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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 01:57:02 pm

Title: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 01:57:02 pm
How many have suffered real violence within their job from the public or rival window cleaners. The reason why I ask this is because I have received an interview back today that has the experience of his vans being burned out, stabbings etc etc?
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: wfp master on June 23, 2013, 02:06:49 pm
No I would have any **** that threatened me kneecapped.
Some people do any thing for money. ;)
If the price os right.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 02:26:18 pm
No I would have any **** that threatened me kneecapped.
Some people do any thing for money. ;)
If the price os right.


That sounds like a game show 'if the price is right'........  :)

Whats the worse thing you have had to deal with then?
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: wfp master on June 23, 2013, 02:32:06 pm
Never had any hassle its not bad up here most w/c's know each other.
Cant say ive even heard of any w/c getting hassle.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on June 23, 2013, 02:45:08 pm
I knew a team of window cleaners who were all addicted to extra strong mints, proper menthol the lot of 'em!!
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: formb on June 23, 2013, 02:47:22 pm
There was one round here who used to park on the bike lane outside my house.

Total cyclepath.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on June 23, 2013, 03:04:05 pm
Now youve done it Lee.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: windiewasher on June 23, 2013, 03:20:54 pm
I had one threaten me the otherweek.
He walked off with a bloody nose.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on June 23, 2013, 03:30:04 pm
Yea, me too, he'll never walk again. Broke bofe is legs, smashed is face in, stomped on im wen e wos darn, niked is skweegee, an that were just for lookin at me.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: windiewasher on June 23, 2013, 03:43:59 pm
Yea, me too, he'll never walk again. Broke bofe is legs, smashed is face in, stomped on im wen e wos darn, niked is skweegee, an that were just for lookin at me.
Thats nasty.
I only hit the bloke once.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on June 23, 2013, 03:48:32 pm
I only flicked im wiv me pinkie finger.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: *Hector* on June 23, 2013, 03:50:22 pm
oooeerrr you lot is real hard..  :o :o

glad I'm a rug washer  ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: wfp master on June 23, 2013, 03:57:31 pm
oooeerrr you lot is real hard..  :o :o

glad I'm a rug washer  ;D
carpet muncher. :D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: PoleKing on June 23, 2013, 04:07:34 pm
I got threatened once, few years back.
Funny enough, nothing came if it.
Lee, I don't think you're going to get any real stories like Glasgow's Ice Cream Wars.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: andyM on June 23, 2013, 04:20:11 pm
Im considering wearing glasses so that nobody is allowed to punch me (rules of the playground). 
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Paddy Woods on June 23, 2013, 04:29:39 pm
I got threatened once, few years back.
Funny enough, nothing came if it.
Lee, I don't think you're going to get any real stories like Glasgow's Ice Cream Wars.

I disagree !! Some serious nutcases here in Manchester ,it dosent take much brains to do window cleaning hence you get all sorts!
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: rosskesava on June 23, 2013, 04:32:44 pm
I had a situation last Friday with a couple of other window cleaners that could have got real nasty and could have ended badly.

In the end I did the only thing possible, I agreed that it was my turn to buy the teas.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: ascjim on June 23, 2013, 04:37:19 pm
Its all calm where i am. Occasionally i get some trad boys with 20 ladders on there car roof staring me out. Other then that we are all friendly
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: windiewasher on June 23, 2013, 04:42:32 pm
I got threatened once, few years back.
Funny enough, nothing came if it.
Lee, I don't think you're going to get any real stories like Glasgow's Ice Cream Wars.

I disagree !! Some serious nutcases here in Manchester ,it dosent take much :D brains to do window cleaning hence you get all sorts!
Dont put yourself down mrs brown. :D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Ian101 on June 23, 2013, 06:07:38 pm
I once found another window cleaner on my patch so drove past him rather quickly and shouted to keep off my patch ............... however it didnt work as seen his van on my patch again but being quick thinker and as he was working around back of house I got his coffee flask, emptied half out and refilled it with pea  :-X


however things turned out ok and me and Bob Plumb best of friends nowadays  ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 06:38:22 pm
Never had any hassle its not bad up here most w/c's know each other.
Cant say ive even heard of any w/c getting hassle.

