Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 11:00:41 am

Title: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 11:00:41 am
Hi
I had a house today started cleaning windows and lady comes out.
Her hi can you clean garage window
Me. Sorry wasnt included in price
Her.its just 1 window.and a door

Now last time she asked me to clean this window i said no because all the paint was flakeing and i didnt want it all over my brush.

Anyway

Me.did you send payment for last clean.
Her.i paid you.
Me.oh ok i cant check cuz i dont have my accounts book with me.how did you pay.
Her.i bloody paid you i pay all my bills all the time.
Me .im not saying you havnt i was just asking because i remember you not being home last time.
Her.turns her back on me walks off into back door screaming and shouting and slams door.

Im standing there thinking blimey shes mad shall i pack up n go or give her a knock.


Anyway
I knocked on back door.
Hello sorry if i upset you there is no point in getting upset i was merely asking because i cant check.whats your phone number and i will call you when i get home.she gave me that and handed me £15 cash over makeing a point that shes paid for this clean.

Anyway she went out and left me to the clean.
After i left her a note saying heres your next date and ive cleaned your garage window and door and will include it for free on each clean.
Im sorry i upset you but that was never my intention.


Some people ay.all i did was ask if she paid for last clean look what trouble that got me into.

I very nearly thought sod it knock her of my books because shes mad.

What would you lot of done .

Regards cliff
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: colin purewater on October 04, 2012, 11:10:02 am
I don't think it is up to the custy to tell you
If they have paid or not mate. ???

Mad customers are mg best I love them keep well entertained!!

Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Mike_G on October 04, 2012, 12:30:58 pm
I would of just done the garage window, you could of done it less time than you spent talking to her about it.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 01:28:58 pm
i did the garage window in the end to shut her up,but my brush was covered in paint flakes after so wasnt amused it will take me ages to get them out the brush and im finding them all over the windows that i cleaned several jobs after.

she is bonkers but as the saying goes the customer is alright right.
still down to each individual if they charge for extras or not though.

regards
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: SunShineCleaning on October 04, 2012, 02:08:31 pm
She was obviously having a bad day and you were on hand to take the brunt of it.
We dont know what goes on in peoples lives and it could be she is dealing with some crisis or other.
I dont ever take it personally and move on.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: C o z y on October 04, 2012, 02:16:52 pm
I'd get another customer in the area and keep an eye on this one. If she kicks off again, take the money and forget her. If she behaves, keep her. That way, if you sack her, you already have a replacement, and if you keep her, you have an extra customer.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: 4S Cleaning on October 04, 2012, 02:32:30 pm
Should have tradded the garage  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Ian101 on October 04, 2012, 02:42:35 pm
I had a customers neighbour go mental at me a few years back as I had run my house over her lawn - caught me off guard so didn't really have chance to give a smart ass reply.

Later found out her 6 year old Grandson was dying from luikemia !
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: EandM on October 04, 2012, 03:44:23 pm
I had a customers neighbour go mental at me a few years back as I had run my house over her lawn - caught me off guard so didn't really have chance to give a smart ass reply.





Running a house over someones lawn would probably upset anybody...
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: g.brookes on October 04, 2012, 04:46:32 pm
i agree with sunshine.  out of the (on average ) 300 customers you see a month, im sure a good handful of them have some sort of major bad news going on when we come round.  just dont take it personally
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 05:55:01 pm
I think i need a better system where if i have to ask a custy if she owes me last clean i can find out there and then if im owed anything without asking.

Im never going to ask a custy if they owe me anything again.

To much hassle.

Im sure she be fine next visit i went out of my way to show her.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: davids3511 on October 04, 2012, 05:57:56 pm
I think i need a better system where if i have to ask a custy if she owes me last clean i can find out there and then if im owed anything without asking.

Im never going to ask a custy if they owe me anything again.

To much hassle.

