We also had a cleaner who watched television ... We would never have known had she not recorded morning telly on the HDD by mistake. Programme was started half an hour after her normal start time.

This person appeared faultless until I had to swap days at work and she got the keys. Standards slipped and if I left her a note to ask her to clean sth different and not do sth else instead, she just wouldn't do it - she could read so that wasn't the problem. Odd things started happening but they were so random and odd that it wasn't that easy to start asking questions...

One time our stairs got damaged, great big dints on 3 separate steps. I actually got worried that she might have fallen down the stairs with the hoover or sth. I asked her if everything was OK and if she hadn't had a fall, she very defensively said the dints were there all along as if I was accusing her. This was the sign to me that sth wasn't right.

Then one day by complete fluke I found some cutlery and some half eaten snacks from our cupboards in a bag in the recycling bin.

After that I started checking our recycling bin -- sad, I know! - but we got concerned that other things might find their way in there ...

We decided to let her go the day we found in the recycling bin: a loaf of bread (not ours), a favourite white top sodden and gone grey (no dark wash was drying and she wasn't supposed to look after our washing anyway so the colour change was a complete mystery), a clean white mug in perfect condition, sticky address labels (clearly her own, judging by the names on some of the labels that hadn't been used), empty Christmas card boxes ...

With hindsight we should have known -- she once mentioned with disdain and disgust her other employer's housekeeping. Maybe she just hated the job and the people she worked for? Who knows? She was paid pretty well too. The experience made me very wary of getting someone else for ages.

Great thanks LKNorthcote. That's good to know.

cococool - wow what a helpful resonse

MGMidget, I am under the impression they used the footage as evidence to prosecute. Because the nannycam/cctv footage was used by the homeowner in their own home then it is viable. I believe if someone else sets up the nannycam/cctv in a different property then it becomes complicated. However, this is just what I am lead to believe! I know the police took a copy with them and said they would press charges as a result...

Hi,
I have been cleaner for 4years with good references if you interest please contact me.my number is 07429485772
Thank you

LKNorthcote, did the police use the nannycam evidence to prosecute or did they just think it was useful for homeowners so they could discover a thief and get rid of them from the house? I'm interested because I think the law regarding use of video/cctv without express permission is complicated. Would love to know what the situation is in case I ever need to make use of this! It can be complicated if, for example, you have an employee like a nanny who has been with you for a long time. You can't just sack on a whim but need to have evidence and hence it could be useful to know what you can and can't do officially regarding video evidence. Does anyone know? Well done Fatherof6 for uncovering your thief this way - did you inform the police or just sack the cleaner?

Cleaners have to be trustworthy as they have access to everything in the house that isn't locked. I always take a photocopy of the passport details and ask to see a utility bill in their name with the home address on it so I can make a note of it.

I’ve had the same trustworthy, reliable cleaner for many years and she has never stolen anything - ever.

I believe she's currently free every Tuesday and also every second Friday.

I've sent you a PM. Let me know if you'd like her details.

All the best finding a reliable cleaner and with looking after six children!

Oh Gosh!
That's impossible! I'm a cleaner too...but i never ever have taken what is not mine... I'm really sory to hear that! Hope you will find the best one!

Oh Gosh!
That's impossible! I'm a cleaner too...but i never ever have taken what is not mine... I'm really sory to hear that! Hope you will find the best one!

So sorry to hear this.

My parents had a similar situation in the country. They caught their cleaner stealing after 15 years of cleaning for them. My Father kept cash hidden - not a lot, maybe 60-70 quid at any one time but noticed 10-20 was going missing on a regular basis - either that or he was going senile. He invested in a 'nanny cam' - £25 off amazon. There are a range of different ones all disguised as normal objects you may have in the house e.g. pens, clocks, vases etc. When he suspected her, he set it up facing the place where the cash was stashed. It was motion sensored so everytime someone was in the room it would record and then click off when they left the room.

Long and short of it, the first time they set it up, they caught her very discretely taking a tenner and then she went back for more about half an hour later! My parents were downstairs! Awful! Goodness knows how much she had taken over the years, and what else she had stolen too!

The police said, if only more people used their initiatives in this way then it would make life much easier as they've got the cold, hard evidence to take action.

Always makes me wary now though, sadly.

I hope you find a good, trustworthy cleaner.

x

Hello! I have a wonderful amazing cleaner that has worked for me for 5 years. She is very reliable and amazing. Her name is Marta and is available on Mondays either morning or afternoon. You can reach her at 07746 799662 or me at montgomeryw@gmail.com
All the best, Wendy

Hi guys,
just reading all of your experiences with cleaners and it is truly shocking, far to few honest people in this world. I have been cleaning for years and have cleaned for several nappyvalley mums in my spare time and received nothing but praise. After being asked to clean on a permanent basis on many occasions, I realised good cleaners are in great demand. I have now set up my own company, along with my partner, in which we specialise in all cleaning and also property maintenance. I train my cleaners myself and all go through a vigorous vetting process to ensure the highest standards are maintained. Please contact us saizencleaning@hotmail.co.uk or call 07736928103 and ask for CJ.

And can I ask how many of us give sickness pay or holiday pay or pay significantly above the so-called London living wage. Or indeed leave temptation like wallets, loose coins and notes lying around. In an increasingly polarised UK - in money terms - are we surprised? Saddened maybe but surprised?

Morning all,

I might be able to help!

I've recently co-founded a cleaning company called Mopp (http://www.mopp.com) which connects customers across London to awesome fully vetted, trusted and reliable cleaners.

We left our jobs in the City back in April to start Mopp after we had a dreadful experience trying to find ourselves a cleaner.

You can read a little more about us here -

http://www.cityam.com/article/knees-led ... ng-concept

You can book online and pick the exact time and date you'd like the cleaner to arrive.

Check us out if you have time!

http://www.mopp.com

Thanks,

Tom

Hi my names Jenny Im a mother of 4 who are all of school age, I currently clean on a Friday morning for a lovely lady who I sure will give me an excellent reference, I'm looking for a few more hours & am absolutely trust worthy!! Please contact me if your interested.
Thank you!

I'm also very sorry that this woman has given us honest workers a bad name!