Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on October 17, 2013, 08:25:16 am

Title: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: dazmond on October 17, 2013, 08:25:16 am
the amount of messers ive had in a small area of work which ive been cleaning for years has been unbelievable! ::)roll ;D

now ive decided to dump the lot!the couple of good customers will get a phone call telling them im not going to be cleaning their windows anymore.

one guy owes me £30 (2 cleans)and despite leaving SAE/invoice no payment.4 separate knocks on door.no answer.i should never have took him back on as he was a messer years ago when i dumped him first time.the lady across the road got dumped a year ago when she said"dont clean them today as its gonna rain later" ::)roll

another woman messed me about for payment for years and finally i had enough 4 months ago and got rid after finally getting paid.

then yesterday i get a phone call off another customer saying their windows are filthy(id cleaned them last job of the day on tuesday).accusing me of not cleaning their windows!absolutely had enough so im dumping the lot.

ive also had other customers moving last min and not paying me for the last clean.

virtually all the messers and late payers have been concentrated on this estate.its baffled me really as its a affluent area and i always do a top notch job.

im not giving up getting my £30 off one of them though. >:( ;D

Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Spruce on October 17, 2013, 08:31:58 am
I feel sorry that the good customers 'that you will phone' are being penalised for the others. Unless they are way out on as limb, then I would be inclined to keep them and fit them in on a slow day.

But you know your round and you better than anyone.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Ian101 on October 17, 2013, 08:38:37 am
yup its funny how good customers can go bad .............. any way to keep the couple of good ones on books ?? - prob worth it just to see their reaction when u tell them why u not doing their windows anymore  :)
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Avo on October 17, 2013, 08:41:16 am
I had the same but on a road where every house are mansions 1 to 2 million pound each.. Out of 8 of them dropped 5 and my prices were low max £35 per house..

They agreed on monthly cleans between £20 to £35 and after 1st cleans I got the old " oh will we be in touch when we need you"  and one payment dodger..
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: colin purewater on October 17, 2013, 08:44:15 am
I had a round like that!! Got shut if the lot last
Year!!  Thought it was a gold mine when I started...

All but 2 were non/ bad payers

Past the good ones on to local fella who is more
Tolerant that me

I no longer clean formby any more


Not worth the hassle daz  
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: dazmond on October 17, 2013, 08:50:18 am
to be fair lads there are only a couple of good customers left and they are sandwiched in between ex customers that i really dont like and i get the feelings mutual! ;D ;D ;D

i cant be bothered anymore as i have plenty of better paying solid customers elsewhere.yes its near big chunks of other work but too many crappy experiences for some reason.

i ve just remembered another 3 or 4 incidents of bad payers in this area! >:(

i dont understand it really as i very rarely get any problems on the rest of my round.its virtually non existent!! ;D ;D
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Paul Coleman on October 17, 2013, 08:52:37 am
the amount of messers ive had in a small area of work which ive been cleaning for years has been unbelievable! ::)roll ;D

now ive decided to dump the lot!the couple of good customers will get a phone call telling them im not going to be cleaning their windows anymore.

one guy owes me £30 (2 cleans)and despite leaving SAE/invoice no payment.4 separate knocks on door.no answer.i should never have took him back on as he was a messer years ago when i dumped him first time.the lady across the road got dumped a year ago when she said"dont clean them today as its gonna rain later" ::)roll

another woman messed me about for payment for years and finally i had enough 4 months ago and got rid after finally getting paid.

then yesterday i get a phone call off another customer saying their windows are filthy(id cleaned them last job of the day on tuesday).accusing me of not cleaning their windows!absolutely had enough so im dumping the lot.

ive also had other customers moving last min and not paying me for the last clean.

virtually all the messers and late payers have been concentrated on this estate.its baffled me really as its a affluent area and i always do a top notch job.

im not giving up getting my £30 off one of them though. >:( ;D



If it's not viable to keep the good two then it's a pity. When I've done something like this, I do give the good ones the contact details of another windie.  I also warned him about the others.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: PoleKing on October 17, 2013, 08:55:47 am
to be fair lads there are only a couple of good customers left and they are sandwiched in between ex customers that i really dont like and i get the feelings mutual! ;D ;D ;D

i cant be bothered anymore as i have plenty of better paying solid customers elsewhere.yes its near big chunks of other work but too many crappy experiences for some reason.

