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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Steve Newres on December 20, 2017, 05:00:32 pm

Title: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 20, 2017, 05:00:32 pm
Quite an unusual event today I thought I’d share.

A call into the office today from an irate customer complaining that she came home to an open front door, a soaked porch and an injured daughter who she’s taking to A&E. She is saying that one of my chaps left the porch soaking and her daughter has slipped and injured herself.

I spoke to Dan and he said when he was cleaning the windows there were a group of about 6 teenage girls banging on the windows as he was cleaning them and running away. Generally being a bit silly.

I’ve left a message for the Mum so I’ve not spoken to her myself but she has described a great deal of water and the clear implication is that we’re responsible for her daughter’s injury.

Just a couple of points though. The open porch has paving slabs and it’s a wooden front door so we don’t scrub them and only clean the glass. It could be we’ve got the wrong end of the stick and water got inside? Obviously we have public liability insurance so I’m not particularly concerned but I just wondered if anyone has had a similar incident?
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 20, 2017, 05:17:34 pm
Dump her.

She’s dumped us.  ;D

It’s a strange one and I haven’t got all the facts at the moment, but neither has she. I suspect her daughter hasn’t volunteered that they were all a bit demob happy at the end of term.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Slash on December 20, 2017, 05:23:23 pm
It's a hard one,I've just read it again.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: dazmond on December 20, 2017, 05:31:05 pm
Quite an unusual event today I thought I’d share.

A call into the office today from an irate customer complaining that she came home to an open front door, a soaked porch and an injured daughter who she’s taking to A&E. She is saying that one of my chaps left the porch soaking and her daughter has slipped and injured herself.

I spoke to Dan and he said when he was cleaning the windows there were a group of about 6 teenage girls banging on the windows as he was cleaning them and running away. Generally being a bit silly.

I’ve left a message for the Mum so I’ve not spoken to her myself but she has described a great deal of water and the clear implication is that we’re responsible for her daughter’s injury.

Just a couple of points though. The open porch has paving slabs and it’s a wooden front door so we don’t scrub them and only clean the glass. It could be we’ve got the wrong end of the stick and water got inside? Obviously we have public liability insurance so I’m not particularly concerned but I just wondered if anyone has had a similar incident?

open porches dont get cleaned with wfp.i just rag them or use a mop and squeegee.most customers dont want water dripping inside their porches.its also dangerous esp in winter.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: p1w1 on December 20, 2017, 05:54:22 pm
It's a hard one,I've just read it again.
Unfortunately in this day and age it isnt. If a load of water was left  and someone has slipped on it then the person who put it there is liable, you could say why wasnt the customer informed of the hazard. Its pathetic but the way of the world anymore.
i would just wait to see if the customer replies and go from there, i wouldnt even inform an insurance company yet.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 20, 2017, 06:08:38 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1513793301_lyl.jpg)
Quite an unusual event today I thought I’d share.

A call into the office today from an irate customer complaining that she came home to an open front door, a soaked porch and an injured daughter who she’s taking to A&E. She is saying that one of my chaps left the porch soaking and her daughter has slipped and injured herself.

I spoke to Dan and he said when he was cleaning the windows there were a group of about 6 teenage girls banging on the windows as he was cleaning them and running away. Generally being a bit silly.

I’ve left a message for the Mum so I’ve not spoken to her myself but she has described a great deal of water and the clear implication is that we’re responsible for her daughter’s injury.

Just a couple of points though. The open porch has paving slabs and it’s a wooden front door so we don’t scrub them and only clean the glass. It could be we’ve got the wrong end of the stick and water got inside? Obviously we have public liability insurance so I’m not particularly concerned but I just wondered if anyone has had a similar incident?

open porches dont get cleaned with wfp.i just rag them or use a mop and squeegee.most customers dont want water dripping inside their porches.its also dangerous esp in winter.
Here's the house. There's quite a bit of glass in it. A window, door and a full size panel to the right of the door.

Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Perfect Windows on December 20, 2017, 06:20:19 pm
My advice would be a quick call to the mum. Be polite. Check her daughter's OK without saying sorry. If she wants to discuss the details, just tell her the rules of your insurance mean you can't discuss it with her at all; you're sure she'll understand.

Let her know that if she puts details of her complaint in writing you'll pass it onto your insurers and they'll deal with her from then.

Make a note that you contacted her and what was said.  Make notes now about what you recall about what's gone on so you're not relying on memory in eighteen months if it's still dragging on.

Then put it aside - it's one of the reasons you pay for insurance, so you don't need to worry about it.

Good luck,

Vin
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: dazmond on December 20, 2017, 06:29:03 pm
tell all your staff to use a damp cloth on windows/doors in open porches from  now on.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 20, 2017, 06:37:09 pm
My advice would be a quick call to the mum. Be polite. Check her daughter's OK without saying sorry. If she wants to discuss the details, just tell her the rules of your insurance mean you can't discuss it with her at all; you're sure she'll understand.

Let her know that if she puts details of her complaint in writing you'll pass it onto your insurers and they'll deal with her from then.

Make a note that you contacted her and what was said.  Make notes now about what you recall about what's gone on so you're not relying on memory in eighteen months if it's still dragging on.

