[The Jester of Wibbly]

Stop crying Soupy (roll eyes), I would say with confidence that there isn't a single shiner on this forum who hasn't walked away from a small debt at least once in their window cleaning career,  that said  in 12 years of cleaning windows I could count the number of non payers on one hand so its a hardly something to be concerned about.

I've been doing it routinely for twenty years.

Not any more.

Yeah, but you're not going to go to court for £15 surely?

Why not?  If you are sure of your facts it costs nothing to take someone to Court.  It takes us around 10 minutes to raise the necessary documentation to take someone to court, yes there are associated costs but I know we are going to get them back + Interest + Expenses.   So if someone who owes you a relatively small amount of money,  allows it to go that far,  they are either Stupid, or they think you are not serious.  The mistake most people make is they threaten and then don't follow it through and thats fatal.

You'd never get the time back or the stress it caused. To be honest you're better putting the dirt back as suggested above. I agree with the sentiment however.

So at what point do you go to court? 
How much has to be involved? 
It's not the money with me it  is the principle!!! 

The customer asks me to do something and I agree.  That is an agreement whether verbal or in writing, an integral part of that agreement is the payment regardless of how big or small.  If they don't pay they have reneged on that agreement and failed to honour their side of it.
Look at it with the boot on the other foot if they only owe you £15 why not just pay it as agreed?  Why allow themselves to have reminders, warnings and threats?  Ask yourself Did they ever intend to Pay?  Or just take the pi$$!  There is No difference to me, an agreement is an agreement £15 0r £1500 theft is theft.   If you don't believe me try going into a shop and nick £15 worth of goods and tell the Magistrate it was only £15 why doesn't the shop just write it off!

Completly agree.  But there are too many wc that wants the easier option, don't see the bigger picture for our industry or are too scared

[Kev Martin]

Stop crying Soupy (roll eyes), I would say with confidence that there isn't a single shiner on this forum who hasn't walked away from a small debt at least once in their window cleaning career,  that said  in 12 years of cleaning windows I could count the number of non payers on one hand so its a hardly something to be concerned about.

I've been doing it routinely for twenty years.

Not any more.

Yeah, but you're not going to go to court for £15 surely?

Why not?  If you are sure of your facts it costs nothing to take someone to Court.  It takes us around 10 minutes to raise the necessary documentation to take someone to court, yes there are associated costs but I know we are going to get them back + Interest + Expenses.   So if someone who owes you a relatively small amount of money,  allows it to go that far,  they are either Stupid, or they think you are not serious.  The mistake most people make is they threaten and then don't follow it through and thats fatal.

You'd never get the time back or the stress it caused. To be honest you're better putting the dirt back as suggested above. I agree with the sentiment however.

It doesn't cause me any stress to take a thief to court and if you were caught putting the dirt back on you would probably get done for criminal damage.  Personally I would use their windows for practice with my professional catapult then you solve two problems, no more window cleaning issues for them, and they can't rip anyone else off.

[John Mart]

Stop crying Soupy (roll eyes), I would say with confidence that there isn't a single shiner on this forum who hasn't walked away from a small debt at least once in their window cleaning career,  that said  in 12 years of cleaning windows I could count the number of non payers on one hand so its a hardly something to be concerned about.

I've been doing it routinely for twenty years.

Not any more.

Yeah, but you're not going to go to court for £15 surely?

Why not?  If you are sure of your facts it costs nothing to take someone to Court.  It takes us around 10 minutes to raise the necessary documentation to take someone to court, yes there are associated costs but I know we are going to get them back + Interest + Expenses.   So if someone who owes you a relatively small amount of money,  allows it to go that far,  they are either Stupid, or they think you are not serious.  The mistake most people make is they threaten and then don't follow it through and thats fatal.

You'd never get the time back or the stress it caused. To be honest you're better putting the dirt back as suggested above. I agree with the sentiment however.

So at what point do you go to court? 
How much has to be involved? 
It's not the money with me it  is the principle!!! 

The customer asks me to do something and I agree.  That is an agreement whether verbal or in writing, an integral part of that agreement is the payment regardless of how big or small.  If they don't pay they have reneged on that agreement and failed to honour their side of it.
Look at it with the boot on the other foot if they only owe you £15 why not just pay it as agreed?  Why allow themselves to have reminders, warnings and threats?  Ask yourself Did they ever intend to Pay?  Or just take the pi$$!  There is No difference to me, an agreement is an agreement £15 0r £1500 theft is theft.   If you don't believe me try going into a shop and nick £15 worth of goods and tell the Magistrate it was only £15 why doesn't the shop just write it off!

One is criminal and the other is civil. No comparison. Whilst I agree in principle with every word, it’s not worth the stress for a piddling amount. I probably would see it through for £100 or so. The problem I’ve had with these is when you don’t take the name of the customer. It’s rare but it does happen and then you can’t do anything.

[Soupy]

Stop crying Soupy (roll eyes), I would say with confidence that there isn't a single shiner on this forum who hasn't walked away from a small debt at least once in their window cleaning career,  that said  in 12 years of cleaning windows I could count the number of non payers on one hand so its a hardly something to be concerned about.

I've been doing it routinely for twenty years.

Not any more.

Yeah, but you're not going to go to court for £15 surely?

Why not?  If you are sure of your facts it costs nothing to take someone to Court.  It takes us around 10 minutes to raise the necessary documentation to take someone to court, yes there are associated costs but I know we are going to get them back + Interest + Expenses.   So if someone who owes you a relatively small amount of money,  allows it to go that far,  they are either Stupid, or they think you are not serious.  The mistake most people make is they threaten and then don't follow it through and thats fatal.

