Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cancel clean and expect not to pay?

89 replies

Purplepricklesonherback · 09/11/2023 17:21

DS has come down with vomiting bug. Our cleaner is due tomorrow. I have messaged her ti cancel as would hate her to pick it up.

she has replied saying her policy is cancellations with less than 24 hrs notice is full payment for the clean (£60).

I understand this - I really do - but in last six weeks she has cancelled the clean on the day of twice. Once due to car trouble and once because her partner was ill of something. Both times I said no problem as understand things do come up.

I haven’t ever signed a contract. She’s been cleaning for us for about four months.

I will pay - not worth upsetting apple cart and I do get things are tough at the moment - but AIBU to feel a bit miffed? Can’t work it out!

OP posts:
nibblessquibbles · 10/11/2023 08:03

I'd pay also. But do point out that youwere not aware of her cancellation policy in advance.

Her prev cancellations on you are just a separate thing.

booksandbrooks · 10/11/2023 08:15

Turefu · 10/11/2023 07:17

I used to be a cleaner and this thread reminds me , why I’m not now. People complain how hard is to find a good cleaner, but are not prepared to treat them respectfully. Cleaner’s car broke down, how dared she didn’t come?! Why she simply didn’t grow wings?! And her child being sick?!! She thought her child’s health was more important than someone’s house being cleaned! How unreliable she is! Things like that happen and while mildly annoying, they don’t affect your income. Customer cancelling in the last minute is. If you had an appointment at the lawyers or accountant and had to cancel last minute, you’d be asked to pay cancellation fee and that would be fine. For some reasons cleaner asking for cancellation fee is called CF.

This!

Although I'd also offer the cleaner to come anyway. Just say you haven't had chance to tidy properly but ask her to help/ do what she can.

Setyoufree · 10/11/2023 08:19

Just say "oh well in that case, please do come anyway, child will be in their bedroom so no problem"

Turefu · 10/11/2023 08:42

@THisbackwithavengeance , why do you think only because it's cash it won't be declared and taxed? Many customers paid me in cash and I declared it. I had a bookkeeping system in place. Perhaps OP's cleaner does the same.

WimpoleHat · 10/11/2023 08:47

Maddy70 · 09/11/2023 17:45

I wouldn't pay. I would say that you didn't realise there is a cancellation policy as she has cancelled with short notice herself. I would say come by all means tomorrow then bit I was trying to prevent you from being ill.

I would them cancel for next week and not have her back

This is great advice. Phrase it as “sorry - just thinking of you, but please come by all means - would be great to have a lovely clean house at the moment!”

And watch her cancel on you!

Weridmouse · 10/11/2023 09:21

Why are cleaners treated differently to other services. I need to give dentist 48 hour or they charge ( they can fill space).
My DD driving instructor requires payment latest full 48 hours before lesson.
If you don’t like T&T cancel cleaner with required notice and find someone else.

Q2C4 · 10/11/2023 09:43

We have a brilliant cleaner who is worth her weight in gold. I pay her if we cancel on her but in return she usually tries to find an alternative slot to come & do the clean for us.

Turefu · 10/11/2023 09:46

Many people assumes cleaner will cancel because OP's DS had vomiting bug. I wonder why? It's never bothered me or other cleaners I know. Sick person simply stayed in their room and I didn't go there. Will OP's entire family stop their usual activities because of it? OP, her partner won't go to work, other children won't go to school? Many cleaners have their own precausion plan for cases like that.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 10/11/2023 10:02

I had this situation - child with DV bug. I let my cleaner know - she was grateful as not everyone did. We re-arranged for another day/time. So I had my clean, she was paid. No hard feelings - neither of us wanted her to catch the bug. It was a quick text conversation

Lampzade · 10/11/2023 10:03

Turefu · 10/11/2023 07:17

I used to be a cleaner and this thread reminds me , why I’m not now. People complain how hard is to find a good cleaner, but are not prepared to treat them respectfully. Cleaner’s car broke down, how dared she didn’t come?! Why she simply didn’t grow wings?! And her child being sick?!! She thought her child’s health was more important than someone’s house being cleaned! How unreliable she is! Things like that happen and while mildly annoying, they don’t affect your income. Customer cancelling in the last minute is. If you had an appointment at the lawyers or accountant and had to cancel last minute, you’d be asked to pay cancellation fee and that would be fine. For some reasons cleaner asking for cancellation fee is called CF.

Exactly
It is a type of snobbery imo. The cleaner‘s time isn’t seen as important.
The irony is that Op has had other cleaners who were not very good and now that she has a decent cleaner she is taking her for granted.
I have a fantastic cleaner who I pay well. If I cancel within twenty four hours I pay her the full amount. Even if she refused this , I would still pay her because she is bloody good at her job and I appreciate her.
Op, don’t make an issue of this.If the cleaner gets wind of the fact that you resent paying her, she may dump you and you may find it difficult to get another decent cleaner

35965a · 10/11/2023 10:16

I am so surprised by many answers here. I’m pretty much any appointment if you cancel last minute you pay. If they cancel on you, E.g when OPs cleaner had her car break down, you don’t pay. I thought that was very common.

When I had driving lessons a few years ago I had a bug so cancelled my lesson with about 24 hours notice. He didn’t even ask me to pay but I did anyway because it was me messing up his earnings that day and I’m not a dick.

Rumplestiltz · 10/11/2023 10:28

I find it really depressing the number of people who think YANBU!
her cancelling is a completely different issue - you are not out of pocket for that, but you cancelling on her means she is. As pp has said, it’s as if a cleaner (mainly female) work is without value in a way you would not treat any other profession

Original poster
Purplepricklesonherback · 10/11/2023 10:54

Hello

thanks everyone for their thoughts. To be clear I am going to pay and I don’t think she isn’t worthy of the pay. As I said in OP I totally understand why she has that policy in place and wouldn’t normally expect not to pay. It was only because she has cancelled on me last minute twice (did not reschedule, just cancelled). Someone said upthread that I am taking cleaner for granted. Not sure where that comes from?

someone else said I’m being unreasonable being annoyed when she cancelled because car broke down/partner got Ill. As I said in OP - I wasn’t annoyed. Understand life happens, expressed sympathy at annoying situation, didn’t make an issue out of it. I think I was just expecting similar attitude back. But there we go.

had no sleep so will leave it there! Thanks again for thoughts, helps me see both sides

OP posts:
ManchesterLu · 10/11/2023 11:05

The easy way to do it is to say she can come if she wants, but to be aware that there is a contagious bug in the house. That way, it's HER who's cancelled it, not you.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page