Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: gwrightson on July 14, 2008, 02:55:40 pm

Title: keeps postponing
Post by: gwrightson on July 14, 2008, 02:55:40 pm


what do you think I should do ?

I have a custy who requires her full house cleaning, the job is worth £350, however it wa initialy booked in 3 weeks ago, 2 days after the booking she postponed , booking me in for 2 weeks later no problem but  3 days before the date she again rang postponing saying the plumbers were not finished, this time a little peeved  but hey she still wants the work doing, booked in for this coming friday. Guess what , just got in and a message on my phone can i rebook her in for friday the 1st August .   
now obviously i dont want to lose the job so would you just rebook and hopfully fit in other jobs on the cancelled date, or would you suggest something else.

geoff
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Joe H on July 14, 2008, 03:07:51 pm
Hi Jeff

I started a job on 19th May, only downstairs done as decorator too busy to finish upstairs.

Still waiting, but am told it could be in hte next 2 weeks.

At least you are being told and you are getting some warning but I can see its a pain.

I would book her in, put other work around her, but at the start of the week 28th July just give her a call. If she still not sure tell her that you may have to overbook Aug 1st and put her back a week.
Would be good to keep the job but you also need the other customers - bird in the hand etc
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: *paul_moss on July 14, 2008, 04:56:49 pm
Geoff
If you need the work then you will have to hang in and bite your lip. Ive had this a couple of times and end up binning them if they cancel on a second occasion.
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Neil Grainger on July 14, 2008, 05:08:41 pm
Geoff, ask her for a deposit, if she is really going to use you she will  happily pay a fee in advance.

cheers

Neil
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Doug Holloway on July 14, 2008, 05:14:51 pm
Hi Guys

Geoff, I am a three  strikes and your out man.

I would ring and say that all this changing is playing havoc with your diary and is she really sure of the 1st.

If she sounds confident give her one more chance , otherwise into touch !

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: markpowell on July 14, 2008, 06:39:02 pm
Im with doug 100% on this one.
Mark
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: derek west on July 14, 2008, 08:34:20 pm
if shes taking up other customers space then bin it but if youve got gaps to play with then let her get on with it, i'm new to all this and at the moment can easily handle all my jobs with days to spare so i'd grin and bear it. but if i lost a lead because i couldnt do it soon enough then i'd tell her to find someone else. roll on the days when i can tell a cancelling customer to go fish.
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Mike Osbourne on July 14, 2008, 08:45:52 pm
My feeling with people like this is they don't value you or your time and you devalue yourself when you let them. This can sometimes be my fault because I havn't qyuite conveyed what I'm about and what it means to be messed about.

The answer is to explain, get agreement and then explain the consequences of breaking a mutual agreement (anyone got teenagers?)

The three strikes is a good idea, whatever reasons three time is more than just bad luck. When you chase people like this you are no different than a losing gambling addict.
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: David_Annable on July 14, 2008, 08:53:22 pm
Hi

The last time this happened, the job was rearranged 3 times & in the end cancelled.

To be honest i didn't want to work for her in the first place, as i thought she would be difficult.

Dave
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: des on July 14, 2008, 09:26:06 pm
Geoff its easy just tell her to phone you when the works done and not before as she is taking up appointments which cost you  money .I have this all the time
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Andy Hogarth on July 14, 2008, 09:29:23 pm
I've had both tomorrows jobs rescheduled, one just sounds like an utter messer who just happened to resched after she told her husband the price ::)  but I need the work so I'm bearing with it, the other is a squaddie who's posting has been delayed so seems quite genuine

One minute I have £250 booked in and the next nothing!!!!!! Gutted but I'm determined to get out and leaflet as I have already arranged cover for the little 'uns

Personally though Geoff I think you should not bother with her she's a total messer..... obviously ;)............ Just give me the job, I'd travel for £350 and be messed about all month :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Andy
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: The Great One on July 14, 2008, 09:43:32 pm
Geoff its easy just tell her to phone you when the works done and not before as she is taking up appointments which cost you  money .I have this all the time

i agree.

If she's having work done, this can easily lead to delays, if painting or plumbing work hasn't been done, or they delay her due to other commitments.

Just tell her to call when she is absolutely ready, get on with your business and if she calls great, if not then the inconvenience is limited to zero.

