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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: chez on June 14, 2020, 07:36:05 pm

Title: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: chez on June 14, 2020, 07:36:05 pm
Hey guys.
On Tuesday this week my lad was working other side of road. Finished his house and knocked the door and when the lady opened the door a big German Shepherd male ran out attacked him and bit him on the hand. Bled quite bad with one severe puncture wound and 3 smaller holes. Within 1/2  an hour couldn’t carry on (reach and wash) as it swelled up quite bad. Had to take him to A and E  and he was there 3 1/2 hours. Custy was so upset in tears, wasn’t her dog but her daughters. I carried on and did rest of the work on my own.
Anyway his hand is really bad so gonna have to miss most of this week, if not all. Docs put him on 3 lots of antibiotics cos of bacteria on the dogs teeth can be quite bad. Turns out the customer has no dog insurance which is madness if you own one of them. Incidentally we have owned 3 GS dogs so we love um but you have to be careful!
Anyone had a situation like this? We haven’t caught up yet from when we stopped work so still behind and he won’t get any pay.
Any thoughts? Really awkward situation as a fairly new customer (4 cleans)
Cheers

Edit since:
Turns out the owner has admitted she does have insurance (Can’t figure it out why she said she didn’t)  from a dog trust. Son still hasn’t worked so 2 weeks off so far. He still can’t grip with any force so is not able to work. Came out with me one day to keep me company did the sills. So unfortunately have had to take it further and the customer has accepted he will have to make a claim on the insurance. Don’t like doing it but what can you do? He may have long term nerve damage as the pain shoots up his arm. Don’t know if she will stay a customer, some what awkward, but that’s her choice. Lesson is don’t let your dog bite your window cleaner!

Cheers for all of your replies tho
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: CleanClear on June 14, 2020, 08:04:30 pm
Well your Son ,if he can't work through injury will have to claim sick pay. Thats the first simplest thing you have to do. Then moving foreward if you want to sue and recoup your (or his) lost earnings then you'll have to sue your customer for the amount you think he lost. Its simple and straightforward. There really isn't too much to think about. (although they are tough descisions).

Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: KS Cleaning on June 14, 2020, 08:12:14 pm
Well your Son ,if he can't work through injury will have to claim sick pay. Thats the first simplest thing you have to do. Then moving foreward if you want to sue and recoup your (or his) lost earnings then you'll have to sue your customer for the amount you think he lost. Its simple and straightforward. There really isn't too much to think about. (although they are tough descisions).
Bit of a contradiction there😉
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: CleanClear on June 14, 2020, 08:33:44 pm
Well your Son ,if he can't work through injury will have to claim sick pay. Thats the first simplest thing you have to do. Then moving foreward if you want to sue and recoup your (or his) lost earnings then you'll have to sue your customer for the amount you think he lost. Its simple and straightforward. There really isn't too much to think about. (although they are tough descisions).
Bit of a contradiction there😉

No contradiction. Its very straightforeward. The "tough" element comes in when you wanna sue a customer. He says its been a customer for  "4 cleans"........ you can trade that off against what his son will lose in income. Its pretty much a binary descision, or should be. Its like wanting to leave your missus when you don't get on any more, you know what you need to do, but its tough.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Scrimble on June 14, 2020, 08:45:24 pm
I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: G Griffin on June 14, 2020, 09:18:41 pm
I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc
I think that's a long shot.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: CleanClear on June 14, 2020, 10:00:45 pm
I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

"marksman" ?  ;D  Mr.Magoo could probably do it, give it a biscuit, pat it on the head then pull the trigger !!!  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Splash & dash on June 14, 2020, 10:05:34 pm
Hey guys.
On Tuesday this week my lad was working other side of road. Finished his house and knocked the door and when the lady opened the door a big German Shepherd male ran out attacked him and bit him on the hand. Bled quite bad with one severe puncture wound and 3 smaller holes. Within 1/2  an hour couldn’t carry on (reach and wash) as it swelled up quite bad. Had to take him to A and E  and he was there 3 1/2 hours. Custy was so upset in tears, wasn’t her dog but her daughters. I carried on and did rest of the work on my own.
Anyway his hand is really bad so gonna have to miss most of this week, if not all. Docs put him on 3 lots of antibiotics cos of bacteria on the dogs teeth can be quite bad. Turns out the customer has no dog insurance which is madness if you own one of them. Incidentally we have owned 3 GS dogs so we love um but you have to be careful!
Anyone had a situation like this? We haven’t caught up yet from when we stopped work so still behind and he won’t get any pay.
Any thoughts? Really awkward situation as a fairly new customer (4 cleans)
Cheers


