[tomasxguty]

Just received a call from a customer who says that I have damaged his alarm. When I did his windows two months ago he asked me to give the yellow "Yale" siren box on the wall a quick clean as it looked dirty.
Now he claims that water from my pole got in and corroded the whole thing. He says the alarm is 12 years old and always worked fine until recently. He asked about my insurance access as he needs to have it replaced. I remember that when I finished the job he paid £100 as agreed but he wanted me to give him an invoice for £150.  It was one of many properties he rents out. I guess he would ask the tenant to pay for it. I explain that it would be dishonest thing to do.
I guess he is paying me back now..
What do you think? Have you had to deal with anything similar?
Feel a bit down right now

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Sounds like he is the dishonest sort.

Explain that you are not an electronics expert and you only wiped over it under his own instructions and therefore eliminated you from blame.

Advise him to approach his own home insurance.  Tell him you are happy to speak with your insurance company but will have to admit to them you were acting under his instructions as it's not window cleaning plus his dishonest approach to invoicing.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

The corrosion probably has happened over time.  What happens when it rains.  Or when the snow melts on it?

[dazmond]

There's no way you ve ruined his alarm box! That corrosion has took many years to set in.

[tomasxguty]

Thanks Paul. Appreciate your comment. I can’t prove neither disprove my fault but judging by the cob webs inside the box it's certainly not waterproof. Told him that I will pop in tomorrow to have a look at it..

[dazmond]

Block his number and forget about him. He's a shark and trying it on.

[tomasxguty]

Agree with you Daz . Can't see how would one time leak cause so much corrosion ..

[andyM]

You have to use a bit of common sense in these type of situations.
I've been asked to clean one or two alarm boxes in the past and I have obliged.
But it's obviously not a wise idea to clean anything electrical with a water fed pole and copious amounts of water.
So I done them from ladders with a damp cloth and detergent.
It could be that this fella is trying his luck but then again if water from your wfp has got into the box it could of damaged the electronics.
Be more careful next time and always try to assess risk when asked to do jobs by customers.
You can always say "NO"!

 

[dazmond]

Just received a call from a customer who says that I have damaged his alarm. When I did his windows two months ago he asked me to give the yellow "Yale" siren box on the wall a quick clean as it looked dirty.
Now he claims that water from my pole got in and corroded the whole thing. He says the alarm is 12 years old and always worked fine until recently. He asked about my insurance access as he needs to have it replaced. I remember that when I finished the job he paid £100 as agreed but he wanted me to give him an invoice for £150.  It was one of many properties he rents out. I guess he would ask the tenant to pay for it. I explain that it would be dishonest thing to do.
I guess he is paying me back now..
What do you think? Have you had to deal with anything similar?
Feel a bit down right now

So it's given up the ghost over the last few weeks 6-7 weeks after you cleaned it?

Tell him to do one mate. You gotta stand up to people like that.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I can't believe you are even taking this guy seriously!!! Tell him where to go buddy, he's trying it on- big time. There's no way you are at fault here.

[tomasxguty]

I admit, it was foolish of me to clean it with wfp. I have to be more careful when people ask you do them a favor...
I always thought that these boxes are made water and dust proof.
Well lesson learnt..

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Yes just don't bother. It's an old alarm anyway and towards it's end of life. 

He's a con man.  Do not accept liability.

Go on an electrical or Alarms forum and show them the photo. Get some alarm expert advise.  I think they will say it's corroded over many years.

[tomasxguty]

Thanks. I find it odd when he told me to be a qualified electrician..
I want to deal with him a dignified way but will probably refuse to take any responsibility for the damage because of how much time passed since the cleaning

[robbo333]

He is seriously trying it on. Just ignore him completely.
Even if your insurance company ever did get involved, there is no way they would pay out based on your photo. That bad boy was knackered before you even got to it.
When I clean them I just put a 'towel turban' something like this...
http://www.wilko.com/face-cloths+hair-towels/wilko-hair-turban/invt/0418210
over my brush and give it a wipe. I also tell the custy that I only WIPE it.

[tomasxguty]

Thanks all for your good advice

[Stoots]

You never touched it.

