Assaulted

« **on:** February 28, 2011, 05:13:50 pm »

i have ben washing windows for 20 yrs and today i have been assaulted by a customer.

as happens sometimes ,my son put the brush against the window and the window opened spraying some water into the flat .
this was followed by verbal abuse from the woman like i have never heard before.like a crazylunatic .the more i apologized the crazier she got .she was then joined by her boyfriend in a slightly less crazed manor .
they then say they want compensation .at this point i tell my son to pack up .as we are packing up all 3 approach me .the bigger of the men trys to grap me ,i turn and defend my self with the pole .
i then run off with all 3 after me ,telling they are going to kill me .
i call 999 whilst running ,(luckly im a runner so they had no chance of getting me) .
the police arive eventually .
this is a sheltered housing job and the managers are asking me if i want to have the people evicted .
im concerned as they have called my home with the same tone .

not sure what im going to do ,but can u believe this .
cleaning windows is dangerous.

« **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:16:44 pm »

« **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:18:18 pm »

My God, thats unbelievable

« **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:19:43 pm »

i wont be long until gardiners will be selling guard dogs!

i waiting for the slx german shepard

« **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:31:19 pm »

If they are going round to your house, you can apply for a temporary injunction order, they usually last 6 months and means they can not go within 100m of your home.

people like this have no brains, so have to to resort to violence.

Matt

« **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:32:13 pm »

  thats a diluted account ,i was the worst ive ever been in.not sure an injunction would do anything.

  when i started wc ,i was cleaning some flats in chelsea (london) off a scaffold ,and a yardy lent out of the window with a gun in hand asking what i was doing .i told him and he just went back into the flat .
that was more odd than anything .but this was scary .

« **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:34:36 pm »

Quote from: Wc Solutions on February 28, 2011, 05:19:43 pm

i wont be long until gardiners will be selling guard dogs!

i waiting for the slx german shepard

Will they bring out a cheaper version maybe a No Moral Fibre Pitbull, a wee bit heavier but rugged and reliable

« **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:39:41 pm »

Quote from: Ross G on February 28, 2011, 05:34:36 pm

Quote from: Wc Solutions on February 28, 2011, 05:19:43 pm
i wont be long until gardiners will be selling guard dogs!

i waiting for the slx german shepard

Will they bring out a cheaper version maybe a No Moral Fibre Pitbull, a wee bit heavier but rugged and reliable

More like a dual trim Rottweiller lol

« **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:40:35 pm »

Quote from: edward1 on February 28, 2011, 05:13:50 pm

i have ben washing windows for 20 yrs and today i have been assaulted by a customer.

as happens sometimes ,my son put the brush against the window and the window opened spraying some water into the flat .
this was followed by verbal abuse from the woman like i have never heard before.like a crazylunatic .the more i apologized the crazier she got .she was then joined by her boyfriend in a slightly less crazed manor .
they then say they want compensation .at this point i tell my son to pack up .as we are packing up all 3 approach me .the bigger of the men trys to grap me ,i turn and defend my self with the pole .
i then run off with all 3 after me ,telling they are going to kill me .
i call 999 whilst running ,(luckly im a runner so they had no chance of getting me) .
the police arive eventually .
this is a sheltered housing job and the managers are asking me if i want to have the people evicted .
im concerned as they have called my home with the same tone .

not sure what im going to do ,but can u believe this .
cleaning windows is dangerous.

I suppose someone will come along in a minute to say that using a ladder would have been safer.

