Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: mlscontractcleaner on November 23, 2006, 09:00:13 am
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Hi all.
Not strictly window cleaning related on its own, but as I did every aspect of cleaning for this idiot I put it under this heading.
A particular landlord of two pubs in Plymouth, The Clipper and The Beresford, and I name them as a warning to others, was a client of ours. First we simply carried out his window cleaning and was paid as we cleaned, but soon after he asked us to take on the daily cleaning of his premises, which we were happy to do.
The alarm bells rang a little, when on the second day in the Clipper I had a phone call from the previous cleaning contractor warning me that he was owed three months money. I put it down to sour grapes, but it stayed in the back of my mind. I wish I had listened more to the guy!!
Basically he paid when he saw fit, constantly messed me around with keys for access and when I finally had enough of the prat he owes me £700.
Admittidly I gave him no notice, simply handing back the keys to the Clipper and taking my equpment off site, but by that time I wasn't prepared to take any more crap from him. He even told me that his book keeper had sent me a cheque the day before we walked out and guess what, it hasn't arrived!!
I've never had this sort of problem with a client in the past, so what's the best way to recover our money??
The wife thinks I'll end up putting it down to experience, but it'd be nice to get some of it back, or at leasr land him with a CCJ.
Any help would be welcome, and any local lads offered work with this fool, think very carefully before accepting it!!
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For that sort of money Mate I would definitely take it to the small claims court. If it turned out he couldnt afford to pay then I believe he can even be made bankrupt for somewhere around that amount! WHy should he be sitting on YOUR money?
Dave
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I agree mate. So, what's the best way to do things, a small claims court, a debt recovery agency, please let me know if you've had any experience with this sort of thing.
Ta!!
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Cheers for the warning mate. If he phones me up wanting his windows cleaned ill tell to get lost.
Hope you get your money.
Stuart
SAJ Window Cleaners Ltd
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Hi,
If you do a search on google you will find small claims court under somthing like hmservices (can't quite remember name).
I took a company to court last year for not a lot more than your owed.
It cost me £80 which was recoverd when i won the judgement and also got interest on money.
It's nice and easy to do you don't even have to leave you chair!
Good luck and don't let them get away with it!
Rob.
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https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp
Look here , it will cost you £30 to file your claim and he will have to pay the costs, someone on the forum used this service with good results.
Hope this helps
Adam
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I have used it with good results but the fee was £80 but they may have reduced it now.
Roy
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Yep as i said earlier £80! ;D
Best £80 i spent! 8)
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Thanks lads and lasses, I guess I'm going to have to go down the legal route.
Doesn't it make you sick when you turn up to someone's place and do a flippin good job only to be screwed over when it comes to paying??
In 15 years it's the first time it's happened to me, but It's still a bit of a buggar!!
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have had to take a company this week for none payment , small claims court cost 80 pounds but you get it back if you win your case. dont let him get away with it
martin
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Sorry guys,
for £300 or less it's £30.00 but for over £300 it's £80, sorry for misleading but the web address is there for you.
regards
Adam ::) ::)
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Maybe before you go down that route try writing a warning letter to him first.
Heres a copy of one that usually works for me.
Mrs Cxxxxxxx
24 xxxxxx Drive
xxxxx
PAxx xxx
21 June 2006
OVERDUE PAYMENT
Dear Mrs Cxxxxx,
I am very disappointed to have received no reply to my letter dated 12 May 2006.
The payment of £ 50:00 is now extremely overdue.
Please send payment by return or contact me on the above number within seven days.
Unfortunately, failure to do so will result in further action being taken and other costs being added.
Again , if you are experiencing difficulties in paying this you must phone within seven days.
Yours sincerely
Ewan Chrystal
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Just take a few lads with you to ask for payment, Saturday evening at about 11pm should see enough cash on the premses to square up.
If no joy with that then take the legal route or talk to the brewery.
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Hi MLS , I used to work for the very same prat , the same 2 pubs too !
He was a pain in the butt , you gotta do it at this time on this day , i ended up binning him off , could not stick the bloke .
If i was in your shoes , i would take it out on the windows at the beresford , i take it he still has the same wooden windows , i should think it would cost an arm and a leg to put them right should heaven forbid anything happen to them .
Rich P @ F
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or perhaps a couple of stinkbombs in the pub on a Saturday night??
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Believe me , they are both shat holes , the locals would not notice the difference in the smell !
Rich P @ F
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i would nt go in there at night kicking off! the clipper that is,unless you want to battle with half of plymouths fleet and half of stonehouse barracks , unless things have changed.
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WHY drop down to his level ??? your better than that, do the right thing and stay with-in the law and take him to court ;)
Andy
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Stay within the law and get your money.
Taking it into your own hands and doing something might cost your more than he owes in the end.
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P+F, I'm shocked at your suggestions ;D ;D
You're right of course, the thought of going around and putting in all of his windows, along with his Mercedes 4x4 and his poxy Mercedes minibus, is very appealing, but the wife insists I do things the right way. He is a big bloke so it's probably better that way, really :-\
I'll keep you up to speed if we manage to wring some of his prescious money out of him.
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Your right about the windows , upon reflection it would not be a good idea to go into either of the pubs and kick off !
Unless of course you want to crawl out with no knee caps !
That idea would cost you more than £700 ;D
Rich P @ F
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Write a letter but be specific about what you are going to do and what he needs to do to avoid court action.
Dear Sir
I reget to inform you that unless payment of our outstanding balance of......
is made within 7 days I will take action to recover the money in the Small Claims Court.
Yours etc
This has worked brilliantly for me in the past and they coughed up by return of post ;D
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hi mate,
im sorry to hear that your being riped off like that.. it makes me mad!
there are more ways to skin a cat... i would phone waits and messeur to say that he is adding water to his spirits and not serving a full pint and also short changing his customers. you can also have a trip or fall at his pub in a toilet as ther was water on the floor, i would defo rip a few seats and i would have great plesasure in scraching his prid and joy and mybe the odd brick at his window. if he serves food, report him to the public healt ;Dh as his kitching is in a bad state.
it only takes a phone call and you dont have to give your name neather and all that would cos him sooooooo mutch poop he wouldnt know whats hit him, with. papper work and a lot off time and money, and i would go to the small claims court to. we do things differant down this neck off the woods. wales. good luck mate, get him!
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If everyone here advertises themselves as professional window cleaning businesses then you have to be professional about everything that goes with it, including bad debt.
When i 1st started i got my own back on someone who owed me money. Yes i felt better about it, but i didn't get my money and it took time out of my schedule to do it when i could have been earning.
In the last 18 months i must have written off around £200 and put it down as experience. I have replaced them all now with proper, regular paying customers.
Anyone now who messes about with payment gets 3 reminders with the last been a warning about it been taken to a Small Claims Court.
Craig