Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 08:39:45 pm

Title: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 08:39:45 pm
was out tonight collecting, well tried to.  not one person in,  it must be great to get a wage packet with all your money in one go, do they ever give it a thought how we get paid, or that we have bills to pay just llike them, or do they think we get a special rate for petrol to run after them night after night, i dont think so,  >:(
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: L.J.S cleaning on June 08, 2009, 08:42:34 pm
i know what you mean i had one of those weeks last week.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: AuRavelling79 on June 08, 2009, 08:42:45 pm
Me no collect - me wait for gentle thud of cheques on mat.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Steve CM on June 08, 2009, 08:42:58 pm
i really can't see the point in collecting ??? i always have a debt leaving SAE but constantly have a rolling amount coming in. For any real trouble payers i just ring them up and get nasty ;D not really but i very rarely don't get my money
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 08:48:24 pm
yes its been one of those weeks, just peed of with all the running around, the ones you do catch, o my husbands not home, nicely i say will come back, or to save me troubling you, you could leave it under the mat or plant pot, o yes good idea, go back, surprise nothing?? lol
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: dave.e on June 08, 2009, 08:52:54 pm
hi guys if you have any problems and i have said it befor go round on a sunday tea time park over drive and collect it then this is what i do if i get any problems and it works a treat.dave
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 09:01:05 pm
to some folk collecting on a sunday is a no no,  well round here it is, looks like i may have to do online payments
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jr windows on June 08, 2009, 09:03:37 pm
I stopped collecting after Christmas. I leave stamped address envelopes and I've had many a customer say when I go and clean a month later I'm not sending a cheque for that small amount. We can't win.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: dave.e on June 08, 2009, 09:10:56 pm
to some folk collecting on a sunday is a no no,  well round here it is, looks like i may have to do online payments
[/quote

 Hi  jouk45 i know thay don,t like you going round on a sunday we would not have to if thay paid there god dam bill on time so
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 09:15:38 pm
i thought about offering a small discount if they paid on time, then i look in there driveways and see mercs boats the best of gear, and i think,  no i dont think the 20p discount would help them  ;D
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: martinsadie on June 08, 2009, 10:07:18 pm
was out tonight collecting, well tried to.  not one person in,  it must be great to get a wage packet with all your money in one go, do they ever give it a thought how we get paid, or that we have bills to pay just llike them, or do they think we get a special rate for petrol to run after them night after night, i dont think so,  >:(
looks desperate collecting on a Monday,save yourself hassle and just collect on Thursday and Friday,most people in and have money  ;D
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 10:11:10 pm
was out tonight collecting, well tried to.  not one person in,  it must be great to get a wage packet with all your money in one go, do they ever give it a thought how we get paid, or that we have bills to pay just llike them, or do they think we get a special rate for petrol to run after them night after night, i dont think so,  >:(
looks desperate collecting on a Monday,save yourself hassle and just collect on Thursday and Friday,most people in and have money  ;D
i did try friday, i collect between 5pm and 7pm what annoys me more, is when there are cars in the driveway, and they dont answer  :'(
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: martinsadie on June 08, 2009, 10:14:24 pm
i do the two nights and if i think someones in i knock harder or even go round the back
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: krave on June 08, 2009, 10:19:45 pm
i do the two nights and if i think someones in i knock harder or even go round the back
lol
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 10:59:46 pm
i do the two nights and if i think someones in i knock harder or even go round the back
no way stan  ;D  what if the gate is locked, dont tell me lol
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: NBwcs on June 08, 2009, 11:07:49 pm
Strange that, i went collecting on a monday a couple of weeks ago and got a right result, been thinking of changing the collecting day permanently.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 08, 2009, 11:14:44 pm
Strange that, i went collecting on a monday a couple of weeks ago and got a right result, been thinking of changing the collecting day permanently.
you could be right, folk get payed and then go shopping in the evening, but then i tried tonight with no joy,
could be just a one off, i hope
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: leapstallbuildings on June 09, 2009, 08:30:05 am
I stopped collecting after Christmas. I leave stamped address envelopes and I've had many a customer say when I go and clean a month later I'm not sending a cheque for that small amount. We can't win.

So charge them more to make it worth them sending it   ;D
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Window Washers on June 09, 2009, 09:32:09 am
i thought about offering a small discount if they paid on time, then i look in there driveways and see mercs boats the best of gear, and i think,  no i dont think the 20p discount would help them  ;D
offer them a late payment charge, they will send it ;)

I stopped collection for the very reason yuo got, driving to cambridge, 2 hours collection and not one person in, from then on I stopped, every customer pays by cheque or online now, far less hassle, I just leave an invoice. with payment terms on with a date.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Ian Lancaster on June 09, 2009, 11:15:55 am
I stopped collecting after Christmas. I leave stamped address envelopes and I've had many a customer say when I go and clean a month later I'm not sending a cheque for that small amount. We can't win.

