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This message has been edited. Last edited by: AKochert,

I used them about 10 months ago for a one time clean. Not so good. The manager offered to have a re-do but I said don't bother. They were late by over 30 minutes and made it a hassel to get my kids to school on time.

Parker and I have gone through quite a few cleaning folks in the past decade or so. Nobody...and I mean nobody...will do the job that you do yourself. We canned the last group about two years ago and have been doing it ourselves. That, BTW, is a real pain in the a$$.

The house cleaning business is the single largest scam perpetrated on the Glen Ellyn public. I hate them all. BTW, used Helena once. So bad it was shocking.

Clam, that is the main reason that we don't have a cleaning service. Nobody and I mean nobody could do a better job than me.
It is a pain the @ss job but at least the house is clean.

One of the main reasons that we do not use a service is that many of them carry liability insurance, but DO NOT carry worker’s compensation insurance on their employees. If a cleaning person gets hurt in your home while employed as a cleaner, and the service does not carry workman’s compensation on their employee, then the homeowner is responsible. It’s a good way to lose all your toys. Some do carry this, but many do not. A good clue is if they will let you write a personal check for their services. If a service tells you that they hire independent contractors then more than likely the maids will either be illegal aliens or there is no workman’s compensation. Be certain to ask the owner if they carry this. I have heard lots of excuses for the lack of this, but it is a red flag if they don't!

WAAH...WAAH...WAAH! You sound like a "Poor Little 'Ole Me" cry baby. If a company hasn't had a rate increase in "YEARS", don't you think it would eventually have to? Especially given the current economy, gas prices, global devaluation of the dollar, etc.!?!? Anyway, it sounds like you got caught in the crossfire, bad timing, and all that. I doubt that they singled you out for this rate increase. They've been around a long time and will probably stay that way, but you need to move on and get over your hurt about this. You said they did a GREAT JOB, but your blood boils and you hope they loose a lot of business....It sounds like you're really upset because "they FIRED ME!" Cheese, this sounds like something for Dear Abby! Anyway I appreciate the plug for Alternating Currents. They do a great job and a LOT of us in Glen Ellyn use them!

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

The house cleaning business is the single largest scam perpetrated on the Glen Ellyn public. I hate them all. BTW, used Helena once. So bad it was shocking.

run an advance search using "i hate" and "clamato" as the author and see how many posts pop up. i think there were four in the last 24 hours alone.

that's a lot of hate, old boy.

quote:

Originally posted by AKochert:
Hi all, a few weeks ago I searched this site for recommendations on a cleaning service. Sweet Pea won the contest.

Called them to schedule a first cleaning. They told me several times during the conversation they hadn't had a rate increase in many many years. Found that impressive. They charged double the bi-weekly rate for the first clean. Thought that was a little excessive, but since they got such great reviews, went with it, and thought that I was developing a long term relationship.

They came, and honestly, they did a great job. Was it worth the 180? Probably not, but it was good, and besides, they hadn't had a rate increase in many many years...

Today I called to confirm them coming for tomorrow. I got a call tonight. They raised their rates! Ha! Almost 10 percent! I told them what I thought about that, that I felt like I was misled and you know what? They FIRED ME!

I feel completely taken advantage of. So, I hope this saves someone else from being suckered in. And by the way, does anyone have any cleaning service recommendations????

Amy, I was looking for a service that was available next week, when I called Sweet Pea. I was told they were so busy they could not schedule any clients until after New Year's day. They probably "fired you" because they were over booked and couldn't schedule you.

As one of the boasters of Sweet Peas, I figured I would chime in. They just cleaned our house yesterday and, like always, I was extremely satisfied. I waited 7 years to find a good cleaning service, heard lots and lots of horror stories, and really had a problem with strangers in my house when I was gone, etc...

I have never found Shelly (the owner) anything but professional in the last 2-years of using her service. I received the same information about not having had an increase in several years when I signed up and respected that...still do, as I think a $5 increase is purely chump change in the great scheme of things. I had to put a $15 gas surcharge on deliveries for my business about 2-years ago and yes, some did not like it, but it was extremely necessary once I crunched the numbers. It ended up that even the people that didn't like the increase stuck with us, because we offer superior service over the others. Didn't lose a single customer.

