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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish my cleaner would stop with the reminders?

268 replies

JMSA · 28/11/2023 20:39

I have a cleaner who cleans my flat on a fortnightly basis. Usually I'm at work when she comes, but we've always got on really well on the occasions I've caught her. I'm really considerate and always have my place tidy and ready for her to clean. I'm always flexible and genuinely really appreciate her.
One thing I've genuinely never let her down with is payment. The money will always be transferred on the evening of the day she has come. I've never let her down on this, not once.
Today I bumped into her as she was leaving my place and I was getting home from work. Two hours later, when I was in the middle of making the kids' dinner, there was a message from her asking me to pay. I don't think there's any need for this, when I'm trustworthy and reliable every single time.
I don't set up a standing order because I'd rather just pay on the day she comes. This keeps me right in case she ever has to change day.
AIBU?

OP posts:
CrashyTime · 28/11/2023 21:31

penjil · 28/11/2023 21:25

And to think most of us have to work a month in arrears! 🙄

Show quote history

People used to leave cash for the cleaner under a plant pot or on the mantlepiece didn`t they?

ChilledToTheBone · 28/11/2023 21:31

Either standing order or cash out.

If a garage fixed your car, you wouldn't drive away and pay later. They've done a service, so you pay immediately.
Same with cleaner. Money is tight foe everyone.

WonderingWanda · 28/11/2023 21:31

Think of it as an invoice, you wouldn't moan if you got one of those.

flowerchild2000 · 28/11/2023 21:32

You should be paying her immediately, either cash left for her or as soon as you come home. She shouldn't have to remind you and she's probably tired of the late payments. I've done cleaning on the side since 1997 or so and it's always been this way.

Guesswho88 · 28/11/2023 21:33

This would annoy me too, tbf, and I used to be a cleaner! I never hassled people unless they had let me down.

flowerchild2000 · 28/11/2023 21:34

It's OTT to make a public post about this when she's only sent you a reminder one time. Who gets worked up over 1 text? That's really strange. Leave her cash from now on, it's the standard.

Londonrach1 · 28/11/2023 21:34

Yanbu. I'd be cross by that too. I'd pop cash in envelope from now on or find another cleaner...not had a cleaner ever. .slight ott I think for cleaner to chase so quick. I run my own business and never chase that quick as it's rude. Tbh huge red flag to me but might just be me.

notahappybunny7 · 28/11/2023 21:35

Sensibleandboring · 28/11/2023 21:08

My cleaner does the same, and I always pay same day & don’t need a reminder, it’s very grating isn’t it

It’s very grating to work and then have to wait to be paid, why can’t you do it straightaway?

flowerchild2000 · 28/11/2023 21:36

Londonrach1 · 28/11/2023 21:34

Yanbu. I'd be cross by that too. I'd pop cash in envelope from now on or find another cleaner...not had a cleaner ever. .slight ott I think for cleaner to chase so quick. I run my own business and never chase that quick as it's rude. Tbh huge red flag to me but might just be me.

Edited

If you've never had a cleaner, what exactly is your frame of reference?

Pixieproblems · 28/11/2023 21:36

Surely the same day is fine whether it’s one minute after finishing or a few hours later as long as it’s the same day !

goodbyestranger · 28/11/2023 21:36

It seems very untrusting to wait until the evening after she's been. Leave cash out which she can take when she leaves.

Ktime · 28/11/2023 21:37

YABU, you need to pay her soon after she’s cleaned.

Why can’t you pay her before you start cooking?!

It takes 30 seconds!

It’s like you want her to wait for payment out of a sense of trust. Whereas in her mind, she reminds you and you pay her in the evening.

CrashyTime · 28/11/2023 21:38

notahappybunny7 · 28/11/2023 21:35

It’s very grating to work and then have to wait to be paid, why can’t you do it straightaway?

Show quote history

Most people get paid monthly?

