 21:51

If she was using this as an opportunity to slack off as you weren't home, notifying her you have a doorbell camera may just mean next time she sits on your sofa scrolling on her phone for 40 minutes instead of leaving, which is even worse.

Text her and ask how she got on. Maybe she'll say I got it done in less time, in which case you'll know she's honest.

Macinae · 19/04/2023 21:55

Sorry OP, just caught up on your replies. Shame she lied and I don't know how someone could lose 40 minutes. Surely she knew she normally takes the full 2 hours so took a moment to double check the time?!

Ffswhatsthepoint · 19/04/2023 22:04

Bunnyhair · 18/04/2023 19:07

God I couldn’t give less of a shit as long as the house is clean.

Same.

Ffswhatsthepoint · 19/04/2023 22:05

LadyJ2023 · 18/04/2023 19:23

Most cleaners in my area charge per job not per hour anymore. So if its at a good standard then no complaints no matter how long or short a time it takes

Most cleaners where I am charge by the job, not time. And have done for years.

changeme4this · 19/04/2023 22:21

I also pay my cleaner for 2 hours work, not for a set amount of chores, and this happened to me last week as well, although it was 15 minutes shorter.

so as I was here, I asked her to go and clean up in a bathroom rarely used, she claimed in the 15 minutes left she wouldn’t have time but would do it next week. So I will be ensuring she is here for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

the previous week she was also 15 minutes short of her 2 hours. It’s not the first time and I pointed out we have cameras on the internet so the times are not out.

what I noticed though on the “short” days is lots of banging of cupboard doors and general huffing and puffing from other rooms, I suspect she is racing around to get set chores done rather than work to the full 2 hours. I too make ours a coffee served with a biscuit, and stop for a chat. Last week I didn’t as I was so peeved that she also turned up late.. I also agreed to move cleaning day forward as she was going away for our normal day, which meant cleaning only 4 days after the previous clean. Got her to do vacuuming and internal windows and mirrors which haven’t been done for a while.

I too am going to give her notice if it happens again…. she also doesn’t know I’m away next month so as I change around for her holidays I will give her the choice to change around for mine or just not work.

Winnipeg23 · 19/04/2023 22:41

If you have been happy with her and her work I'd just let it go. Pay her.
If the place is substandard when u get home, get a new cleaner.
If.she wanted to she could have just sat doing nothing in the house for an extra 40 mins and u wudnt have been any the wiser.
If u make an issue u will lose her. So decide if it's worth it

MarceyMc · 19/04/2023 22:54

changeme4this · 19/04/2023 22:21

I also pay my cleaner for 2 hours work, not for a set amount of chores, and this happened to me last week as well, although it was 15 minutes shorter.

so as I was here, I asked her to go and clean up in a bathroom rarely used, she claimed in the 15 minutes left she wouldn’t have time but would do it next week. So I will be ensuring she is here for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

the previous week she was also 15 minutes short of her 2 hours. It’s not the first time and I pointed out we have cameras on the internet so the times are not out.

what I noticed though on the “short” days is lots of banging of cupboard doors and general huffing and puffing from other rooms, I suspect she is racing around to get set chores done rather than work to the full 2 hours. I too make ours a coffee served with a biscuit, and stop for a chat. Last week I didn’t as I was so peeved that she also turned up late.. I also agreed to move cleaning day forward as she was going away for our normal day, which meant cleaning only 4 days after the previous clean. Got her to do vacuuming and internal windows and mirrors which haven’t been done for a while.

I too am going to give her notice if it happens again…. she also doesn’t know I’m away next month so as I change around for her holidays I will give her the choice to change around for mine or just not work.

You sound delightful Confused

SmileyClare · 19/04/2023 23:27

She’s huffing and puffing racing around to get set chores done 15 minutes quicker

Does it really matter if she’s working harder and faster to get the task done? Seems a bit off to punish a faster no less efficient pace by piling on extra chores.

Would you treat a trade the same, say a decorator arranged to paint your front room if he finished an hour early on his last day and was charging a day’s labour? Maybe get him to paint a bit of your downstairs loo? Confused

Just dock the coffee and biscuit break you have factored in. I wouldn’t need or want a break on a 2 hour clean, I’d rather crack on and finish a few minutes earlier to be honest.

Notice periods not necessary for self employed. I would decline that and move on to another client to avoid a hostile atmosphere.

changeme4this · 19/04/2023 23:33

SmileyClare · 19/04/2023 23:27

She’s huffing and puffing racing around to get set chores done 15 minutes quicker

Does it really matter if she’s working harder and faster to get the task done? Seems a bit off to punish a faster no less efficient pace by piling on extra chores.

Would you treat a trade the same, say a decorator arranged to paint your front room if he finished an hour early on his last day and was charging a day’s labour? Maybe get him to paint a bit of your downstairs loo? Confused

Just dock the coffee and biscuit break you have factored in. I wouldn’t need or want a break on a 2 hour clean, I’d rather crack on and finish a few minutes earlier to be honest.

Notice periods not necessary for self employed. I would decline that and move on to another client to avoid a hostile atmosphere.

builders that I deal with charge per job regardless of time factor.

in this case both the OP and I have an agreed payment with cleaners covering 2 hours of cleaning. I certainly don’t expect the entire house to be done, but for there to be consistency in what is being done in the time being paid for.

if the cleaner wants to change the payment terms to cover only certain chores being undertaken, then I’m happy to discuss what that involves and how much.

BaconChops · 19/04/2023 23:55

Yes of course you mention it. Hi, noticed you needed to leave 40 mins early, hope all is okay? Happy for you to take it off the bill or work back, whichever suits….. - I’d send that text and get ahead of the issue