Then put it aside - it's one of the reasons you pay for insurance, so you don't need to worry about it.

Good luck,

Vin
Cheers. I’ve left a message for the Mum in which I say I hope your daughter is ok.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 20, 2017, 06:40:06 pm
tell all your staff to use a damp cloth on windows/doors in open porches from  now on.
Although in this case if it was the porch there’s no safety issue because it’s paved. I have a feeling water must have got in to the hall either through the letterbox or when the door was open as I can’t see how paving slabs are “slippery when wet”.

I’ll await a call back.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on December 20, 2017, 07:16:26 pm
I'm surprised how many people have the floors in open porches tiled with smooth tiles. I've got a few and when it's wet or icy they are dangerously slippery even before I start on the windows in the porchway. Needless to say I don't wfp them
Last year I had a painful back for a few days after slipping on a painted doorstep. The customer had used so called non slip paint. However, it had been raining and when wet it wasn't very non slip
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Missing Link on December 20, 2017, 07:37:16 pm
Cheers. I’ve left a message for the Mum in which I say I hope your daughter is ok.

I'd get a bloke to stab her dog in the neck.

MOD NOTE: Received a report to moderator asking "who is this idiot?" - it is of course Tosh - ex moderator of this parish who I am sure, being a dog owner and dog lover himself is being humorous .  ;)

Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Plankton on December 21, 2017, 09:17:23 am
Cheers. I’ve left a message for the Mum in which I say I hope your daughter is ok.

I'd get a bloke to stab her dog in the neck.
Charming
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: LT carpet cleaning on December 21, 2017, 09:24:43 am
Perhaps 8weekly will get sued for all he has.

£25 always comes in useful at Christmas.

 ;)
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 21, 2017, 12:44:21 pm
Perhaps 8weekly will get sued for all he has.

£25 always comes in useful at Christmas.

 ;)
Troll alert
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 21, 2017, 12:46:58 pm
I've now spoken to the mum and allegedly the daughter slipped on the water in the hall that occurred as a result of the door opening. She sounded very excitable and it was obviously a storm in a teacup.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Plankton on December 21, 2017, 02:21:59 pm
Well hopefully she's ok and you don't have any action against you to worry about. I slipped more than 15 years ago on laminate flooring and the hospital thought I'd came off a motorbike! (Wrist was almost like Henrik Larssons leg if you've ever seen the injury) I've have had a few operations with the last being a bone substitute inserted into my wrist and a metal plate fitted with 12 screws, still gives me grief now and then. 

Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Frankybadboy on December 21, 2017, 04:13:08 pm
Cowboy  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 21, 2017, 04:32:37 pm
Cowboy  ;D ;D ;D ;D
It was one of my “guns for hire”.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Frankybadboy on December 21, 2017, 04:55:03 pm
Cowboy  ;D ;D ;D ;D
It was one of my “guns for hire”.
where do all the horse go on a night
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Splash & dash on December 21, 2017, 05:55:50 pm
It's a hard one,I've just read it again.
Unfortunately in this day and age it isnt. If a load of water was left  and someone has slipped on it then the person who put it there is liable, you could say why wasnt the customer informed of the hazard. Its pathetic but the way of the world anymore.
i would just wait to see if the customer replies and go from there, i wouldnt even inform an insurance company yet.





So what happens when it rains ??? Who is liable then ??? You have to be sensible yes but you arnt nessasarily liable people have a duty of care for themselves also   
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Splash & dash on December 21, 2017, 05:58:24 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1513793301_lyl.jpg)
Quite an unusual event today I thought I’d share.

A call into the office today from an irate customer complaining that she came home to an open front door, a soaked porch and an injured daughter who she’s taking to A&E. She is saying that one of my chaps left the porch soaking and her daughter has slipped and injured herself.

I spoke to Dan and he said when he was cleaning the windows there were a group of about 6 teenage girls banging on the windows as he was cleaning them and running away. Generally being a bit silly.

I’ve left a message for the Mum so I’ve not spoken to her myself but she has described a great deal of water and the clear implication is that we’re responsible for her daughter’s injury.

Just a couple of points though. The open porch has paving slabs and it’s a wooden front door so we don’t scrub them and only clean the glass. It could be we’ve got the wrong end of the stick and water got inside? Obviously we have public liability insurance so I’m not particularly concerned but I just wondered if anyone has had a similar incident?

open porches dont get cleaned with wfp.i just rag them or use a mop and squeegee.most customers dont want water dripping inside their porches.its also dangerous esp in winter.
Here's the house. There's quite a bit of glass in it. A window, door and a full size panel to the right of the door.




We would pole a door like that and sweep the worst of the water off the step never had a problem with that in 20 years , some people are unbelievable,,,,,
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 21, 2017, 06:08:45 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1513793301_lyl.jpg)
Quite an unusual event today I thought I’d share.

A call into the office today from an irate customer complaining that she came home to an open front door, a soaked porch and an injured daughter who she’s taking to A&E. She is saying that one of my chaps left the porch soaking and her daughter has slipped and injured herself.