Ktime · 28/11/2023 21:38

Londonrach1 · 28/11/2023 21:34

Yanbu. I'd be cross by that too. I'd pop cash in envelope from now on or find another cleaner...not had a cleaner ever. .slight ott I think for cleaner to chase so quick. I run my own business and never chase that quick as it's rude. Tbh huge red flag to me but might just be me.

Edited

It’s not a huge red flag to want to be paid straight after a clean. 🙄

Irisborn · 28/11/2023 21:39

If you don’t want reminders, pay when payment is due, ie immediately after she finished the clean.

Two hours delay may be nothing to you but clearly it matters to her.

Growing up my best friend’s mum was a cleaner. My friend often couldn’t afford the bus fare to school because her mum’s customers hadn’t bothered to pay yet.

Potentialmadcatlady · 28/11/2023 21:41

I‘m still waiting for payment for cat minding I finished 48hours ago… I need that money and I’m going to have to chase it up- it’s hateful and stressful… your cleaner probably sends reminders to everyone and I don’t blame her. Why don’t you try paying her as soon as you know she has been rather than later in the evening.. no reminders needed then

EasternStandard · 28/11/2023 21:43

Potentialmadcatlady · 28/11/2023 21:41

I‘m still waiting for payment for cat minding I finished 48hours ago… I need that money and I’m going to have to chase it up- it’s hateful and stressful… your cleaner probably sends reminders to everyone and I don’t blame her. Why don’t you try paying her as soon as you know she has been rather than later in the evening.. no reminders needed then

Anyone who’s been SE knows how annoying and powerless you can feel with a late payment. I hope you get it soon

Op just do it without a gap

Todaysproblem · 28/11/2023 21:44

😔

Mariposista · 28/11/2023 21:46

AppleKatie · 28/11/2023 20:59

My cleaner insists on payment the day before.

And quite right too - otherwise what is to stop the client coming up with the old 'it's not convenient for us today' on the day and she misses out on her pay.

Xenia · 28/11/2023 21:46

When I had one we left the cash there on the day. If she didn't turn up she didn't get it. If she did turn up she took it when she left. That seemed to work quite well except I had the hassle of drawing out cash.

PurpleBugz · 28/11/2023 21:46

I mostly paid cleaners before they finished. One was monthly invoice.

I'be worked as a self employed nanny. One main job it's fine to wait till end of month to get paid, you have a contract and you know you will be paid, but lots of little jobs you need promptly paying especially at the start because it's low wage and if you are not paid you can't put fuel in the car or buy food etc. Ive crossed paths with a few cleaners in my work and seems a common theme around where I live they have to chase for money far too frequently.

Middleagedmeangirls · 28/11/2023 21:54

I always transfer the money as the cleaner leaves the house. I've had at least two who relied on the money I gave them to pay for that days food shop for their families.
I don't think a text reminder is unreasonable.

Ireolu · 28/11/2023 21:54

In the last 8 weeks my cleaner has cancelled 3 times on the day sometimes with an hour's notice and on 1 occasion told me 1 week in advance she wouldn't be coming. I pay her after she has been as she has become unreliable. I pay her a couple of hours after she has gone as I am usually at work and we don't carry cash. The one time she sent a reminder, I sent evidence that I had indeed paid her the day before which she confirmed after checking her accounts properly....I clearly need to find a cleaner that is reliable enough to pay the day before.

I think if you pay regularly on the day of the clean a text reminder is unreasonable. If you are a repeat non payer then it's not unreasonable.

AppleKatie · 28/11/2023 21:57

And quite right too - otherwise what is to stop the client coming up with the old 'it's not convenient for us today' on the day and she misses out on her pay.

quite.

Although I do pay over the odds and have cleaners from a company- the company guarantees their wages/pays sick pay etc…

I choose to have fortnightly cleaning and pay extra instead of pay less weekly. I’m lucky to have the luxury of that choice though and appreciate not everyone does.

(it’s not totally altruistic it makes for a much more reliable and consistent service overall)

Zaney40 · 28/11/2023 22:00

Have a read of your contract, it could be that she expects you to pay say 48 hours before hand to fit in with her cancellation policy. In which case she's sending you the reminder as you're paying late. Just a thought.

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