i ve just remembered another 3 or 4 incidents of bad payers in this area! >:(

i dont understand it really as i very rarely get any problems on the rest of my round.its virtually non existent!! ;D ;D

Daz, definitely keep doing the 2 good ones.
The messers will ask, sooner or later.
It's childish but very satisfying when a messer you've dumped says (and they will) 'can you do mine?' And you reply
'No thanks'
'Why'
'You're not the sort of customer I take on anymore'
Lush
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Mike #1 on October 17, 2013, 09:11:19 am
Due to some custys been forgetful i always take mobile number so i can send text reminders and i nearly always get paid that day . Mike
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: johnny bravo on October 17, 2013, 03:21:07 pm
dazmond, what area you from. ???
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: charlie2 on October 17, 2013, 03:30:58 pm
Remember Colin any more I do form by hi town lol

Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 17, 2013, 04:04:36 pm
I feel your pain - see my "give 'em an inch ... " thread.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: bumper on October 17, 2013, 05:44:55 pm
Yes it's annoying  its same in stockport you bump some houses no problem,you  get paid do good job and they accuse you of not cleaning them,window cleaning a joke
Had one bloke owed me 50 pound cleaned house next door my mate  shouts over oh ,what he moved  what a numpty ,next door said to my mate it's not nice calling him a numpty. He  a mate .its all a game .
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Nick_Thompson on October 17, 2013, 06:29:32 pm

[/quote]

'can you do mine?' And you reply
'No thanks'
'Why'
'You're not the sort of customer I take on anymore'
Lush
[/quote]

"Lush" Priceless Darren! ;D
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Dazzler3370 on October 17, 2013, 07:12:09 pm
Just from doing this for a short space of time on my work experience, I have already come a couple of customers who try to get away with paying. I dont blame you for dumping them. You should concentrate you efforts eslewhere who appreciate your work. I can fully understand why its not worth your effort with bad payers.

Dazzler
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: TheWindowManChris on October 17, 2013, 08:00:25 pm
When every new customer I always give them a slip with at bottom is about Payment.   This also on every slip which say's   'We been today and total outstanding is £X,  Please contact us to make payment'

So it says

Payment

We will inform you on date of cleaning and which you are given a 30day credit.   Which payment must be made within 30 days of work being carried out or late payment fees will be applied.

You can pay via Credit/Debit Card, BACS, DirectDebit or Cash.   

You can set any these payments up by calling us on (Number) or by our On-Site Technicians.

 
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: PoleKing on October 17, 2013, 09:44:10 pm
When every new customer I always give them a slip with at bottom is about Payment.   This also on every slip which say's   'We been today and total outstanding is £X,  Please contact us to make payment'

So it says

Payment

We will inform you on date of cleaning and which you are given a 30day credit.   Which payment must be made within 30 days of work being carried out or late payment fees will be applied.

You can pay via Credit/Debit Card, BACS, DirectDebit or Cash.   

You can set any these payments up by calling us on (Number) or by our On-Site Technicians.

 
+1 but I only give 7 days on domestics.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: H20cleaning on October 17, 2013, 09:53:27 pm
I have one day every month that i HATE, all the houses are underpriced, some drop down valleys at the back garden and go to 3 story, others have big windows and tight alleys, some have cars most blocking my access.... But for the time being i am biting the bullet its worth about £100 a month
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: TheWindowManChris on October 17, 2013, 09:54:36 pm
When every new customer I always give them a slip with at bottom is about Payment.   This also on every slip which say's   'We been today and total outstanding is £X,  Please contact us to make payment'

So it says

Payment

We will inform you on date of cleaning and which you are given a 30day credit.   Which payment must be made within 30 days of work being carried out or late payment fees will be applied.

You can pay via Credit/Debit Card, BACS, DirectDebit or Cash.   

You can set any these payments up by calling us on (Number) or by our On-Site Technicians.

 
+1 but I only give 7 days on domestics.

I am starting to give new customer 7 day on domestic properties
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: PoleKing on October 17, 2013, 09:58:59 pm
When every new customer I always give them a slip with at bottom is about Payment.   This also on every slip which say's   'We been today and total outstanding is £X,  Please contact us to make payment'

So it says

Payment

We will inform you on date of cleaning and which you are given a 30day credit.   Which payment must be made within 30 days of work being carried out or late payment fees will be applied.

