Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on February 22, 2011, 08:00:46 am
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this doesnt happen very often these days but i got a call a few weeks ago off a woman who had got my number off my van.i went to clean it(small 3 bed semi).its over the road from a couple of commercial jobs so i looked on google maps and priced it up at £10.
they hadnt been cleaned for about 5 years!anyway she came out and made me a brew and just wouldnt shut up talking!nice merc on the drive.2 big dogs jumping about everywhere.finished the clean.says she hasnt got any money.can she pay online.(no cheque book)alarm bells are ringing loud and clear now!!
anyway gave her my bank details and she says she will pay it straight away.that was 2 weeks ago.anyway last night i said im coming to collect money as payment not recieved.she said sorry she forgot and says she will do it straight away and text me when she has...........no text..no payment.
i know its only £10 but its the principle.its got me really annoyed! >:(
as im working across the road next week do you think i should keep knocking until i get paid and tell every other window cleaner to steer clear of her?
or just write it off?
dazmond
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Get the 10 quid Daz, only give up when she dies ;) Warn the other guys aswell. Some people are like ducks on water, all calm on the surface, but legs paddling like hell underneath. Look like they have money, but can't pay the window cleaner. ::)
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as said above-keep on knocking
that then makes you extra bitter ,so you dont backslide into carrying on cleaning there .
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i normally carnt be bothered a would just write it off,but with it being a first clean i would want the money,you've had to work hard clean them if its proberly been 5 years aswell,its a shame its near some places you work else im be tempted to do something naughty
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bobby i will never clean her windows again!!cant believe this has happened to an "experienced window cleaner" of 17 years!! ;D ;D ;D
yeh cozy she probably spent all her money on the merc!some people though!she just wanted a free clean and thought she could take the pee and just make me a brew!
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as im working across the road next week do you think i should keep knocking until i get paid and tell every other window cleaner to steer clear of her?
or just write it off?
Write it off. You're dead a long time and it's not worth the time. For what it's worth, I send 'Nice', 'Firm', then 'Court' reminder letters and once it's clear they aren't going to pay I write it off if it's under £100. My business is cleaning windows, not playing silly buggers in court.
If you must get it, keep knocking but keep it as a fun exercise to see if you'll get the money out of her this time or what this time's excuse will be. Make it clear to her that you find her excuses amusing rather than annoying. That way you'll not get wound up by it.
Good attitude 8)
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go round at night and key the merc,
seriously though, i hate people like this, i wouldnt let her get away with it. keep pestering her for the money and if she doesnt pay, tell her that you will put the dirt back that you removed and chuck some dirty water over them.
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so have some of you had you fair share of non payers?
i mean on first time cleans?im sure its a first for me!
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so have some of you had you fair share of non payers?
i mean on first time cleans?im sure its a first for me!
Over the years yes Daz. Not really alot, but still the odd one here and there. We had a 3 striker last year. Just CCJ'd it German style. All done by post here. Don't need to be at court. Normally, I won't let it go, but depends on the situation.
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go round at night and key the merc,
seriously though, i hate people like this, i wouldnt let her get away with it. keep pestering her for the money and if she doesnt pay, tell her that you will put the dirt back that you removed and chuck some dirty water over them.
That`s unprofessional. Kill one of the dogs instead. If still no payment, then kill the other.
I once had to do in all 3 dogs of a customer once, for a fiver; but I got it ;).
I know what you mean though Daz, what would annoy me most, would be that she knew what she was doing from the start and had no intention of paying. But there could be some reason for it and you might get paid.
I wouldn`t write it off but I wouldn`t go out of my way to get it.
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go round at night and key the merc,
seriously though, i hate people like this, i wouldnt let her get away with it. keep pestering her for the money and if she doesnt pay, tell her that you will put the dirt back that you removed and chuck some dirty water over them.
That`s unprofessional. Kill one of the dogs instead. If still no payment, then kill the other.
I once had to do in all 3 dogs of a customer once, for a fiver; but I got it ;).
I know what you mean though Daz, what would annoy me most, would be that she knew what she was doing from the start and had no intention of paying. But there could be some reason for it and you might get paid.
I wouldn`t write it off but I wouldn`t go out of my way to get it.