Seriously though, that really isn't on.
They sound like really messed up people.
It's a pity that they know where you live as the decision would be a lot easier.
Money or not, I would definitely dump that job and have no more to do with it.
It's hard to know how far to take this as they know where you live. They sound like idiots who would have a go at you first and take the legal consequences after. That wouldn't be any help to you if you have been beaten or your property vandalised.
I honestly don't know what I would do but I wouldn't want them evicted because that way, at least I know where they live too. Although I imagine that you (or your errrmmm representatives) would not take unofficial action, they don't know that. Often, people who live by the sword assume that everyone else does too, because it's how they think (if you can call that thinking).
Letting some time elapse and picking them off one at a time (perhaps with a little help) does sound tempting. It's reasonable to assume that such people have made many enemies so won't link it to you. However, tempting though that is, I would be more likely to cancel the contract and take no action. I would only escalate it if any of them did.
It's a tough call though and certainly one to sleep on I think.

« **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:40:49 pm »

It wasn't Steve- C s relatives was it?

« **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:41:43 pm »

Quote from: Sapphire Window Cleaning on February 28, 2011, 05:39:41 pm

Quote from: Ross G on February 28, 2011, 05:34:36 pm
Quote from: Wc Solutions on February 28, 2011, 05:19:43 pm
i wont be long until gardiners will be selling guard dogs!

i waiting for the slx german shepard

Will they bring out a cheaper version maybe a No Moral Fibre Pitbull, a wee bit heavier but rugged and reliable

More like a dual trim Rottweiller lol

i think ive started something here :

« **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:44:09 pm »

Get Sensai to sort em out with his martial arts abilities.

« **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:46:56 pm »

might employ gattuso.

can do my collecting aswell

« **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:48:58 pm »

Quote from: Wc Solutions on February 28, 2011, 05:41:43 pm

Quote from: Sapphire Window Cleaning on February 28, 2011, 05:39:41 pm
Quote from: Ross G on February 28, 2011, 05:34:36 pm
Quote from: Wc Solutions on February 28, 2011, 05:19:43 pm
i wont be long until gardiners will be selling guard dogs!

i waiting for the slx german shepard

Will they bring out a cheaper version maybe a No Moral Fibre Pitbull, a wee bit heavier but rugged and reliable

More like a dual trim Rottweiller lol

i think ive started something here :

Start taking orders for them, and get down the kennels lol
just be careful what leads to get as you don't want them coming loose or braking during the day

« **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:53:54 pm »

it will either go away or escalate as these things tend to do ... u sound like a law abiding citizen as u called the rozzers in to deal with it.

Any threats off em then u need to report it to police immediately.

People who tell you there going to do summit to you never rarely do ... u gotta watch out for the ones who tell u why they hit u after they hit u ... if they say im going to beat u up they rarely do.

like i say u sound a law abiding person so dont do anything to antagonise them and it will probably go away ... suggest u stay away from that particular job for a while.

« **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:55:05 pm »

thankyou for that reply mr coleman. and ian thats a considered reply and a welcome one .

« **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:57:00 pm »

this is a sheltered housing job and the managers are asking me if i want to have the people evicted .how old are these people as thought sheltered were for old dears ??

im concerned as they have called my home with the same tone .TELL THE POLICE NOW

« **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:01:41 pm »

perhaps sheltered housing is the wrong term .its for a housing association .its not local to me as such .its a 40 min journey .the next town from me .

the housing manager tells me the least he can do even if i do nothing ,is issue them with a good behavior bond .that means that if they create any further problems for anyone then they are out .
hopefully that will be that .

« **Reply #18 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:05:37 pm »

Quote from: edward1 on February 28, 2011, 06:01:41 pm

perhaps sheltered housing is the wrong term .its for a housing association .its not local to me as such .its a 40 min journey .the next town from me .

ur sorted mate fecking chavs will be too lazy to come to you and too thick to use a satnav and too skint to buy the petrol

.... i hate gobby bullies

.... if they call u on phone the police can trace it back so get them involved if they keep calling you

« **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:07:19 pm »

maybe they didnt like that price increase 4 the windows you made pmsl

« **Reply #20 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:08:07 pm »

thx ian

« **Reply #21 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:00:20 pm »

Are you sure you never got their Charlie wet???

