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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

New cleaner - payment

25 replies

Bunny2021 · 12/12/2023 11:57

We’ve finally found a new cleaner that fits our requirements and is reasonably priced.

They came to do the first clean last week. When we booked them, we were advised that the first clean wouldn’t be as thorough whilst they get used to the house etc. (I should point out our house is a small 3 bed terrace).

They were running slightly late on the day. They’re scheduled to do 2 hours. They did 1 hour 10. We’ve just got the invoice through and they’ve charged us for the full 2 hours.

Part of me wants to push back on the invoice as it was clearly not 2 hours (confirmed by our nest doorbell). On the other hand, they did a really good job when they were here. Our bathrooms have never looked better and I’m worried about pushing back on the first invoice.

YABU - just pay the full amount and don’t rock the boat.

YANBU - you should only pay for the amount of work they did.

OP posts:

DupontsYellowDressingGown · 12/12/2023 11:58

If you just pay it then they might try this each time. Set the expectations now.

merrymerrychristmasall · 12/12/2023 12:02

You have to be clear if it a job done that you want or hours worked. It will never ever work unless you specify that you expect the cleaner (no matter how fast they clean) to stay for 2 hours.

I found it’s all about the same, I get better cleaners if they know the work expected and can work efficiently to get out quickly than asking one to prolong the same tasks into 2 hours.

3milyJ · 12/12/2023 12:02

I'd pay the full amount for a job well done. If they took an hour ten to do a good job why not just book them for an hour next time? If you have a small house, two hours may just not be necessary.

DGPP · 12/12/2023 12:04

An hour and 10 to do a 3 bed house?? That’s a joke. I’d write saying you didn’t do the full two hours. Happy to pay this time hut can you stay and clean the full 2 hours from now on? Then it’s up to them

Lolloped · 12/12/2023 12:05

Was it one cleaner or 2? We have 2 cleaners come for 1 hour but obviously pay for 2 hours as they both need paying. Tbh if I was happy with the clean I’d stick with them. I’d rather have a good cleaner than a rubbish one.

Gnomegnomegnome · 12/12/2023 12:09

Was there two of them? So an hour each meaning that they haven’t charged you for the extra?

Start the way that you mean to go on. Question it, ask why it says two hours.

SandraDeee · 12/12/2023 12:11

Each person there worked one hour 10 minutes, so you were charged two hours for a job that took two hours twenty minutes.

NCgoingdry · 12/12/2023 12:14

SandraDeee · 12/12/2023 12:11

Each person there worked one hour 10 minutes, so you were charged two hours for a job that took two hours twenty minutes.

This. I'm struggling to understand the issue.

You paid for 2 hours and got an excellent clean and additional time free??

F1ymetothetoon · 12/12/2023 12:24

I read it as just the one cleaner but the OP is using they/them to be gender neutral rather than meaning two cleaners. Could be wrong though!

Chamomileteaplease · 12/12/2023 12:32

Start as you mean to go on - if you pay almost double now they will think they can cheat you every time. Be clear that you have asked for two hours cleaning and that is what you want to pay for. You can still say you thought they did a good job.

I don't get the people who say, well if the job was finished in an hour ten then what's the difference between that and a slower person taking two hours? A cleaning job can never be finished surely? There is always something else they could be doing. Anyway, you are paying by the hour so they should work by the hour.

merrymerrychristmasall · 12/12/2023 12:52

I don’t get the people who say, well if the job was finished in an hour ten then what's the difference between that and a slower person taking two hours?

Either it is task driven or time driven. I have a general task list and ad hoc project list that is done per visit. But that’s really irrelevant as the cleaner has worked a long time and does the required work in whatever time she wants to take so we don’t use the list. If I ask for additional tasks then I pay extra.

I would rather have her here less time, work faster and be task driven. Each to their own

itsmylife7 · 12/12/2023 13:06

Can you clarify how many people cleaned?

They/them....more than one ?

This is why correct grammar matters .

GreenJellyBean92 · 12/12/2023 14:18

I am a cleaner, i charge per slot so 2 hours would be a slot. I don't do hourly rates because clients tend to expect more for less these days.I work very hard and sometimes i can be much faster than other times.

If the job was done then yes they should be paid for sure. If anything was missed or you was unhappy with then dispute this.

Some of these comments i find funny. Clients forget they are not employers, they are clients 😁🫣

CantFindTheBeat · 12/12/2023 14:22

You could just clarify what the arrangement is.

If it's 'we get as much done in the 2 hours', then you'd be right to ask them to complete additional (pre-agreed) tasks in the extra time.

If it's 'clean kitchen, bathroom, toilet and hoover throughout', then if it's done to a great standard, I would'nt care how quickly it was done.

ActDottie · 12/12/2023 14:55

DupontsYellowDressingGown · 12/12/2023 11:58

If you just pay it then they might try this each time. Set the expectations now.

This she may think she can get away with hour ten every week.

Sexlivesofthepotatomen · 12/12/2023 14:58

'They' would suggest that there was more than 1, if so, they have done more than the required time

NancyMaloni · 12/12/2023 14:58

Good cleaners are hard to find, just consider yourself lucky

Littlecatonthefence · 12/12/2023 15:00

As others said, 2 people equals 1 hour each so 2 hours total.

margotrose · 12/12/2023 15:00

They’re scheduled to do 2 hours. They did 1 hour 10.

But there are two of them, so really they did 2 hours 20.

Londonrach1 · 12/12/2023 15:03

Depends how many cleaners...if you two you had a two hour clean

AhBiscuits · 12/12/2023 15:06

We need clarity on how many cleaners came.

My cleaner takes 3 hours to clean my small 4 bed semi. One doing yours in an hour would be lightning fast.

Redglitter · 12/12/2023 15:07

As pp said you've said 'they' that to me would mean more than one cleaner. That being the case you've got 2 hours 20 cleaning for the price of 2 hours. Can you clarify

gamerchick · 12/12/2023 15:07

As you're saying they I'm assuming it was 2 people which would be right. Or over 2 hours and rounded down.

MitchellMummy · 12/12/2023 15:10

If you're happy with the job then I'd pay. Maybe they told you two hours as that's the slot you need to leave 'open' for them. Were there two cleaners? If so you've got extra for your money! Cleaners - good ones - are hard to come by so if they do a good job in less time then worth keeping.

Lochness1975 · 12/12/2023 15:13

You use them, so was it 2 cleaners if so you got an extra 20 minutes free.

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