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.

For anyone waiting for a conclusion of the drama.

I got a really nice, understanding text back from her this morning. Aaaargh now I feel like a bitch

She hasn't paid you for the extra time, has she?
She's the bitch, no matter how "understanding" she is.
Why don't you text her back and ask for it?

She didn't pay you for TWO extra hours! What if you'd had another job to get to? She expected you to clean her fucking house! You need another assertiveness course because this woman is a twat and if you were truly assertive, the second she told you to clean, you'd have said, 'Oh, there must be some misunderstanding. My role does not extend to domestic duties beyond those involving my work with the children. I'm afraid I'm not available for housecleaning.'

You did make it clear to her that you will not work for her again, didn't you? Because with people like this, you have to be clear. Because they are manipulative gits as well as pisstaking twunts.

Didn't you ask for the extra hours payment?

Expat, I find assertiveness very hard. I trained myself to be assertive within my job and my private life.
I can and will do it, but need to give myself a pep talk every time. I need to. I just don't feel strongly enough about asking for more payment. I would, if I wanted to work with her again but it doesn't feel wirth the hassle.

And yes, i made it very clear that i wouldn"t be back.

As long as she knows you won't be back. She's a total bitch, though. She has zero respect for you or your time. I wouldn't even answer the text, just move the fuck on and make sure your client mate knows she expected you to clean her house, did not pay you for the 2 hours nor warn you she'd be late, therefore it's not feasible to work for her.

^I got a really nice, understanding text back from her this morning. Aaaargh now I feel like a bitch*

She's not nice, she's manipulative. She's stolen £40 or whatever you charge for 2 hours work.

Agree with others. She is a manipulative cow. She had two hours of your time for free. Do not respond to any further contact, at most reiterate the agency's details if she says she is desperate for someone to watch her children.

Yep. She's trying to keep you sweet to pull the 'Oh, god, I haven't got anyone in and it's last minute!' Because people like her can smell a pushover a mile away and hey, she's taken you for 2 hours for free, you've already proven her right.

I would block her number entirely.

She probably needed you because she pulled a similar stunt on everyone who worked for her before.

'Hi, thanks for your text. Unfortunately you forgot to pay me for the two extra hours which is charged at a rate of X. I will issue you an invoice today for the full amount so if you could pop the difference into my account that would be fab. Have a lovely weekend.'

'She probably needed you because she pulled a similar stunt on everyone who worked for her before.'

Yep. Hence, her nanny bailed on her (probably sick of being treated like a slave) and she's had to hit up mates to get someone in. Because she treats people like shit and it doesn't register to her that people don't have to put up with that.

So delete/block because she will try it on with you and try to guilt you into doing this again.

Where is she from? 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.

Was she Marie Kondo per chance?

I have to say: no matter how desperate she claims to be: I will not be back unless she pays me by cleaning my house

I always give people the benefit of the doubt, but once was enough.

She was probably nice because she knew she owed you an extra hour plus inconvenience bonus!

Did she pay you the overtime in the end?

No, no late payment.