The home owners house insurance should cover claims like this , my mum got bitten by a dog years ago on a farm that she worked at as a book keeper his insurance paid out for  loss of earnings
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Stoots on June 14, 2020, 10:21:37 pm
I cleaned a house a few weeks ago. They have 2 rottweilers. Always go mad in the house when I clean.

Anyway last time I went I cleaned the front, owner saw me. Dogs were in the house. Opened back gate went though and poo almost deposited into my underwear as a rotty bounded towards me at what seemed like lightening speed. I just managed to jump back through the gate and slam it shut as the wild creatures teeth hit the gate.

Woman comes out and gives it a rub of its chops and took it back in like nothing had happened.

I cleaned the house but I'm not going back.

I don't do dogs, at least ones that are too big to boot.


I clean another house that has a little snapper that likes eating windows cleaned today slips. The letter box is like a shredder, put your fingers in there and you may as well put them into piranha infested waters.

Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: jonboywalton75 on June 14, 2020, 11:18:20 pm
I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

This happened to me once, reported to the police, custie got a warning.
Dog certainly not destroyed
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: CleanClear on June 14, 2020, 11:42:18 pm
I cleaned a house a few weeks ago. They have 2 rottweilers. Always go mad in the house when I clean.

Anyway last time I went I cleaned the front, owner saw me. Dogs were in the house. Opened back gate went though and poo almost deposited into my underwear as a rotty bounded towards me at what seemed like lightening speed. I just managed to jump back through the gate and slam it shut as the wild creatures teeth hit the gate.

Woman comes out and gives it a rub of its chops and took it back in like nothing had happened.

I cleaned the house but I'm not going back.

I don't do dogs, at least ones that are too big to boot.


I clean another house that has a little snapper that likes eating windows cleaned today slips. The letter box is like a shredder, put your fingers in there and you may as well put them into piranha infested waters.

I've still got the vision in my head of you breaking the gate and scrubbing the NHS rainbow off your custies windows !!  ;D
I'm sort of understanding why some customers insist that you/we/i don't clean unless they are in !!!  ;D
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: andyM on June 15, 2020, 07:26:09 am
I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

A bit harsh!
But in reality because the Dog attacked a person i believe under the Dangerous Dogs Act the animal could well be taken away and humanely destroyed if reported to the Police.
It's a difficult decision but if your worker has lost earnings he should be entitled to have the losses recouped by the Dog owner. But that could be a mission in it's self depending on how sympathetic the Dog's Owner is.
I certainly don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have any financial loss repaid under the circumstances.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: andyM on June 15, 2020, 07:28:15 am
I cleaned a house a few weeks ago. They have 2 rottweilers. Always go mad in the house when I clean.

Anyway last time I went I cleaned the front, owner saw me. Dogs were in the house. Opened back gate went though and poo almost deposited into my underwear as a rotty bounded towards me at what seemed like lightening speed. I just managed to jump back through the gate and slam it shut as the wild creatures teeth hit the gate.

Woman comes out and gives it a rub of its chops and took it back in like nothing had happened.

I cleaned the house but I'm not going back.

I don't do dogs, at least ones that are too big to boot.


I clean another house that has a little snapper that likes eating windows cleaned today slips. The letter box is like a shredder, put your fingers in there and you may as well put them into piranha infested waters.

