Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Lee Pryor on October 28, 2017, 10:46:36 am
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80% of our customer base now pay us with go cardless. We are in the process of writing to the ones that are not asking them to change over. I hope that will convert another 5-10%. Our goal by the end of next year is to have 100% paying that way, even if that means letting go of the final 5% or so that won't change.
Does anyone else have a high percentage like that or similar goals. I have to say growing my business at the rate we are would not be possible without go cardless, it has literally transformed the business.
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I wouldnt say my percentage is that high but over half now are on it, but i do push go cardless on new customers and any consistent late payers will only get that option if they wish me to continue cleaning. I have loads on Bacs transfers that always pay within 10 days (my payment terms) so i dont really need to try and convert them.
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Good one lee. Tbh with your business model id say that direct debit would be essential for you.
For me go cardless is a second option, primarily i am pushing debit / credit card payments as i like the personal contact. For those who arnt home bacs and dd is the options for them.
We are discouraging cash now, and we refuse cheques.
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Most of mine, if they are not in now pay via bank transfer. It's easier for both parties so I'm happy with it. I do virtually no collecting these days- this does make a big difference and welcome improvement all round.👍
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I'm at 20%
I'm happy to take payment however the customer wants to pay it. I'm finding more and more that direct debit is their payment method of choice as well as mine.
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I'm at 20%
I would like to be at 100% and I think it's a must for a sizeable business with wages to pay.
However for a sole trader I don't think it's that important. What's more important is good customers who will pay. Obviously Bacs saves fees but I find the odd straggler isn't that important as long as they pay eventually, I would say 90% of my customers pay within a week which I'm happy with the other 10% pay within the month, again I'm fine with that, any customers that don't clean before next clean is due don't get cleaned again and eventually dumped so I keep on top of it that way.
Having said all that if I decide to press on growing a bigger business go cardless will become much more important.
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Im not that successful yet, even though i have ran a promotion encouraging ones to sign up to go cardless and receive their next clean at 50%.
I also have some on regular standing orders which i prefer as no cost deduction to me. Alongside PayPal and I also use a card reader. Though i would like to migrate my PayPal paying customers onto go cardless as its fees are cheaper.
Any new customer however must sign upto go cardless becore i clean and no other option is available for them to pay
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As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.
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As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.
I agree, for a sole trader cash flow shouldn't be a massive issue. in lee`s case it's important to stop him becoming a cash flow buffer (Inc in his babble).
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As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.
Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed. Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.
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As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.
Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed. Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.
Has anybody you buy goods or services forced you to use a particular payment method? Not a loaded question, I honestly can't think of any.
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As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.
Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed. Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.
If my milk man tried to force me into a certain payment method I would stop using his service- end of!...And we've used him for years and have a good relationship. Nothing to do with being "serious" about your business it's about mutual respect and harmonious customer relations.
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As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.
Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed. Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.
Has anybody you buy goods or services forced you to use a particular payment method? Not a loaded question, I honestly can't think of any.
Which other business let’s you buy a service or product and then let’s you pay when you feel like it?
We are at around 40 percent, wish it was 100 percent
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Which other business let’s you buy a service or product and then let’s you pay when you feel like it?
True and a fair point. Not really the same point though, I wasn't suggesting 'whenever' payment terms.
I just think it's unusual for any business to force payment methods on their customers. Maybe it's not? I can't think of any other single example (other than cash for the tax dodgers).
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If you buy online you have to pay online be it Paypal or debit/credit card. Also like the above arguement you can not purchase it and then decide when or how you want to pay for it.
Therefore for me, i let my potential customers know my services, the fees in which i charge and the method in which to pay. The customer has the choice to accept that and agree to my terms of purchase or they are free to choose some body else. Its really that simple. But what some of you are saying is that you have no balls to stand up for your rights as the service provider and your scared of loosing money because of it,
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I just booked a holiday online for April (Dubai again). I had to pay there and then using a debit card. I didn't have the option of PayPal or taking cash into their office or posting a cheque in a few weeks time ect. I wanted the holiday, that was the only payment option. In reality lots of goods and services only offer one payment method.
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True and a fair point. Not really the same point though, I wasn't suggesting 'whenever' payment terms.