« **Reply #22 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:05:21 pm »

nightmare. i would get them evicted, cant leave people to get away with it, plus press charges for assault

« **Reply #23 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:09:21 pm »

When pricing a job up i always look at the person im talking to very closley to make sure what i will be talking on....my customers are mostly good family house holds so not much of a chavs being there or living there.....you can almost tell the way people talk if they are chavs...there not worth it.....kill them all i say.....they will forget soon enough after being so high

....my advice always price good work up...and sack the police they do nothing

Matt

« **Reply #24 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:13:43 pm »

Do you do any of the neighbours?

« **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:16:56 pm »

Quote from: edward1 on February 28, 2011, 05:32:13 pm

thats a diluted account ,i was the worst ive ever been in.not sure an injunction would do anything.

when i started wc ,i was cleaning some flats in chelsea (london) off a scaffold ,and a yardy lent out of the window with a gun in hand asking what i was doing .i told him and he just went back into the flat .
that was more odd than anything .but this was scary .

Sure the Yardy was just protecting his turf..Once he'd established you were just there to clean his windows and not bust a cap in his a$$ he went back to watching countdown

« **Reply #26 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:19:56 pm »

Keep something heavy in ya van hammer or a bat or something,
when they come round givin it large again tw@t one with it them sort normally back down after a good shock.

« **Reply #27 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:23:35 pm »

dont drop the job , just get
a tuff nut m8 go around with you
nxt time its due !!!
even batfink had karate as a bodyguard
n he had wings of steel

« **Reply #28 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:39:16 pm »

batfink

« **Reply #29 on:** February 28, 2011, 10:37:33 pm »

As a professional wc I:
- wouldn't press charges
- report everything to the police
- drop their clean or even the whole housing association if you don't want to see them again

They could have been high and thought you did that on purpose...

« **Reply #30 on:** March 01, 2011, 08:28:43 am »

you did the right thing, just say sorry . go back next time and carry on as usual. if it kicks off again,
dont run next time, if theres two of you just stand your ground while one packs away.
chances are theyre all noise anyhow.
t

« **Reply #31 on:** March 01, 2011, 08:52:06 am »

Unfortunately this is how society is getting. There is no talking to these scummy people. And the police cant be there 24-7so get a temp injunction and pay a visit to either wood green and get a nice big GSD or visit B&Q for a couple of iron bars.
These people are the scum of the earth. And they will get there cuppance hopefuly sooner rather than later. Cant you bar there number from calling your phone?
Can you record there conversations so you have proof as well for harrasment..
Good luck with them and dont let them get to you...

« **Reply #32 on:** March 01, 2011, 09:17:49 am »

thx for your replys.im surprized how shaken i am .this has made mea bit nervy .

i think i ran because there were 3 of them one being a women tho.im sure they would have assaulted me had they got close enough.they were like crazy mad men.it was unreal.

the police said it would be my word against theres .and to leave it .

one side of me says ,go back and carry on .but my sensible head says walk .i would fear they may well sneak up behind me and stab me or something.there was just no sence to it .

im going for a run now .try to level out .

thx guys

« **Reply #33 on:** March 01, 2011, 10:01:39 am »

Quote from: edward1 on February 28, 2011, 05:13:50 pm

i have ben washing windows for 20 yrs and today i have been assaulted by a customer.

as happens sometimes ,my son put the brush against the window and the window opened spraying some water into the flat .
this was followed by verbal abuse from the woman like i have never heard before.like a crazylunatic .the more i apologized the crazier she got .she was then joined by her boyfriend in a slightly less crazed manor .
they then say they want compensation .at this point i tell my son to pack up .as we are packing up all 3 approach me .the bigger of the men trys to grap me ,i turn and defend my self with the pole .
i then run off with all 3 after me ,telling they are going to kill me .
i call 999 whilst running ,(luckly im a runner so they had no chance of getting me) .
the police arive eventually .
this is a sheltered housing job and the managers are asking me if i want to have the people evicted .
im concerned as they have called my home with the same tone .

not sure what im going to do ,but can u believe this .
cleaning windows is dangerous.

