Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: H2GoKent on November 03, 2017, 03:04:57 pm
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I sometimes wonder if people need to develop thicker skins.
Many of us, me included have dumped people after they appear to show a lack of respect, or ask an awkward question, or forget we were coming etc etc. and you hear people saying I dumped this one or that one. When really a little patience could help you develop a really good round of work, if someone pays and you're happy with the work who cares I'm not really after a tender loving, relationship with my customers. Some customers have a gruff exterior but they are alright after a while.
If someone is genuinely difficult I just charge them more, or prioritise other work over theirs, but usually don't take any notice.
Messing me around for payment? Well that's a different matter >:(
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I sometimes wonder if people need to develop thicker skins.
Many of us, me included have dumped people after they appear to show a lack of respect, or ask an awkward question, or forget we were coming etc etc. and you hear people saying I dumped this one or that one. When really a little patience could help you develop a really good round of work, if someone pays and you're happy with the work who cares I'm not really after a tender loving, relationship with my customers. Some customers have a gruff exterior but they are alright after a while.
If someone is genuinely difficult I just charge them more, or prioritise other work over theirs, but usually don't take any notice.
Messing me around for payment? Well that's a different matter >:(
Exactly. It's a business transaction. It needs to be borne in mind though that a "not today" can often be the equivalent of not paying. It can work out the same as an employer sending them home early without notice, and docking pay.
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I agree.
Many window cleaners are far too sensitive. Personally many years ago when i very 1st started in my early 20's i used to get all upset if someone forgot to open the gate or didnt notice i cleaned them etc etc.
But then i realised...what is my relationship with these people? And it boils down to one thing, i provide a service and they pay for that service.
You do have to have thick skin. And alot of it depends on how you run your business. My focus is doing exactly what we promise our customers.
For me im interested in two things. Do they want thier windows cleaned?. And have they paid?
Thats it.
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Why put up with people that give you attitude when you can put your mind at ease by missing them. I could have had a bigger run if I didn't sell of a few hundred customers but then again some ehh... A lot were a pain in the arse! so it made more sense to sell than dump.
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I don’t think it’s that window cleaners are sensitive, I put it down to some being emotionally immature. Leaving them unable to realise the customers inability to see eye to eye with the shiner isn’t personal, it’s just the way they are. We’re all different, see.
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The only important thing is can I get access and do they pay. If either of those becomes a hassle then the relationship needs to end.
I run my business very clinically, I clean you pay. I'm not one for small talk, a polite hello how are you and thanks is all that's needed.
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I wouldn't say I'm sensitive, but I don't appreciate rudeness or bad manners.
I treat people and their properties with respect, and I expect to be treated in the same way.
Yes it is all about the money, but I work for myself and luckily, I have enough work where I can pick and choose who I clean for.
For me now, it's more about the people than the property. After all, I can clean anything for a fair price. It's just nice to work for nice people.
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i very rarely dump work but ive dumped a couple lately.one has being diagnosed with alzheimers so i cant be bothered cleaning them anymore and the other was a family with 4 kids who were very slow with payment and wouldnt do BACS,cheque or standing order.
usually i dump because of slow/non payment generally.sometimes its because i cant be bothered and others if they start to lose their minds! ;D
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Daz, I had to dump a retired couple, both with alzheimers! I turned up for the second clean and they didn't know who I was.
I had left them my leaflet (with my picture on) and I told them that the leaflet would prove I am their window cleaner.
Unfortunately they couldn't remember where they put the leaflet.
Ho Hum ::)roll
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I wouldn't say I'm sensitive, but I don't appreciate rudeness or bad manners.
I treat people and their properties with respect, and I expect to be treated in the same way.
Yes it is all about the money, but I work for myself and luckily, I have enough work where I can pick and choose who I clean for.
For me now, it's more about the people than the property. After all, I can clean anything for a fair price. It's just nice to work for nice people.
👍 Strongly Agree 😉👍
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Daz, I had to dump a retired couple, both with alzheimers! I turned up for the second clean and they didn't know who I was.
I had left them my leaflet (with my picture on) and I told them that the leaflet would prove I am their window cleaner.
Unfortunately they couldn't remember where they put the leaflet.
Ho Hum ::)roll
ive had a few long standing customers lose their minds over the years.its very sad.i just stop going as inevitably its going to come to the point where they either get aggressive and accuse you of ripping them off,say that they ve never had a window cleaner or dont owe you any money! ::)roll :(
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I agree, I have a bungalow I clean where the woman is nearly 100 years old. She is mentally well but unsteady on her feet. I also clean the neighbours who tells me this woman has had some falls recently and hurt herself. I feel relunctant to contact her in case my phone call or door knock results in her falling. The neighbour now knocks on my behalf.
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I had one who was 104 when she died....about year before she died I had to drop her as she was coming to pay me with a 50 pence piece and holding her hand out for change....her son's were 78 and 80 and she outlived her daughter.
