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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Original poster

Domestic cleaner demanding money owed

59 replies

Thefirstime · 19/02/2024 14:54

Recently finished with our cleaner and they are demanding payment for a day when they cleaned and are saying they wasn’t paid.. don’t know why they didn’t mention it before…

i am stumped - my DW took care of paying and they are saying due to a cancellation back 2 months ago and then they were paid every month - there was a payment missed..

this is all cash in hand btw..

I don’t believe it for one second.. what to do?? Hardball?

they stole stuff (have no proof of course) and most of cleaning products were taken

OP posts:
MzHz · 20/02/2024 09:04

What did they steal @Thefirstime ?

if I was positive they’d stolen from me, I’d be inclined to tell them that they’re not getting anything when your possessions aren’t returned

if it’s not as clear cut as that I’d leave it.

bonzaitree · 20/02/2024 09:33

Just block her. You’re sure you’ve paid. Block and ignore.

Cakeandcardio · 20/02/2024 09:37

Tell them you will pay them via bank transfer? Maybe scare them off.

Xoxoxoxoxoxox · 20/02/2024 09:40

Whilst you can still pay 'cash' to employees both parties are required to complete PAYE / HMRC obligations. For the person who accepts cash, if they are self-employed, they are required to declare their income from cash-in-hand settlements or paid cash on their annual tax return.

A cleaner is not an employee though, they are self- employed and you are their customer as you would be if you bought an item from a mobile phone stall.
You can pay them cash and it would certainly not be illegal or untoward. If they fail to declair it it is illegal.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 20/02/2024 10:27

@getitgotitgood a cleaner is not an employee, OP is their customer not their employer. Do you pay PAYE for the plumber who services your boiler, or the window cleaner, or the person who comes to shampoo your carpets?!

LumpyandBumps · 20/02/2024 11:44

How likely is it that she didn’t mention not receiving a £70 payment at the time?
I would normally support the underdog’ in this type of situation, but if the £70 is ( understandably) important to her now then it would have been important then and she would have pursued it at the time.
If you are reasonably certain that you don’t owe her anything then just respond saying this, or block her.
If she wants to pursue a court case she would have to prove that she did the work and did not get paid. It wouldn’t be impossible, but it’s far from straightforward.

aitchteeaitch · 20/02/2024 14:06

Mrsttcno1 · 19/02/2024 17:20

This isn’t necessarily true. It is more difficult to prove a negative, whereas it should be in theory easy to prove a positive for example by evidencing a cash withdrawal on X date, the cleaner could take them to small claims if they could be bothered and it would be on OP to prove they DID pay. Considering they have already admitted they aren’t absolutely certain they did pay, it would be an easy win in small claims for the cleaner.

Show quote history

Highly unlikely it would get as far as court. Not if the cleaner has been being paid cash in hand, and wouldn't want the authorities to take an interest in their earnings...

Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 20/02/2024 14:11

In order to be rid of her and draw a line under it I would pay the money she's requesting, with a letter saying that she has already been paid in full, but you are giving her this money as a goodwill gesture and to close communications. That you will unfortunately be unable to provide her with a reference going forward. And keep a copy of the letter.

Mrsttcno1 · 20/02/2024 14:27

aitchteeaitch · 20/02/2024 14:06

Highly unlikely it would get as far as court. Not if the cleaner has been being paid cash in hand, and wouldn't want the authorities to take an interest in their earnings...

Show quote history

Cash in hand does not automatically = evading tax. :)

You have no reason to believe the cleaner is anything other than genuine and if they have not been paid for services provided then they would be well within their rights to take the OP to court to obtain the money owed.

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