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 object to being paid like this

143 replies

carparker · 19/05/2024 23:58

I need a sense check really, I'm so annoyed and I'm not sure why. I'm a cleaner, work in people's homes, they usually pay me cash. Most leave it out for me and I take it when I'm done,

This one client though, I have to find him and ask for the money every time, I say ok I'm finished, he says oh are you, then I say yes can I have my money please, then he gets out his wallet and takes it out note by note, so one fiver, holds it out till I take it, rinse and repeat. Always £5 or £10 short so he says oh I'll transfer the rest. 24 hours later I text to ask, he pays a few hours after.

It's driving me nuts, how hard is it to just have £30 ready? Why does he do it? I need the work so i don't want to complain but I'm living on my nerves waiting for the last £5 or whatever, and the note by note thing is just weird. Should I say something or am I being a princess?

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonOh · 20/05/2024 00:03

I'd look for a new client and dump him. It sounds like he's on a power trip and is trying to ensure you know he's superior to you.

Superior only in his mind obviously. Anyone who behaves like that is superior to nobody.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 20/05/2024 00:06

Sorry. Realised I didn't answer your question. I would ignore the counting out of the notes and just roll your eyes mentally when he does it. However, I would tell him that he has been late paying you every week and that he needs to have the full amount to hand in future.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/05/2024 00:06

Sounds like he’s on a deliberate power trip I agree. I think if you can find another client to replace him with that would be good.

ThinWomansBrain · 20/05/2024 00:08

suggest he sets up a standing order.

If there's ever a week you have to cancel & repay him, count the notes out of your wallet very very slowly.
Failing that - or even in preference to that, find another client & ditch him.

Grimchmas · 20/05/2024 00:10

Text him the day before and ask that he has £30 cash ready for you.

Grimchmas · 20/05/2024 00:13

Actually I've changed my mind. Tell him your prices are going up by £10 as of next week. Your time is important to you so this is Douchebag tax.

Sid077 · 20/05/2024 00:13

I agree with others he’s not worth the hassle - its very unattractive behaviour, ditch home once you have a replacement lined up.

HidingFromDD · 20/05/2024 00:13

He’s on a power trip. Keep looking for another client and replace him asap. In the meantime either ask for standing order or ask for pay before clean and then only do what he’s paid for.

SnobblyBobbly · 20/05/2024 00:14

My friend had this with her cleaning - well something similar, the son of the lady she cleaned for moved and took over the paying. He was creepy and always needed reminding which she hated as it meant she had to spend ages chatting to him, so she introduced payment envelopes which she gave to him when she arrived so she could grab and go. Also giving him that when you arrive gives him time to the cash point for that last tenner...cheeky git.

FuckTheClubUp · 20/05/2024 00:15

I have no advice but what a dick. Why go out of your way to make things longer for people. Just have the £30 on the side and have done with it! I hate that he gives you the notes one by one too, it’s as if he gets off on you saying ‘thank you’ after each note has been placed in your hand

Grimchmas · 20/05/2024 00:15

3rd possibility: "oh you're £5 short again Mr Douche. Best start having the full £30 ready in an envelope for me when I come next week or I'll have to start charging you a late fee!"

Colombie · 20/05/2024 00:16

Tell him your policy has changed and you now require payment by bank transfer in advance.

LifeExperience · 20/05/2024 00:22

It's a power play and he's a demeaning asshole. I would dump him as a client.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 20/05/2024 00:25

What a wanker. Sounds like my old boss.

On another note, I used to put the money in an envelope for my cleaner. I’d either give the envelope to her directly or leave it in the kitchen if I was out. She actually thanked me for doing it that way and I was a bit confused at the time. Now I wonder if she was comparing me to a creepy note counter.

KenAdams · 20/05/2024 00:29

Why would you hold your hand out and wait for it? Just be packing away or be on your phone when he gets his wallet out. Don't give him the opportunity. Can't you just take a bank transfer for the whole amount though? I do a standing order for my cleaner.

SirAlfredSpatchcock · 20/05/2024 00:52

Yep, he's definitely trying to put you in (what he stupidly thinks is) your place. He's trying to make you grateful for being paid the money, whilst being too thick to understand the very basic fact that he has had the cleaning to that value - so it's absolutely not a gift or handout in any way.

Does he have a female partner, do you know? I'd be very interested (and probably deeply saddened) to see how he treats her.

He just sounds like a misogynist in general to me. I highly doubt he would try these silly games with a male cleaner.

Answersunknown · 20/05/2024 00:58

10 minutes before you leave I’d interrupt him tl
say - advance warning I’ll be leaving in ten - so please bring money through…
make him find you.
alternatively 30 minutes advance warning ‘incase you need the cash machine…and so I’m not disturbing you just leave it on the table….

OrigamiOwls · 20/05/2024 01:04

I think the payment envelope is a good idea - but make sure you check it before you leave.

In the long run I'd look for a new client to replace him.

NotMyFinestMoment · 20/05/2024 02:17

OchonAgusOchonOh · 20/05/2024 00:03

I'd look for a new client and dump him. It sounds like he's on a power trip and is trying to ensure you know he's superior to you.

Superior only in his mind obviously. Anyone who behaves like that is superior to nobody.

This.

Aquamarine1029 · 20/05/2024 02:22

FIRE HIM. One of the most important things to learn as a self-employed person is knowing when to fire a client.

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/05/2024 02:38

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this is creepy. I'd fire him immediately. There's something very weird about that behaviour.

RamblinRosie · 20/05/2024 02:54

Outrageous!

If I don’t have the right money, either I pop out to get cash or I round it up and tell her I’ll deduct next week. Never, ever underpay. I always leave cash on the kitchen work surface.
Good cleaners are hard to find, and need to be valued and respected. I’m sure you can find someone who will value you more!

(I love my cleaner, she always brings me doughnuts or other goodies from her other job). I would never show her anything but respect.

Gremlinsateit · 20/05/2024 02:57

“My rates are increasing from next week. Please have £35 ready for me at the beginning of the next clean.” And look for a new client.

Bjorkdidit · 20/05/2024 04:01

Is there a reason why they pay you in cash? Surely bank transfer would be easier for you and your clients? They'll have to remember to keep getting cash out and few people routinely carry cash any more.

Why don't you tell all your clients that you're switching to bank transfer and suggest they set up a standing order so your pay arrives at the beginning of the day you're due to clean for them? Then they won't be able to 'forget' or mess you about paying the full amount.

AhNowTed · 20/05/2024 04:09

As others have said, he's a total dickhead.

Making you having to ask for it (he fucking knows what he's doing) and then the note counting (I wouldn't do that in a shop, why would I do that to my cleaner).

Either hand him an envelope at the start of the clean, or insist on a bank transfer if you can.

Yeah but you're not wrong - he's a creep.