Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ftp on January 10, 2010, 09:33:05 pm
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I have dropped several of my most disgusting dog fouled properties by simply telling myself i will never clean that turd infested hell hole ever again.
The problem is I've never informed the customer that i will never return.
Have you done this and how do you respond to a phone call should you get one? Do you give it to them straight or make an excuse up?
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i dropped a few before xmas, manily the pad payers and the ones that are a pain to get access etc, i dont think you will get phone calls, it will be months before they realise that you havent been
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Just tell them thats it's a health ans saftey/hygeine issue. They either sort it and keepon top of it or you can't do them any more.
It'll make you feel a bit embarassed at first, but they tend to sort the problem out.
If they don't, ditch 'em! :)
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on the subject of dog poo,
i had only a dozen customers at the time .this ladies place was fine, cleaned windows, next month puppy turns up,middle of august dog crap all up side alley,i was almost heavin`.
persivered, then next month the son went to open gate and said "mate, theres all crap up the path...."
tell your mum i cant clean as i will get it all over the hoses.
5 wks later she calls..
when you cleaning my windows? i asked your boy to get you to call me, its the dog poo, to this she says
"ohh just cos ive got a bit of dog mess you wont clean me windows?"
No. Goodbye ma`am.
Laughed for 5 mins after!!
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ive one were i just percievered through the muck :'( then the owner came out and slipped on a huge turd and was covered in it. the place has been spotless ever since ;D
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If I replace a custy because of one reason or another, I don't usually tell them. Dog muck is a big thing here with Squaddies, every second house has a dog. What's bad is, when they have a garden covered in it, then let the kids play in it all afternoon. Another bad point about some custies is, loads of clutter and junk to move to get to the windows. Hate it, but if it's a very good price and good payer, I tend to grin and bare it.
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This is part of the problem, finding a way of letting the customer know why you are intending to drop them, without them doing their nut.
I believe we should let them know we are dropping them, and why ! But when I have done this have found the customer tends to be quite angry, so I quite understand why many just stop going and don't tell them anything.
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id like to hear if anybody? has a simple one liner that gets the message clear that theyve messed u about and no chance of u returning /// without the "f" word in it
iv already got 3 star stickers on my bucket and 3 stars on the inside of my cap ,to remind me to apply the 3strikes n your out rule
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With our squaddies custies, you don't need a 1 liner really. They know eachother and are very compact. So if I drop and replace 1, all the neighbours notice pretty quickly lol. On the second time around, we tend to get the "Oh, you don't clean nr..... anymore" type of comments.
and the gossip starts ;)
Another time, some bird was going on holliday, saw us working and legged it over all breathless to pay us. I said "You're keen", she said "Yes, but we are away back to UK in a couple of hours, so I wanted to pay you before we go, so we wont be taken off your list".
Had another woman ring us from South Wales once. We cleaned her and didn't manage to catch her before they moved back to UK. She remembered to pay but couldn't find our number. When they got the furniture unloaded, she found our card stuck to her fridge door. Rang us to say sorry and to collect from her mate in the same street. aaaaw sweet ;D
Had a few do a runner though. Not many, but annoying all the same. The 3 strikes rule that some of you have is a good idea.
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maybe we should all keep one of those little shovels and give it the all clear before we go in ;D i keep anti bac spray in the van for the odd accident, it is the worst though, all over your hoses! >:( has anyone else got really rich custies, but their back gardens are as if jippos live there? dont they know theres a free rubbish collection service in this country? ???
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I have a small shovel in the van for this very thing, the kind of thing you might use on an open-fire in the house and also bacterial soap.
However those things aren't there to enable me to clear others dogs mess, theyre then just in case there is an accident with those hose.
It is a tough one really regarding dogs mess and how you handle custards.
I had a custard about 8 months ago who had a filthy patio because of this problem. I took her out the back and showed her. She embarrasingly cleared it all up as I explained I couldnt clean in those conditions because of the hose getting covered and 'it' transfering to my hands, jeans. She fully understood and was fine.
Next time I went round 6 weeks later, same scenario, $hit everywhere. I didnt do the clean, havent been back and she hasnt rang me.
I wonder if a note through the door is a good idea, that way you dont have to confront them.
'Dear Mrs Custard, we were unfortunately unable to clean your windows today due to the high level of animal excrement on your patio/path/underwear on the line (delete whichever is inappropriate).
We will return in approximately 6 weeks (or whenever we wish) to resume the service; however if we find conditions inappropriate on that occassion we will unfortunately have to terminate your service forthwith.'
Happy Turd Shovelling
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I tend to have a nightmare cleaning them, then don't want to go back, so they end up getting dropped without me telling them. I don't feel bad about it since I feel they should have more consideration.
I mean we have a 'poo machine' and we do 'poo patrol' every morning; its just good hygiene.
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at the start of last year O made the decision to drop 38 customers that were nothing but hassle, it left a bit of a hole in the business stakes but all year I didn't have that hassle and it was great as I more than trebled jobs won to to what I dumped.
and I didn't even waste my time telling any of them even though quite a few still owed me money.
even had one of them about July time come over to me while I was cleaning in her close and said oh I'll have mine done today and walked back in her house, I finished the job I was doing and just drove off.