You like to run a tight ship up where you work then Griff? ;D
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go round at night and key the merc,
seriously though, i hate people like this, i wouldnt let her get away with it. keep pestering her for the money and if she doesnt pay, tell her that you will put the dirt back that you removed and chuck some dirty water over them.
That`s unprofessional. Kill one of the dogs instead. If still no payment, then kill the other.
I once had to do in all 3 dogs of a customer once, for a fiver; but I got it ;).
I know what you mean though Daz, what would annoy me most, would be that she knew what she was doing from the start and had no intention of paying. But there could be some reason for it and you might get paid.
I wouldn`t write it off but I wouldn`t go out of my way to get it.
You like to run a tight ship up where you work then Griff? ;D
Yeah, it`s less messy than cutting fingers one at a time ;D.
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Yeah, see what ya mean ::)
;D
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My old man was a heating engineer/plumber for 30 odd years. Had a fair few people try to knock him in that time, so he spent his time devising choice ways to irritate them ;D
One was to pop round with a water key and turn off their water, then wait for the call out. Charge them for the call out obviously, then mention the previous bill. He had a few that had to learn the hard way, after two call out fee's they normally figured it out and paid up ;D
If not then he used to snap a twig off in their door lock.....very annoying indeed and expensive to keep calling out the locksmith ;D
He's a proper pest my old man ;D
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As a principle, don't give up yet, keep trying as long as it doesn't become a chore, then if no money give up but put a bit of dirt back on.
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bye a half dozen eggs and give here a free breakfast served on a glass plate
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One was to pop round with a water key and turn off their water,
My mate Steve did that to someone he didn't like years ago, then filled the hole where the tap was with glassfibre resin.
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One was to pop round with a water key and turn off their water,
My mate Steve did that to someone he didn't like years ago, then filled the hole where the tap was with glassfibre resin.
Oh now that's very naughty ;D My Uncle is also a plumber called Steve ;)
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My old man was a heating engineer/plumber for 30 odd years. Had a fair few people try to knock him in that time, so he spent his time devising choice ways to irritate them ;D
One was to pop round with a water key and turn off their water, then wait for the call out. Charge them for the call out obviously, then mention the previous bill. He had a few that had to learn the hard way, after two call out fee's they normally figured it out and paid up ;D
If not then he used to snap a twig off in their door lock.....very annoying indeed and expensive to keep calling out the locksmith ;D
He's a proper pest my old man ;D
That's what I did to one blatant non payer, As I was knocking the door I pushed a sliver of bamboo deep into the yale lock.
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Just go back and put the dirt back on the glass..... free of charge of course. ;D
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eggs while the nights are still dark mate.
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Knock em up early Sunday morning, if you don't get paid, you have the satisfaction they won't get a lie in ;D
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dirty the windows again mate then move on
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dog poo in the letter box works a treat make sure its the runny type and don't forget to use a jug and funnel (nice)
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Personally I would keep going back when you're doing your normal collections, and she will get so sick of you, she will pay up.
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ive got a few commercial jobs opposite and sometimes have to park right outside her house so every month when i clean them ill give her a knock until payment!! ;) ;D ;D ;D
dazmond
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ive got a few commercial jobs opposite and sometimes have to park right outside her house so every month when i clean them ill give her a knock until payment!! ;) ;D ;D ;D
dazmond
Yes Daz, show her your winning smile ;D
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You can always... egg her windows... slash her tyres... key her paintwork... give her name, address and phone number out over the net...
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You can always... egg her windows... slash her tyres... key her paintwork... give her name, address and phone number out over the net...
Thats totally unprofessional! Wish I'd thought of it! ;D
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My old man was a heating engineer/plumber for 30 odd years. Had a fair few people try to knock him in that time, so he spent his time devising choice ways to irritate them ;D
One was to pop round with a water key and turn off their water, then wait for the call out. Charge them for the call out obviously, then mention the previous bill. He had a few that had to learn the hard way, after two call out fee's they normally figured it out and paid up ;D
If not then he used to snap a twig off in their door lock.....very annoying indeed and expensive to keep calling out the locksmith ;D
He's a proper pest my old man ;D
That's what I did to one blatant non payer, As I was knocking the door I pushed a sliver of bamboo deep into the yale lock.