End of discussion. Ignore him

[The Jester of Wibbly]

You've had a lot of good advise here all saying the same thing.

So don't loose sleep over it.
 
Let us know how it goes.  Good luck

[Soupy]

Ignore him. If he persists ask him to see the service receipts for the last 12 years....

[Pete Thompson]

The batteries have leaked, not surprising after a decade. That’s what’s caused the corrosion.

[johnny bravo]

tell him its well corroded over years,    ask his neighbours if they have heard his alarm recently, explain to them what he is acusing you of,       then tell him the waranty is well gone, invest in a new alarm,      this is probablly why he asked you to clean it,  hoping you will use your wfp  knowing water will be used.    dont even answer his calls.Just tell him its Wear & Tear over many years
I never thought this could happen cleaning an alarm box,  i wont be cleaning any with wfp

[robbo333]

...actually, has he got any good stuff?
Cause now is the perfect time to do his gaff over!   

[Walter Mitty]

I reckon he set you up./
The guy is clearly a dishonest chancer. Turn up as agreed.  Deny liability.  Put nothing in writing.
I would suggest grassing him up to the taxman, but I don't believe in grassing.

Leave the ball firmly in his court.

[paul alan]

i wouldn't be surprised if this delboy fella new the alarm was corroded before he asked you to wet it!

12 years old alarm and its your fault its not working??

Alarm boxes are guaranteed for 12 months and a warranty can be purchased for 5+ years, they need to be serviced annually, as already has been mentioned does this guy have records of it being serviced?

Its one of those things, if this guy has absolute proof you caused this damage then throw your hands up and hand over insurance details. But obviously he has not so you would be a fool to accept responsibility, and he knows that too.

Ask for the evidence that its your fault, he wont have any.

[windowswashed]

You are in control of your window cleaning, moral of the story is don't be suckered into cleaning things you don't wish to clean. Just say NO sorry, can't do it to anything you don't feel comfortable cleaning. I get asked quite often to clean the walls but I tell them no sorry can't do, my brushes are too soft for the walls, wouldn't do them even if I could. I clean windows, that's it, simple.

[tomasxguty]

Thanks guys. What goes around comes around.
One more week and well deserved rest shall begin

[Slacky]

I’d be very alarmed if he tried that on with me.

[Ian Lancaster]

Do you know any electricians, or preferably qualified alarm fitters?  I would get one to look at those photos, then get him to give me his written opinion as to the cause and age of the corrosion on his business stationery.

Send a copy to this arehsloe and tell him you're considering reporting him to the police for extortion.

[tomasxguty]

I asked a friend who is an electrician. He says the fault is most likely due to the leaked batteries.

[Missing Link]

Middle finger, stick it up to him, and walk.

[Simon Trapani]

What sort of crap alarm is that anyway? It's got disposable batteries ffs lol.

Tell him to clear off.

[Plankton]

LMFAO I can't believe you are concerned about this. Don't contact your insurance as it still goes on your record even though the guy is at it. The backup batteries if they are even the correct type will be years out of date, even if they were in date and had simply discharged that can cause them to leak just as they do in xbox or wii controllers corroding the metal inside. The unit isn't designed to last a lifetime and needs maintained which only costs around £60 per annum excluding parts so any alarm guy would put him straight.

[P @ F]

I reckon he set you up./
The guy is clearly a dishonest chancer. Turn up as agreed.  Deny liability.  Put nothing in writing.
I would suggest grassing him up to the taxman, but I don't believe in grassing.

Leave the ball firmly in his court.

I only believe in grassing on people that do wrong to you , let them get on with it and face the music if they get caught is my take on things , but if they cause me grief in their doing then feckin look out cos im greener than the hulk otherwise 

[P @ F]

It is a Mickey Mouse alarm as said above , its got to be older than hes saying anyway , thats the first alarm i have ever seen with that kind of battery set up , my old man had an alarm fitted 25 year ago and even that had a 7ah block rechargable in it .

Feck , if it was me i would go an burgle the him for fun , you know the alarm wont go off 

[robert mitchell]

Text him a middle finger emojee .......then block his number!