Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Suffolkcleaners on August 30, 2024, 12:11:00 pm
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Hi guys. I posted on here a while ago with a previous non payer who eventually paid.
Yesterday I was cleaning a town house that I’ve done for over 5 years. I even clean all her door/marble surrounds as a freebie each time. I charge £23.50 on a 8 weekly cycle.
She has commented before I was quick when I cleaned them but never any issues with windows.
After I finished yesterday she came storming up to my van having a go at me saying some pure water had splashed back and landed on her cushion of one of her patio chairs. Said I had “no common sense” etc. Genuinely I had no idea and to my eye the furniture was set back enough. So I explained (after apologising) that I felt she was “character assassinating me” and in all fairness I shouldn’t have to be expected to move furniture to have access to clean the windows”
Anyway she went off. I of course expected the cancellation which indeed happened a few hours later via email. I then sent an email saying I found her quite rude etc etc and please don’t cancel the GoCardless mandate until payment has gone through.
Today the mandate and payment has been cancelled. I perhaps (knee jerked) in frustration and said “I can see you have cancelled the payment can I please ask you pay the outstanding amount to account ****** or I will be taking legal action.
Now upon reflection I have knee jerked BUT anyone on here understand why I sent this? Shall I just let the payment go?
Ps her hubby is a top doctor too and I get the feeling she has that sense of entitlement by just denying me payment.
Any comments guys?
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Well within your rights to ask for payment.
Kudos to you for not telling her to f*** off.
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Hi guys. I posted on here a while ago with a previous non payer who eventually paid.
Yesterday I was cleaning a town house that I’ve done for over 5 years. I even clean all her door/marble surrounds as a freebie each time. I charge £23.50 on a 8 weekly cycle.
She has commented before I was quick when I cleaned them but never any issues with windows.
After I finished yesterday she came storming up to my van having a go at me saying some pure water had splashed back and landed on her cushion of one of her patio chairs. Said I had “no common sense” etc. Genuinely I had no idea and to my eye the furniture was set back enough. So I explained (after apologising) that I felt she was “character assassinating me” and in all fairness I shouldn’t have to be expected to move furniture to have access to clean the windows”
Anyway she went off. I of course expected the cancellation which indeed happened a few hours later via email. I then sent an email saying I found her quite rude etc etc and please don’t cancel the GoCardless mandate until payment has gone through.
Today the mandate and payment has been cancelled. I perhaps (knee jerked) in frustration and said “I can see you have cancelled the payment can I please ask you pay the outstanding amount to account ****** or I will be taking legal action.
Now upon reflection I have knee jerked BUT anyone on here understand why I sent this? Shall I just let the payment go?
Ps her hubby is a top doctor too and I get the feeling she has that sense of entitlement by just denying me payment.
Any comments guys?
how old is she ? i bet shes in her late forties or early fifties ! if she is most woman turn into witches and nutcases at that age due to the menapouse ! i know from experience as i have one at home ! used to be normal now at times a witch and a nutcase (apologies if any ladies read this but its the truth} and its just my opinion. (and i still love my wife)
what i would do write the payment off and delete her,life and work is hard enough without having unreasonable customers.
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Prob late 40’s Chinese lady. Hubby is a top Cancer specialist apparently. Never had any problems for 5 years. It’s a bit of pure water that has backsplashed on her OUTDOOR furniture which rain would have done the same. Unbelievable as she prob sees me as a lower class Window Cleaner and can just choose to not pay me. If I was 15 years younger I would have got my backpack and sprayed her windows with tap water but I can’t be dealing with it now.
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Stick to your guns and demand payment just to pee her off, no one likes a bad credit rating ;D
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Get your money if not Halloween is around the corner so you can egg the windows.
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Let it go mate. You are always going to get some people that wont pay. Just never go back and block her on your phone. You'll pick up another job to replace her I the next couple of weeks.
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Why let her get away with not paying , write to her stating she has 30 days to settle otherwise interest at X amount per day will be added . Failing payment then add court proceedings will be taken to recover said debt
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Why let her get away with not paying , write to her stating she has 30 days to settle otherwise interest at X amount per day will be added . Failing payment then add court proceedings will be taken to recover said debt
Is 30 days the amount of time I need to give her then? I’ve never taking it down the legal route but I am tempted (in the name of a handful of other feckers who have not paid me in the past) to pursue this.
