Am I being fair? Honest opinions wanted.

[Bluebird888]

I’m actually a long time DISboarduser, but for some reason I can’t log into my account. It’s been a couple years so maybe I got deactivated. AnyHoo…

We have had a local lady come and clean our home twice a month since mid-September, so 3 1/2 months.

in the 3 1/2 months since she has cleaned home, she has rescheduled or left early 12 times for various reasons. She is nice enough and does a decent job but not amazing.

We have three small kids and all of the rescheduling and shuffling around does not work for our family. She was supposed to come clean on December 23. Of course she didn’t finish and said she would come back on December 26th, then rescheduled for December 27th. After she left on the 27th, we texted her and let her know that although she’s a nice person, the constant rescheduling was not working for our family.

She was a little pissed, but said OK and asked if she could come clean on January 6 for her last clean. We said of course, not wanting to end things on a negative note. at noon on the sixth, she texted us to let us know that she would be coming on the 9th instead because she was dizzy. At that point, we told her we were just done and we wished her all the best.

Now she is harassing us constantly asking for the entire amount that she would have been paid for January, $250. my husband and I feel like we gave her notice that we were letting her go and gave her an extra time to clean, which she didn’t do. I have sympathy for her, but I just don’t feel she is reliable and has shown herself to be a little bit nuts since we let her go. she claims that we did not give her notice and then we should pay her for January even if she doesn’t clean.

I want to be fair to her, but I do feel like we are being taken advantage of. we don’t feel that we should pay for services not rendered. I would love honest opinions. Your thoughts?

(also, please excuse any typos and or miscapitalizations. i’m using voice to text on my phone.)

 

[Ben E N]

I wouldn't pay her. You scheduled her for the 6th, she couldn't work then. Your obligation to pay her ended then.
Unless you signed a contract stating that the dates of her services were flexible based on her schedule, her missing out is her loss.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

More than fair. Don't worry about this.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

To be honest if it was me I would just pay to get her out of my life, especially if you say she is a bit "nuts". But yes you gave her notice and therefore technically you shouldn't have to pay.

 

[ZZBane]

Tell her to take you to court if she has a problem with it and furthermore, tell her that you’ll happily report her to the police if she keeps harassing you. I have a zero tolerance for bs like that and if it were me, I would have fired her a long time ago. She sounds like a scammer and a real piece of work

 

[J'aime Paris]

12 times! You are way more gracious than I would be....that's completely unprofessional and unacceptable.

 

[BelleOftheBall16]

I would absolutely not pay her another dime. I would send her one final text letting her know her services have been terminated and not to contact you any longer, then I would block her number.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Causal work, paid cash in hand, she has no legal standing for anything. No contact, no legal rights to anything.

Most companies have a probation period, where you can be let go for any reason and you don't get paid for the days you were scheduled but did not work.

She is flaky and trying a sob story with you. Don't fall for it, and don't respond to her any more.

 

[Allison]

I wouldn't pay her.

 

[mjkacmom]

You owe her nothing, tell her to get lost.

 

[Antaniasmom]

I agree with all posters except one. DO NOT give her any money. If you did not sign a contract with her about an amount of notice to be given, you OWE HER NOTHING! Seems as though you let it go on for far too long and she definitely took advantage of your kindness. Her job is no different than anyone elses, she would have been fired far sooner working for a company with that behavior. Good Luck and do not hesitate to get authorities involved if needed--Hope she doesn't have a key to your place!

 

[sonnyjane]

To be honest if it was me I would just pay to get her out of my life, especially if you say she is a bit "nuts". But yes you gave her notice and therefore technically you shouldn't have to pay.

No way I would reward someone for this type of behavior by paying them for doing nothing.

OP, do not pay her and BLOCK her on your phone!

 

[Carol_]

This is (and having to fill out tax paperwork) is why I can’t hire help. I just don’t have the patience or trust to let people into my home.
Plus, I need the exercise.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

No way I would reward someone for this type of behavior by paying them for doing nothing.

OP, do not pay her and BLOCK her on your phone!

I wouldn't generally either, but this person would have had the keys of her house and would know their routine etc if she writes she is a bit "nuts" personally that's what I would do just to get her out of my life. But I totally agree she doesn't deserve it one bit.