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I "had" one called jean, she tried twice to pay us with cigarette's , we went back a third time to collect and her carer told us she already had another window cleaner who had been doing them for years??
So have we!
if there was another cleaner he must of been turning up the day after us to clean "clean" windows because they were just as dirty as the rest of that round whenever we called.
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I had a customer who died just before she was 101. I cleaned them until she died. Her son lived just over the road from her and in the end he took over paying. He did so reluctantly as he wanted her to have dignity to pay for whatever she wanted but he noticed her money was going fast. It turned out that the priest who went each wknd would take some money of her which she was happy to give. But she would forget and later give him some money again! Perhaps its just me, but the one person you would have thought to know better and to have said "thank you but youve just gave me some!" Would be the local priest!!
I used to hate cleaning hers as i would clean the inside windows too. But most of the time she spent it asleep in a rocking chair by the fire. I was scared that the banging of the ladders on the house would give her a heart attack or if she woke suddenly and saw me at the window etc she would have a heart attack.
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I recently dropped a customer. He owed for three cleans - so hadn't paid for six months from the first clean - and then paid me by bank transfer and sent me a text telling me he'd paid and complained about one of the window sills (I think he wanted the underneath of them cleaned; it wasn't that clear; his English isn't great).
I think it's a bit cheeky owing me for three cleans and then having a whinge about something.
Dropped. ;D
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Daz, I had to dump a retired couple, both with alzheimers! I turned up for the second clean and they didn't know who I was.
I had left them my leaflet (with my picture on) and I told them that the leaflet would prove I am their window cleaner.
Unfortunately they couldn't remember where they put the leaflet.
Ho Hum ::)roll
I've had similar. It's a great pity but although I'm sympathetic, I also have to pay my bills. I had one customer whoasked me if I had been cleaning her windows ever since she moved in. To tell the truth, I didn't know, so I asked when she moved in. I think she said 1960. Oops! I'm getting on a bit now, but I'm not that old.
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I "had" one called jean, she tried twice to pay us with cigarette's ,
This reminded me of a customer I had many years ago. She tried to pay me with, I kid you not, a couple of bananas. She came up with the money after I explained. I turned up to clean again a few weeks later (wondering if I should) and she was very loud and abusive to me. Fortunately, it was before I started cleaning. I don't think she had alzheimer's but she certainly had some kind of psychiatric issue.
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It's sad when they lose their marbles.
Had one a couple of years ago. Probably mid-90's age wise and she started getting "dithery" and taking time to "find" her money.
Then one day I turn up and knock the door and she looks at me and says "Who are you?" I say "I'm your window cleaner Mrs. H." (been calling over 10 years) She replies "Oh yes." And I clean and she pays me.
Finally I called and she said "You look just like my window cleaner!" I said "I am your window cleaner."
She said "No, you're not, my window cleaner is called Malcolm."
Me: "Yes that's me! I'm Malcolm, the window cleaner."
Her: "Yes I know, he's my window cleaner, not you."
And she shut the door. ;D
A few months later a chap came out (her son - sorting out the estate) and told me she had gone into a home and died.
Sad. Lovely lady.
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I dump bad payers, customers losing their marbles, those who keep wanting to miss a time without a reasonable excuse, verbally abusive rude ignorant people and customers with dogs that try to bite.
Bullpoop, bad manners,etc, I just let it go in one ear, process it and let it out the other ear without taking offence whilst listening to my music as I work :)
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Admin is quick with auto correct spelling on the odd work :) Thanks for keeping it sweet on this forum :)
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I recently dropped a customer. He owed for three cleans - so hadn't paid for six months from the first clean - and then paid me by bank transfer and sent me a text telling me he'd paid and complained about one of the window sills (I think he wanted the underneath of them cleaned; it wasn't that clear; his English isn't great).
I think it's a bit cheeky owing me for three cleans and then having a whinge about something.
Dropped. ;D
Please dont take offence here; but your the foolish one for going back to clean if he still hadnt paid for the last clean.
Remember this
NO DOSHY???
NO WASHY!
they are not a customer until they pay you.
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I recently dropped a customer. He owed for three cleans - so hadn't paid for six months from the first clean - and then paid me by bank transfer and sent me a text telling me he'd paid and complained about one of the window sills (I think he wanted the underneath of them cleaned; it wasn't that clear; his English isn't great).
I think it's a bit cheeky owing me for three cleans and then having a whinge about something.
Dropped. ;D
Please dont take offence here; but your the foolish one for going back to clean if he still hadnt paid for the last clean.
Remember this
NO DOSHY???
NO WASHY!
they are not a customer until they pay you.