Im the same.
If i get the slightest feeling a Dog is a potential threat then i won't go back.
Better safe than sorry.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Dave Willis on June 15, 2020, 07:35:08 am
You’d be barking mad to take the job back on.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Richard iSparkle on June 15, 2020, 07:42:57 am
you definitely should report it to the police.

if its happened more than once with the same dog they may take some action.

if they have a big dog that runs up to people and bites them AND they dont have dog insurance they dont sound like responsible dog owners.

they certainly didn't have the dog under control

regarding loss of earnings i suppose its up to your son really and what he wants to do.

its hard to say, but i think in the circumstances, if it was myself, i would seriously consider it.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: simon w on June 15, 2020, 07:45:13 am
All sounds a bit ruff ruff on the dog to me he was only guarding his property  ;D
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: G Griffin on June 15, 2020, 09:23:40 am
you definitely should report it to the police.

if its happened more than once with the same dog they may take some action.

if they have a big dog that runs up to people and bites them AND they dont have dog insurance they dont sound like responsible dog owners.

they certainly didn't have the dog under control

regarding loss of earnings i suppose its up to your son really and what he wants to do.

its hard to say, but i think in the circumstances, if it was myself, i would seriously consider it.
Tell tail.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Ooooooog on June 15, 2020, 01:00:17 pm
Al say shun the customer. Don’t go back.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: dazmond on June 15, 2020, 01:53:59 pm
most of the dogs on my round are cockerpoos and other little fluffy dogs,quite a lot of the expensive siamese cats too....... ;D

if his hand heals after a week then surely he wont be that out of pocket just having a few days off?i wouldnt try and sue the customer as it wasnt her dog.....id be extra careful next time her property was due......personally i would probably drop the customer altogether and forget about it.......

did you phone the police and take photos?i would get the name and address of the owner of the dog in question so there is a record of it at the very least.....
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: TomCrowther on June 15, 2020, 03:05:38 pm
I think you should definitely report it to the Police. Nest time it could be a lot worse, small child etc.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: G Griffin on June 15, 2020, 03:08:39 pm
most of the dogs on my round are cockerpoos and other little fluffy dogs,quite a lot of the expensive siamese cats too....... ;D

if his hand heals after a week then surely he wont be that out of pocket just having a few days off?i wouldnt try and sue the customer as it wasnt her dog.....id be extra careful next time her property was due......personally i would probably drop the customer altogether and forget about it.......

did you phone the police and take photos?i would get the name and address of the owner of the dog in question so there is a record of it at the very least.....
That's a pointer I always use as a guide for good staff- a heeler.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: G Griffin on June 15, 2020, 03:13:27 pm
I think you should definitely report it to the Police. Nest time it could be a lot worse, small child etc.
Well said.
I've been bitten by a small child, too. Frightening experience; he just swooped down from his nest and sunk his milk teeth into my ankle.
There was blood everywhere. His because I was tagged at the time.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Dave Willis on June 15, 2020, 05:39:19 pm
True story that. I remember it was on Jeremy Beagle.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: Mike Halliday on June 15, 2020, 08:35:24 pm
I had a dog bite me when I was delivering leaflets, pushed the leaflet through the letterbox and he was sat on the other side of the door...he bit my finger :'(

Spent 2 days in hospital on an antibiotic drip and had to go into theatre to flush out the bite. He ‘degloved’ the end of my finger

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1592249771_A0C42763-2A34-4952-B66E-2608092C3684.jpeg)

 
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: markymark on June 17, 2020, 06:24:04 pm
I had a similar, though much less severe instance last year. Spoke to a customer who is a copper about it. The upshot was that I could have reported it, but it wasn't the owner looking after it. The person responsible at that instant would be the one prosecuted as they failed to control the dog. You've got to weigh up whether you want to drop the customer in it, and be prepared for the hassle that would probably follow. Personally, given the extent of the injury, I'd report it and drop them in it. There's no need to have a badly trained animal like that.
Title: Re: Dog bite, loss of income.
Post by: markymark on June 17, 2020, 06:26:35 pm
I had a dog bite me when I was delivering leaflets, pushed the leaflet through the letterbox and he was sat on the other side of the door...he bit my finger :'(

Spent 2 days in hospital on an antibiotic drip and had to go into theatre to flush out the bite. He ‘degloved’ the end of my finger

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1592249771_A0C42763-2A34-4952-B66E-2608092C3684.jpeg)

 

YEOW!! My mate was a postie and got his own back on this sort of dog by waiting for it to launch itself at the letterbox, then try and ram the tightly rolled bundle of junk mail or similar down the mutts chops. Infantile, but it gave him a great sense of satisfaction the times he did get it just right  ;D