Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: tom20001 on September 21, 2015, 06:47:00 pm
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I done a job this morning and its become clear client does not want to pay for it
Its for a certain minority group and had i known before arrival on job i most certainly would have avoided as their reputation for paying is terrible
Its 150 euro owed.
What are my options?
I spoke with cops but it falls under contract law as opposed to criminal law
Cheers lads
Just a shot in the dark as im pretty sure its a dead debt
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A. Take it on the chin, at worst its your time you have lost.
B. Send the invoice recorded delivery giving 14 days, then if no payment work your way through the steps until it goes to court.
In hindsight did you not clarify payment on arrival ? - this can be hard, and make you feel mean, but we usually specify payment on completion, or where the customer (whoever they are, usually landlords or tennents people's second property) they pay via bank transfer before we start
Darran
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Cheers Darran
Yeah mate the issue is not the amount or confusion regarding amount or anything to do with it. Its a simple case of a con job and these people have nk intentiin of paying,
Option A id say and be a little more selective. Their accent is a dead giveaway but i didnt pick it up on the phone when tge job was booked it
Hope business is good mate and thanks for advice
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Their accent is a dead giveaway
To me mate, everyone who wants to pay in Euro's has an accent ! ;D
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unfortunately there is a (luckily) very small amount of people in this world that have no morals, only been caught for a few quid myself, lovely lady too, missed a payment, did next clean, decided I'd pop back the following week to collect, house empty and up for rent >:( - gone never to be seen again...
Ticking over nicely at the moment ( nice just to have a week of standard cleans after a manic summer )and my eye operation is next week, then hospital clean is due again, perhaps this time I can see what I'm cleaning ;D
Darran
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Their accent is a dead giveaway
To me mate, everyone who wants to pay in Euro's has an accent ! ;D
As has every who pays ££££££!!!!! ☺
But this accent was more of a brad pitt in snatch accent 😈
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So what was the actual work and will the place you cleaned be towed away behind a white van?
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Would it have helped if you had a crystal ball?
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Crystal ball always be nice
Nah it was a gutter clear and wash along with fascias etc along with window clean
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Be a pest go knocking on the door every night for a week. Or failing that what ever you cleaned go make dirty again. Alot of scummers in this world and too many of them get away with it
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I wad thinking that too mate, bang on the door and be a pest..... :D
I think il do it for few days
My only reservation is these type of people would think nothing about coming and cleaning out the van on me some night so on the other hand i was thinking im best well away from them :(
Really hard to know
But one thing is for sure, they are scum
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To be honest most travelers will pay, only some don't. If they are refusing to pay then (in a calm way) you question their honour ... tell them you were always under the impression they were good people etc etc. Speak to the guy who is head of the family. The reality is that most people give up with trying to get money off them, thinking they will get pay back etc. Just have a word with them in a non threatening way. Many of them will pay if you question their honour, in that you did a respectful honest job for them and that they should respect you in return ... but you need to talk to the older guy or guys of the family if there is a problem and do not feel intimidated.
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Crystal ball always be nice
Nah it was a gutter clear and wash along with fascias etc along with window clean
They have gutters and fascia on a sharabang?
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I feel your pain, as I have been stiffed for payment more times than I care to remember. I would carefully arrange a time and date for collecting, only to find the customer says she still has no money/has forgotten/gone out. I would call a few more times to find more of the same. This would do my head in. I have since developed a coping mechanism which simply now tells me to now just let it go. It's only cost me some time, but I am not prepared to waste any more of it on vermin who want something for nothing.
I have one ex-customer who still owes me for a clean I did for her over 3 years ago. She has recently asked me numerous times for me to call to clean hers again. I always politely remind her of her debt, and that I would be happy to clean once the money owed plus advance payment is in my hands. She always promises it will be, but I am still waiting. I now find it quite amusing, as she is the one now chasing me for a clean which will probably never happen!
Try to turn the negatives into positives. Your 'customer' may have won the battle this time, but you will win the war.
John
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To be honest most travelers will pay, only some don't. If they are refusing to pay then (in a calm way) you question their honour ... tell them you were always under the impression they were good people etc etc. Speak to the guy who is head of the family. The reality is that most people give up with trying to get money off them, thinking they will get pay back etc. Just have a word with them in a non threatening way. Many of them will pay if you question their honour, in that you did a respectful honest job for them and that they should respect you in return ... but you need to talk to the older guy or guys of the family if there is a problem and do not feel intimidated.
This is good advice. I have quite a lot of customers in the travelling community, and I have a very good rapport with most of them. The vast majority are good, honest people whose reputation has been sullied by the small minority who don't adhere to their strict code of ethics. The good ones are a delight to work for.
John
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remove goods to value/ restore the dirt lol!
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Book a similar crew to tarmac their drive and front garden. Make sure you specify "30 inches deep and will pay cash on completion. Knock on the door when you are done".
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Have they said why they aren't paying?
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I do work for a family from the travellers community and i must say that they are my best customers, its a shame a small minority give them a bad name.
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Sorry I can't get my head around what happened and what was said after you had finished the job.
Would you care to enlighten us what was actually said as I take it the customer was their at the time?
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Thanks for the advice good advice lads.
I called again last night to the house and they sent two kids out , mam not here. She be back tomor. In keeping with rest of behaviour. For the record the mams car was there and one of kids that was sent was most certainly not at an age whereby she should/could be left on her own...,,
Ive called the husband tens of times to which he answered once, when he knew who i was suddenly he experienced a bout of bad reception promising to call back promptly for 24 hours later im still waiting....
Line in the sand, im done with it
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There's a lesson in everything. We have a policy whereby it's payment upfront for one-offs. I explain we've been turned over one time too many and that's just how we operate now.