I just think it's unusual for any business to force payment methods on their customers. Maybe it's not? I can't think of any other single example (other than cash for the tax dodgers).
Car hire companies force you to use a credit card these days.
Plenty of local shops only accept cash.
Plenty of online shops only accept PayPal.
But even if that were not the case, there’s nothing wrong (in my opinion) on insisting that customers pay by direct debit.
The householder doesn’t have to be a customer if they don’t like it.
For me personally, I don’t have a problem with payers, they all pay within a few days. But if it became an issue, I’d have no hesitation saying “pay by direct debit or find another window cleaner”
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For me it is essential that people pay on time. Our monthly business expenses are now over £35k. One way or another we will have 100% go cardless buy the end of next year.
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I just booked a holiday online for April (Dubai again). I had to pay there and then using a debit card. I didn't have the option of PayPal or taking cash into their office or posting a cheque in a few weeks time ect. I wanted the holiday, that was the only payment option. In reality lots of goods and services only offer one payment method.
Now imagine you could have booked the exact same holiday with another equally reputable agent but this agent didn't insist on One single payment method but gave you several options including credit card, paypal etc or for instance, like many places only took a deposit initially then full payment within a set period of time?
Now, if you are totally honest, which would you chosen to book with and which do you think the majority of potential customer would choose?
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I will be totally honest and say it didn't bother me at all. I did have the option to pay a deposit and the rest later but I chose to pay the full amount as I always do. I like knowing it's just done. I had no problem whatsoever with the payment method and it didn't cross my mind to find another firm with different payment methods. The same is true when we sign up new customers. We tell them the payment method is dd and only dd. I think 1 person in the last 100 or so didn't want to use us for that reason. It literally doesn't put anyone off using us. As a result we don't get any cash flow problems.
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If you buy online you have to pay online be it Paypal or debit/credit card. Also like the above arguement you can not purchase it and then decide when or how you want to pay for it.
Therefore for me, i let my potential customers know my services, the fees in which i charge and the method in which to pay. The
customer has the choice to accept that and agree to my terms of purchase or they are free to choose some body else. Its really that simple. But what some of you are saying is that you have no balls to stand up for your rights as the service provider and your scared of loosing money because of it,
Nathan if its not silly babble its empty bluster, seriously your now harping on about people not having the balls to do this and that when you are only being tough because you no longer need the work. (roll eyes)
Here's an Idea, give all your customers a months notice that they have to change over to your prefered payment or you will
stop cleaning and then you can come on here and act as tough as you want.
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M+S used to only accept their own credit cards and Lidl didn't accept any, they both back tracked when it effected their
custom.
I suppose its like everything else, if it works it works if not plan B.
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If you buy online you have to pay online be it Paypal or debit/credit card. Also like the above arguement you can not purchase it and then decide when or how you want to pay for it.
Therefore for me, i let my potential customers know my services, the fees in which i charge and the method in which to pay. The
customer has the choice to accept that and agree to my terms of purchase or they are free to choose some body else. Its really that simple. But what some of you are saying is that you have no balls to stand up for your rights as the service provider and your scared of loosing money because of it,
Nathan if its not silly babble its empty bluster, seriously your now harping on about people not having the balls to do this and that when you are only being tough because you no longer need the work. (roll eyes)
Here's an Idea, give all your customers a months notice that they have to change over to your prefered payment or you will
stop cleaning and then you can come on here and act as tough as you want.
Thats right dry clean......did you get that from my previous post where i clearly stated that it depends where your business is and for me it doesnt matter if i get new work or not.
But lets think for a moment....how many time are ones moaning about non payers etc or messers and waiting to get full rounds to only filter them out later. WHY!!?? why not filter your work as you get it. Why not get them on a payment method that your happy with. Look if thats giving a wide selection of payment options then so be it. But for ones who say they will only offer direct debits then dont post about us bullying customers into one method only!!
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If you buy online you have to pay online be it Paypal or debit/credit card. Also like the above arguement you can not purchase it and then decide when or how you want to pay for it.