Me too. Had may be the odd silly conversation in my 14 years but I couldn't count them really, once twice.....
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 06:38:54 pm
Now youve done it Lee.

lol
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 06:39:23 pm
I had one threaten me the otherweek.
He walked off with a bloody nose.


Oh dear - what happened??
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 06:40:17 pm
oooeerrr you lot is real hard..  :o :o

glad I'm a rug washer  ;D
carpet muncher. :D

lol
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 06:42:53 pm
I got threatened once, few years back.
Funny enough, nothing came if it.
Lee, I don't think you're going to get any real stories like Glasgow's Ice Cream Wars.

Thats ok... I have the story in the bag for publication already - its what made me ask... actually I do remember one time when I was called with a withheld number who threatened me for canvassing in his area. Told him what street/house and what time I would be there and asked him to come and chat to me about it. Never saw him or the partner he claimed would be real mad with me....
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 23, 2013, 06:44:08 pm
Its all calm where i am. Occasionally i get some trad boys with 20 ladders on there car roof staring me out. Other then that we are all friendly

Ive seen them. There in every town I think lmao
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: dave f on June 23, 2013, 08:17:58 pm
ive had my van egged 2 years running got a good idea who it is waXXers aint got the bottle to front me just missed em egg was running down van shows how thik they are. nice hot water got it off no probs ;D its gonna come back and bite em big time.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: darylmiller on June 23, 2013, 09:16:36 pm
I've never experienced any threats not so much as even a moody look. When I was younger the main mistake I used to make was viewing other window cleaners as "competition" so I wouldn't talk to any of them etc. These days I talk to every window cleaner I see, even when I am on holiday. I know all the big window cleaners in my area and we always stop to chat to each other passing by. It makes the job even better when you network and have pals in the area and I have picked up bundles on new work from many of them. 5 minutes out of your day to stop for a natter pays dividends.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: poleman on June 23, 2013, 09:34:19 pm
I have had a black widow catapult with a ball bearing fired at the back of my van from a window cleaner that uses a ladder

so ladders v wfp is still very a live and kicking
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: robertphil on June 23, 2013, 09:37:47 pm
somebody egged my house in december . i thought the noise was a snowball but then the misses pointed out to me there was no snow
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on June 23, 2013, 09:54:55 pm
Living in a frying pan probably doesnt help.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: wfp master on June 23, 2013, 10:09:59 pm
Living in a frying pan probably doesnt help.
;D like it.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: CleanClear on June 24, 2013, 01:10:23 am
How many have suffered real violence within their job from the public or rival window cleaners. The reason why I ask this is because I have received an interview back today that has the experience of his vans being burned out, stabbings etc etc?
Not real violence but lots of face to face threats and outright intimidation. I've had to fight for my van keys after a fella tried to work out how much cash i'd cost him by gaining work on his estate !!  ;D
 Also been stopped driving out of a road by a cleaner and asked "where've you just come from", also the threatening phone calls are ten a penny, also threats in person to come through your front door. "next time i see you here i'll have the van off you", if i see you here again i'll literally kill you". This is regular stuff we deal with. I know lots more but i wont go into detail on here, but there are estates you will not go to here or you will get a smack and your gear will be trashed for doing no more than going to clean a house. There's plenty more guys from Liverpool on here besides me and they could tell you similar. The guys doing any threatening in almost all cases will be unnamed, unmarked and unliveried £3 a fortnight merchants. But thats the way it works here in a lot of areas. Hose reels cut as they're in operation, vans blocked in and chased all commonplace here.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Dean Taberner on June 24, 2013, 02:19:36 am
When we did a lot of domestics a few yrs ago, I had a dodgy guy approach me saying that everywhere he was working so was I, and if he saw me again he would rip my teeth out.

