Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: brynley on February 16, 2014, 01:09:54 pm
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I did a one off windows and conservatory roof clean yesterday after building work had finished and they were minging, I had quoted £60 which she had agreed to after trying to knock me down, I knew I shouldn't have done it as we had arranged to do it the previous week but when I turned up she didn't answer the door, but she had left a message on my answer phone stating that she had just missed me and would I please come back to do it, I wasn't going to by the fool in me went back.
whilst doing the clean yesterday, I just didn't take to her bossy way, telling me how to do the job etc and when I had finished after 2 hours work, I knocked on the door to get paid to be told i'm not paying you £30 a hour I didn't pay the builders that, I will pay you £50 then wrote me a cheque for that amount and made me feel I was lucky to get that.
I had to really hold my tongue while I was thinking that if I kicked off she may not pay me anything and what could I do about it.
the only other time I had that was after doing a one off gutter clean the bloke messed me about paying so I got a Thomas Higgins letter sent to him, which he was not happy about, but I got the money, I will do the same this time for the principle once the cheque has cleared.
I assume the only way round these one off jobs is to be paid cash up front, anyone else had this or how to deal with it?
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Never experienced this BUT we now only take cash on all one offs. Had two cheques bounce recently.
This is why we give a written quotation, with a maximum amount. Our whole pricing is like that.
We give a price of say £50 - £80, then depending on the job will tell customer at the end. 999999999999999999999.9% it is never £80. May be like £75 and they feel like we have saved em money.
Should have followed your gut mate. BUT this year I have lost out on two jobs already. Ended up doing a fascia clean for £30 and a 4 hour hard job all for £60. Both times I never put it in writing, and they twisted the jobs round on me.
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I did a one off windows and conservatory roof clean yesterday after building work had finished and they were minging, I had quoted £60 which she had agreed to after trying to knock me down, I knew I shouldn't have done it as we had arranged to do it the previous week but when I turned up she didn't answer the door, but she had left a message on my answer phone stating that she had just missed me and would I please come back to do it, I wasn't going to by the fool in me went back.
whilst doing the clean yesterday, I just didn't take to her bossy way, telling me how to do the job etc and when I had finished after 2 hours work, I knocked on the door to get paid to be told i'm not paying you £30 a hour I didn't pay the builders that, I will pay you £50 then wrote me a cheque for that amount and made me feel I was lucky to get that.
I had to really hold my tongue while I was thinking that if I kicked off she may not pay me anything and what could I do about it.
the only other time I had that was after doing a one off gutter clean the bloke messed me about paying so I got a Thomas Higgins letter sent to him, which he was not happy about, but I got the money, I will do the same this time for the principle once the cheque has cleared.
I assume the only way round these one off jobs is to be paid cash up front, anyone else had this or how to deal with it?
In all politeness, you're dealing with a cretinous, self righteous parasite who feeds on others whilst simultaneously inflicting her own demented standards of self righteousness - avoid like the plague and very well done for holding your tongue !
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Let us know how you get on with the Tom Higgins letter, a tenner isn't much but when people act like that it's a matter if principle, good on you.
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should have followed your gut instinct and walked away.
Any one tries to knock me down i just no thanks and walk
i think the fact she wasnt in the first time would have been enough for me
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I would take the cheque, cash it ASAP, bite my tongue and simply don't work for her again.
John
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I did a one off windows and conservatory roof clean yesterday after building work had finished and they were minging, I had quoted £60 which she had agreed to after trying to knock me down, I knew I shouldn't have done it as we had arranged to do it the previous week but when I turned up she didn't answer the door, but she had left a message on my answer phone stating that she had just missed me and would I please come back to do it, I wasn't going to by the fool in me went back.
whilst doing the clean yesterday, I just didn't take to her bossy way, telling me how to do the job etc and when I had finished after 2 hours work, I knocked on the door to get paid to be told i'm not paying you £30 a hour I didn't pay the builders that, I will pay you £50 then wrote me a cheque for that amount and made me feel I was lucky to get that.
I had to really hold my tongue while I was thinking that if I kicked off she may not pay me anything and what could I do about it.
the only other time I had that was after doing a one off gutter clean the bloke messed me about paying so I got a Thomas Higgins letter sent to him, which he was not happy about, but I got the money, I will do the same this time for the principle once the cheque has cleared.
I assume the only way round these one off jobs is to be paid cash up front, anyone else had this or how to deal with it?
I would have walked as soon as she tried to haggle.
Even if you were to get your original price, they try to make you do a bit more before they pay you.
I once did a £200 one off and never got a penny so compared to that, you did OK.
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If you cash the cheque you won't be able to claim more money from her, you will have accepted that is payment for the job.
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Dirty water back on windows, then walk away.
Learn as you earn.
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Dirty water back on windows, then walk away.
Learn as you earn.