I think if i was in your shoes you have 3 options

1, Run back to van get your bat and batter them. (Me i always carry 1 with golf balls if i get stopped i use them for playing with the dog as i can not throw them knackered shoulder)
2, Let them batter you bloody big insurance claim while you were at work nothing worse.
3, Phone police tell them what happened wait months they will probs get off with it and you get a caution. (Police waste of time if you was a **** they would come running)

I feel for you m8 nothing worse just going about your business and you get those ****** ********* ****** ***** they got no life.

3 against 1 woman or no woman she would of gettin it 2

« **Reply #34 on:** March 01, 2011, 10:05:50 am »

I'd imagine the response was something the woman had a hand very much in. If theyre the sort you're describing them as then she was ped off, gobbed off at the gorillas about it all and they were expected to prove their street cred. In other words, fight Her battles for her.

Stop cleaning for them, move on with your life.

« **Reply #35 on:** March 01, 2011, 01:45:01 pm »

Refer them to this forum...And lets see what threatening means..I,m sure they be the first to call the police. Carry on cleaning in that area and take someone with you next time.
If it's a council estate inform the council of these tenants, if they was like it with you i'm sure they be trouble neighboro's for the others

KEEP ON CLEANING THEM WINDOWS AND DONT WORRY ABOUT THE SCUM.

« **Reply #36 on:** March 01, 2011, 03:02:37 pm »

If a customer of mine did that to me, they would be dropped.

I had a one-time customer who was schizophrenic. I was warned about him before I took him on as a customer, but thought I would give him a fair chance, as I can usually get people on my side by empathizing with and listening to what they have to say.

The first time, he was nice a pie, cup of tea, etc. Paid up on the nail. The next time, he asked what I was doing cleaning his windows, in quite an aggressive way. Alarm bells started to ring, but I stood my ground and explained that I was round a month ago, and he paid, etc.

He denied this and started being threatening, to the point of threatening to hurt me, and telling me he never wanted to see me in his neighbourhood ever again.

I told him that I certainly would not be darkening his door again, but would not be bullied into running away from my good customers (his neighbours).

His custom stopped at that moment, but I continued working in the area. He saw me whenever I was about, but never said a word or approached me again.

John.

« **Reply #37 on:** March 01, 2011, 03:57:01 pm »

Reading some of the replies to this thread, I just realized that some WC's have weapons with then to protect themselves. I'm honestly suprised by that. I would think twice about collecting cash in a place like that incase I got jumped.

« **Reply #38 on:** March 01, 2011, 04:47:31 pm »

Typical response from plod, I had my van done over by a couple
Of oiks and a bank card stolen, told the police who did it , they told me I can't just
Accuse some one without evidence or a witness, grrreeeat .
They were even known to plod for crim damage and petty theft
But plod could do nowt! Told them I would sort it then!
Ok was the reply " I'll pretend I never heard that" were his words
Apparently they just have zero time to sort out this kind of crime.
They would only pursue it if the bank wanted too.
They didn't so that was it! Well kind of :-))

« **Reply #39 on:** March 01, 2011, 04:50:43 pm »

mate they are just caged animals dont think they will bother you mate not nbice though

« **Reply #40 on:** March 01, 2011, 06:19:23 pm »

personally I would have tried a bit of mediation- the manager should do that, that's surely the professional way. What's all this aggressive talk,

try spreading some love

« **Reply #41 on:** March 01, 2011, 06:36:10 pm »

I agree with you Rick, that we should be mild mannered, not aggressive.

Sometimes the only thing you can do is to walk away. You can only try to be reasonable, but some people just will not reciprocate.

John.

« **Reply #42 on:** March 02, 2011, 07:43:20 am »

Quote from: Johnny B on March 01, 2011, 06:36:10 pm

I agree with you Rick, that we should be mild mannered, not aggressive.