Therefore for me, i let my potential customers know my services, the fees in which i charge and the method in which to pay. The
customer has the choice to accept that and agree to my terms of purchase or they are free to choose some body else. Its really that simple. But what some of you are saying is that you have no balls to stand up for your rights as the service provider and your scared of loosing money because of it,
Nathan if its not silly babble its empty bluster, seriously your now harping on about people not having the balls to do this and that when you are only being tough because you no longer need the work. (roll eyes)
Here's an Idea, give all your customers a months notice that they have to change over to your prefered payment or you will
stop cleaning and then you can come on here and act as tough as you want.
Thats right dry clean......did you get that from my previous post where i clearly stated that it depends where your business is and for me it doesnt matter if i get new work or not.
But lets think for a moment....how many time are ones moaning about non payers etc or messers and waiting to get full rounds to only filter them out later. WHY!!?? why not filter your work as you get it. Why not get them on a payment method that your happy with. Look if thats giving a wide selection of payment options then so be it. But for ones who say they will only offer direct debits then dont post about us bullying customers into one method only!!
So what your saying is when building a round and needing the work you put up with whatever the customer wants but when
your round is full and you don't need any new work its time to lay down the law.
That's a bit like saying I was just about to kick that bully's ass just after he has left, seriously Nathan have you been reading some
really bad how to succeed in Business book. lol.
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Lees priority is not having to go door knocking ASKING to be paid. when some owe you double or even trebble payment its like you are begging for them to pay you, ive had this, posted payment options through letter box, Nothing, no payments. you will always miss one or 2 when out collecting. you just end up stop doing them, then they look 4 someone else. Bad Vibes.
I use GC, PP, DD, Bacs. Cheque. If my customer pays me im happy, if not i dump them. I believe i offer a better service than some of my competitors, Not that i have any.
The reason i like collecting is because i like it, all are compact, if not in i get double next collection., I like having a bit of banter with my customers.
If like LEE he has a vast company, too many to collect. like myself being a one man band its fine.
Lee i find it the pensioners who dont like to do online banking, how do you get them to do it. You must have oldies who want to pay cash
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For the record.... I don't think anyone is disagreeing with Lee Pryor's stance on GC payment method- a business that size couldn't operate effectively without it, or at least would struggle. As stated earlier though, for a sole trader an insistence on one specific method of payment could potentially have a negative effect and IMO is an unnecessary stance- possibly saying more about the provider than the customer.
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Dry clean do you have any hobbies out of interest? As i think you need some rather than trying to police this forum and twisting things to suit your ill guided ways.
How many on this forum or how many window cleaners take on whatever work when building up their rounds?? Answer mostly everybody has done so at one time or another! So have i said something wrong so far?.......erm NO!!
How many shiners then filter through their work as better paid work comes through for instance?? Again, mostly every shiner running a business. Or else we're all talking a load of bull about refining our work!! So again, i ask where have i said something wrong for it to be twisted???
I also said if people wanted to collect or whatever then so be it, thats their choice. But when ones post about only taking on new work who sign upto one particular payment method, then thats their right to do so. I mentioned that it helps build a round straight away in a way that suits them rather than having to filter their work later!!
So please, get a hobbie or take ur grand kids out or something!! (Unless im wrong about ur age....but guessing old enough to have grand kids) chill out a little
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Surprising we don't have trouble with old people or any people in general. Literally the odd one here and there out of hundreds. Our customers come in from leaflets, in the leaflet it states that dd via go cardless is the payment method. Then when we go through it on the phone most are already aware of it. Sometimes people say can't I pay with cash ect? We just say sorry it's dd and they say ok. It's as simple as that. I wish I had made the change to just dd sooner.
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Dry clean do you have any hobbies out of interest? As i think you need some rather than trying to police this forum and twisting things to suit your ill guided ways.
How many on this forum or how many window cleaners take on whatever work when building up their rounds?? Answer mostly everybody has done so at one time or another! So have i said something wrong so far?.......erm NO!!
How many shiners then filter through their work as better paid work comes through for instance?? Again, mostly every shiner running a business. Or else we're all talking a load of bull about refining our work!! So again, i ask where have i said something wrong for it to be twisted???
I also said if people wanted to collect or whatever then so be it, thats their choice. But when ones post about only taking on new work who sign upto one particular payment method, then thats their right to do so. I mentioned that it helps build a round straight away in a way that suits them rather than having to filter their work later!!