I then showed him my warrant card and gave him a producer (I was over keen at the time and used to carry them in my van)  as it was clear that there was no way he was legit,

He bricked it and backed off, didn't produce is docs within 7 days and in turn got summoned to court and prosecuted for having no insurance.

True story.

Dean.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 24, 2013, 07:29:35 am
ive had my van egged 2 years running got a good idea who it is waXXers aint got the bottle to front me just missed em egg was running down van shows how thik they are. nice hot water got it off no probs ;D its gonna come back and bite em big time.

Eggs! How childish hey?
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 24, 2013, 07:31:29 am
I've never experienced any threats not so much as even a moody look. When I was younger the main mistake I used to make was viewing other window cleaners as "competition" so I wouldn't talk to any of them etc. These days I talk to every window cleaner I see, even when I am on holiday. I know all the big window cleaners in my area and we always stop to chat to each other passing by. It makes the job even better when you network and have pals in the area and I have picked up bundles on new work from many of them. 5 minutes out of your day to stop for a natter pays dividends.

This is a great story  ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Lee Burbidge on June 24, 2013, 07:33:17 am
When we did a lot of domestics a few yrs ago, I had a dodgy guy approach me saying that everywhere he was working so was I, and if he saw me again he would rip my teeth out.

I then showed him my warrant card and gave him a producer (I was over keen at the time and used to carry them in my van)  as it was clear that there was no way he was legit,

He bricked it and backed off, didn't produce is docs within 7 days and in turn got summoned to court and prosecuted for having no insurance.

True story.

Dean.

Awesome are you in Scotland? Are you a police officer or licensing officer?
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Dean Taberner on June 24, 2013, 08:28:57 am
I'm a special constable Lee,

Based in Staffordshire.

http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Recruitment/Specials/
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: richard jagger on June 24, 2013, 09:23:47 am
We have a real scumbag in our area me finks he goes by wa name of Bateman is real mafiazo. His got a black van wiff tinted blacked out windows always  taking wa Pee out of us windies.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on June 24, 2013, 09:28:38 am
Oooh, thats not good Smiffy! Give me a shout and we go sort him out, me and you together.

 ;D ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on June 24, 2013, 04:43:01 pm
we have just had some bother but the hubbys a 17 stone roid head that came form the traveling side of life so lets just say they window  at his house  ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Ian101 on June 24, 2013, 05:56:51 pm
we have just had some bother but the hubbys a 17 stone roid head that came form the traveling side of life so lets just say they window  at his house  ;D

ay what ??
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: windiewasher on June 24, 2013, 06:02:43 pm
I had one threaten me the otherweek.
He walked off with a bloody nose.


Oh dear - what happened??
Was told to get off his patch and if sees me again he will burn my van down.
So i smiled and lamped him one.
He
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Dave Willis on June 24, 2013, 06:04:08 pm
My husband is a seventeen stone red head who likes caravanning, didn't get the last part  ???
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on June 24, 2013, 06:13:34 pm
My husband is a seventeen stone red head who likes caravanning, didn't get the last part  ???

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on June 24, 2013, 06:23:04 pm
we have just had some bother but the hubbys a 17 stone roid head that came form the traveling side of life so lets just say they window  at his house  ;D

So is that him or you in the avatar?

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1372094674_avatar_11226.jpg)
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: PoleKing on June 24, 2013, 06:36:34 pm
When we did a lot of domestics a few yrs ago, I had a dodgy guy approach me saying that everywhere he was working so was I, and if he saw me again he would rip my teeth out.

I then showed him my warrant card and gave him a producer (I was over keen at the time and used to carry them in my van)  as it was clear that there was no way he was legit,

He bricked it and backed off, didn't produce is docs within 7 days and in turn got summoned to court and prosecuted for having no insurance.

True story.

Dean.

What's a warrant card Dean?
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: PoleKing on June 24, 2013, 06:40:46 pm
Sorry-just finished reading the thread.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Ian101 on June 24, 2013, 06:41:34 pm
My husband is a seventeen stone red head who likes caravanning, didn't get the last part  ???

 ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: p1w1 on June 24, 2013, 07:01:38 pm
My husband is a seventeen stone red head who likes caravanning, didn't get the last part  ???

 ;D
;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on June 24, 2013, 07:58:50 pm
God, im glad i live in sleepy lincoln and not manchest or liverpool  ::)roll
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: CleanClear on June 24, 2013, 09:01:20 pm
I had to laugh, last week i passed one of Clearviews in Huyton and his door was open. Now i don't know about any of you but there's only gloves, microfibres and maybe a phone charger in mine. They have a baseball bat, that tells you summat !!  ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: PoleKing on June 24, 2013, 09:21:58 pm
we have just had some bother but the hubbys a 17 stone roid head that came form the traveling side of life so lets just say they window  at his house  ;D

Your lad was 18 stone on 1st June.
That slim-fast is something else!  ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on June 25, 2013, 09:02:22 pm
we have just had some bother but the hubbys a 17 stone roid head that came form the traveling side of life so lets just say they window  at his house  ;D

Your lad was 18 stone on 1st June.
That slim-fast is something else!  ;D

no its call cutting he says , down from 6 meals aday to just four , less lifting and more run running , hes fighting this weekend and needs to be abit lighter I don't understand it myself but its his way of life
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: wfp master on June 25, 2013, 09:23:30 pm
 ???  ???
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: PoleKing on June 25, 2013, 09:52:45 pm
we have just had some bother but the hubbys a 17 stone roid head that came form the traveling side of life so lets just say they window  at his house  ;D

Your lad was 18 stone on 1st June.
That slim-fast is something else!  ;D

no its call cutting he says , down from 6 meals aday to just four , less lifting and more run running , hes fighting this weekend and needs to be abit lighter I don't understand it myself but its his way of life

What's his name? Where's he fighting?
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: DG Cleaning on June 25, 2013, 11:58:57 pm
I've been threatened twice once by a gang of lads from a long way off nothing too bad.
The next a bloke in the garden of the house behind the one I was cleaning offered me one of the rabbits he'd just shot and when I politely refused started to threaten me, he was drunk of course.
I was up the ladder as well which made it a bit disconcerting.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: JamesAJF on June 26, 2013, 01:37:49 am
if someone gave me any hassle i would never back dawn no matter how big or small they are and im not trying to be the hard man but how dare ppl be like that i mean there got some nerve to come up to u but they just do not have  a clue for all they no i could be a black belt and i would kick there butts i would never tell someone to get off my patch there aint no such thing as a patch anyway if someone said that to me i would tell them to get a different job or get used to it if they cant handle competition then they  might as well do something else. >:(
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on June 26, 2013, 08:13:43 am
a bloke in the garden of the house behind the one I was cleaning offered me one of the rabbits he'd just shot and when I politely refused started to threaten me, he was drunk of course.
I was up the ladder as well which made it a bit disconcerting.

 ;D love it!
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Pro-Poler on June 26, 2013, 08:24:40 am
A window cleaner with a ladder is cleaning a house where the customer owes me £20 it will be egged in due course ;D
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: gary999 on June 26, 2013, 08:48:22 am
ive had two incidents...first one when i first started was resolved in a way
which should of landed me in trouble but luckily it didnt

similar incident not long back was resolved with a cheer smile
thumbs  up and the words whatever you say mate and just got
on with my work.

i had heard too many stories of lunatic windies when i first
started was too
 ready for the fight.by the time of the second
incident experience had taught me different.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: Tom White on June 26, 2013, 03:19:04 pm
Sweakly tried to palm me off with a duff one-off clean he didn't want today.

That's about as bad as it gets around here.
Title: Re: The dark side of window wars
Post by: AuRavelling79 on June 27, 2013, 07:35:50 am
Sweakly tried to palm me off with a duff one-off clean he didn't want today.

That's about as bad as it gets around here.

I remember you saying a few years back that someone did a "I know where your kid goes to school" type of threat/comment on you which I thought you dealt with well.