Cleaner slams clients who haven't continued to pay her during lockdown - Money

Cleaner claims she won’t work for clients who didn’t ‘care’ enough to keep paying her during lockdown – but is told they could be having money struggles too

British woman vented her fury for not being paid by her clients during lockdown
Posting anonymously on Mumsnet, she considered not returning to work
Many responses argued clients are likely to have their own financial struggles

Published: 16:38 BST, 13 May 2020 | Updated: 16:44 BST, 13 May 2020

A woman who works as a self-employed cleaner has criticsed her regular clients for not paying her during the lockdown, and threatened not to work for them anymore.

Writing anonymously on the British parenting site Mumsnet, the woman accused some of her clients of not giving a ‘toss’.

She explained that a number of her clients haven’t offered to continue paying for her services during lockdown, and that she’ll be taking it into account when deciding who to work for after lockdown.

Responses to the post were divided with some agreeing, and others accusing her of not considering the financial difficulties that her clients may also be facing.

The cleaner refused to answer questions about her eligibility for government funding.

From today, domestic cleaners are able to return to work in people’s homes, provided they abide by social distancing measures, or take extra attention to cleaning and hygiene if this is not possible.

A British woman sparked a Mumsnet debate about returning to clients who haven’t continued to pay for services throughout lockdown (file image)

A flood of people warned the woman that reducing the client list could be a short sighted decision due to the national financial uncertainty

Asking the forum for their views, the woman wrote: ‘Self-employed cleaner only going back to clients who have continued to pay/support. Seriously considering ditching the people who didn’t give a toss. Anyone out there the same?’

A stream of people responded to reassure the cleaner that the choice is hers, but she might be making a short-sighted decision.

Government support for self-employed

Millions of self-employed workers will be able to apply for grants of up to £7,500 from today, with payments due to land within six days.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant is worth up to 80% of average trading profits for those stuck at home.

It is the biggest direct financial support package for freelancers and the self-employed since lockdown started, and claims for lost work can be dated back to March.

The Government has not said whether it will be extended in line with the furlough scheme protecting 80% of employees’ wages up to £2,500 a month.

One person said: ‘Well it’s up to you isn’t it. Can you earn enough just by working those jobs from now on? Or will you have to advertise for new clients? In which case that sounds like cutting off your nose to spite your face’

Another wrote: ‘I would like to see your reputation if you do that. Not everyone with a cleaner is “rich”, many will have lost their jobs and couldn’t afford to pay you. You’re being very short-sighted.’

A third added: ‘You shouldn’t expect to get paid for doing nothing, especially when the government are giving 80 per cent anyway’

Others argued they would ditch clients who haven’t shown support throughout lockdown.

‘Yes, I wouldn’t go back to anyone who would have seen me starve (assuming they were not about to starve themselves). I wouldn’t say that’s why though – I’d just say you ‘no longer have the availability,” wrote one.

Another said: ‘I would put your loyal customers at the top of your list and add in/ omit others to suit yourself. You owe them nothing.’

‘I mean, it’s up to you. I imagine they can find another cleaner easy enough if they still want one and you’ve got enough clients to keep going with, then why not? I don’t think it has to be a big deal, one way or another,’ added a third.