Client assumes I will clean if I have down time. How do I handle this?

[someonestolemynick]

I've NC'd for this and will keep things as vague as possible.

Basically I'm a tutor who occasionally does childcare/babysitting. As a favour to an excisting client I took on a new client for a regular after school babysitting gig. The dc are around 10 years old so won't require constant supervision.

I have to say as babysitting goes, my rates aren't cheap. But as i don't need to prepare for babysitting, they are cheaper than my tuition fees. So I get that hiring me to sit in your house while the dc get on with stuff. I pointed that out to get, but she was happy with the fee.

I want to an initial meeting with her. All really great until the mother said: and when c happens, they'll probably just be upstairs playing, so you can do some cleaning. I didn't react at all. I think I probably looked quite put out. She proceeds to show me where she keeps different things including showing me subtly where the cleaning products are.

I know I should have said something at the time but I was incredibly stunned. I have been in this job for almost 10 years and I've never been asked to clean someone's house. Of course I tidy up (with the kids) after a session and will clean any mess when It comes up, but I am not a cleaner.

You can probably tell, that i am not happy with this. I'm actually quite offended that she would simply assume I would because
F

1. I'm doing her and an excisting client a favour.
2. I am shot at cleaning and hate it. For that reason I employ a cleaner in my own home.

So how do I deal with this?

1. Have a conversation with her stating firmly and politely that she needs to hire a cleaner, if she wants someone else to clean her house.
2. Get on with my job and wait for her to comment.
3. Tell her that my commitements have changed and I won't be able to babysit for her again.

Or am I being previous and should just clean.

Ah, she wanted you to leave before she got home because she wanted to avoid getting a roasting from you.

Yep, wait till the money is there. And then just a simple message, 'Unfortunately, I am no longer available for childcare, so you will need to make other arrangements from now. Kind regards, OP.'

And the end.

Fuck that. She's a pisstaking cow.

she is actually getting a tutor at babysitting rates as the op will be supervising hw. I hope you are charging your normal rates for the # of cc you will be hw supervising, op. And she wants cleaning done too?!

She's not getting anything, because this gig wouldn't be worth all the money in the world.

Shame. The dc are really lovely and polite.

She's a cheeky cah, you should definitely leave. I hope she has the decency to pay you extra.

Pissraking cow indeed

I hope she doesn't refuse to pay because you didn't clean. You're right to never go back.

How rude of her. At least this will have helped you make your decision - not that there was really any decision to make after this inconsiderate treatment of you.

Suggest you have a response ready when she asks you to carry on next week as otherwise she won't manage.....

Explain you don't do cleaning while you babysit normally. You're just the babysitter. You are willing to either do babysitting at the basic wage or it's £13 (or whatever) per hour for childcare/cleaning

'All the money in the world' eh ?

Nah I can understand that Footle unless you're living hand to mouth (been there, done that, got the wimpy burger outfit to prove it) then some things are just not worth it: when I did supply teaching you got bribed with much more £ the harder a school was/when it was blood sport/when you were supply no. three digit number...at some point, dealing with clients you don't want to or have to, free will comes into play and the £ becomes a moot point as it won't buy your health back. Not saying this is quite the same league but if the OP can afford to turn down the job then why would she deal with the stress of a demanding mum just for the cash? Especially if she can get work elsewhere.

Did she pay you?

I'm curious as to how it went, too.

Hope you get paid today, if not showing up by lunchtime then text her

Where is she from? Sounds like she's more used to a maid/ child carer/ general dogsbody which is very common in some countries. We hired a babysitter in an asian country and she tydied up, washed dishes and did the laundry and ironed etc even though we didn't expect it. She even went through all my drawers and rearranged them.

Kimmy, yes , jobs where you aren't respected are crap.

Kimmy, yes , jobs where you aren't respected are crap.

So far no payment. This gig is getting better and better. I'll start chasing soon.

I won't say where she's from because I don't want to out her or me.

I've already booked a class into the time when her next class is suppossed to be.

Would it be worth a quiet word with your other client who asked you to help out with this soon-to-be-X-client ? A gentle " I'm going to have to step away as she wants me to do the cleaning and was over 2 hours late coming home. And oh yes she hasn't paid me..." . Get in first before she bad mouths you to your client sort of thing

I'd recommend having a word with the other client, too. Particularly because you ended up in this situation partly as a favour for her.

I'm not massively surprised you haven't been paid. I wouldn't be surprised if she pays you at a lower rate, or only for the initially discussed hours and not the surprise add-ons. My feeling is that she thought you were over-paid and under-employed from the start.

Hope I'm wrong!

Arrogant twerp! Also an idiot, as you've got it in writing that she was late!

Good point about speaking to client x. She will be mortified so have to word it very carefully.

Still haven't been paid. Sent a friendly reminder. I have a response saying she is doing it atm and can I do x water next week. I think I may be ignoring my phone for a while.

Dates not water: d'OH!

Ooh she is a total piss taker isn't she. Hate hate hate people like this.

Well, i think I'm underemployed and overpaid.

I teach a language and most of my babysitting gigs are tutoring clients who like that i speak to the dc in the target language and the fact they already know and trust me.

For what new client wants she could get a local student for about half what i charge. I'm not prepared to work for those rates especially not considering that i have to cross London to get to her.

I voiced my concerns about this at the time she hired me. She was adamant that she wanted me but I get the feeling she was desperate.