Can anyone suggest an email and timeframe I can send to her? Bear in mind I’ve already knee jerked and gone in guns blazing saying “I will take legal action”….. when In reality what can I really do? My hunch is I will get absolutely nowhere. She could claim damages to her chair cushion.
I would however be interested if anyone on here can give me a template to at least scare her into thinking “s**** maybe I should pay.
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Why let her get away with not paying , write to her stating she has 30 days to settle otherwise interest at X amount per day will be added . Failing payment then add court proceedings will be taken to recover said debt
Is 30 days the amount of time I need to give her then? I’ve never taking it down the legal route but I am tempted (in the name of a handful of other feckers who have not paid me in the past) to pursue this.
Can anyone suggest an email and timeframe I can send to her? Bear in mind I’ve already knee jerked and gone in guns blazing saying “I will take legal action”….. when In reality what can I really do? My hunch is I will get absolutely nowhere. She could claim damages to her chair cushion.
I would however be interested if anyone on here can give me a template to at least scare her into thinking “s**** maybe I should pay.
It costs £35 in the small claims court to pursue anything up to £300 (google it). Plus you'll have to prepare for it, get any evidence, take time off work.
Not worth it for £23.50.
I'd let it go. She may pay anyway.
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I've had this happen a few times to me but now realise something has happened in their life and they take it out on us or gardeners or anyone they think they can get away with. My priest had a go at me for dodging his phone calls a few weeks ago. No point in getting upset or reacting just let them rant and ignore them. Don't even bother about the money unless you need it. My priest had to come back to me last week to show me where a leak was in the church and he had a problem looking at me but we knew the trust had gone. He will now have to ask me to fix it but my answer will be this:- The roof needs torch on felt and I'm not insured to do this so you will need to get a company to fix it. He will then realise the friendship is over. There is great power in saying nothing bar sorry when folk have a go at us, if everyone can remember this then it will make your life so much better.
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There are plenty of templates out there.
.just search for a 'Letter Before Action' template.
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I've had this happen a few times to me but now realise something has happened in their life and they take it out on us or gardeners or anyone they think they can get away with. My priest had a go at me for dodging his phone calls a few weeks ago. No point in getting upset or reacting just let them rant and ignore them. Don't even bother about the money unless you need it. My priest had to come back to me last week to show me where a leak was in the church and he had a problem looking at me but we knew the trust had gone. He will now have to ask me to fix it but my answer will be this:- The roof needs torch on felt and I'm not insured to do this so you will need to get a company to fix it. He will then realise the friendship is over. There is great power in saying nothing bar sorry when folk have a go at us, if everyone can remember this then it will make your life so much better.
Eh?
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Hi guys. I posted on here a while ago with a previous non payer who eventually paid.
Yesterday I was cleaning a town house that I’ve done for over 5 years. I even clean all her door/marble surrounds as a freebie each time. I charge £23.50 on a 8 weekly cycle.
She has commented before I was quick when I cleaned them but never any issues with windows.
After I finished yesterday she came storming up to my van having a go at me saying some pure water had splashed back and landed on her cushion of one of her patio chairs. Said I had “no common sense” etc. Genuinely I had no idea and to my eye the furniture was set back enough. So I explained (after apologising) that I felt she was “character assassinating me” and in all fairness I shouldn’t have to be expected to move furniture to have access to clean the windows”
Anyway she went off. I of course expected the cancellation which indeed happened a few hours later via email. I then sent an email saying I found her quite rude etc etc and please don’t cancel the GoCardless mandate until payment has gone through.
Today the mandate and payment has been cancelled. I perhaps (knee jerked) in frustration and said “I can see you have cancelled the payment can I please ask you pay the outstanding amount to account ****** or I will be taking legal action.
Now upon reflection I have knee jerked BUT anyone on here understand why I sent this? Shall I just let the payment go?
Ps her hubby is a top doctor too and I get the feeling she has that sense of entitlement by just denying me payment.
