To not give this cleaner another chance?

[SunnyDeer]

About two weeks ago, I arranged for a cleaner to come to my place today at 10am for the first time. Last night, she texted me asking if she could come at 11am instead. I said that was fine.

However, she didn’t turn up at 11am. There was no message, no call to say she’d be late or unable to make it. At 1pm, she finally messaged me, saying:

”Hi Sunny, I am so, so sorry I couldn’t make it today. I got completely tied up at the first job—very manic today. Please accept my apologies. If you’re happy, I will come on Thursday or Friday?”

Would you give her another chance?

I’m leaning towards not because she already changed the time and then still didn’t show up. Not having the courtesy to inform me ahead of time and only messaging two hours after the agreed time makes for a bad first impression. AIBU to not take this further?

No, that's really bad. I would leave this one!

Can you get another cleaner? I'd avoid this one if so

No. Good cleaners are like gold dust. It's taken me a long time to a cleaner I am happy with.

YANBU, unless she's been personally recommended by someone you trust, who could vouch for her normally being amazing and this being a v unusual blip.

Total waste of time. Get rid.

Definitely wouldn’t give her another chance - and I’d tell her they get rescheduling the night before and then still not turning up are the reasons why.

We had almost this exact situation with a cleaner. I just told her we were looking for someone more reliable and so wouldn’t be needing her services.

Yes, agree completely with @MaggieFS If you have someone who can tell you this is unusual, and you trust them, then maybe. Otherwise... HELL NO.

Be prepared for some unhappiness though. I once booked a man to come for a chat abotu some work in our house. Booked for 3pm. He rang at 11 and said, "just a courtesy call to confirm our 3:30 appointment" which annoyed me - why not just be honest - but I said fine, 3:30 was fine. He turned up at 4:30 with no notice or call and I turned him away- I had a newborn and a toddler and it was WAYYYY too close to the witching hour of dinner, bath, bed etc. He was furious and actually a bit threatening.

But my view was that if he couldn't even keep me informed while he's trying to hook me in, then how the hell could I rely on him once he's got me on the hook and half my house has been torn down.

Get rid and use an agency. It's a bit more expensive but there is come back and a reliable one will be found.

If she had called in advance I might have given her another chance. Since this was not the case I would say you better look elsewhere.

Get rid. It's just rude.

Not a chance. I’d reply, “While I appreciate that some of your clients will be very flexible and not mind if you don’t turn up, I am looking for someone who I know I will be reliable and come at the agreed time. As our first cleaning session has already been rescheduled twice, rather than rebooking a third time I think it’s best if I look for a cleaner who is better suited to my needs.”

Also, you don’t get ‘tied up’ at the first job if you’re professional. You tell the first job that they’ve had the hours they’ve booked for and that you are leaving to arrive punctually to your next pre-booked appointment. So, I’d assume that’s a lie to cover up her failure to come: pretending she’s busy being amazing for another client.

I gave a cleaner the benefit of the doubt despite her changing the time several times. She was utterly useless and incredibly disorganised. She spent half of her time chatting to my dog or on her phone and she missed loads of bits - her service was appalling. I'd stay very clear, if she's not organised enough to fulfil a booking, she's probably not organised enough to do an efficient clean.

No, I'm flexible on times and days but not no-shows. She should have let you know and tried to make it work that day as it was the first clean.

You might've wanted the house cleaned that day for a reason. You're paying a cleaner for convenience and it isn't convenient to not know when they're coming. for instance, you might've had guests coming so a) the house isn't cleaned in time and b) she'll have to tidy around them.

Bad admin, bad manners and gives a poor impression. I'd let her go as it doesn't bode well for the quality of her work

Thanks all. I definitely wont be giving her another chance. I didn’t even respond to her, no intention to. She just messaged me saying “let me know if I can help in any way lovely.”

Fair enough but I think I’d respond and say no I won’t be needing you.