Sometimes the only thing you can do is to walk away. You can only try to be reasonable, but some people just will not reciprocate.

John.

the bigger of the men trys to grap me ,i turn and defend my self with the pole .
i then run off with all 3 after me ,telling they are going to kill me .

« **Reply #43 on:** March 02, 2011, 08:45:50 am »

now ive calmed down .im tempted to go back and finish the job .i cant stand the feeling of intimidation.

the work is quite valueable at 360 a visit .i have worked for this housing association since i started as a wc ,so 20 yrs .and they are my biggest customer.a lot of the managers have been assaulted over the yrs and they are behind me .

the only thought i have though ,is that they may stab me in the back or something.

think ill have to walk ,but it doesnt sit with me very well.
if i do go back and something happened ,i may get done .they may say i did a pre-mediated attack .as i certainly would be ready.

the housing mnger and an anti social behaviour rep r going to serve a good behaviour notice on them tommorow so ill let you know what happens.

im going back to work today ,do some of my domestics .

« **Reply #44 on:** March 02, 2011, 08:49:03 am »

360 ?

£60?

If you do that I would suggest that you speak to the facilities manager and tell him/her you're not prepared to clean the gorillas cage but all the others are fine.

Intimidation and assault are very real crimes despite some on here making out they'd behave similarly with disagreeable customers.

« **Reply #45 on:** March 02, 2011, 08:53:39 am »

its a £360 job .yes i dont get to many of them .and i can live without the money .but its not good .

and rick ,i was calm with them .i could see straight away how crazy they were .so i apologized several times and asked them what they wanted me to do .im sure they were going to try and mug my money belt .as when they were walking towards me one of them was saying "you r going to dig deep now"
.my biggest concern was to take them away from my son who thank god they didnt go near .they were after the money.thats why i kept them in eye shot. in case i had to defend him.
they r scum

« **Reply #46 on:** March 02, 2011, 09:44:14 am »

sounds like a sitdown is needed ... you, them and someone from the H/A ... usefull for straightnening things out in situations like this (or even worser situations)

they prob calmed down now and worried about getting kicked out.

just have a mate or 2 out of eyesight in a car wiv engine running in case u need to make a rapid exit ... wouldnt take van in case it gets damaged.

« **Reply #47 on:** March 02, 2011, 09:46:39 am »

Quote from: Ian101 on March 02, 2011, 09:44:14 am

sounds like a sitdown is needed ... you, them and someone from the H/A ... usefull for straightnening things out in situations like this (or even worser situations)

they prob calmed down now and worried about getting kicked out.

just have a mate or 2 out of eyesight in a car wiv engine running in case u need to make a rapid exit ... wouldnt take van in case it gets damaged.

i think if you are feeling threatened by anyone, you can ask the local police to keep an eye on it. A friend of mine had the same kind of problem when he was a sparky. see what they say. no harm in asking.

« **Reply #48 on:** March 02, 2011, 02:10:04 pm »

Quote from: Rhinoman on February 28, 2011, 05:40:49 pm

It wasn't Steve- C s relatives was it?

your off again..... give it up sunshine.

« **Reply #49 on:** March 02, 2011, 06:30:20 pm »

it sounds to me like you have tree choices

first one, walk away from the job.

second one, go back finish the job but get a mate to film it so if they come out again you got them on film, to use to your advantage,

third one, put your hand in your pocket and pay some foreign friends to visit them, there cheap labor.

« **Reply #50 on:** March 02, 2011, 07:05:32 pm »

Just go and take the biggest lunatic you know with you, pay him a days wage and let him know the score. If they come out to you, just say ...hold on the boss is here, see him he'll sort it out for you. Make sure he can fight and is just not big, and if anything untowards happens to them tell your big mate to get off and deny all knowledge of anything !!!

« **Reply #51 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:33:25 am »

This is easy for me to say as it's not MY £360 job.
I think I would bill the place for the portion I had done and ask them if they would be prepared for me to resume once the neanderthals had left.