Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 06:31:55 pm

Title: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 06:31:55 pm
Her ( customer ): Hi is that the window cleaners?
Me: Yes
Her:its ****** from *******
Me:oh hello!
Her:Im not happy at all

Thought to myself, oh no....but I checked the job to see if it was good

Her:You cleaned my house today and I told you never to come again ( lie )

She still ows us from last time too so bill ads up to £70

Me:Well this clean was scheduled in my diary
Her:No it wasnt, youll only get £35 out of me for the last time ( 1 month overdue ), and thats it ( very aggressive tone )
Me:Well, I dont want to fall out, so ok
Her:laugh laugh laugh

Basically the problem is her B&B is struggling and now she doesnt have enough money to maintain the place, so shes resorting to lying....she was always a bad payer anyway, glad to get rid!!!!
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: NWH on February 19, 2008, 06:36:16 pm
I would have told her to settle the whole bill and then i would have told her ok i`ll take you off my books,but i would have wanted paying for the 2 cleans.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Dean Aspects on February 19, 2008, 06:38:40 pm
You can do without customers like that i had a new customer phone me at 11.30 one night to say they had taken the day off to wait in for me to clean the windows and went on to give me grief for a further five minutes at first i was wanting to keep the job so was polite back but eventually just got annoyed and said goodbye and hung up on them
It gets to you sometimes but you cannot let it some people are like that so move on to the next good customer

Dean
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 06:45:38 pm
I know she wasnt going to pay, otherwise I would have insisted because I want every penny for the work I do but in this case it wasnt worth it, I used to work with her daughter too, so I didnt want an argument!! She just wasnt going to pay up, Luke

oh yeah forgot something she said in the call

Her: oh and Ill give you some advice, if you go around cleaning windows that your not mean to your going to loose loads of customers
Me:Well I've been fine up to now

What a crazy thing to say!!!!!!
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: NWH on February 19, 2008, 06:48:19 pm
With an attitude like that she sounds middle aged and fat lol. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: steven ainger on February 19, 2008, 06:54:46 pm
you should of said in reply, ill give you some advice now, if you go round with an attitude like that your b&b will stuggle................. oh it is
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 06:56:26 pm
Yeah Id love to say those things but I knew it wasnt worth it partly for my reputation! She is middle aged though, but not fat! Luke
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: NWH on February 19, 2008, 06:57:39 pm
you should of said in reply, ill give you some advice now, if you go round with an attitude like that your b&b will stuggle................. oh it is
You couldn`t have said it any better.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: nat on February 19, 2008, 06:57:54 pm
threaten her with small claims court! always does the trick for me. i would of wanted all of it paying. its not the money but the principal...cheeky tart!!
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: niceandclean on February 19, 2008, 06:58:38 pm
Luke, sorry to go off topic. But a while back you posted a microfibre mop head that attaches to the Unger thread. Could you tell me the make and where you got it from, as i have a school to do on Friday and the only ones i can find are Addis and Vileda, but they dont fit.
Thanks
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 07:01:26 pm
There made by a company called "cleanit" or "cleanitup" ( not on internet ) , you can get them in Home & Bargains, or at least you could 3-4 months ago, Luke
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Alex Wingrove on February 19, 2008, 07:02:14 pm
go and get what she owes

Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Village Gleam on February 19, 2008, 07:04:14 pm
She sounds quite proactive, so if she had cancelled or asked you not to call you definitely would have known about it. I can't imagine her vaguely saying  don't call next time, and if she had it'd be likely that she would have settled the outstanding amount at that time or made some comment on when she intended to pay it.

She's older than you and more worldly, and has probably spent the last twenty years arguing with different husbands and learning the best way to belittle waiting staff and chamber maids to the point where phoning you up and being rude is almost a pleasure.

You did the right thing, don't let it get to you. Today's the day you learnt the secret of hot.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: niceandclean on February 19, 2008, 07:05:24 pm
There made by a company called "cleanit" or "cleanitup" ( not on internet ) , you can get them in Home & Bargains, or at least you could 3-4 months ago, Luke

Ok thanks, never heard of Home and Bargains? Ill have to have a look again tomorrow.
Thanks.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: simon knight on February 19, 2008, 07:07:10 pm

Get the £35 then take back the freebie....know what I mean?!!
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 07:13:04 pm
Yes, shes just lying, she never said "dont come again". She's just too scared of saying she doesnt have enough money to pay me!!!

niceandclean

Sorry its called homebargains:

http://www.homebargains.co.uk/

use the store finder, to find one, Luke

Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: niceandclean on February 19, 2008, 07:35:41 pm
Yes, shes just lying, she never said "dont come again". She's just too scared of saying she doesnt have enough money to pay me!!!

niceandclean

Sorry its called homebargains:

http://www.homebargains.co.uk/

use the store finder, to find one, Luke



Excellent, thanks Luke.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: mark dew on February 19, 2008, 07:36:48 pm
cheeky cow!

