Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Bens windows on November 30, 2015, 05:32:05 pm

Title: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on November 30, 2015, 05:32:05 pm
I Have been cleaning a large student building in town for a year now , A  admin company called Greystar has taken over the role of dealing with invoices etc.. And now i have a company called Safe Contractors ringing me on behalf of Greystar asking me to fill out a questionaire  and to pay them someting like £200  a year !  And if i don't i wont keep the contract i was basically been told . I get to put there logo on my van if i wanted to  ( How kind )   Has anyone had this or use the company?  I personally don't feel the need to use these companys like checkatrade etc..
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: cgh window cleaning on November 30, 2015, 05:56:15 pm
Safe contractor  is a health and safety scheme they are nothing like check a trade or similar.
They don't find or provide work it is an accreditation to show you are health and safety compliant.

Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Smurf on November 30, 2015, 06:01:55 pm
I Have been cleaning a large student building in town for a year now , A  admin company called Greystar has taken over the role of dealing with invoices etc.. And now i have a company called Safe Contractors ringing me on behalf of Greystar asking me to fill out a questionaire  and to pay them someting like £200  a year !  And if i don't i wont keep the contract i was basically been told . I get to put there logo on my van if i wanted to  ( How kind )   Has anyone had this or use the company?  I personally don't feel the need to use these companys like checkatrade etc..

I don't use either and would tell them where to shove it myself unless they want to pay the yearly fees for me. Sounds like someone is getting a big back hander and I would not want to deal with dodgy firms like that.
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on November 30, 2015, 06:26:05 pm
a lot of management companys are getting in to this force buy the landlords or tentants/owners ect ect

we are in one for a London company that as agood few flats they charge us  280 plus vat ayear , there work is around the 2k ayear

we get first dibs on all new sites as were there safe contractors for window cleaning so it depends on how much the jobs worth and are they going to give you more work ect ect
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Smudger on November 30, 2015, 06:30:56 pm
Agree with smurf

They hassled me to join a while back even 'helping' with the exam answers  ::)roll

Basically it's another load of office wallahs justifying cash from hard working trades people,as yet never needed it for any of our commercial work and that includes nhs stuff.

But, if the contract is worth it to you, then you might have to cough up

Darran

Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 01, 2015, 05:17:13 pm
a lot of management companys are getting in to this force buy the landlords or tentants/owners ect ect

we are in one for a London company that as agood few flats they charge us  280 plus vat ayear , there work is around the 2k ayear

we get first dibs on all new sites as were there safe contractors for window cleaning so it depends on how much the jobs worth and are they going to give you more work ect ect

Yes i also get around 2k for the year and have asked to pay similar , Looks like i may have to pay it ,Thanks
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 01, 2015, 05:20:09 pm
Agree with smurf

They hassled me to join a while back even 'helping' with the exam answers  ::)roll

Basically it's another load of office wallahs justifying cash from hard working trades people,as yet never needed it for any of our commercial work and that includes nhs stuff.


But, if the contract is worth it to you, then you might have to cough up

Darran

Yes i agree , Just a way for them to get money from us !
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 01, 2015, 05:21:18 pm
I Have been cleaning a large student building in town for a year now , A  admin company called Greystar has taken over the role of dealing with invoices etc.. And now i have a company called Safe Contractors ringing me on behalf of Greystar asking me to fill out a questionaire  and to pay them someting like £200  a year !  And if i don't i wont keep the contract i was basically been told . I get to put there logo on my van if i wanted to  ( How kind )   Has anyone had this or use the company?  I personally don't feel the need to use these companys like checkatrade etc..

I don't use either and would tell them where to shove it myself unless they want to pay the yearly fees for me. Sounds like someone is getting a big back hander and I would not want to deal with dodgy firms like that.

Yes agree with you , Just a backhander !
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Ian Lancaster on December 02, 2015, 02:34:08 pm
Go out and canvass up 10 semis at £15 each per 4 weeks = £150 x 13 = £1950 per year.

Why bother with ahossles when there's plenty of uncomplicated work available?
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Pureandclean on December 02, 2015, 09:01:17 pm
Last time I was faced with this I charged the apartment block the amount I was charged, so it cost me nothing.
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: toby richards on December 02, 2015, 09:18:53 pm
hi have just come across something like this was told you have to be a member to get any public sector work
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 03, 2015, 07:04:36 pm
a lot of management companys are getting in to this force buy the landlords or tentants/owners ect ect

we are in one for a London company that as agood few flats they charge us  280 plus vat ayear , there work is around the 2k ayear

we get first dibs on all new sites as were there safe contractors for window cleaning so it depends on how much the jobs worth and are they going to give you more work ect ect

Out of interest have you signed a contract  with the company you clean for to clean for 2 or 3 years  ?  As i don't want to pay the £200 for a year and then lose the job with them for someone cheaper , As i seem to be the 3rd window cleaner over the past 3 years cleaning the building.
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 03, 2015, 07:06:29 pm
Last time I was faced with this I charged the apartment block the amount I was charged, so it cost me nothing.