You can pay via Credit/Debit Card, BACS, DirectDebit or Cash.   

You can set any these payments up by calling us on (Number) or by our On-Site Technicians.

 
+1 but I only give 7 days on domestics.

I am starting to give new customer 7 day on domestic properties

New customers I'm getting pre-paid!
www.gocardless.com
Get paid on the 1st of every month direct debit. Clean any time before the last day of the month.
Not been doing it long but I absolutely love it!
Never a 'not today' again!
Only had 4 people refuse it so far.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: TheWindowManChris on October 17, 2013, 10:10:33 pm
When every new customer I always give them a slip with at bottom is about Payment.   This also on every slip which say's   'We been today and total outstanding is £X,  Please contact us to make payment'

So it says

Payment

We will inform you on date of cleaning and which you are given a 30day credit.   Which payment must be made within 30 days of work being carried out or late payment fees will be applied.

You can pay via Credit/Debit Card, BACS, DirectDebit or Cash.   

You can set any these payments up by calling us on (Number) or by our On-Site Technicians.

 
+1 but I only give 7 days on domestics.

I am starting to give new customer 7 day on domestic properties

New customers I'm getting pre-paid!
www.gocardless.com
Get paid on the 1st of every month direct debit. Clean any time before the last day of the month.
Not been doing it long but I absolutely love it!
Never a 'not today' again!
Only had 4 people refuse it so far.

Yea I offer DirectDebit via GoCardless too.    How did you approach your customers with converting to DirectDebit
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: PoleKing on October 17, 2013, 10:18:50 pm
Ones I see I said quite simply 'we're moving over to direct debit, can I confirm your email and I'll get it set up please'

All the customers that used to PayPal I sent an email saying 'thanks for your payment, from next month we will be collecting payment via gocardles. Any problems, please come back to me.'

A few suggested cancelling but I said (to them) 'I'm offering it, not enforcing it.'

Never gonna get everyone on it (commercials all said no) but if I can get £2k dumped in my account on the first of every month I'd be pleased.
Can't recommend it enough.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: TheWindowManChris on October 17, 2013, 10:20:36 pm
Ones I see I said quite simply 'we're moving over to direct debit, can I confirm your email and I'll get it set up please'

All the customers that used to PayPal I sent an email saying 'thanks for your payment, from next month we will be collecting payment via gocardles. Any problems, please come back to me.'

A few suggested cancelling but I said (to them) 'I'm offering it, not enforcing it.'

Never gonna get everyone on it (commercials all said no) but if I can get £2k dumped in my account on the first of every month I'd be pleased.
Can't recommend it enough.

I actully got commercial job go via DirectDebit and get £900 a month put into my account on the 8th of the month :D   They said it easier as they then don't have manual do it.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Tom White on October 17, 2013, 11:17:02 pm
then yesterday i get a phone call off another customer saying their windows are filthy(id cleaned them last job of the day on tuesday).accusing me of not cleaning their windows!absolutely had enough so im dumping the lot.

You should at least go and look at the windows on this one.
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: dazmond on October 18, 2013, 07:29:34 am
tosh ive had it before off this customer!basically accusing me of not cleaning the windows!i went round that time and noticed a bit of dust on the frames,sills and glass on the back windows the day after clean.her house backs onto a nearby main road and it had been windy overnight(just like the other night).

also ive been warned about this customer by a previous windy who used to do them.very fussy.underpriced as well at £9.i know i left her windows and frames sparkling.cant help the bad weather though! ::)roll
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: Avo on October 18, 2013, 07:39:53 am
tosh ive had it before off this customer!basically accusing me of not cleaning the windows!i went round that time and noticed a bit of dust on the frames,sills and glass on the back windows the day after clean.her house backs onto a nearby main road and it had been windy overnight(just like the other night).

also ive been warned about this customer by a previous windy who used to do them.very fussy.underpriced as well at £9.i know i left her windows and frames sparkling.cant help the bad weather though! ::)roll
unfortunately daz it's the same song by a different singer every time .. You hear the same old excuses by bad payers lol we've been getting a few lately and we are sick of the payment dodgers. I find them to be RUDE!
Title: Re: bad area!all dumped!!
Post by: windowswashed on October 18, 2013, 07:55:06 pm
customers that mess you around, dump or increase the price and miss them at xmas ;D