You'd never get the time back or the stress it caused. To be honest you're better putting the dirt back as suggested above. I agree with the sentiment however.

So at what point do you go to court? 
How much has to be involved? 
It's not the money with me it  is the principle!!! 

The customer asks me to do something and I agree.  That is an agreement whether verbal or in writing, an integral part of that agreement is the payment regardless of how big or small.  If they don't pay they have reneged on that agreement and failed to honour their side of it.
Look at it with the boot on the other foot if they only owe you £15 why not just pay it as agreed?  Why allow themselves to have reminders, warnings and threats?  Ask yourself Did they ever intend to Pay?  Or just take the pi$$!  There is No difference to me, an agreement is an agreement £15 0r £1500 theft is theft.   If you don't believe me try going into a shop and nick £15 worth of goods and tell the Magistrate it was only £15 why doesn't the shop just write it off!

One is criminal and the other is civil. No comparison. Whilst I agree in principle with every word, it’s not worth the stress for a piddling amount. I probably would see it through for £100 or so. The problem I’ve had with these is when you don’t take the name of the customer. It’s rare but it does happen and then you can’t do anything.

I don't clean any windows without a name. Not ever.

[John Mart]

Stop crying Soupy (roll eyes), I would say with confidence that there isn't a single shiner on this forum who hasn't walked away from a small debt at least once in their window cleaning career,  that said  in 12 years of cleaning windows I could count the number of non payers on one hand so its a hardly something to be concerned about.

I've been doing it routinely for twenty years.

Not any more.

Yeah, but you're not going to go to court for £15 surely?

Why not?  If you are sure of your facts it costs nothing to take someone to Court.  It takes us around 10 minutes to raise the necessary documentation to take someone to court, yes there are associated costs but I know we are going to get them back + Interest + Expenses.   So if someone who owes you a relatively small amount of money,  allows it to go that far,  they are either Stupid, or they think you are not serious.  The mistake most people make is they threaten and then don't follow it through and thats fatal.

You'd never get the time back or the stress it caused. To be honest you're better putting the dirt back as suggested above. I agree with the sentiment however.

So at what point do you go to court? 
How much has to be involved? 
It's not the money with me it  is the principle!!! 

The customer asks me to do something and I agree.  That is an agreement whether verbal or in writing, an integral part of that agreement is the payment regardless of how big or small.  If they don't pay they have reneged on that agreement and failed to honour their side of it.
Look at it with the boot on the other foot if they only owe you £15 why not just pay it as agreed?  Why allow themselves to have reminders, warnings and threats?  Ask yourself Did they ever intend to Pay?  Or just take the pi$$!  There is No difference to me, an agreement is an agreement £15 0r £1500 theft is theft.   If you don't believe me try going into a shop and nick £15 worth of goods and tell the Magistrate it was only £15 why doesn't the shop just write it off!

One is criminal and the other is civil. No comparison. Whilst I agree in principle with every word, it’s not worth the stress for a piddling amount. I probably would see it through for £100 or so. The problem I’ve had with these is when you don’t take the name of the customer. It’s rare but it does happen and then you can’t do anything.

I don't clean any windows without a name. Not ever.

Sensibly.

[Go]

Do you guys not have terms and conditions.....?

[The Jester of Wibbly]

There's a knock at your door.

"Hello Mr owner. I know you're  a window cleaner and I am your local thief. I'm going to take that lovely hanging plant from the front of your house  OK"

"Yes Mr thief, help yourself as I can't be arsed.  Just let your mates know and I will leave my front door unlocked for you."

Mr thief sniggles and mutters to himself. "mug"

 

[Kev Martin]

Do you guys not have terms and conditions.....?

I do and I am sure others do, mine are a result of a lot of hard work and are watertight!   However surely you don't seriously believe people who don't or have no intention of paying giving a flying f**k about T's & C's?

[Johnny B]

I don't bother with getting bogged down with formal t&cs.

Mine are simply 'I clean, you pay'.

If they don't, I walk away and don't work for them again until they pay.

I don't handle stress very well, so would sooner walk away than waste time, energy and more money chasing small amounts.

If it's bad for the industry, I don't care because I am looking out for me, not anyone else who happens to be in the same line of work as me.

John

[Missing Link]

However surely you don't seriously believe people who don't or have no intention of paying giving a flying f**k about T's & C's?

Introduce them to the twins...

[dazmond]

i finally got paid off a customer who owed me a few cleans and every time its the same.i send at least 3 or 4 text reminders.she never replies and i seen her across the road the other day so confronted her.shes paid now but shes dumped.i cant be arsed with people like that...

most customers would feel guilty if they seen me down the street and they owed me money.this customer totally blanked me until i went over(i was cleaning right across the road from her house).....

she will now see me every month for years while i clean all her neighbours houses.....

[Stoots]

I had a look other day on aworka

£1500 in total ive lost over the last 3 or so years window cleaning!

Most of it from freshly canvassed work from canvassing companies

[dazmond]

I had a look other day on aworka

£1500 in total ive lost over the last 3 or so years window cleaning!

Most of it from freshly canvassed work from canvassing companies

really?what that you didnt get paid for?ive wrote off around £250 in the last 3 years....just think if you d of chased that money you d have enough money for a pure freedom reelmaster AND an xtreme 25 with money left over......