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 ?

you’ll have to bag search?

What are you… the police?

I think asking her to help you look for it is a good idea (if she is still there).

Ask her did she see the cash.

I’ve been in similar situations as you, believing I was certain only to find out I was wrong. Did you leave the money there as a test?

Have you any teens in the house??

I would check she hasn’t stuck it in a drawer first. I was always moving money in my boss’s house not to mention expensive designer bags or purse left in full view of windows. Then I would text and say I have moved this stuff stop leaving money and expensive stuff lying around you are going to get burgled!! They learned eventually.

Why 'clearly'? I-ve had a cleaner steal from me before. It can happen. She actually helped herself from my purse though.

If she's denied it there is nothing you can do but pay her and ask her not to come back.

Indeed . What world are we living in .
if you don't have proof she took the money . You can't just say you are not paying her . The worst you can do is pay her and don't let her back in .

If she is a regular cleaner of yours with a regular "wage" she probably wouldn't risk nicking a hundred quid. The loss of future wages and you potentially bad mouthing her around the neighborhood isn't worth it.

But yeah. Pay her. Don't let her come again. And when you find your missing notes.... *chefs kiss. Hat trick for you.

I also think most people wouldn't be that brazen as stealing it. I always think somebody has moved my stuff at work then realise I've left it somewhere myself.

No, unless you saw her take it, you are not 100% certain.

This is a horrible thread to read for any low paid person who is employed in any capacity in someone else's home.
It reads that in a lot of cases, if anything goes missing the employee is suspected whether the employee knows that or not.
Perhaps all these nasty minded people should do their own cleaning/ nannying/ caring/ DIY to keep themselves safe from the untrustworthy hordes.

As a cleaner myself, I am an honest cleaner and I would never ever take my clients money. I always feel sick when there is money around left out for a client, so what I do now is tell them if they are in the house or take a picture and it to them and say if you’ve left £100 on your desk or bedside cabinet before I leave so I know for my sake they know I know it’s there. I’d ask her outright

Do you have children? Could your partner have took it? Why are you assuming it’s the cleaner? Do you think that lowly of cleaners?

Exactly ! There are so many times you think you have left something somewhere and find out weeks or months later that you really haven't

I've been in this situation before. Have her back but ask her to spend the entire cleaning time looking for the missing money. She'll find it.

I’ve twice lost rings that fell off my finger and were never seen again. One was an unusual curb chain ring which couldn’t roll. It fell off my finger when I was on a petrol forecourt - empty space on the floor around me and the ring could not roll as it wasn’t round - I saw it come off my finger and it basically vanished. Also a normal ‘round’ ring vanished the same way but at least that had the ability to roll. No cleaner to blame…

edit: that round ring had previously vanished then reappeared a week later in the middle of the living room floor. Second time it did not reappear…!

But you can't be 100% certain. No proof. Many a time people have sworn they left something somewhere and then find it weeks later in a completely different room

Yes, exactly what @MoonPieHazySky said - the sentimental value was obviously higher than £50, and although it was of course SUPER annoying to pay a thief, otherwise she would not have got it back.

What?!?! So you're saying that IF the cleaner has taken the £100, that it's OP's fault for 'tempting' her?!?!?!?!

Wow! I've heard it all now. That's exactly the same principle as someone saying that a rape victim is at fault for wearing skimpy clothing as she "tempted" him 🤬

Unbelievable Tory-like mindset

Well yes I was always brought up on the principle that you don't put temptation in peoples way. We were actually taught this at school - things like don't leave money in your coat pockets in the cloakroom. It's your responsibility to look after your valuables.
I think comparing this situation to victim blaming someone who has been raped is total hyperbole.

I suspected a long time cleaner and set a trap.It was her.My husband dealt with her and told her not to come again.Saw in the paper she’d stolen from someone else but they were savvy enough to install a camera.

OK then: it's victim blaming someone who has been burgled. That better?

Victim blaming?
How is OP a victim?
Nobody knows what happened to the money. It being stolen is only one of a number of possible explanations about this £ 100.

I was referring to pps' chastisement of OP for leaving money out in her own home.