Our cleaner charges more hours than she actually spends working

[Hocuspoc]

We hired a cleaner recently to help out, it is not much work but she made a judgement she will need 2 hours a week, and I said OK. Previous ond needed 2 hours every fortnight but ok ..
She doesn't speak english well, but she has someone translating on the chat when we were agreeing the timing/price.
Anyway, first time she worked for 2 hours and we payed 2timesX.
She then ask if she can come in not exactly at 1pm but some time between 12 and 1 as she finishes previous flat early sometimes and I said yes.
And then it began. She would come at say 12:45 and then comes 1:30 she would say I'm done, and when I ask - ok so how much for today - she goes: 2 hours so 2timesX
I was like OK, maybe she thinks she started at 12:30 I will make a point of it next time.
Next time she comes say 12:40 and I go, ok it is 12:40 now here are the mops etc... she again finishes early and says 2 hours.
My husband had a theory where he thinks maybe she rounds it up to the closest hour (which is odd because it is not like there is nothing else to fill out 15 mins - she could have watered the plants or ask me what can she do).

And then finally last time she started 12:45 and at 1:15 she said she is done, started packing and said - 2 hours for today.

I don't know how to resolve this. On one side she is really doing great job at what she actually gets done, she is professional and quiet too - no chitchat which I hate. So I don't want to let her go.
But I also feel she takes me for a fool. Am I being unreasonable here?

Why are you not challenging her calculation?! Do you employ her direct or via na agency?

She’s taking the piss. My cleaner has recently been doing the same thing and is not making as much effort. I pay really well and the work in my place is not hard so it’s really galling.
Challenge her and then get rid of it doesn’t change.

So you log what time she's arrives and what time she finishes, stop asking how much and tell her how much.

"You got here at 12.45 and finished by 1.30, so you did 45 minutes, I'm paying you for 45 minutes."

I don't understand why that wouldn't be the conversation?

Pretty soon she's just going to be knocking on the door and asking for the money and you will hand it over!

Don't be daft. If she does half an hour and claims for two hours, what on earth is stopping you from saying no?

I had this with a cleaner previously. I paid her by bank transfer and she was coming when I was out. I noticed on our home security system that she was in our home a lot less time than I was paying her for so I messaged her to say what since she was just there for an hour that’s what I’d pay her for. She didn’t reply and just dropped my keys through the letterbox the next day. I assume she had assumed I was a mug and was disappointed to find out I wasn’t.

I suggest you just go to pay her for the time she’s been there at the agreed rate. I think you’ll be able to tell from her response whether she’s dishonest (I don’t see how she isn’t).

Now I have two excellent professional cleaners and they both are able to keep track of time and work their allocated hours!

Leaving ten minutes early is one thing but paying for 2 hours and leaving an hour an a half early is ridiculous and I can't believe you didn't challenge her on that tbh.

I don't understand why you keep handing over the money for 2 hours.
I wouldn't have done that the first time.
She arrived at 12.45 and was finished at 1.30 and you said how much please and she said that's 2 hours so 2 times X amount. I would have pulled her up then. You've only done 45 minutes so I'll pay you for 45 minutes (or an hour if you wanted to be generous or you can stay and do the following jobs to make up the time to 2 hours. You can use a translating app to type that in and explain it in her language.

And then finally last time she started 12:45 and at 1:15 she said she is done, started packing and said - 2 hours for today

Why on earth didn't you just say you've only been here for half an hour so I'm not paying you for 2 hours?

Such a bizarre thread really.

This. Surely you're not paying for 2 hours when she's only there 30 minutes? That's bizarre to say the least

What's the hourly charge?

Would you pay the same price (cleaners where I am are about £15 a hour so let's say £30) £30 for 30 minutes? If you are happy with that, then leave it. However if you agreed an hourly rate she should really get £7.50 which I'm sure she would be less impressed with!

I am sorry for the typo in my post - last time she worked for 90 mins not 30. The thing is it is 30 mins less than agreed. And she never stayed longer it is always shorter.

You’re asking MN where you pay for output not time.

If she finished two hours of work in 90 minutes, she’s worth the same amount of money.

I worked as a nanny where they had a cleaner. Somehow the mum must have worked out the cleaner wasn't doing her full time. She went out before cleaner arrived and came back while cleaner should have been still there. She was not. Mum said I can cut your hours if you prefer. Cleaner decided she'd work what she was meant to.

Get some self respect and tell her no, you won't pay her for two hours work when you've done less than. Add up all the time she's not worked and tell her she either starts working the full two hours, or you'll sue her for the money back. You don't have to sue her. I doubt you'd manage that. Sensible would be to cut her to the time you want and stop letting people dictate to you. ".but ok".

Same

We had this issue. We spoke to the cleaners and said we can see you are finished in less time so we will just reduce our hours going forward and have you for 3 hours rather than 4.

Yes I was a typo, it was from 12:45 to 2:15. So hour and a half!

I think you should ask her if she would prefer to work 1.5 hours as she seems to be completing the clean in less time than she originally quoted or would it be better for you to make a list of extra jobs she can do if she has time left over on her two hours?

If she works like a Duracell bunny and gets the place done well, does it matter how log it takes? Surely, you pay her to clean x rooms and if that is done in less time that your previous cleaner, you still have two hours worth of cleaning done. Would you prefer someone who cleaned really slowly, but took the full time?

Do you feel that the work she does is worth the money you pay?

If when she finishes early she hasn't done a good job- perhaps you need to tell her or rethink her employment.

If happy with the work- then you don't need to make a thing about hours .

How long she takes doesn't matter. Would you really feel happier if she took 2 hours to do the same amount of work?

Don't pay by the hour. Make it a fixed price job.

Make a list and say, 'I'll pay you X to do this lot. Ought to take a couple of hours, but if you can do it in five minutes, Mary Poppins, good for you'

I would probably suggest to her she cuts down to an hour a week!

I’ve had quite a few cleaners and most do this. As long as you are happy with the amount she does for the money you pay, I wouldn’t worry about if she completes it more quickly than the allocated time. Good cleaners are hard to find.

I don't know how to resolve this.

honestly, just get rid. The woman can't count and she's trying to scam you into paying her 2 hours when she's done 45 mins. Surely you get that?

I said to my cleaner. You don't just say it's all done. You ask what else is necessary
Please clean a shelf in the fridge, Sweep cobwebs away - with an extender duster, pull the furniture out and clean behind.
Pay for two hours, you should expect two hours work.
Think up thing you'd like to be done
If your English isn't that good, translate on Google and write it /print it out
She's taking the pee

Don't ask her how much, you tell her how much. Write down her start and finish times and say half hour, £10. Thanks!