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: cvdewsbury on February 19, 2008, 07:38:22 pm
Definately insist on her paying her account in full ..show her what your made of son!!
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 07:49:51 pm
Id love to show her what I'm made of but it aint gonna happen! She lives quite local and is the type to spread rumors....you know the type, it just isnt worth it, Luke
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: LWC on February 19, 2008, 08:27:08 pm
grrrrr, that'd annoy me, but i wouldnt of let her off though
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 08:36:44 pm
Its her word against mine, shes just going to lie, so then its small claims court, whats the point for £35!!! Luke
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: LWC on February 19, 2008, 08:37:45 pm
thats alot of money!
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: pjulk on February 19, 2008, 08:52:20 pm
I would have said no problem i will be putting the dirt back on.

And they do pay up then i know i have only said it the once after the old bags husband was shouting down the phone at me but got a cheque within a couple of days.


Paul
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: NWH on February 19, 2008, 08:54:03 pm
I would have said no problem i will be putting the dirt back on.

And they do pay up then i know i have only said it the once after the old bags husband was shouting down the phone at me but got a cheque within a couple of days.


Paul
[/quoteNo problem i`ll put the dirt back on,that made me lol. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 19, 2008, 09:01:32 pm
Her ( customer ): Hi is that the window cleaners?
Me: Yes
Her:its ****** from *******
Me:oh hello!
Her:Im not happy at all

Thought to myself, oh no....but I checked the job to see if it was good

Her:You cleaned my house today and I told you never to come again ( lie )

She still ows us from last time too so bill ads up to £70

Me:Well this clean was scheduled in my diary
Her:No it wasnt, youll only get £35 out of me for the last time ( 1 month overdue ), and thats it ( very aggressive tone )
Me:Well, I dont want to fall out, so ok
Her:laugh laugh laugh

Basically the problem is her B&B is struggling and now she doesnt have enough money to maintain the place, so shes resorting to lying....she was always a bad payer anyway, glad to get rid!!!!

Although I would have tried to get both payments out of her, there have been times when I've regarded a non payment as an absolute bargain because it's a good way to get rid of a PITA customer.  The money lost for the non paymentr is far less than if they had continued to be a customer for another year because PITAs have a knack of trying to slow you down and generally being awkward.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 19, 2008, 09:03:14 pm
threaten her with small claims court! always does the trick for me. i would of wanted all of it paying. its not the money but the principal...cheeky tart!!

No it's not.  It's the money   ;D
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Wayne Thomas on February 19, 2008, 09:06:27 pm
Id love to show her what I'm made of but it aint gonna happen! She lives quite local and is the type to spread rumors....you know the type, it just isnt worth it, Luke

Good judgement Luke, some customers can cause more damage bad mouthing your reputation , than the debt is worth. No point making yourslf ill with rage and dreaming up a million ways to seek revenge. Life is too short, make the most of the positive side of life and stay in good health.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Blackbushe Windows on February 19, 2008, 09:09:34 pm
Shame Luke - that sort of thing is unsettling and unpleasant. But at least you seem to know why it's happened.

As for what to do - depends how far you want to take it. Previous posts my have answer - it's up to you.


Peter
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: johnny_h on February 19, 2008, 09:16:57 pm
go fill your tank with tap water and clean them again  ;D
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 19, 2008, 09:17:06 pm
Yes, shes just lying, she never said "dont come again". She's just too scared of saying she doesnt have enough money to pay me!!!

niceandclean

Sorry its called homebargains:

http://www.homebargains.co.uk/

use the store finder, to find one, Luke



If she's that hard up, maybe you could "treat" her to a box of eggs?   :)
Just kidding mate.  I wouldn't do it either.  It does leave a bad taste when people go sour on you though.  I've had a few down the years.  At such times, I just try to focus on the overwhelming majority of customers who are honest and decent people.
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: AuRavelling79 on February 19, 2008, 09:30:52 pm
Ever got a friend off the net to book a weekends B&B over Easter and not turn up?

That would be unprofessional! ;D

Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 19, 2008, 09:51:11 pm
Some good suggestions there but I like this most:

Quote
go fill your tank with tap water and clean them again

my tds is 24 now!!! Will find it hard to make them spotty! Luke

Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: mark dew on February 19, 2008, 10:36:25 pm
Its her word against mine, shes just going to lie, so then its small claims court, whats the point for £35!!! Luke

i don't understand that?
She isn't a new customer so you have certified accounts of you doing the job on a regular basis. You have no documentation and nor does she (or even a phone record) that she has cancelled. If you have done this work at the same regular interval then your accounts would back you up. What does it matter if she's lied?
I can understand you not wanting to rock the boat, but she's bent you over and shagged you and you're worried about what the others might think???  :o
Better to walk if your hearts not in it but a registered letter saying you will take matter to small claims if not paid within 7 days is nothing if not professional.

Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Sanity on February 19, 2008, 11:32:19 pm
for a bill of £70 I would take her to the small claims court.  Only costs £35...

And I would add that to her bill too.

Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: marc on February 19, 2008, 11:51:14 pm
or you could wash her windows with ya waste water from your ro that would leave a mess      marc
Title: Re: NASTY PHONECALL!!!
Post by: Tom Mac on February 20, 2008, 02:57:21 pm
Send her a letter from this web site You can print it of at home. Worked for me in the past
http://www.bestforbusiness.com/ClearText.aspx?id=224