Im sure she be fine next visit i went out of my way to show her.
Use George. It will tell you what is owed by who. You really should know this and not have to ask the custy.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 05:59:11 pm
I know this now  ;D
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 06:00:39 pm
I know this now  ;D
does george work on apple products ?
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: dazmond on October 04, 2012, 07:45:19 pm
I'm sorry mate but you should know if they owe you!I know exactly if a custy owes me 2 months etc as its on my worksheets.get some round software and get organised!!! ;D.

Regards

Dazmond
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: dazmond on October 04, 2012, 07:50:52 pm
Cleaning a garage window if asked is no problem either.we are in a services industry!the odd extra doesnt hurt anyone and gives u a good reputation.imo your attitude is the problem here not the custys.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: James chapman on October 04, 2012, 08:04:30 pm
I would have just done the window and door with spray and cloth. Nice little touches like that keep em sweet....for christmas
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: dannymack on October 04, 2012, 08:16:09 pm
I agree with Dazza i would of done the garage and said no probs s for paint flakes on the brush they would come off when you clean next job does seem you have abit of an attitude m8..Its these people that keep you in business and a couple extra windows to clean surely is no big deal !!!
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: rosskesava on October 04, 2012, 08:26:03 pm
Cliff, I hope this doesn't sound rude.

What I can't work out is why ask the customer if she has paid in the first place when you don't know don't know yourself and then tell the customer you don't know.

Not only does it make no sense but it sort of creates an argument out of nothing.

Also as written above, I would have done the doors without question.

The flaking paint - wet a sponge using the pole, go over the doors with the sponge and rinse using the pole.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 08:27:43 pm
Cleaning a garage window if asked is no problem either.we are in a services industry!the odd extra doesnt hurt anyone and gives u a good reputation.imo your attitude is the problem here not the custys.
thanks dazz
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 08:30:17 pm
I would have just done the window and door with spray and cloth. Nice little touches like that keep em sweet....for christmas
hi your all forgetting that i did do it.
I didnt want to do it in the 1st place because of all the paint flakes.

Anyway lesson learnt today  :P
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 08:34:14 pm
Cliff, I hope this doesn't sound rude.

What I can't work out is why ask the customer if she has paid in the first place when you don't know don't know yourself and then tell the customer you don't know.

Not only does it make no sense but it sort of creates an argument out of nothing.

Also as written above, I would have done the doors without question.

The flaking paint - wet a sponge using the pole, go over the doors with the sponge and rinse using the pole.
thanks great tip and yes your right about what you said.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 08:36:33 pm
Dont wanna bang on to much but i havnt got an attitude i bend over backwards to help my custys and they all love me and recomend me.

I just handled this 1 wrong,we all make mistakes and im the 1st to admit it.

Regards
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: rosskesava on October 04, 2012, 09:04:46 pm
Dont wanna bang on to much but i havnt got an attitude i bend over backwards to help my custys and they all love me and recomend me.

I just handled this 1 wrong,we all make mistakes and im the 1st to admit it.

Regards

Yup. Me too - I sometimes have foot in mouth days except with me, I'm never the first to admit it. It's usually a few days later when I think I messed up a bit.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 04, 2012, 09:16:45 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: pncleaning on October 05, 2012, 12:25:28 am
Cleaning a garage window if asked is no problem either.we are in a services industry!the odd extra doesnt hurt anyone and gives u a good reputation.imo your attitude is the problem here not the custys.

Sorry but I have to agree  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 05, 2012, 07:46:48 am
Cleaning a garage window if asked is no problem either.we are in a services industry!the odd extra doesnt hurt anyone and gives u a good reputation.imo your attitude is the problem here not the custys.

Sorry but I have to agree  ;D ;D
thanks again  ;D
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Spruce on October 05, 2012, 08:58:01 am
send her a bunch of flowers.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Window Washers on October 05, 2012, 09:34:30 am
Hi
I had a house today started cleaning windows and lady comes out.
Her hi can you clean garage window
Me. Sorry wasnt included in price
Her.its just 1 window.and a door

Now last time she asked me to clean this window i said no because all the paint was flakeing and i didnt want it all over my brush.