Any comments guys?
My comments, so please don't take offence.
In my opinion, she's entitled to think what she likes with regard to her status in life. Whether she is right or not is for others to decide.
In my books, we always try to defuse a situation that may arise before it gets out of hand.
A humble apology for wetting her cushions would help, without adding any justification about why you think she is being unreasonable. I might have suggested I take them away and get them dried for her if that would help. (If she says no, then you have offered to do your best to rectify the issue.) Your main objective in any situation is to suck it up until you get paid. Then decide whether you will continue to clean her windows or not.
We have a customer who has come from a poor counsel house upbringing and married a successful businessman. She also acts above her status. She believes she is superior to everyone else, but she shows by her dealings that she hasn't a clue how to manage much.
For example, she knows when we are cleaning that day as it's always prearranged, but she will organize the gardener to pressure wash the drive and paths. He will have started before we arrive to clean the windows. Or he is instructed to sand and paint the decking on the one side of the house the day we have arranged to clean windows. This gives her the feeling that she's in control.
As long as they pay us, I don't care. Yes, it pays well, but they also know I don't need the job. It was her husband who employed us, and he insists the windows are cleaned every 4 weeks along with his business premises. If she creates any drama, I can just message him cancelling the clean for another month "because the gardener is sanding and painting the deck and I don't want to cause any damage to the new paint." I never blame the wife, but it's usually her fault and she will be more subdued a few cleans after.
On the next clean, she knows that I know she has been chewed out, so the dynamics between us can be interesting. I get a bit of a kick out of it.
She doesn't like me, but I'm always respectful when talking to her. Often a battle is won by not confronting the enemy directly.
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let it go.
think about the energy you have wasted fretting , and even the time taken posting it on here...
take the situation, and think how you can turn it into a positive.
firstly . you have weeded out what is a problem customer
so now you can put you energy into gaining a new better customer.
move on. work on your business , smile and be thankful she has identified herself as a snobby witch
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I've had this happen a few times to me but now realise something has happened in their life and they take it out on us or gardeners or anyone they think they can get away with. My priest had a go at me for dodging his phone calls a few weeks ago. No point in getting upset or reacting just let them rant and ignore them. Don't even bother about the money unless you need it. My priest had to come back to me last week to show me where a leak was in the church and he had a problem looking at me but we knew the trust had gone. He will now have to ask me to fix it but my answer will be this:- The roof needs torch on felt and I'm not insured to do this so you will need to get a company to fix it. He will then realise the friendship is over. There is great power in saying nothing bar sorry when folk have a go at us, if everyone can remember this then it will make your life so much better.
There endeth the first lesson.
(stick to cleaning windows)
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I've had this happen a few times to me but now realise something has happened in their life and they take it out on us or gardeners or anyone they think they can get away with. My priest had a go at me for dodging his phone calls a few weeks ago. No point in getting upset or reacting just let them rant and ignore them. Don't even bother about the money unless you need it. My priest had to come back to me last week to show me where a leak was in the church and he had a problem looking at me but we knew the trust had gone. He will now have to ask me to fix it but my answer will be this:- The roof needs torch on felt and I'm not insured to do this so you will need to get a company to fix it. He will then realise the friendship is over. There is great power in saying nothing bar sorry when folk have a go at us, if everyone can remember this then it will make your life so much better.
There endeth the first lesson.
(stick to cleaning windows)
Aren't Christians supposed to forgive one another - especially in small matters? ;D
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Got to admire the stuck up snotty folk we meet they think their status is higher than yours Status in life love it what absolute tosh !!
Over the years if only they new I had a dinner with prince charles met Angelina jolie chatted with Tom cruise coffee with rowan Atkinson met bob marley long story each one is a personal memory but then I am only the scum window cleaner
it’s not ment to be a name drop but like all of us we have been in 130 million pound houses and cleaned on council estates for little old ladies and Arab princes alike and been treated with respect by both ends of the scale funny how the middle class hate mail reader thinks they are better than us !!
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I've let loads of payments go, lost into the thousands over the years with non payers.
