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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Covid- just found out. Cancellation charges. What to do

12 replies

Catchee · 12/12/2025 10:55

Seems I am the only one with Covid whilst everyone has flu. Thankfully vaccinated so this time, so not too bad, just a cold, bit hot and lost smell and taste so figured it was sinus time. Hate it though as friends with Long covid so it always feels like a roll of the dice. I did a test as carol concert with lots of granparents and I had spare ones due to work (immune supressed colleague). Immediate red line. Immediate.

So the dilemma is; I have cleaners bi monthly, they are pretty unreliable and always cancelling on me last min, but if I cancel on them it is a full amount I have to pay. I once had norovirus and they charged me. That is the only time in 8 years I have had to cancel. It is a lot and I would need to reschedule therefore it is a double charge. So, can I say I have covid and it isnt right to have anyone in but I am not paying the charge but will reschedule in acknowledgement of the multiple times they have cancelled on me this year last mo - so swap with my neighbour for next week (so they won't lose the business) - or (and I dont want to do this because this is shitty and how I probably caught it) say nothing in light of the guidance we just carry on. I dont think I can do that from a moralistic place.

I had a hair appointment I had to cancel for tomorrow and have no issue if she wants to be paid as she is super reliable and never bails on me.

I am going to have to pay it. Morally repugnant if I dont isnt it. FFS.

Cancel YABU
Don't Cancel YANBU

OP posts:
ShesTheAlbatross · 12/12/2025 10:58

Can’t you just tell them, and let them decide? Or offer to go out - you can just go for a bit of a drive if you don’t want to mix with people.

owlpassport · 12/12/2025 10:59

Oh my god, it's fine. And I'm a HCP who was fully in favour of isolating in 2020/21 when it was necessary. Yes, skip the carol concert, but no need to cancel the cleaner. Go for a walk when they come or something.

BadgernTheGarden · 12/12/2025 10:59

Would you have cancelled if you hadn't had a test? Or if you thought it was a cold or flu? If so cancel. No more moral obligation with covid than any other viruses these days, older people should have had flu and covid vaccines.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 12/12/2025 11:00

The masses are not expecting people to notify them if they have COVID. It wouldn't even cross my mind that people are still testing. You don't need to cancel anything. People that consider themselves vulnerable to catching anything contagious will be taking their own precautions.

ScaryM0nster · 12/12/2025 11:00

Go out and leave the windows open.

Cadenza12 · 12/12/2025 11:03

Go for a drive and sit in the car with a drink and some music. I had COVID and avoided my seriously ill husband in the same house and he didn't get it.

nomas · 12/12/2025 11:06

Of course don't lose out on money by cancelling.

And cancel this company, they sound shit.

CheeseIsMyIdol · 12/12/2025 11:08

I would air the house, let hen know so they can wear gloves, and go out for a couple of hours.

Randomchat · 12/12/2025 11:10

I wouldn't cancel and wouldn't tell her. I'd drive somewhere nice, have a coffee and read a book.
Or just go to bed and tell the cleaners not to go in my room

Biker47 · 12/12/2025 11:10

Last time I had covid (what I think it was anyways, I'm not doing tests anymore) a few months back, my life continued as normal, went to work, went out, we're past that now.

Catchee · 12/12/2025 11:11

nomas · 12/12/2025 11:06

Of course don't lose out on money by cancelling.

And cancel this company, they sound shit.

I know. It is just one of those things when you have been with people a very long time, know their kids etc. Maybe I grow a backbone in Jan and do it then! Thanks for the reply. Seems to be concensus.

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 12/12/2025 11:12

Air the house the morning of, leave the windows open an hour before they come and go out. The airflow is the most important.

Dont cancel

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