So please, get a hobbie or take ur grand kids out or something!! (Unless im wrong about ur age....but guessing old enough to have grand kids) chill out a little
Policing the forum lol, Nathan if your going to post pompous babble then at least expect to be hackled, put it this way I'm
sure I wasn't the only one rolling my eyes when you started harping on about people not having the balls to stand up for their rights and demand the payment method that suits them which is a lot different to what you saying now, another U turn.
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I was in B & Q today and scanned my items at the automated scan/pay thing, totalled it up and then asked to choose payment method. Had six choices of payment method and not one was for paying cash so I asked one of the staff to show me how to select paying by cash and she informed I couldn't on their silly machines so I left it all there and just walked out in disgust.....not my problem, they can't accept cash payments then I won't buy from B & Q simple
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Surprising we don't have trouble with old people or any people in general. Literally the odd one here and there out of hundreds. Our customers come in from leaflets, in the leaflet it states that dd via go cardless is the payment method. Then when we go through it on the phone most are already aware of it. Sometimes people say can't I pay with cash ect? We just say sorry it's dd and they say ok. It's as simple as that. I wish I had made the change to just dd sooner.
Does GC work with your planner? i.e takes payment once job marked as done or taken monthly or 2 monthly regardless?
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I just booked a holiday online for April (Dubai again). I had to pay there and then using a debit card. I didn't have the option of PayPal or taking cash into their office or posting a cheque in a few weeks time ect. I wanted the holiday, that was the only payment option. In reality lots of goods and services only offer one payment method.
Credit card is generally better than debit card because you have better refund rights if the holiday company goes belly-up. You may have to pay 1% or 2% more with some companies but at least it gives a guarantee under Section 75. If you want to minimise any extra outlay, it's only necessary to pay over £100 by credit card and the rest by debit card. That way, I believe the entire cost is covered in the event of a business failure. The credit card can be immediately reimbursed if you wish to avoid interest payments.
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If you buy online you have to pay online be it Paypal or debit/credit card. Also like the above arguement you can not purchase it and then decide when or how you want to pay for it.
Therefore for me, i let my potential customers know my services, the fees in which i charge and the method in which to pay. The
customer has the choice to accept that and agree to my terms of purchase or they are free to choose some body else. Its really that simple. But what some of you are saying is that you have no balls to stand up for your rights as the service provider and your scared of loosing money because of it,
Nathan if its not silly babble its empty bluster, seriously your now harping on about people not having the balls to do this and that when you are only being tough because you no longer need the work. (roll eyes)
Here's an Idea, give all your customers a months notice that they have to change over to your prefered payment or you will
stop cleaning and then you can come on here and act as tough as you want.
Thats right dry clean......did you get that from my previous post where i clearly stated that it depends where your business is and for me it doesnt matter if i get new work or not.
But lets think for a moment....how many time are ones moaning about non payers etc or messers and waiting to get full rounds to only filter them out later. WHY!!?? why not filter your work as you get it. Why not get them on a payment method that your happy with. Look if thats giving a wide selection of payment options then so be it. But for ones who say they will only offer direct debits then dont post about us bullying customers into one method only!!
So what your saying is when building a round and needing the work you put up with whatever the customer wants but when
your round is full and you don't need any new work its time to lay down the law.
That's a bit like saying I was just about to kick that bully's ass just after he has left, seriously Nathan have you been reading some
really bad how to succeed in Business book. lol.
I Actually think that statement is true mate. When you need the work you will collect, you will take cheques to the bank, you will accept paypals higher fees. When you dont need the work the refining process starts, so only taking on Direct debit cutomers, slowly getting rid of the collecting, then the paypal. Just the same as getting rod of slow/bad payers/messers etc.
Im not saying you should or need to only offer direct debit as a sole trader, i dont think you do as cashflow isnt that big an issue but it would be nice if you could have them all on DD, no payment reminders etc. Certainly if you have a round size of say 300, it shouldnt take all that long to establish a full customer base of DD with enough advertising.
Personally i will take on a customer for any method except cash collecting, as i feel as long as you have a good customer they will pay via any method, but i can see why in a big business you would want all Direct Debit in an ideal world.
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I just booked a holiday online for April (Dubai again). I had to pay there and then using a debit card. I didn't have the option of PayPal or taking cash into their office or posting a cheque in a few weeks time ect. I wanted the holiday, that was the only payment option. In reality lots of goods and services only offer one payment method.