 

[Mathmagicland]

If you’ve got things well documented from her start date re when she left early, it would seem she “owes” you for time paid and not worked. It might be interesting to look at it over her entire time she was working, to see the under on time worked vs payments made. For January since she only cleaned once, most you would owe is $125, then subtract what she “owes” from when she shorted you on time paid & not worked.

I agree you should not pay her for the entire month; this math exercise may help to shut her down once & for all.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’m actually a long time DISboarduser, but for some reason I can’t log into my account. It’s been a couple years so maybe I got deactivated. AnyHoo…

We have had a local lady come and clean our home twice a month since mid-September, so 3 1/2 months.

in the 3 1/2 months since she has cleaned home, she has rescheduled or left early 12 times for various reasons. She is nice enough and does a decent job but not amazing.

We have three small kids and all of the rescheduling and shuffling around does not work for our family. She was supposed to come clean on December 23. Of course she didn’t finish and said she would come back on December 26th, then rescheduled for December 27th. After she left on the 27th, we texted her and let her know that although she’s a nice person, the constant rescheduling was not working for our family.

She was a little pissed, but said OK and asked if she could come clean on January 6 for her last clean. We said of course, not wanting to end things on a negative note. at noon on the sixth, she texted us to let us know that she would be coming on the 9th instead because she was dizzy. At that point, we told her we were just done and we wished her all the best.

Now she is harassing us constantly asking for the entire amount that she would have been paid for January, $250. my husband and I feel like we gave her notice that we were letting her go and gave her an extra time to clean, which she didn’t do. I have sympathy for her, but I just don’t feel she is reliable and has shown herself to be a little bit nuts since we let her go. she claims that we did not give her notice and then we should pay her for January even if she doesn’t clean.

I want to be fair to her, but I do feel like we are being taken advantage of. we don’t feel that we should pay for services not rendered. I would love honest opinions. Your thoughts?

(also, please excuse any typos and or miscapitalizations. i’m using voice to text on my phone.)

There's one thing you don't mention (or I'm totally missing it)... Is there anything in writing (whether on paper or electronic) that says you would give her 'x' amount of days notice before terminating the agreement? That would determine whether you need to pay her anything. Assuming there's nothing in writing, then you are totally fair in not giving her anything. I would send a text saying there's nothing in writing that justifies paying her for January, and any further attempt to contact you would be considered harassment and you will take appropriate action.

Then save EVERY bit of communication you've had (text, email, writing).

 

[sonnyjane]

I wouldn't generally either, but this person would have had the keys of her house and would know their routine etc if she writes she is a bit "nuts" personally that's what I would do just to get her out of my life. But I totally agree she doesn't deserve it one bit.

I'd spend $250 changing the locks before I paid it to someone just because they are "nuts". There's no guarantee this payment would get rid of her, either.

 

[sam_gordon]

this person would have had the keys of her house

Not necessarily. The work could have been done while the family was home or they could have a changeable code or remote access to let someone in.

If you’ve got things well documented from her start date re when she left early, it would seem she “owes” you for time paid and not worked. It might be interesting to look at it over her entire time she was working, to see the under on time worked vs payments made. For January since she only cleaned once, most you would owe is $125, then subtract what she “owes” from when she shorted you on time paid & not worked.

I agree you should not pay her for the entire month; this math exercise may help to shut her down once & for all.

WAS she paid for not working? All the OP said was she was to clean twice a month and she constantly had to reschedule. That doesn't mean the cleaning didn't get done.

 

[Disney Doll]

So she’s wanting to get paid for work in January when she didn’t work in January?
Unless you have a contract of some sort stating that there would be X days or weeks of notice in writing or something, I’d probably send her one more text that said “I don’t owe you mo et for January because you did no work for me in January. Please do not contact me again.” Then block her number.

If she continues to try and contact you via other means, I might consider contacting the police non-emergency number or an attorney to get advice on what to do. But whatever you do, once you have made your final statement to her, DO NOT respond to her directly again.

 

[Bluebird888]

Thanks for your responses everybody. To answer a few questions...no, there was no contract or anything in writing.

She did have a copy of the back door key which we got back from her. We are changing the locks (husband is doing it himself and waiting on the lock which he ordered online). In the meantime we have a bar in the sliding glass door.

I just wanted to be sure there wasn't some unwritten rule that says you need to pay a month of severance or something. I feel like we're being fair but she's texting us so much about it I started to second guess myself.

She DID say she was going to take us to small claims court. We said okay, see you then.