Years ago before the days of central locking they used to push match sticks into the locks of cars to disable them
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You can always... egg her windows... slash her tyres... key her paintwork... give her name, address and phone number out over the net...
Write her name and phone number on a public toilet wall.
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I've found some ppl just take few reminders to get into the online habbit.
Text reminders usually do the job.
Once they've set you up online its great.
No more collecting thank you ;D
Cant stand chasing bad payers though!
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Well today I got my 70 quid from my bad payer.Plus 2 quid and month admin fee and my terms of business says.I hounded him till he paid.The always take there mob number and test it in front of them to see if its rite, so I can write to them phone and text them and If i could have an e mail address I will get that too.When they give me excuses I am always so understanding by still want payment,In three years I have not lost one penny yet.I joke is when he paid I asked if he wanted me to clean again and he said yes.Once bitten, he must be mad. I also super glued his front door lock When I went and he was not there.
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I have been knocked more times than I care to admit. Being a softy, I write bad debts off because :
a) It's often more cost effective to write it off.
b) It's only money. I absolutely refuse to let it worry me.
c) I get some warped satisfaction in cleaning their neighbours'
houses in full view of them, while their windows get dirtier,
at the same time praying that they will not ask me to clean
theirs again.
d) There are always good customers waiting to replace the
bad.
e) The non payers must need the money more than I do. Being
a pauper myself, I completely understand their pathetic
plight.
John.
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a.wont be goin out of my way as i clean some commercial over the road
b.its only money?ITS MY MONEY IVE EARNT IT!! :P
c.never will i clean her windows again!!
d.got to agree!always another custy to take her place!
e.they shouldnt go round phoning me up to clean their windows IF THEY CANT AFFORD ME!!! :P :P
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I have been knocked more times than I care to admit. Being a softy, I write bad debts off because :
a) It's often more cost effective to write it off.
b) It's only money. I absolutely refuse to let it worry me.
c) I get some warped satisfaction in cleaning their neighbours'
houses in full view of them, while their windows get dirtier,
at the same time praying that they will not ask me to clean
theirs again.
d) There are always good customers waiting to replace the
bad.
e) The non payers must need the money more than I do. Being
a pauper myself, I completely understand their pathetic
plight.
John.
;D that sums it up for me ;D exactly how I think, most of the time ::)
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Touch wood... i've had people that take there time to pay. they usualy pay up in the end cos I dont bother to go back to them again, I wait for them to phone and ask for me to go round. We sort a day out where they would be in, so I knock on door and ask for the last cleans payment and todays clean first b4 I start. But we all work in differant ways ah.
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i ways put a star against a new job if their windows aint been cleaned for years theirs always a reason ie messers has ive found out one get ows me 14 quid never got any money, come back next week. wot i do is have a ceiling of 2 cleanes if they dont pay ill wait until they do so that way its not so bad for you or custy any way i dumped him .but he still owes me if i see him out ill embarass him ;D ;D
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I have been knocked more times than I care to admit. Being a softy, I write bad debts off because :
a) It's often more cost effective to write it off.
b) It's only money. I absolutely refuse to let it worry me.
c) I get some warped satisfaction in cleaning their neighbours'
houses in full view of them, while their windows get dirtier,
at the same time praying that they will not ask me to clean
theirs again.
d) There are always good customers waiting to replace the
bad.
e) The non payers must need the money more than I do. Being
a pauper myself, I completely understand their pathetic
plight.
John.
Amen brother. I'm totally with you on all counts.
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I would just knock every time you do your jobs over the road, post reminders if not in. she will get sick and pay. I have just had one who owed since last august apologise to me and pay up in full. I kept cleaning her windows as i do all her neigbours and takes 10 mins max. She thanked me for cleaning them through her hard times.
;)
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I got one of those but it's for £200. No idea if I will get paid or not, i suspect not, but the cheque has been in the post at least ten times but strangely it's never actually arrived at my house.
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wd 40 dos nicley ;D when wind blows crap sticks to it trust me, oops trade secret ;D
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wd 40 dos nicley ;D when wind blows crap sticks to it trust me, oops trade secret ;D
Nah! a spray can of bicycle chain grease is best . Revolting stuff to get off. Or you could write a rude word in weedkiller on their front lawn.
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mmmmmm never thought of that ;D ;D ;D