Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jon777 on February 11, 2010, 09:51:48 pm

Title: bad customers
Post by: jon777 on February 11, 2010, 09:51:48 pm
This time of year for some reason always seems to bring out the time wasters. Is everyone getting them at the moment or are they all calling me >:(

You know the sort I mean -

Call you out for a quote and leave a note on the door saying they cant be there

Book in work and cancel on you a day or two before

Turn up for a quote and they cant even be bothered to remember your coming or give you 5 min of their time.

Two I've had recently, get to the door to quote and she says shes changed her mind doesn't want them cleaning.- Do an end of tenancy carpet clean for the tenant and she turns around and says shes not paying until shes got her deposit back :o


All part of the job I hear you all say and I suppose it is. 


I don't mind saying my patience is wearing thin.   Can tradespeople create a local sh*t list of time wasters people might think twice before messing us about.
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Colin Day on February 11, 2010, 09:53:49 pm
You are not alone ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Neil Williams on February 11, 2010, 10:14:04 pm
I've had a few over the years which you have to allow for, but I wouldn't stand for the e.o.t one you've had. That is bang out of order.
You do risk the chance of never seeing her again or the money as she has technically moved away.
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Mark Lawrence on February 11, 2010, 10:18:55 pm
I had an EOT booked in for yesterday, and was running a few mins late. So  i rang her and said that i would be there in 20mins or so - and was that still ok? she said yes of course it is.

Anyway, i got within 5 mins of her house and she texted me and said...oh, i dont need you anymore, sorry for the inconnvenience.

To say i was peeved was an understatement. why couldnt she just have said on the phone when i rang her?? i tried ringing her back but guess what? yeh she wouldnt answer - i wonder why >:(

try not to worry too much, as you say we all get em. dont stress i dont (well only for 5 mins anyway  ;D)

Mark
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on February 11, 2010, 10:24:20 pm
With eot I usually find the agents want a receipt of the tennants for work done no payment no receipt.

Tony
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: richie on February 11, 2010, 10:31:45 pm
Hi Tony,  did you get my text message with the details?

Richie.
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Steve. Taylor on February 11, 2010, 10:34:15 pm
I got caught 3 or 4 years ago. Can i get my husband to call you on friday and pay you the cash then?
sure ok they moved out on the thurseday.

Problem for them was my mate was the agent holding £585 deposit.
make that £415 when i got on the phone. ;D
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on February 11, 2010, 10:38:54 pm
Sure did Richie thanks will sort it over the weekend cheers m8

Tony
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Doug Holloway on February 12, 2010, 08:00:27 am
Hi Guys

Unfortunately if business is a bit slow these type of things seem to happen more but I think it's because we don't weed them as we should.

When busy you don't tend to bother with the indecisive and dodgy which you do get to spot.

Hope it picks up soon.

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: jon777 on February 12, 2010, 08:32:19 am
I should have not given an receipt - nice idea!


I did in the end get a post dated cheque off her, but to a certain extent once the work is done if they say their not paying yet you cant do that much about it :'(   without getting nasty, which could always backfire on you.




Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on February 12, 2010, 08:40:03 am
Well glad you ended up getting payed

Cheers Tony
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on February 12, 2010, 10:10:44 am
Ive done jobs before when the customer has 'forgotten to go to the bank' and wants to know if they can pop a cheque in the post. Like a soft sod in the past ive always agrees but almost always got bitten on the a$$!

Moral of the story is NEVER leave a domestic job until you get paid. Drive them to the bank if need be!!
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: from edge2edge on February 12, 2010, 11:30:06 am
Aaaaaaaaaaaagh just got back from a 2 hr round trip to do a £110 job for a chinese lady and got there only to be told by the occupant(a chinese man) that he had got the carpets cleaned a few days earlier.Phoned the lady but after a while decided to walk even though she said they still needed doing along with a sofa(Ist i had heard of it).It just felt like the longer it went on the less likely i was to get paid so put my self employed head and and said FFFFF this i am out of here.Regards Alan(swindon)
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Jim_77 on February 12, 2010, 01:20:34 pm
Lots of minimum charge jobs and cash customers about this time of year for me, which is about average.
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: murky on February 15, 2010, 04:28:13 pm
As before we all get bitten on the bum now and again.

My golden rule now is if its an EOT clean and if they are moving away its cash only on the day, if they dont like it, I dont care.

Most people are ok once you explain.

Murky
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Dennis on February 15, 2010, 05:19:34 pm
Never mind our customers canceling, someone just rang me to cancel tomorrow and he's not even booked with me.  ::)  ;D
"Didn't you quote me £38" he says. Yeah like I'm doing a 30 mile round trip for £38.  :D
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: clinton on February 15, 2010, 06:39:44 pm
Had the same as you dennis ;D

Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 15, 2010, 06:52:12 pm
Last month had a woman ranting at me saying that she wanted her rug back, "what rug?" I said, "I don't have your rug" I asked her if she had rang the correct cleaner and she then paused and put the phone down, half an hour later she rang again with the same story, I said to her "not you again" and put the phone down on her this time!

Shaun
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: garyfindlay on February 15, 2010, 07:47:05 pm
 1 lady tried to phone me, called the number above mine in the paper, and when the guy came to the door sent him away cos he was not from Elite (ME). Could be worse, I could have been that guy.
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Transitions on February 15, 2010, 07:48:12 pm
The customer is always right !! ::) .......... ;D funny storys.
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Kinver_Clean on February 16, 2010, 10:12:04 am
I went to a job and the lady opened the door to a cloud of fAgsmoke and she had last weeks dinner down her dressing gown front. 'You arent the cleaner- I booked Barry.' 'OK,' I said and scarpered. At least I had the refusal done for me.


 
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Gordonnis on February 17, 2010, 12:21:42 pm
Had a cancelation this morning from a woman living about 10 miles away  i was pulling onto the estate when she rang (100 yards from her door)  i ask what was the problem  she replyed she had the right to cancell because i did not issue a 7day cooling of letter, my reply was that you only booked on saturday( 4days ago ) and that was over the phone .so i went to the door for a better explanation , and guess what no answer and she had rang me from her home phone number     cancellations happen,  but a bit notice  would help   dont think she going on xmas card list
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: graeme marchbank on February 17, 2010, 07:31:14 pm
I had one problem with a cocky sod who tried to fob me off with "come back later" standing in an empty house (just moving out of a let)


My answer to him was go to the cash point now or I will use my APO (automatic pump out) on my truck to pump all the poo back in, only joking I said, but it worked. :o ;D


I think he took the hump when I said NO, when asking me to do extra bits for free...  ::)
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: Simon@arenaclean on February 19, 2010, 01:58:22 am
Cancellations are a pain in the bum, but you can turn it around. If a customer rings to cancel I always thank them for freeing up my diary as I had so much on I could do with the breathing space. Cheers! and if you change your mind give me a call, but you have to smile when you say it ;D Better than stomping around for the rest of the day affecting your attitude like I use to do!
Title: Re: bad customers
Post by: clinton on February 19, 2010, 09:59:08 am
Good post above and same here dont let it get you down.

Always think the ones that cancel are the jobs that would have been a hassle and a come back ;D