Anyway

Me.did you send payment for last clean.
Her.i paid you.
Me.oh ok i cant check cuz i dont have my accounts book with me.how did you pay. (your basically saying she a lair)
Her.i bloody paid you i pay all my bills all the time.
Me .im not saying you havnt i was just asking because i remember you not being home last time. (inforcing you think shes not telling the truth)
Her.turns her back on me walks off into back door screaming and shouting and slams door.

Im standing there thinking blimey shes mad shall i pack up n go or give her a knock.


Anyway
I knocked on back door.
Hello sorry if i upset you there is no point in getting upset i was merely asking because i cant check.whats your phone number and i will call you when i get home.she gave me that and handed me £15 cash over makeing a point that shes paid for this clean.

Anyway she went out and left me to the clean.
After i left her a note saying heres your next date and ive cleaned your garage window and door and will include it for free on each clean.
Im sorry i upset you but that was never my intention.


Some people ay.all i did was ask if she paid for last clean look what trouble that got me into.

I very nearly thought sod it knock her of my books because shes mad.

What would you lot of done .

Regards cliff
the problems are highlighted, simply don't treat a customer this way, think of it from her point of view and you will not go far wrong.
Your lucky she did'nt tell you to do one
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: shina on October 05, 2012, 12:34:21 pm
She didnt have a nervous breakdown she was annoyed that you asked her if she had paid. Is she not a good payer?
I always check before I clean to see if they owe me anything
What if your gas company asked you if you paid lasts months bill, you would not be happy even if you had not paid because they should be keeping tabs on that not you, its their job.
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 05, 2012, 01:03:12 pm
She didnt have a nervous breakdown she was annoyed that you asked her if she had paid. Is she not a good payer?
I always check before I clean to see if they owe me anything
What if your gas company asked you if you paid lasts months bill, you would not be happy even if you had not paid because they should be keeping tabs on that not you, its their job.

well said i agree totally.
live and learn ;)

as to previous threads bottle of wine given to her as an apology
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Steve Sed on October 05, 2012, 02:02:44 pm
Asking her if she paid was perhaps not a good move, but to do a grubby garage door properly could easily take a few minutes of really hard scrubbing depending on condition. I assume we are talking an up and over type door?
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Tom White on October 05, 2012, 03:57:54 pm
She sounds like a fruitcake.  Drop her.  You don't want nut jobs for customers.  Stupid customers are a pain too; I wish I could IQ test 'em at the quoting stage.

And sometimes if I suspect they're stupid or fruitcakes right at the beginning, I just say, "Sorry I'm not taking any more work on" and pass them Squeaky's number.

Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 05, 2012, 04:54:04 pm
well after the bottle of wine was dropped of we both kissed and made up.
we r best of friends again.
 :P :P :P
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 05, 2012, 04:54:58 pm
She sounds like a fruitcake.  Drop her.  You don't want nut jobs for customers.  Stupid customers are a pain too; I wish I could IQ test 'em at the quoting stage.

And sometimes if I suspect they're stupid or fruitcakes right at the beginning, I just say, "Sorry I'm not taking any more work on" and pass them Squeaky's number.


;D
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: windowswashed on October 05, 2012, 05:32:34 pm
Not being funny but you portray a bad image of yourself to your customer if you dont know if they have paid you beforehand. pre preparation prevents poor performance as they say....sorry but you should be more organised financially as its a bad reflection of your work ethics
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Cliff perkins on October 05, 2012, 06:27:15 pm
Not being funny but you portray a bad image of yourself to your customer if you dont know if they have paid you beforehand. pre preparation prevents poor performance as they say....sorry but you should be more organised financially as its a bad reflection of your work ethics
i agree
Title: Re: Lady had nervous breakdown
Post by: Ian101 on October 05, 2012, 07:21:35 pm
I would have told her to do 1 .... only a window and door indeed  ... if they all asked for that then where would we be.   >:( >:( >:(







































 ;D

I would have said yup no problem ... u got any hot water ??? and when she said yes then would have said fab coffee milk 2 sugars and a kitkat go down nicely  ;D