Credit card is generally better than debit card because you have better refund rights if the holiday company goes belly-up. You may have to pay 1% or 2% more with some companies but at least it gives a guarantee under Section 75. If you want to minimise any extra outlay, it's only necessary to pay over £100 by credit card and the rest by debit card. That way, I believe the entire cost is covered in the event of a business failure. The credit card can be immediately reimbursed if you wish to avoid interest payments.
yep i always pay for my holidays with a credit card for this very reason.apparently their going to do away with charging extra for using credit cards next year so ive heard.
careful in dubai!the laws are absolute bonkers!lots of people think its a modern city but its not!
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Nope, its a plave where they dont bend the rules to fit people or to let people stay in their country. Unlike........erm.......Britain that is
;D
(Nope thats not against imigration or anything like that. Just simply changing rules etc etc to accomodate everyone and every possible situation incase someone gets offended. Rather than having british rules for everyone to follow.....like dubai or australia for instance)
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Surprising we don't have trouble with old people or any people in general. Literally the odd one here and there out of hundreds. Our customers come in from leaflets, in the leaflet it states that dd via go cardless is the payment method. Then when we go through it on the phone most are already aware of it. Sometimes people say can't I pay with cash ect? We just say sorry it's dd and they say ok. It's as simple as that. I wish I had made the change to just dd sooner.
Does GC work with your planner? i.e takes payment once job marked as done or taken monthly or 2 monthly regardless?
We use cleaner planner. GC is integrated with it. At the end of each day once all the cleaners have uploaded their worksheets to the system it tells me how many of those completed cleans pay via GC, which for us is around 100 a day. You then click a single button and the payment process is started for each of them. 5-7 days later the money is in the bank. Simple as that.
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I just booked a holiday online for April (Dubai again). I had to pay there and then using a debit card. I didn't have the option of PayPal or taking cash into their office or posting a cheque in a few weeks time ect. I wanted the holiday, that was the only payment option. In reality lots of goods and services only offer one payment method.
Credit card is generally better than debit card because you have better refund rights if the holiday company goes belly-up. You may have to pay 1% or 2% more with some companies but at least it gives a guarantee under Section 75. If you want to minimise any extra outlay, it's only necessary to pay over £100 by credit card and the rest by debit card. That way, I believe the entire cost is covered in the event of a business failure. The credit card can be immediately reimbursed if you wish to avoid interest payments.
yep i always pay for my holidays with a credit card for this very reason.apparently their going to do away with charging extra for using credit cards next year so ive heard.
careful in dubai!the laws are absolute bonkers!lots of people think its a modern city but its not!
This will be my 4th visit. It's absolutely amazing. Don't walk down the street wasted and you don't have a problem, keep that in the hotel and its fine. Never had any problems at all in the past.
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Nope, its a plave where they dont bend the rules to fit people or to let people stay in their country. Unlike........erm.......Britain that is
;D
(Nope thats not against imigration or anything like that. Just simply changing rules etc etc to accomodate everyone and every possible situation incase someone gets offended. Rather than having british rules for everyone to follow.....like dubai or australia for instance)
Sorry mate but that's just wrong. How many times have you been? None I'm guessing. For example alcohol is illegal there yet every hotel serves it to accommodate cultures like ours. Suppose a culture of heroin addicts wanted to holiday here. Can we imagine that being legal in hotels just to please them? Hell no!
It's funny what people who have never been think. It's not like that at all. I can say it's an incredible place with unbeatable weather. That's why I go every year.
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Dont want to get into an arguement lee but how/why do you think ive not been nor have friends who have moved out there?
Yep not had to stay in a hotel mind you but name other rules slightly bended to accomodate foreigners, especially the ladies.
Though it does make me laugh, one couple who have been together for years but never wanted to get married, both had the great opportunity to move and work there but the only way they could was to get married before going. Now did they start a protest against this and try to force the government to change its strict stance. No! Hence my point though its not window cleaning related.
But funny what reasons some get married for
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FTAO Lee.
Could you put a copy of letter you will be sending to your non GC customers up on here?
Personally I struggle with the wording to promote GC to my customers.
Thanks in advance.