Regards

Martin 8)
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: gwrightson on July 31, 2008, 06:04:59 am
well,

spoke custy, jobs is still on for tommorow :)

so hopefuly their will be no last minute changes >:(

geoff
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: clinton on July 31, 2008, 08:05:19 am
Let us know what happens :)
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: gwrightson on July 31, 2008, 07:34:15 pm
 >:(  >:(  >:(

"I dont believe it "

A message on my mobile , from a lady ...... who was ringing on behalf of my custy " sorry but mrs x has asked me  to phone to postpone tomorrow, she is playing in a tennis tournamant in Ilkley " apparently she is a ranked tennis player and has been draughted in last minute :-\
Well I,m just going to scour the net to see if their are tennis games around Ilkely tommorow :)
I dread to nthink what I will say if she isnt there ;)

geoff
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Jim_77 on July 31, 2008, 07:37:19 pm
Not having much luck with this one are you mate!
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: gwrightson on July 31, 2008, 07:43:17 pm
For the fourth year running, Skipton Building Society will provide financial support to the JM Glendinning Group Ilkley Open Tennis Tournament.

The Ilkley Open is a huge tennis event held at the Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club from July 26 to August 2. The tournament includes an international men's singles and doubles competition as well as a number of top grade senior and junior events.



Just copied this from Ilkely lawn tennis club web site!!!!!!!!!

Maybe she isnt lying :-\

but still annoying

geoff

Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: derek west on July 31, 2008, 07:43:49 pm
geoff
just turn up and play dumb, hopefully someone will be in. do the clean and then its sorted, good luck with getting the money though, all though if she wins the tennis tourny she'll be quids in.
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Paul Simpson on July 31, 2008, 08:00:54 pm
Had something like this last year, priced up January 07, she cancelled twice on me before finally saying she would give me a call when she was ready.
Approx. 5 months later (yes 5 :o) she called and started haggling the price because I said I was adding back on the seasonal discount.
Eventually did the job at the original price but have since had 3 good referrals from them and she just booked me to go back again later this month.  ;D
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on July 31, 2008, 08:44:34 pm
I have had customers in the past like that, I once had one cancel on me for quite a small job and then re book to cancel and so on, so I booked her in again and the night before the job I called to cancel her (I'd already covered the appointment with a paying customer)

Shaun

PS ask her if the building society would like to cancel your morgage repayment this month and rebook for later.
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on July 31, 2008, 10:47:51 pm
Shaun

I like your style. ;D

Roger
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: garyj on July 31, 2008, 11:11:21 pm
Tell her you will do it for free then do not turn up.

Then phone her and say FIFTEEN ALL  :P
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: clinton on August 01, 2008, 10:29:35 pm
I would call it a day now with her.

Dont care if she is in a tennis comp or not no one should be messed around like that and am sure she would have had someone to let you in if she really wanted you mate...
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Gerry Styles on August 01, 2008, 10:35:04 pm
I would tell her to shove it
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: elite mike on August 02, 2008, 09:10:35 am
Tell her you will do it for free then do not turn up.

Then phone her and say FIFTEEN ALL  :P

thats a classic, brilliant ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Mike Osbourne on August 02, 2008, 03:55:23 pm
Here's a conversation I had with someone after letting me down once.

me: OK, I understand, these things happen and I'm sure you understand that even though I can come back another day I've essentially lost that £130 because it's too short notice to book someone else in for Tuesday, yeah?

custy: sorry blah blah blah:

me: So if we commit to Thurday at 9.00am that's cast in stone is it?

custy: Oh yes, definitely.

me: Ok That's fine, now are you sure, because I will need a £50 deposit as it's  policy in these circumstance, but that's not a problem is it because you will be there, won't you.


So either they backpeddle and stop wasting your time or they pay up. Therefore whatever happens you are suddenly in a winning position.

I get deposits now  from anybody who seems flaky anyway and never had a problem.

I'm currently working on the 'I won't be there today but I will drop a cheque in the post' Do you say I ain't coming or do the job and hope?





 
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Jim_77 on August 02, 2008, 05:45:57 pm
I don't have a problem walking away with no cheque, I don't really work for too many customers who I'd be worried about getting paid by.  I think that comes from where I've set myself in the market, i.e. spending a little longer and working for higher prices, rather than the high volume approach.

I think we all forget that the domestic market isn't really a problem when it comes to getting paid, it's commercial customers who seem to lose their cheque book when it's time to cough up.

I've got a county court claim pending at the moment, the company have until, well, tomorrow to pay me.. no cheque arrived in the post this morning.  I just can't fathom the mentality, this company is going to have a CCJ against it by Tuesday morning, I'm not pi$$ing around any more asking for the money.

Who would run a business like that??!
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: Mike Osbourne on August 02, 2008, 06:11:00 pm
Just got a cheque today from North Somerset Council, just checked, the job was done in May and it was, can you get down here tomorrow morning when they called. ::)
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: gwrightson on August 08, 2008, 02:50:11 pm


job done today ;D

paid up, with sincere aploigies   .

She did afterall seem a real genuine case of circumstances going wrong, even in the bathroom their was still plumbing going on, any way saga over :)

not quite as annoyed now ;)

Geoff
Title: Re: keeps postponing
Post by: derek west on August 08, 2008, 03:18:00 pm
did she win???????