I spoke to Dan and he said when he was cleaning the windows there were a group of about 6 teenage girls banging on the windows as he was cleaning them and running away. Generally being a bit silly.

I’ve left a message for the Mum so I’ve not spoken to her myself but she has described a great deal of water and the clear implication is that we’re responsible for her daughter’s injury.

Just a couple of points though. The open porch has paving slabs and it’s a wooden front door so we don’t scrub them and only clean the glass. It could be we’ve got the wrong end of the stick and water got inside? Obviously we have public liability insurance so I’m not particularly concerned but I just wondered if anyone has had a similar incident?

open porches dont get cleaned with wfp.i just rag them or use a mop and squeegee.most customers dont want water dripping inside their porches.its also dangerous esp in winter.
Here's the house. There's quite a bit of glass in it. A window, door and a full size panel to the right of the door.




We would pole a door like that and sweep the worst of the water off the step never had a problem with that in 20 years , some people are unbelievable,,,,,
It was the water on the door that dripped into the hall when she opened the door allegedly.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Nick Day on December 21, 2017, 06:17:50 pm
Did you always clean them that way, were you expected that day? If so then the conditions were always the same, it is usually when something unexpected happens that a liability can occur.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Stoots on December 21, 2017, 06:25:21 pm
Did you always clean them that way, were you expected that day? If so then the conditions were always the same, it is usually when something unexpected happens that a liability can occur.


well thats her own stupid fault then and not your responsibility surely? its not like you should have dried the door off is it? wfp is left to dry of its own accord, cant see how you can be deemed negligent here.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: NWH on December 21, 2017, 06:41:54 pm
Out of interest what’s the going rate for one of those houses where you live.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 21, 2017, 06:58:00 pm
Out of interest what’s the going rate for one of those houses where you live.
I charge £28 for that one. No conservatory. Next door £33 with con
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: p1w1 on December 21, 2017, 07:05:18 pm
It's a hard one,I've just read it again.
Unfortunately in this day and age it isnt. If a load of water was left  and someone has slipped on it then the person who put it there is liable, you could say why wasnt the customer informed of the hazard. Its pathetic but the way of the world anymore.
i would just wait to see if the customer replies and go from there, i wouldnt even inform an insurance company yet.





So what happens when it rains ??? Who is liable then ??? You have to be sensible yes but you arnt nessasarily liable people have a duty of care for themselves also
Stop being silly now. 
It's a simple fact that a hazard was left after the clean was done, it is ridiculous but people get compensation for these silly things nowadays when they try it on, Its cheaper for insurance companies to just pay out then fight it in a court then they just up your premium to get some of their costs back, its wrong but it happens.
Luckily looks like 8 weekly wont have any problems with this but it does make you think how easy it can happen.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Steve Newres on December 21, 2017, 07:13:41 pm
Did you always clean them that way, were you expected that day? If so then the conditions were always the same, it is usually when something unexpected happens that a liability can occur.
Yes, texted day before. Interestingly she claimed we didn’t usually clean the door, but up until last 2 cleans I’d always done it and cleaned the door with a pole.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Soupy on December 23, 2017, 06:34:53 am
So the door was wet due to work you were asked to carry out. The injured party was aware of the cleaning being carried out and decided to open the dripping wet door after the cleaning had been carried out and slipped on the resulting puddle.

I'd want to fight that in court but it wouldn't be my decision. Insurance companies are spineless. The way they've set up the industry actively encourages claims. It's gypit.

Hopefully nothing comes of it.
Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Dry Clean on December 23, 2017, 08:45:05 am
So the door was wet due to work you were asked to carry out. The injured party was aware of the cleaning being carried out and decided to open the dripping wet door after the cleaning had been carried out and slipped on the resulting puddle.

I'd want to fight that in court but it wouldn't be my decision. Insurance companies are spineless. The way they've set up the industry actively encourages claims. It's gypit.

Hopefully nothing comes of it.

Mr Soupy you are well aware that water left on doors can drip for a period of time.
Mr Soupy you are well aware that people need to use doors to enter and exit a property.
Mr Soupy why didnt you dry the door ?
Doesnt matter if rain can cause the same if you caused it on the day then you are liable, I dont think saying the claimant should
have taken more care becuse you couldnt be bothered to dry the door would do you any favours in court.

Title: Re: Front doors, injuries.
Post by: Jonny 87 on December 23, 2017, 01:10:45 pm
So the door was wet due to work you were asked to carry out. The injured party was aware of the cleaning being carried out and decided to open the dripping wet door after the cleaning had been carried out and slipped on the resulting puddle.

I'd want to fight that in court but it wouldn't be my decision. Insurance companies are spineless. The way they've set up the industry actively encourages claims. It's gypit.

Hopefully nothing comes of it.

Mr Soupy you are well aware that water left on doors can drip for a period of time.
Mr Soupy you are well aware that people need to use doors to enter and exit a property.
Mr Soupy why didnt you dry the door ?
Doesnt matter if rain can cause the same if you caused it on the day then you are liable, I dont think saying the claimant should
have taken more care becuse you couldnt be bothered to dry the door would do you any favours in court.

Who dries a door after wfp Cleaning it? I know I don’t.