To not pay the cleaner

[MamaD2207]

We have had a cleaner for about a month and she is absolutely great. Today I had £100 on my bedside table this morning. There is no one else who could have taken it, but there is no evidence it was her. Am I being unreasonable not paying her ?

20 years ago when we lost £100 out of the blue - it turned up in DDs toy till. Another time with a smaller amount it turned up in DH's wallet as he'd absentmindedly picked it up and "put it away"

my husband left the house before me so he could definitely not have taken it

I once lost a watch. Searched everywhere. In the end was convinced a visitor had stolen it.
I was wrong. I had put it somewhere safe and found it months later.
So relieved I didn’t accuse or ask the visitor.

It's highly unlikely a professional and well established cleaner would steal from a client. My dsis has her own company and would never dream of doing this.
What were her references like?

You guys are all very trusting. I think I will pay her and not ask her back. I know for sure it’s gone.

I lost a bluetooth device recently. It was definitely in the house. I still have not found it. However, i don't have a cleaner so i don't have anyone to blame.

My point is you can't always be certain it was where you thought it was.

Pretty dumb of her if that's the case though. Steal 100, lose a weekly income (unless she's part of an agency and is guaranteed to fill that slot).

I'm wondering whether it's worth subtly reporting back to her company (if she's part of one) saying you're not 100%, but just keep an eye out so if anyone else reports back...

Seems deeply weird that she would steal so obviously from you if she wants to continue working for you, which would presumably get her much more than £100 in the long run.

It is great that everyone is so trusting but unfortunately there are some unscrupulous people out there who see an opportunity and take it.

Who else is in the house?

My thoughts exactly which is why I didn’t hide it away

How do you know? This is great that someone on the Internet knows what happened, pretty talented.

Have you actually looked for it? Or did you walk into the room, see it's gone and jump to conclusions?

I was a cleaner, and on a few occasions I found money left out. I personally would not touch it, but I can imagine some people might put the money somewhere "safe". I think you should do her the courtesy of asking her if she moved it. Only then decide what to do about it. In any event she should be paid for her work.

I’ve looked for it very thoroughly, to accuse someone of stealing was the very last conclusion

I assume you've checked all of the drawers and cupboards in the bedroom, under the bed, vacuum bag etc in case it fell off when she was cleaning or she tucked it in a drawer to be safe - a bit odd to leave a large amount of money out when someone is coming in to dust/vacuum.

But this is no where near the same. Plenty of people will walk through a shop whereas only two people have been in the bedroom since OP last saw the money

Can you ask her to help you look for it? If she's taken it she might find a way of returning it.

This is a very good idea!

@Lissyy

It's such an unkind assumption + who is daft enough to steal cash they know will be missed?

And show how upset you are - make sure you move every single thing in your room - the bed, the bedside tables, everything!

You didn't put it under your pillow or quilt for privacy? I do that.

Have you spoken to your husband? Your mind can play tricks. Perhaps you thought you had last seen it after he left, but actually you last saw it when he was still in the house.

Yes I asked him. He also saw it before he left and has not taken it

It’s impossible to know for certain, but seems unlikely she would steal money left out so visibly.

I’ve had cleaners and helpers for nearly 30 years and never once have I had to suspect anyone. As a precaution, I don’t leave cash lying around, and I hide my handbag away until I really know the person.

An accusation of theft is serious and if you make it to her, you’ll lose her.

in your position, I would give her the benefit of the doubt, chalk this up to the unexplained, pay her and keep a closer eye on your cash going forward. The bother of finding a new good cleaner would outweigh the doubt about the missing money.

If it happened again, of course then don’t keep her.

So you know if there had only been 1 person in your house, and there was no doubt that you had left something out that's now gone, what would you take from that? Must have been the fairies? A magpie? This is not about unkind if someone is certain.