To feel annoyed I have to pay?

[Babablacksheep12]

Cleaner…

We have a cleaner who does every 2 weeks. She’s lovely and does the house well.

I have been in hospital for a few weeks following an operation that was planned.

I messaged her to cancel a clean whilst I was in hospital, ages ago - way more than the required notice time. I cancelled it as she cleaned the day I went in and then my house has been empty with me being in hospital so it’s perfect and not been touched and no one’s been in it so there would have been nothing to clean since she was last in.

In my contract I am allowed to cancel 2 cleans a year and she allowed 2, without payment which is very fair.

I got back from hospital today and noticed from my ring door bell that she’d been and cleaned despite me cancelling it , as per the contract and her acknowledging the cancellation.

I emailed her to ask if she had been , thinking she’d say no she was just dropping something off type thing and she just said yes, whoops she’d got confused. So now I need to pay. I’m slightly upset. I’m very short this month as I’ve had to have unpaid time off work to recover from my op so I don’t have the spare money and I feel like I’m literally throwing away money I don’t have when the house didn’t need cleaning.

There was also no apology just an oops type thing.

I value her so much so I know I will pay but I feel slightly miffed about the lack of accountability and that it’s on me to just pay.
I mean I know id pay as I respect her time and work but If it was me I would have said … I’m so sorry it’s my mistake please pay half etc and I would try and find the money to pay it all. But it was the lack of apology and just dizziness of whoops

Your cleaner is an idiot, she doesn't use a calendar or hold accountability, she's not acting very professionally. To say you cancel another clean, how does that help? If she can't walk into a house that was left untouched since she last cleaned and not notice is beggars belief. She should take the loss, it's her mistake. She should be embarrassed. What the hell was she cleaning as it was clean already.

Everyone’s missing the point here

You cancelled and she let herself into your home. Whether to clean, collect a mop or steal from you, there is literally no reason for her to have done so and it’s a violation in my opinion. I wouldn’t be accepting an “oops” either

All cleaners do this. She had notice. They advertise one offs and they are snapped up

You said you messaged her to cancel ages ago - how long ago exactly?

If you messaged weeks/ months ago and haven't mentioned it again since and just expected her not to turn up that day, then I can see why the mistake might have happened.

Did you not message her earlier in the week/ last week to confirm she didn't need to come?

It's not required obviously but I think most people would have done that if the original agreement was ages ago.

The mistake is still on her, but I can see why it happened if it was agreed so long ago.

If you hadn’t texted her, she would have made you think she did 4 hours. Flaky. Maybe change your tone with her - “What a shame you made a mistake. Yes, I told you on x that I wouldnt need you and was taking one of the cancellations.” Obviously you won’t be needing her next week.

Not sure I could trust her, tbh!

Well, you agreed you'd pay her in your message back, so that's that really.

Going forward, I think I'd probably remind her closer to the time if you're cancelling so you don't get the same again.

You know how self employed works right? If you book a cab driver who is self employed and you cancel it the week before would you pay them anyway? If you book a dentist appointment but then cancel it the week before would you pay for it anyway? If you book a hairdresser appointment and they are self employed but you cancel it the week before would you pay for it anyway? I mean surely if you book all these things you can afford them so you can pay them even if you cancel them.

As self employed there is an element of financial risk.
There is always a risk with self employment that you may earn less some months. You are supposed to charge a suitable amount that this covers this. If you want a profession that earns you a set amount every single month without fail then self employment is not right for you. The self employed person is meant to factor in slower months.

not a big deal. pay her and focus and your recovery

Agreed.

OP, she’s running rings around you! I really wouldn’t want her back in my house after this.

Isn’t this exactly the same post as an earlier one, except with a hospital stay instead of a holiday?

If your house is kept spotless anyway I doubt if you will lose her . Most cleaners have a load of cleaning to do when they turn up so if yours is because you like to keep it immaculate and show home , she prob doesn’t have a lot of dirt to deal with. Can’t you say because you were going in hospital so short on wages and knew you wouldn’t be in the house you would have one of your free cancellations, there shouldn’t of been anything at all to clean . I think she is royally taking the P tbh

But you don’t HAVE to pay! You gave notice to cancel the ‘clean’ during your hospital stay and the cleaner acknowledged that. The cleaner then forgot about the cancellation and cleaned the house anyway……..their mistake, just refuse to pay or give a reduced payment based on what you can afford but you DO NOT have to pay.

You obviously have a different contract with your cleaner than op does, who has it written into her contract that each side can cancel 2 cleans a year, with no charge.

Cleaner acknowledged that this wek would be a none clean and none payment. She then chose to come in and clean anyway and now expects payment even though it is her mistake.

you will just have to pay her, she has said 3 hours instead of 4,
no point cutting off your nose to spite your face

But it is a big deal...op cancelled, as per thier contract, that means no clean or payment for this week

Cleaner then chose to come and clean a clean house anyway, just with an "oops, pay me an hour less!" Nah, shes taking the piss

Just cancel the next due cleaning session and pay her at that time instead of now / soon. Explain to her that, on reflection, it feels like the fairest option as it had been agreed by both parties that she would not clean whilst you were in hospital and your wages have diminished due to time off.

If she reacts in an arsey way or tries to argue for payment now, then I suspect she knew what she was doing and is clearly taking the piss out of you whilst knowing you are vulnerable.

I’d be annoyed at her response and her assumption she’s entitled to be paid when it’s her error.
Had she have said “I’m sorry I’ve mixed up my dates. My mistake don’t worry about paying me” I would have offered to pay/pay half.

I’d have emailef back and say “no it’s ok I will use it as one of my cancellations still see you next week “

Yup hindsight is a great thing. You have done it now but if it ever happens again you will know to be firm. 'I can't afford to pay you Laura, I am off sick and living on SSP.'
It is a pain for you in every way. She was wrong but doesn't realise how wrong she is, if that helps.

She's the one who's set out the terms of the contract. If she couldn't afford to have any cancellations she would say that in the contract

No need to be patronising. It is a big deal if the OP is already struggling with money

Yanbu to be annoyed but a good cleaner that you can trust is more precious than rubies so if you don't want the hassle of finding a new one, it's best to not fight. However as it's going to cause you financial difficulties and she's acknowledged it was a mistake, suggest that you pay off this unexpected extra at £3 per month for however many months rather than having to pay full whack in the month where you have taken unpaid time off, or arrange for her to come every 3 weeks rather than every 2 for a short time until your finances are better.

This.

Maybe reply and explain that On reflection, you're not happy to pay because you had actually cancelled and it wasn't your mistake.

However, I do think it's risks her quitting or sulking.
She's a CF though.
I actually think that had she just explained she'd got confused and it was her mistake/don't worry about it, I reckon you'd have sent her something anyway.
But it's the fact she's brushed over it and made out like she's doing you a favour in only charging you for 3hrs instead of 4...CF!

The cleaner is a businesswoman with a contract which the OP signed and then adhered to.
Your post is ridiculous and contributed nothing helpful at all.

OP I’d be furious. Not only that she didn’t apologise but also that you now feel morally obliged to pay.