Cleaner invited friends over AIBU

[Nestingbirds]

We have an arrangement with our cleaner that she takes care of our animals when we are away for a few days. She usually stays in the annexe but this time stayed in our house due to refurbishment.

We had an agreement when this started that we would prefer she didn’t have visitors apart from her long term boyfriend. He is away atm. She was totally on board, and said she would feel the same if it was her house.

We pay her really really well, and leave her lots of treats including fresh flowers. She told me she likes the time she has to herself, and all is well.

Only our neighbour texted me to say there are people coming and going from our house and sent me her ring doorbell footage. Not only is she having friends over, she isn’t actually spending time with the animals or cleaning (we pay her separately for both) as the rest of the time she has been out. We never leave our dog all day. Whilst we obviously don’t mind her going out, and want her to be happy, I just feel taken for a ride as she is clearly not there doing either.

I have messaged her to see how she is, hoping she would be honest about her friend coming over and staying for hours in our house, but she has continued to lie to me.

I feel like I can’t trust her now. Wwyd?

Your poor cat!

Just say oh just to let you know we had to replace x recently turns out she’s not an honest woman after all. Let them decide.

Do you expect her not to go out the whole time? She’s a cleaner - she probably has other clients to clean for. Are you covering the cost of not doing that?
If her partner is away she might feel like she needs company? Is she expected to sit in your house, not see anyone, not leave the house to go to work or shop? I’m sure fresh flowers are delightful but they don’t replace having an actual life.

You sound quite unreasonable, yes.

I wouldn’t say anything until you’re back. I would also half the payment and share the footage with her.

then advise you won’t use her again.

If she has a “long term boyfriend” and they are his daughters then they are not her children or even her step children, they are her boyfriend’s children. Therefore I get that she would not necessarily mention them.

I would have to say to her that you know people are coming and going without her even asking you.
No time spent with the animals that she is getting paid for.
Maybe start to put the feelers out for someone else first , then tell her why you are ending her working for you .

Is this for real? Have you not read ANY of OPs posts? 🙄

Hi

We're taking a look now. However, we're post-moderated and rely on reports to flag concerns on the boards. We can't see that any reports have been made here, have you made any? We'd like to make sure that there's not a technical issue.

trust is broken. I would get rid of her but only after your return.
Then change the locks.
Also, don’t assume a treat like flowers mean anything to someone providing a service, to most people, it is a job and nothing more and your making sure “she is ok” may not land in the good natured way it was intended.
I think the lines have become blurred.
also you need a separate dedicated person to look after your pets.

Do you have apps like wag or rover? They background check their sitters

You could try Trusted Housesitters. We've used them and had really positive experiences- and more importantly, so did our cat.

Have you looked into Trusted Housesitters? We've used them twice to look after our dog (for extended holidays each time) and both sets of sitters were brilliant. Obviously you have to check them out properly; go for applicants that have loads of 5 star reviews, speak to them over a video call etc. beforehand. I don't know what we'd do without them. If you live in a nice part of the country you'll have loads of people interested.

WWID? Drop her. She's naively associated kindness with gullibility.

She does now!

Tbf, she doesn’t. They’re step daughters with a long term boyfriend.

Unfortunately she has got her feet too far under the table and has taken advantage of you.

You have many options for your dog as she can no longer be one. You can get trusted house sitters /simply find someone suitable. It might be a nuisance but it is not impossible.

If she is a decent cleaner then i would be tempted to continue to let her come and clean whilst I was at home.

I would say that your neighbour has contacted you and was concerned about the people coming and the dog had been left alone - is this correct?

Maybe your stirring the pot neighbour could look after your dog? 🤔

the late-commers, read the full thread. It is resolved already

RTFT

No, I haven't, to be fair. However, if I reported this person every time they popped up I would be here all day. FWIW I think they must have several IP addresses, as the same poster has popped up under different usernames in the same thread. I'll report it now.

They’re not going to ban someone just because you don’t like what they’re saying!

It isn't a question of not liking what they are saying. It is the same person posting again and again under different usernames, using the exact same posting style.

It is her place of work and someone's private property....YANBU

But that’s totally allowed. I have a number of different usernames across threads. And they can post as often as they want. How bizarre!

I do doggy care and clean. I'm entirely honest. Leave the house in an immaculate condition but it's not my home. Therefore no friends over, bring my own food but expect to be well paid. Walk the dogs, really care for them. Trust both ways is all that we ask. Prompt payment too.