I've also sent out many debt letters and and recovered a few hundred quid by doing so. I've only filed small claims twice and got paid that way however really it wasn't worth it for a few quid.
In this Instance though I couldn't let it go, she's spoke to you like crap so she must be punished. If you can't or don't want to chase your money legally at least enact some revenge. Maybe find out where she shops regular and accidentally open your old van door into her new merc or something. Revenge at all costs.
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I've had this happen a few times to me but now realise something has happened in their life and they take it out on us or gardeners or anyone they think they can get away with. My priest had a go at me for dodging his phone calls a few weeks ago. No point in getting upset or reacting just let them rant and ignore them. Don't even bother about the money unless you need it. My priest had to come back to me last week to show me where a leak was in the church and he had a problem looking at me but we knew the trust had gone. He will now have to ask me to fix it but my answer will be this:- The roof needs torch on felt and I'm not insured to do this so you will need to get a company to fix it. He will then realise the friendship is over. There is great power in saying nothing bar sorry when folk have a go at us, if everyone can remember this then it will make your life so much better.
There endeth the first lesson.
(stick to cleaning windows)
Aren't Christians supposed to forgive one another - especially in small matters? ;D
I did work for an Indian before and him and his wife nearly turned me into a slave. Not sure if its in their culture but I felt way beneath them. They ended up going bust. My priest is the same culture so maybe its in their dna. Anyhow, saving me time and money. I did a window cleaning job 6 months ago and the business man and me instantly got on. Turns out he owns care homes and little by little I'm getting first offer of any jobs. Fire service has stipulated changes and I offer advice to managers which saves them plenty of stress. Its hard to turn down the cream when ones life has been full of milk.
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I've had this happen a few times to me but now realise something has happened in their life and they take it out on us or gardeners or anyone they think they can get away with. My priest had a go at me for dodging his phone calls a few weeks ago. No point in getting upset or reacting just let them rant and ignore them. Don't even bother about the money unless you need it. My priest had to come back to me last week to show me where a leak was in the church and he had a problem looking at me but we knew the trust had gone. He will now have to ask me to fix it but my answer will be this:- The roof needs torch on felt and I'm not insured to do this so you will need to get a company to fix it. He will then realise the friendship is over. There is great power in saying nothing bar sorry when folk have a go at us, if everyone can remember this then it will make your life so much better.
There endeth the first lesson.
(stick to cleaning windows)
Aren't Christians supposed to forgive one another - especially in small matters? ;D
I did work for an Indian before and him and his wife nearly turned me into a slave. Not sure if its in their culture but I felt way beneath them. They ended up going bust. My priest is the same culture so maybe its in their dna. Anyhow, saving me time and money. I did a window cleaning job 6 months ago and the business man and me instantly got on. Turns out he owns care homes and little by little I'm getting first offer of any jobs. Fire service has stipulated changes and I offer advice to managers which saves them plenty of stress. Its hard to turn down the cream when ones life has been full of milk.
Eh?
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I had a bit of karma the other week in jest.
I have a snobby customer who always boasting and likes to show off a bit. He was cleaning his car and looked at my van, and said I bet you wish you had a nice BMW like mine. I said yes, I do have one, it's a slightly newer than yours and it's mines the M Sport model and carried on working. 🤣
That's a sackable offence 😂
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I've had this happen a few times to me but now realise something has happened in their life and they take it out on us or gardeners or anyone they think they can get away with. My priest had a go at me for dodging his phone calls a few weeks ago. No point in getting upset or reacting just let them rant and ignore them. Don't even bother about the money unless you need it. My priest had to come back to me last week to show me where a leak was in the church and he had a problem looking at me but we knew the trust had gone. He will now have to ask me to fix it but my answer will be this:- The roof needs torch on felt and I'm not insured to do this so you will need to get a company to fix it. He will then realise the friendship is over. There is great power in saying nothing bar sorry when folk have a go at us, if everyone can remember this then it will make your life so much better.
There endeth the first lesson.