I think the big sweaty lard arsed turd harvesting cow got the message as I've seen her twice since while cleaning in her close but she didn't ask me ;D
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I put one of my notes through their letterbox telling them that due to health and safety issues i am unable to clean their windows.
I wont even take them back if they promise to clear it up as i know from past experiances they will for a while and then the same scenario starts all over again.
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I won't do houses with dog mess and tell them so. One lady said she would clear it up before I came, that lasted one visit then it all went back to as before.
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i just stop doing them dont even tell them,if they ask later then i tell them,some become ok others like to flounder in the crap
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i just stop doing them dont even tell them,if they ask later then i tell them,some become ok others like to flounder in the crap
i am the same as you stan.
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id like to hear if anybody? has a simple one liner that gets the message clear that theyve messed u about and no chance of u returning /// without the "f" word in it
johnnyald,
what about: your not reliable.
or your unreliable or Your not a regular customer./which is what i need to make a living.
I think i might use the last one myself, you could always end each sentance with for £uck sake, if you need to spice it up ;D
johnny i like your website, i see it on vista the other month £2.99 a month is that right is ther any other charges when you set it up.
thanks lee
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what about: your not reliable.
or your unreliable or Your not a regular customer./which is what i need to make a living.
I think i might use the last one myself, you could always end each sentance with for £uck sake, if you need to spice it up ;D
johnny i like your website, i see it on vista the other month £2.99 a month is that right is ther any other charges when you set it up.
thanks lee
it is £2.99 for just the 1 page , ive got 3 pages this is £7 or near 7 . th first 30 days is free so you could set it up and cancel after 29 days if you didnt like it and wouldnt hav paid anything . theres no charge when you set it up and it tells u who has viewed ur site when you log into it .
Thanks LEE for the one-liner mate ,im going to use that "your unreliable,love, ...see ya "
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i used to clean a house with a very tiny garden they had staffy it was like walking into a mine field not only that they were bad payers and the dog was a bit keen so i added up pros and cons ie dog bites and poop no contest dumped ;D
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I think its important to tell them find are not coming back and why. If you do not you leave yourself open to carry the can when they speak to there friends and neighbours. Say your unprofessional and let them down. I think the note Matt Bateman is excellent and gives the customer a chance to fix up the mess. You can always justify dropping them with open conscience.
These rules for want of abetter word is call practices and procedure we should write them down and apply them to all avenues of our business. Each time you apply them it gets easier, customer really like a business with boundaries and they admirer a business with scruples.
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I think its important to tell them find are not coming back and why. If you do not you leave yourself open to carry the can when they speak to there friends and neighbours. Say your unprofessional and let them down. I think the note Matt Bateman is excellent and gives the customer a chance to fix up the mess. You can always justify dropping them with open conscience.
These rules for want of abetter word is call practices and procedure we should write them down and apply them to all avenues of our business. Each time you apply them it gets easier, customer really like a business with boundaries and they admirer a business with scruples.
Good points.
You could also write down and give them your T&C s ; tell them it relates to Turds and Conditions ;)
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We get the same problem. What I suggest is sending them a letter informing them that if you arrive on their property again and it covered in poope you will have to charge them £40 to sanatise your equipment. Not tried it yet but they will all be poopecicles just now anyway. Let me know what you think.
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johnyald.
thanks for website info.
must be silly me, but i thought the way it was worded it's 3 pages for £2.99 ???
wizard.
I agree with what you say and others, but i've done all the notes through doors as to why i'm not coming back and it's a damned if you do; damned if you don't scenario.
I don't bother wasteing my time and ink on people now.
I also think if you leave em dangling, and the custy does speak to you in the future, i've usually simmered down by then and i might word it better why i haven't been back.
As a note through the door especially if a bit saucy might make it worse.
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johnyald.
thanks for website info.
must be silly me, but i thought the way it was worded it's 3 pages for £2.99 ???
you may be right maybe its is £2.99 for the 3 pages. all i know is im paying about 7 quid a month, so i will look into it . it brings in plenty of work having said that .
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jonnyald,
sorry keep spelling your name wrong.
check website price out, i'm probably wrong, but just incase ;)
some people have accused vista of sharp pradtice on here.
glad it pulls in the work.
How do you get custies from it; is it on your leaflets business cards.
or do people just come across it on google etc
thanks lee
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on the back of my car i have the web address plus it links in to various local service websites such as FREEINDEX , THOMPSON LOCAL, YELL . i havnt got any business cards, and only handwritten leaflets , as youknow lee, work finds you on the street
to be truthful,im pretty full up workwise , i just started the website in the last summer cos everybody else does. maybe this summer i will pull the plug on it as i dont want to expand into employing lads etc
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jonnyald.
know what you mean, i don't really want to employ people.
when i get home like to switch off.
You know what they say when you got too much work; put your prices up, lose a bit and do same work for more money.
that's the theory.
I've always got room for an over priced job ;D
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ive one were i just percievered through the muck :'( then the owner came out and slipped on a huge turd and was covered in it. the place has been spotless ever since ;D
Link to a youtube video please. Come on. Share the fun.