I would like to do this but they have already told me i was more expensive than the previous so i doubt they will allow it but yes i would have done this myself.
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 03, 2015, 07:09:45 pm
Go out and canvass up 10 semis at £15 each per 4 weeks = £150 x 13 = £1950 per year.

Why bother with ahossles when there's plenty of uncomplicated work available?

Ye'h i get where your coming from and residential is sooo much more hassle free than commercial but it pays a lot better !
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Smudger on December 03, 2015, 07:34:36 pm
So, your more expensive than the last cleaner ?

What happened to the last cleaner, according to them ??

Sounds like a nightmare place that either screws window cleaners to the floorboards on price or pay very late to never - I'd keep a close eye on this lot

Darran
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on December 03, 2015, 07:37:31 pm
a lot of management companys are getting in to this force buy the landlords or tentants/owners ect ect

we are in one for a London company that as agood few flats they charge us  280 plus vat ayear , there work is around the 2k ayear

we get first dibs on all new sites as were there safe contractors for window cleaning so it depends on how much the jobs worth and are they going to give you more work ect ect

Out of interest have you signed a contract  with the company you clean for to clean for 2 or 3 years  ?  As i don't want to pay the £200 for a year and then lose the job with them for someone cheaper , As i seem to be the 3rd window cleaner over the past 3 years cleaning the building.

no they wouldn't sign so we just grin a bare it ,
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: cgh window cleaning on December 03, 2015, 08:18:33 pm
I can se More companies looking for window cleaners  with health and safety accreditations in the near future.
the last couple of years has seen some companies receive some big fines  for window cleaners working unsafe.
By using  window cleaners that are accredited it could take the pressure  of the supplier should a health and safety incident occur.The main thing these companies want is to protect themselves  should anything happen.

Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Smudger on December 03, 2015, 08:32:40 pm
Safe contractor or not - if there is a breach then the company issuing the contract can be held just as liable with of without a cert that you pay to obtain

Darran
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 04, 2015, 06:46:19 pm
So, your more expensive than the last cleaner ?

What happened to the last cleaner, according to them ??

Sounds like a nightmare place that either screws window cleaners to the floorboards on price or pay very late to never - I'd keep a close eye on this lot

Darran

I believe the last cleaner had a problem with someone but i'm not sure, He didn't use a cherry picker , So i charged them for the use of that but they do seem very happy with me and like that i can do a good job on the high windows .

Ive cleaned it 3 times now and they have actually always paid very quickly  like within 2 weeks !
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 04, 2015, 06:54:11 pm
I can se More companies looking for window cleaners  with health and safety accreditations in the near future.
the last couple of years has seen some companies receive some big fines  for window cleaners working unsafe.
By using  window cleaners that are accredited it could take the pressure  of the supplier should a health and safety incident occur.The main thing these companies want is to protect themselves  should anything happen.

This is very true ,  I have just spoken with someone high up in the company i'm working with and she said to me that i don't actually need to pay for it  as its mainly for builders who are there for a longer period however it is a recognised certificate that employees are looking for when looking for someone ,  I know i don't need it they know i don't need it but its just one of those things someone has come up with to make some money from us as someone said in an earlier post, So i just have to weigh it up and in this case it will be worth it for me to purchase it to keep them happy .
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Smudger on December 04, 2015, 07:01:02 pm
Being nosey - how many floors is it ?

Hiring a CP - no wonder your more expensive - surprised they swallowed that

Darran
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 04, 2015, 10:18:30 pm
Being nosey - how many floors is it ?

Hiring a CP - no wonder your more expensive - surprised they swallowed that

Darran

6 floors , Could do with a pole but it wont do as good a job and would take a lot longer , CP was £360 inc vat
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Small but perfectley formed on December 05, 2015, 07:54:24 am
don't buy a  pole keep using CP that way if they sack you you haven't lost the cost of pole
 
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on December 05, 2015, 10:26:52 am
don't buy a  pole keep using CP that way if they sack you you haven't lost the cost of pole

THIS IS WHAT YOU DONT DO !

buy a pole the biggest you can afford , this way it opens more doors and you can qutoe for a full range you jobs not just one , when buying a big pole its an investment not just a pole , allowing you to have the tools to move forward to bigger and better things

Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Smudger on December 05, 2015, 10:59:21 am
Have to agree - if the clean is 3 times a year that's a grand for a new pole that can be used on more jobs probably more if £360 was the price to me I'd  charge the customer £450 .

Darran
Title: Re: SSIP aka SAFE CONTRACTORS
Post by: Bens windows on December 05, 2015, 11:45:53 am
I have a 50ft pole and that is the highest i feel comfortable cleaning knowing i can do a good job anything above i'l use a CP , With the CP i know  i can clean bird crap and sills , I also clean a hotel which is not as high but i maintain the gutters using the CP .