We hired Dottie's to clean about half of our house in Fall 2017. First, they came out to give us a quote. They walked around the house with a clipboard while I identified the work we wanted done. At the end of this consultation, they gave me a price quote, and I committed. When they came for the job, they were on time and had a larger crew.
About 20 minutes before the job was done, the man addressed me in front of the rest of his crew. He said that the work they had done was more than he had anticipated (even though it had taken the exact amount of time he had planned), and actually, the final bill would be more than double what they had quoted me. I felt really blindsided by this, and understandably I was unhappy.
I wish I could tell you that I stood up for myself, but I did not. I just didn't have the energy. I was mourning the loss of a dear friend, and I had a lot of things going on in my life. I didn't want to deal with the hassle of the confrontation, and I didn't want anyone to intentionally harm something in my house before leaving. I am fortunate that I was able to afford their new total. So, I just paid them and sent them on their way. I actually had a tip prepared for every single member of the crew... but I kept it in my pocket because of the ordeal. Before they left, they hung out in my driveway, smoking cigarettes, which I didn't appreciate either. As if all that wasn't enough, the cleaning job was just okay. Not stellar. They didn't do nooks & crannies, e.g. grime on the sliding door tracks in the bathroom.
I would never use them again for cleaning, and I would never recommend them to any person. What happened to me was really unfair & exploitative. My husband and I have been nervous to try another cleaner since my experience with Dottie's. We were really sad because we had originally planned on having them come biweekly... but of course after their behavior, there was no way we would ever use them again. We value honesty & integrity... It's not about the money. It's about being lied to and taken advantage of. It actually troubled me so much that I've tried to repress the memory; that's why I can't even tell you the guy's name. I tried to just blow it off as bad luck and move on with my life. I was also nervous to write a review too soon after their visit, because these people know where I live. But I'm here writing this now because I think others deserve a fair warning, one that I didn't have.
I do feel confused because I don't see other reviewers online (on HomeAdvisor) who had this particular experience, which makes me wonder if something about my personality, age, appearance, or home made them think they could just upcharge me at the last minute. It's very strange. The other possibility is that people who experienced this upcharge like me I did feel so embarrassed about it that they don't post a review. I don't know. But I'm putting this out there so others have a fair warning. read more