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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Cleaner being cheeky?

123 replies

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 14:36

A bit of context to begin, my cleaner is not from the uk she’s from a Spanish speaking country I am from the uk but can speak Spanish. She has lived here 7/8 years and worked from me nearly 2 years now. I have two children under two both myself and DP work full time but I mostly wfh.

My cleaner regularly asks me to buy her and her family plane tickets, and recently has just asked me again, this is maybe the 6th time. At first I was happy to help as she fed me a whole story, she can’t speak English and finds it difficult to book and so I was happy to help.

Second time same deal and I didn’t think anything of it.

Third time she asked I asked her how she managed all the years before me to book flights and she said she used an agency but they charged her - fair enough but was starting to annoy me a little because she was using an hour of cleaning time to sit with me look for the best deals on flight etc.

Fourth time she asked I reluctantly helped her but also put the Ryanair app on her phone and Skyscanner in Spanish and showed her how to use it. This time she calls me up when she needed to check into her flight and asks me to check her family in.

This also happens on the 5th time she asks and also asks me to buy her extra luggage. When I asked her why she can’t use the app she says it doesn’t let her search?!

she now wants me to look again in my own time she’s just this morning sent me the dates and said she still can’t do it. She also never pays me the money as they first few times I told her that she could just work off what she owes me but I’m getting a bit fed up. DP thinks I’m a totally pushover which I am really I hate saying no to people but I don’t know what to do now?

so AIBU - just help her out and buy her the ticket

or

yanbu - tell her to figure it out on her own.

OP posts:
Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 16:35

She’s definitely not illiterate, I keep in contact with her via whatsapp but in Spanish. She says she can’t because her English isn’t good enough.

OP posts:
determinedtomakethiswork · 26/06/2023 16:38

So she comes into your house and wastes an hour of your time getting you to look for cheap flight. Then you pay for the flight and she doesn't pay you back and she doesn't do the cleaning either? Is that right?

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 16:39

@TulipCat unfortunately not, massive wet lettuce here 😥

OP posts:
Handholdplease85 · 26/06/2023 16:39

Sorry I don’t believe this can be real no one is this much of a pushover surely?!

IglesiasPiggl · 26/06/2023 16:40

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 16:35

She’s definitely not illiterate, I keep in contact with her via whatsapp but in Spanish. She says she can’t because her English isn’t good enough.

I assume with English this poor that she has a Spanish speaking friendship network. One of them will be able to translate for her.

Coka · 26/06/2023 16:43

Struggling to beleive this is real. But if it is be very careful because its very likely she will disappear as soon as you stop buying her flights leaving u out of pocket

Wendysfriend · 26/06/2023 16:44

No way is this real.... 🙈 Seriously if it is can I have a job, free flights for everyone, paid for a job I don't have to do, free PA to check me and my family on flights. 😂😂 I never call a thread out here but this is 🐂 💩

Clymene · 26/06/2023 16:44

You can change the Ryanair website to any of about 80 languages.

You know she's only asking you to help because she wants you to pay, right? She's taking you for a mug

cantgetabus · 26/06/2023 16:45

Wendysfriend · 26/06/2023 16:44

No way is this real.... 🙈 Seriously if it is can I have a job, free flights for everyone, paid for a job I don't have to do, free PA to check me and my family on flights. 😂😂 I never call a thread out here but this is 🐂 💩

Agree

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 16:57

@Handholdplease85 yes they can because I have been, I thought I was doing something nice and helping out but obviously it’s gone too far

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 26/06/2023 17:03

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 16:29

The first two times I told her she could just work it off but since then she has not offered to send me the money (she has my bank details) or I’ve just missed her

So you've paid??

She's seen you coming!

Nanny0gg · 26/06/2023 17:04

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 16:39

@TulipCat unfortunately not, massive wet lettuce here 😥

I'm sorry, I'm trying really hard not to be rude here.

If you can't deal with something like this you're best not employing anyone.

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 17:08

@Wendysfriend she doesn’t owe me anything as of today and the flights are not ‘free’. I usually pay her weekly so whenever I have bought her flights in the past she has just worked it off.

OP posts:
JeandeServiette · 26/06/2023 17:09

Well if you consider yourself that much of a wet lettuce, you're doomed because you won't be able to fire her either. You might as well book yourself a ticket and join her on holiday, since you're paying.

hollybubs · 26/06/2023 17:09

No, this can't be real.

But if it is, OP, could you pay my rent this month? Thanks!

ThunderStormPlease · 26/06/2023 17:11

Just say sorry you won't be doing it anymore you can't afford to pay for the flights.

That said want to pay my rent for the next 12 months I'll clean your house two hours week for free. Wink

ApplesInTheSunshine · 26/06/2023 17:14

YABU for being annoyed at her when you’re the one allowing this to happen.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/06/2023 17:17

she doesn’t owe me anything as of today

Thank god for that Hmm

Obviously you need to say you expect her to clean when she's at yours rather than fannying around over flights, but if you're determined not to do this just say you've decided not to have a cleaner any more, wave goodbye ... and then get someone else

Leo1195 · 26/06/2023 17:18

@ApplesInTheSunshine I have tried to stop it by downloading the apps on to her phone and showing her how to use them but I guess you’re right i shouldn’t have let it get this far.

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 26/06/2023 17:20

Yes, OP, you must continue to do this I’m afraid. Under no circumstances would it be fair for you to ever stop doing it at any time. I’m surprised you’re even asking TBF.

LoisPrice · 26/06/2023 17:23

Y9u explain it stops you from working and getting paid, so you'll need her to clean for free for an hour.... see if she wants you to still do it for you?

EdieLedwell · 26/06/2023 17:24

This is a situation I could totally see myself ending up in and in fact have been in before.

My neighbour used to ask me to do shit like this too, all the time. Paying her phone bill, booking flights etc and I was always waiting weeks for the money.

I ended up saying i couldn't afford to do it.

She didn't believe me, but it stopped.

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 26/06/2023 17:26

I cannot believe people are this drippy. I’m sorry OP, but come on. You must get ridden roughshod over on a regular basis.

Beaverbridge · 26/06/2023 17:29

Wtf?!!. I was a domestic cleaner, most I ever got apart from my wages, were clothes the rich ladies were clearing out!!!.

itsmeagainagain · 26/06/2023 17:32

Is your cleaner Hilaria Baldwin?