The two gals that come into our home every two weeks are great (never had a different cleaning crew in two years time...that's pretty unheard of). They love our dog, respect our belongings and clean well (sure, not as anal retentive as I am when I clean, but pretty damn close).

So I think the problem really falls to bad timing. They did a good job cleaning your house, case closed. I actually think it's pretty funny that she fired you! In my business too, I've had to make the decision NOT to deal with certain clients and sent them elsewhere, because in the end they would have been more trouble than they were worth.

quote:

Originally posted by t.a. superette:

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

The house cleaning business is the single largest scam perpetrated on the Glen Ellyn public. I hate them all. BTW, used Helena once. So bad it was shocking.

run an advance search using "i hate" and "clamato" as the author and see how many posts pop up. i think there were four in the last 24 hours alone.

that's a lot of hate, old boy.

I did this. I was underwhelmed by the results. There was nothing. Nothing at all. You were just making this up, weren't you? I hate you.

I posted a message a few months ago regarding my experience with Sweet Peas. Actually, I was looking for some input from someone in regards to whom we could use b/c we were so dissatisfied with Sweet Peas. We first started using Sweet Peas about two years ago and the service was exceptional then. Slowly, things went down hill. A lot of stuff was left untouched/uncleaned and they were constantly late or leaving early. My wife complained to Shelly about both the level of service and the tardiness, but then Shelly just turned the tables on her and said that my wife requested different hours of service and they were just complying. This was completely wrong. Maybe she had us mistaken with someone else. At any rate, once my wife came home from an appointment and saw the two Sweet Peas ladies just standing around talking and not even cleaning! She called Shelly immediately and told her to never have the girls come back. They were aweful!

We switched over to Helena's this past summer and have been very satisfied! And I guess seeing Clamato's comment makes me wonder. I think each cleaning experience is dependent on the individual assigned to your home at your specified time. Helena sends us the same little old polish lady every week and we love her. She does everything, even stuff we don't really ask for and stuff the Sweet Peas women never touched (windexing french doors; dusting shutter louvers on the entire house and even washing all of our dishes!!)! In fact, I keep telling my wife that if she ever left Helena's we'd be screwed b/c we'd never be able to find someone who is so thorough. Price is reasonable (less if you provide cleaning supplies) and they accept a check.

At any rate, I agree with the Sweet Peas comments, and as far as Helena's goes, we can't complain at all. Oh, I will mention that when we got rid of Sweet Peas, we got a quote from Missy's Cleaning Service and she quoted us $250 per cleaning!! Now compared to $90 from Sweet Peas and $85 for Helena's, $250 was a little egregious.

Helena's did a terrible job. I called to relay my experience to the office...and to their credit, they apologized and insisted they try again. I declined their invitation. I'm sure we just got them on a bad....make that horrible day.

I think I'm just at the point where I will never be satisfied with any cleaning service. I am not a great barometer for that subject.

I don't hate them after all. It took t.a. and Hyoog (what does that mean, BTW?) to make me realize this.

quote:

I will never be satisfied with any

thing.

Unfortunately, "Hyoog" doesn't mean much of anything anymore. Used to be a reference to the fact that I spent countless hours in the gym (pre-wife and pre-kids). All the knuckle-dragger would just refer to each other as "hey you're hyoog man" ... "no, you're hyooger ... now lets bench ..."

Post-wife and post-kids, it all about running; marathons and ultra's (50 & 100 milers).

Clam, I've gathered from your posts that you frequent the Bike Shop? In much the same way, I'm somewhat of a GE Running Co. groupie. Actually, I knew Pat White from when he traded. We used to workout at the World's Gym on lower Wacker.

I am in that building...the one closer to the Merc. The only time I see World Gym is when I walk past to go to Potbelly's.

I've had many Refco conversations w/ Pat...while he was in the Bike Shop.

quote:

Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:

quote:

I will never be satisfied with any

thing.

You are now on my crowded hate list.

When was I officially off your illustrious list in the first place? I thought I was your first member!

When you drive south on Kenilworth towards Illinois Street - over near the Y - there are a couple Helena's cleaning carrier vans parked at a raised, raised ranch - It looks like an apartment building in a residential neighborhood - and I always wondered if that's where they house their cleaning staff. Anyone know?

Helena's official address is on Ott, in the coveted YMCA area.

I could be off a street . . . it is on the West side just before Illinois.