This is exactly why all my new work must pay via go cardless. It stops all this rubbish from happening. More so for one man bands
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dumped another 3 today down a cul de sac.ive been cleaning them for 20+ years but time for me to move on.one is "up and over" the garage roof.no thanks.had enough of those types of jobs.not got any of them left now.all gone! :D :D
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Iv just dumped one and tried to dump another 2!
First 1- her son has got a night job and wants me to keep rearranging to do her windows or skip because he’s a light sleeper.
Second - I txt her telling il be round , unlock gate in the morning. She txts back saying sorry but we’ll skip this time as some lads have been hanging around at the back. I replied, no problem il take you off my round - the lads may still be there next month & the month after. She replied ‘ oh it’s ok il leave it open ‘ . Me - ‘ok’ .
Third - last month she was off sick so she didn’t want them doing , I txt last night saying unlock gate & got no reply. Went this morning and the gate was locked so I txt saying Iv not done them for 2 months now so il take you off my round. She replies ‘ oh I’m so sorry I totally forgot’ . Me-‘ ok il do them tomorrow ‘
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dumped another 3 today down a cul de sac.ive been cleaning them for 20+ years but time for me to move on.one is "up and over" the garage roof.no thanks.had enough of those types of jobs.not got any of them left now.all gone! :D :D
Yes, I dropped those years ago. I'll do "up", but not "over" because it can be hard to know if the ladder is safe when dropping it down on the far side. I do give the option of letting me have a spare key for the garage, but some of those houses have access into the house via the garage. I won't accept a key in those circumstances.
I still have a very few where the ladder comes off if I can't get to a window or two from the ground.
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I'm overly sensitive >:(
Had one last week ask if I could call a week later as they were having gutting work done.
I agreed and pointed out it would be 3 weeks after the delayed call as I would be back in that area. She agreed.
Today, when due, she rings me and says the guy who did the gutters on Sunday also cleaned the windows as he made a mess of them and she'd see me in 3 weeks.
What really missed me off was she's happy to pay a guy, probably cash on a Sunday and save the £15 she pays to me via bank transfer.
I won't dump her, I'll increase the price by £2. and if she cancels, so be it.
Sensitive or what
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dumped another 3 today down a cul de sac.ive been cleaning them for 20+ years but time for me to move on.one is "up and over" the garage roof.no thanks.had enough of those types of jobs.not got any of them left now.all gone! :D :D
Iv done similar lately, don't like doing it to loyal well paying customers that Iv had for years but can no longer be bothered with the risk.
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I got sacked off by one today....property was cleaned on Wednesday ,customer sent me a text today asking if price includes frames and sills, to which I replied yes. He then text back saying they have a lot of problems around the back with spiders webs due to the wooded area right next to their house and attached 2 photos showing spiders webs on the sill. I then text back saying when I cleaned them on Wednesday all frames and sills were cleaned and all webs were removed and given that they were cleaned on Wednesday and this is now Monday, I can only assume that the spiders webs have been constructed in the 5 day period after I cleaned them, you did say you have a problem with spider webs. He then text to say they will just cancel for now.....Ach well, I suppose it saved me from wielding the axe :D
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I got sacked off by one today....property was cleaned on Wednesday ,customer sent me a text today asking if price includes frames and sills, to which I replied yes. He then text back saying they have a lot of problems around the back with spiders webs due to the wooded area right next to their house and attached 2 photos showing spiders webs on the sill. I then text back saying when I cleaned them on Wednesday all frames and sills were cleaned and all webs were removed and given that they were cleaned on Wednesday and this is now Monday, I can only assume that the spiders webs have been constructed in the 5 day period after I cleaned them, you did say you have a problem with spider webs. He then text to say they will just cancel for now.....Ach well, I suppose it saved me from wielding the axe :D
I had someone query because there was a snail trail after a couple of days. ;D
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One needs a few red lines in the business. I don't accept any none payment.
I don`t accept doorstep cancellations.
I don`t accept rudeness to me. I treat them the same as these red lines but don`t allow customers to run all over me.
THESE RED LINES ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE. BUT IAM REASONABLE.
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When you say you don’t accept doorstep cancellations does that mean if they try to cancel when you turn up you still clean them and bill them for it even though they’ve cancelled?
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When you say you don’t accept doorstep cancellations does that mean if they try to cancel when you turn up you still clean them and bill them for it even though they’ve cancelled?
I think he means, he wouldn't go back. Dumped.
Although I know you like being pedantic so yes i suppose he has no choice but to accept a doorstep cancellation.
You know what he meant you bugger :D
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Me pedantic? Give it a rest 😬😬
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When you say you don’t accept doorstep cancellations does that mean if they try to cancel when you turn up you still clean them and bill them for it even though they’ve cancelled?
||||My T&Cs clearly state you as a customer need to cancel before I arrive on the doortep as I have already incurred costs once I have arrived. If they try to cancel at the doorstep its goodbye. In 9 years at this game, I have dropped two customers for this reason.