We have a minimum charge of £10, but I still have lots of jobs from before I introduced that, so I leave a 'windows cleaned' ticket with the words 'collect next time' written on it.  When the debt gets past the £10 mark I leave an SAE
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: mark dew on June 09, 2009, 05:55:38 pm
I'm a big fan of leaving postal details for customers to post me a cheque.
I collected the 1st couple of years until 1 day i realised that my fuel bill could be cut by 60% or so. 
If everyone was home by 6pm i would probably still collect now, as it was an enjoyable part of my day and got me out at nights. Trouble was people finish work at all hours and i couln't justify driving 10+ miles more than once for a £10 job.
I worked out some of these jobs i was on less than min wage after time and fuel costs came into play.
Funnily enough, i don't have many more customers per month than i did 3 years ago, due to culling. But my average job price has almost doubled.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on June 09, 2009, 08:04:08 pm
I collect on a thursday or friday evening between 6pm and 8pm, if they are not in when I call I leave them a stamped addressed envelope so they can pay by cheque and a slip with my paypal info so they can pay by paypal.




Matt
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: brianbarber on June 09, 2009, 08:55:57 pm
Been leaving SAE envelopes, works a treat,wasting time collecting means some jobs you will lose out,by the time you allow your time and diesel.

Mr B
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: martinsadie on June 09, 2009, 09:57:47 pm
Been leaving SAE envelopes, works a treat,wasting time collecting means some jobs you will lose out,by the time you allow your time and diesel.

Mr B
not if you have a compact round
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: dai on June 09, 2009, 11:22:17 pm
A lot has been said previously about direct debiting and someone said that you had to have a merchant's account.
My kids Karate lessons are paid for by direct debit, the guy that runs the classes uses some company, and all payments go through them. I suppose they take a fee for doing this, and pass the remaining money onto the Karate academy.
I will ask the Karate instructor what the exact set up is on Friday.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: EZclean on June 11, 2009, 04:04:37 pm
i collect for about half an hour what ive done that day, will not get all of it in, but it makes friday collecting not as long, and supplements those who were in and paid there and then. its nice to have the brass in your pocket at the end of the working day.
but ive just started taking Paypal. for a £10 house it cost me about 50p!!!
think i'll knock that on the head
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: GWCS on June 11, 2009, 04:34:46 pm
i collect for about half an hour what ive done that day, will not get all of it in, but it makes friday collecting not as long, and supplements those who were in and paid there and then. its nice to have the brass in your pocket at the end of the working day.
but ive just started taking Paypal. for a £10 house it cost me about 50p!!!
think i'll knock that on the head

Most of my custies pay via cheque, bank transfer seems to getting very popular!

Paypal works but i give them the 50p charge for doing so.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: dai on June 11, 2009, 04:37:52 pm
If anyone does want to go down the direct debit road there is a company that will collect it for you.
dfc Debit Finance Collections plc. You can email them at  info@debitfinance.co.uk or phone them on 01908422007.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 11, 2009, 09:28:51 pm
well i went round tonight collecting,  most of them all where in,  one custy in particular, says err? you not suppose to collect on a friday?? i said yes normaly but i cant seem to catch you in, well i will have to see if i have any spare cash  lying around he said, what a cheek  ;D
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Helen on June 11, 2009, 11:00:17 pm
Can't believe so many still go collecting. Went out with the ark ;D
Cheques in post or on-line. Easy and leaves your evenings free for better things ;)
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: perfectpanesplymouth on June 12, 2009, 12:25:22 am
i love collecting
it means i don't have to sit with the wife :D
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Helen on June 12, 2009, 09:58:49 am
i love collecting
it means i don't have to sit with the wife :D

she probably feels the same. so keep collecting  ;D
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: monkeyboy950 on June 12, 2009, 11:26:50 am
how do u go about getting the online thing set up ????
i would love to be able to get that sorted
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: EZclean on June 12, 2009, 12:11:10 pm
easiest way is paypal, if you or your customers use Ebay, then its easy to send and also request money.
the other way is Internet Banking, i have a customer i never ever see, when i've done i send a text and he goes online to his bank account and pays me into my bank. He just needed my Sort Code and Bank Account No., i dont use internet banking but it makes no difference cos it uses BACS i think, where as PayPal just needs an email address
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on June 12, 2009, 03:31:49 pm
I love collecting the week before Christmas, plenty of tips, last year I recieved a bottle of whisky, 3 cases of beer and £230 in tips lol.
I wouldnt of gained any of this if I didnt go out collecting  ;D ;D ;D




Matt
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: jouk45 on June 12, 2009, 03:38:32 pm
yes good question, would we still get the money tips with online payments  ;D
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: cozy on June 12, 2009, 04:01:46 pm
I'm strange in that way, I enjoy collecting. Gives me contact with the custies and I think makes that little bit of a difference when it comes to loyalty.

Having said that, I must be really strange, as I also enjoy knocking on doors and getting new custies.

Basically, I'm just strange :-[
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: Klean07 on June 12, 2009, 04:05:49 pm
Last time I went collecting was about 10 years ago. Most send me cheques, some pay by standing order, the rest I get eventually.
Title: Re: collecting problems
Post by: martinsadie on June 12, 2009, 08:31:12 pm
Can't believe so many still go collecting. Went out with the ark ;D
Cheques in post or on-line. Easy and leaves your evenings free for better things ;)
3 biggest lies
1 cheques in the post

2 black is beautiful

3 cant put it on here its rude