Office staff say Surrey-based cleaning company Scrubbi has shut down
When Scrubbi operations clerk Harley Thompson got a text Tuesday morning saying the Surrey-based house cleaning company was shutting down, he wasn’t surprised.
“If you have issues with not being able to pay people to do the work for your company, it’s not a shock to me at all that it fell apart,” Thompson said.
For months, CTV News has been reporting on Scrubbi cleaning contractors who aren’t getting paid for work already done, issues the company’s owner blamed on a new payment system and problems at the bank.
“This has been going on for a while, and it was super stressful to have to try to help these people, because there wasn’t anything we could really do about it," said Thompson, who began working as a scheduler and liaison between the independent cleaners and head office last November.
"It was all the time, there were angry people who, rightfully so, were talking about how they weren’t getting paid. And it was tough because no one in my team could do anything about it.”
When he returned to headquarters to pick up his things after learning the company had folded on Tuesday, Thomson says he spoke to company CEO Daniel Deckert.
“He pulled me into the boardroom and gave me the talk, and said basically we are just shutting down business operations. It’s been 10 years but there is not a lot they could do to sustain business,” said Thompson.
While he’s out of a job, he says he’s more concerned about the cleaners who are still owed money.
“I don’t know if they’re going to get an apology from the company, but I would love to apologize to the cleaners. They put in so much hard work,” said Thompson. “I want them to know that the people in the office who they were talking to did genuinely care, and we did really try to make sure everything worked, but the pay stuff was out of our control.”
Former contractors aren’t the only ones who will be left chasing their money from Scrubbi, which had B.C. operations in Metro Vancouver, Victoria and the Interior.
“There are people that have weekly appointments pre-paid for a whole year ahead of time, and I don’t know what going to happen for them,” said Thompson. “It looks like the company doesn’t have any money to make them whole this point.”
CTV News wanted to ask Deckert how he will make contractors and clients whole, and why the Scrubbi website still appears to be accepting new bookings. He did not reply to an email, and the company’s toll free number went to voicemail.
“From the sounds of it, the money issues have been going on for a while,” said Thompson. “I would be surprised if everybody that is owed money is paid.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More Canadians only making minimum payment on credit cards: TransUnion
Some Canadians are seeing their credit card balances grow as the cost-of-living crisis and higher interest rates eat into household budgets, a new report shows.
Severe thunderstorms, 15 cm of snow: Canadian weather forecast highlights
Well into spring, some parts of Canada could experience a wintry comeback, while other areas are bracing for severe thunderstorms, according to local forecasts.
Israeli tanks advance into Rafah's centre despite global outcry
Israeli tanks advanced to the centre of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, witnesses said, three weeks into a ground offensive in the southern Gaza city that has stirred global condemnation for its continued civilian toll.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
House from 'Home Alone' hits the market for US$5.25 million
Kevin McCallister’s childhood home has hit the market for US$5.25 million. At just over 9,000 square feet, the house from the 'Home Alone' movie was last sold in 2012 for $1,585,000.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
Arm of mummy came off after mishandling by museum staff: Mexican government
Mexico's federal archaeology agency on Monday accused the conservative-governed city of Guanajuato of mistreating one of the country’s famous mummified 19th century bodies.
Five of Ontario's top 10 worst roads are located in the Toronto area
A new pothole-riddled street in Hamilton has taken the top spot for the worst road in Ontario, according to a new list released by the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA) on Tuesday.