(stick to cleaning windows)
Aren't Christians supposed to forgive one another - especially in small matters? ;D
I did work for an Indian before and him and his wife nearly turned me into a slave. Not sure if its in their culture but I felt way beneath them. They ended up going bust. My priest is the same culture so maybe its in their dna. Anyhow, saving me time and money. I did a window cleaning job 6 months ago and the business man and me instantly got on. Turns out he owns care homes and little by little I'm getting first offer of any jobs. Fire service has stipulated changes and I offer advice to managers which saves them plenty of stress. Its hard to turn down the cream when ones life has been full of milk.
Do you mention the fire service so often just as a look at me ? What relevance does it have to this post about a rude customer ?
What changes have the fire service stipulated that the managers have needed your advice so badly??
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My serious response would have been ...
Please accept my apologies. Is it not water resistant then? I would advice moving your furniture before my visits if you don't want it getting wet.
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I did work for an Indian before and him and his wife nearly turned me into a slave. Not sure if its in their culture but I felt way beneath them. They ended up going bust. My priest is the same culture so maybe its in their dna. Anyhow, saving me time and money. I did a window cleaning job 6 months ago and the business man and me instantly got on. Turns out he owns care homes and little by little I'm getting first offer of any jobs. Fire service has stipulated changes and I offer advice to managers which saves them plenty of stress. Its hard to turn down the cream when ones life has been full of milk.
Indian culture is to treat people like slaves, it’s in their DNA?
Ever thought about just not saying anything?
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Thanks guys as usual. I don’t find it’s a wasted energy or time posting on here as I’ve had some cracking advice over the years on here-so appreciate that :)
A mixed bag of opinions as usual and some will let it go and some would take revenge etc,I think I’m going to let it go. I haven’t got the mental energy .
Ironically though she recommended me to her neighbour last time and I now clean her neighbours 8 weekly. So no idea whether she will bad mouth me and try to get me to lose that job too! I’m half expecting a message at some point.
Would you message that customer the night before to test the water (just make out can you please leave gate open-even though it’s open anyway) or would you just turn up and clean as normal?
Like I said though it wouldn’t surprise me if I get another cancellation. If this does happen I may eat my words with “letting it go” and send a few emails making out I’m going down the legal route… but again it’s the energy that involves!!
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Thanks guys as usual. I don’t find it’s a wasted energy or time posting on here as I’ve had some cracking advice over the years on here-so appreciate that :)
A mixed bag of opinions as usual and some will let it go and some would take revenge etc,I think I’m going to let it go. I haven’t got the mental energy .
Ironically though she recommended me to her neighbour last time and I now clean her neighbours 8 weekly. So no idea whether she will bad mouth me and try to get me to lose that job too! I’m half expecting a message at some point.
Would you message that customer the night before to test the water (just make out can you please leave gate open-even though it’s open anyway) or would you just turn up and clean as normal?
Like I said though it wouldn’t surprise me if I get another cancellation. If this does happen I may eat my words with “letting it go” and send a few emails making out I’m going down the legal route… but again it’s the energy that involves!!
In 28 years of window cleaning the ONLY cancellations I have ever had due to another customer moaning about me is a close relative to each other.
And even then it has been when I have done the dumping.
Just turn up.
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In the end we don't need to work for anyone because it's up to us who we work for. Once established we can pick and choose so I wouldn't go back nor chase them for the money. You will pick up other customers and don't need the hassle. When I began 6 years ago I took anyone but that has all changed now the work comes to me through word of mouth.
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FWIW, my advice is simple. Move on. Write off the debt and frame it in your mind that it cost you about twenty minutes' work to find out a customer's true character.
Spend your time cleaning windows and forget her.
Vin
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I would say leave her a bill for the work in a couple of weeks time as she may have a change of heart but don't expect miracles. It's not worth the negative impact she will have on your health letting her get the better of you, better off without her type with petty attitude, life is too short to be dragged down by people like her.
I cleaned a place where the new owner had bought three properties all in a row, each worth a few million each and the way he talked to his staff, the electrician, plumber, gardener, etc was absolutely shocking, worse than a sargeant major in the army disciplining someone for bad behaviour, I thought to myself I won't be coming back to clean this place or the other two houses for two hundred quid a piece, shove it up your *****, no thanks, don't need customers like that with that kind of attitude.