Cleaning client

[Tootsey11]

If a client text you out of the blue asking do you know where a certain item is in the house, saying they have gone missing since the last time you were there.

What would you think?

Cleaner here. Am also the Finder Of Things... Don't take it as an accusation op.

My last employer (I was a housekeeper) texted asking about a pair of pyjama bottoms I'd never even seen. I did search for them but it was annoying as I felt she thought I'd misplaced them

“Jean, I don’t tidy or put away, just clean, no I haven’t seen it. Respectful reminder - I am on holiday today as it’s a public holiday, thanks Tootsey”

I am sure you are in demand OP, perhaps she needs to up her game.

Cleaner here. Like you OP I clean but I tidy as I go along - it's only natural to pick something up and then place it back.
I cleaned for a horrible family who stole off each other relentlessly and each and every time I was asked about said items and knew they thought I had stolen them. Items always turned up in someone else's room etc etc. I got sick of being spoken to like I was the 'hired help' so I let my feet do the talking on that one.
No need for curtness or rudeness and no need to take it and not be curt back. if they don't like it there are other cleaners to abuse,
Cheeky mare asking you to work today ! Just who do some people think they are.......

@Tootsey11 she expected you to be cleaning her house today???? bloody hell do you not get a day off at new year??

OP is this the same client who you posted a thread about the other day, that gave you the money back?

If it is then you've already acknowledged that she is a bit of a difficult one so I'd just assume it was awkward wording but if it's not then this is the second client who you have felt has had a tone/attitude with you recently so I'd be starting to wonder if the issue is you ascribing negative connotations to perfectly innocent situations.

This is a perfectly normal question to ask - someone has lost something, the only other person who has been in the house is you, they want to know if you have moved it as part of your cleaning (even if you don't tidy there's always the odd thing that needs to be moved temporarily during cleaning that you may not have returned to it's rightful place) and if not then did you see it when you were there last (and if so, where did you see it).

I frequently get questions from my parents asking stuff like "We can't find the remote for the fire stick, we last used it when you were over the other night, do you remember seeing it?" or "Do you remember seeing X when you were last at our house? We thought it was in <usual place> but we've gone to use it and it wasn't there and nobody can remember the last time they actually saw it"

No, it's not the same client.

They didn't ask if I'd seen it, they said it is missing since I was last there. Not the same thing.

I'm very good at reading people, so please do not insult my intelligence by suggesting I'm thinking this that and the other. It is not difficult to tell when someone is being off with you, as on both these occasions they may as well have put a big sign round their damn neck to say I'm annoyed with you.

This client was I know annoyed with me, the previous clean I had come in at the usual time, and found her laying into her husband verbally. She had not realised that I was there having heard the whole thing. When she realised I was there she didn't know what to say or do. She has always portrayed a holier than thou persona. Since that she has been totally off with me.