Yup. Is it robbertphil that keeps a sprayer of RO waste water in his van?
That's genius.
Bit late now but I always ask for cleared funds before starting an irregular clean.
Even if you get the old 'got no cash, will a cheque do?' I say no. Sure I've missed a few genuine guys but I haven't been stung in a while either.
Someone earlier (different thread) criticised PayPal but this is where it's great. Got no cash, no problem, PayPal me!
Linked to my iphone. Soon as I get the banner saying funds received, I unreel.
Yes this can be reversed but then you know there is malice rather than a misunderstanding.
Not perfect-nothing is, but works for me.
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To be honest I would not want to pay a cleaner 30 quid an hour either ;D
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If you cash the cheque you won't be able to claim more money from her, you will have accepted that is payment for the job.
Only if it's been offered "in full and final settlement". And not always even then.
Bank it immediately and, if you're determined that £10 is worth the effort, write her a letter stating that you have banked her partial payment and she owes you £10.
As ever my advice would be to learn from it, move on, live your life and forget her.
Vin
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To be honest I would not want to pay a cleaner 30 quid an hour either ;D
It's the principle of it though ae?
They agreed on price, job was done to a satisfactory standard, they should pay what was agreed. They have no idea how much brynleys costs are, fuel, equipment, chemicals etc. that £60 earned is hardly straight in the pocket.
It's like us going to a restaurant, reading the menu,we order the £22.50 steak, eat it and enjoy the meal, Then go "na actually I'm only going to pay £18 for that"
Ridiculous.
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Yup. Is it robbertphil that keeps a sprayer of RO waste water in his van?
That's genius.
I like that idea ;D.
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Ask her how much she pays to have her hair coloured!
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Didn't know about the Thomas Higgins letters.. thanks for that, book marked for a later date. although I've been lucky so far that people do eventually pay me...
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Ask her how much she pays to have her hair coloured!
Even better, ask her how much her nose job or her wig cost. You could get even more personal but that possibly a bit too far
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To be honest I would not want to pay a cleaner 30 quid an hour either ;D
She wasnt paying a cleaner 30p/h, she was paying for a conny clean, whether that took 2 hours or 10 she was paying for the job done
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she's just a patronising bully. she agreed to the quote and she should pay up!!! £30 an hour for a one off job? I don't think that's expensive!! the thing is it's not about not getting that extra tenner. it's a matter of principle !! it's just plain wrong and demeaning to be told : I'll pay you £50 take it or leave it!!!
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She did not pay you 30 quid an hour she paid your business 30 quid an hour. Only after expenses do you get paid and it will not be 30 quid n hour. Its this small change to your status you need to get right.
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I wouldn't have done a one off conny clean and window clean for less than £120 if they were minging.I'd have walked away when she tried to knock me down.
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Brynly do you cover Wheathampstead??? Looking for another windy to give the occasional job to - free gratis of course
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I've never had the issue of ppl not wanting to pay the agreed price when a job has been completed. They know in advance how much it is going to cost so if they ever tried it on I would insist on full payment regardless.
To be honest something sounds fishy to me like she may have felt like the job was rushed somewhat and maybe to a lower standard that she was expecting to be so was not wanting to pay the agreed price.
I always make sure before packing away that the customer is more than happy with the quality of my work regardless how much the job is worth and how long it takes.
Was the lady in question Asian by any chance as they do like to barter ;D
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Unable/unwilling to pay is a civil matter. Obtaining goods/services by deception (e.g. agreeing one price and only paying another) is potentially a criminal matter. It would never fly in a criminal court of course but she sounds like the sort of person who might admit it to the police - bullies are usually cowards.
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There's been some comments about cheque payments. If a customer pays by cheque, in the eyes of the Law, it is proof that they are 100% satisfied with the quality of the work done. Any cheque that is 'stopped' after it has been banked by you gives you a cast iron case for winning in a small claims court. I was told this advice by the legal team of the FWC after I had a customer threaten to stop a cheque that the wife had written me, just because the husband thought she had paid too much for the job done.
Cheques for jobs are good things....
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smurf some women are real bitches.to the op just move on and forget about it.you had initial reservations.you should of listened to that "little voice" inside.you live and learn.
ive made mistakes myself in the past in regards to pricing and crap customers but they are very few and far between these days.i can usually sniff out a bad un straight from the off.
i try and earn £50-£60 an hour on add on jobs as they are harder work and take me away from my regular window cleaning jobs.
£50-£60 an hour is not a rip off at all.people just dont know how much it costs to run your business.plus you need to make a profit.
very best wishes
dazmond
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I reckon I would just bank the cheque and move on and never return to do any work in the future if she calls up.
People like that are irritating but fortunately few and far between.
If she had said to me "Im not paying you £30 per hour!" I would of reminded her that she was not paying an hourly rate as the job was quoted on price.