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Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Servicing electric hose reels.
« Last post by dazmond on October 28, 2025, 03:04:01 pm »Mines over 7 years old now. Ive never done anything to it. Still works like new!
Recent Posts
62
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by dazmond on October 28, 2025, 03:02:21 pm »I've never done it as I was brought up in a very strict Christian family where any dishonesty was frowned upon.
I have a window cleaning friend, who does the opposite, always takes cash where possible and doesn't declare it.
The vast majority of my customers pay by bank transfer but I do still get people offering me cash, which I turn down. Also people trying to get a lower price by paying cash. Had a lady the other day that did that and she was shocked I wouldn't take it.
Just wondering whether I'm mugging myself off. Not exactly thrilled with how my tax is used by the government.
Do HMRC even investigate tiny one man businesses?
By the way I still wouldn't take cash even if I was going to declare it as I dont have a bank near me to deposit it with.
Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.
Do you know the results of the audits?
Yes. No fines or tax owed as everything was above board. I don't think HMRC are that bad as long as you keep good records.
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Window Cleaning Forum / Servicing electric hose reels.
« Last post by NBwcs on October 28, 2025, 02:51:30 pm »The purefreedom hose reel comes with a 2yr guarantee which is void if you don't have it serviced by them after the 1st year. Does everyone bother having theirs done? I've not had it to bits so don't know whats involved, can't imagine a service actually involves alot. It would mean a 3hr round trip and a morning off work plus the cost of the service(£56 ph plus vat and any parts) . Do people with other brands have theirs professionally serviced? Is it worth it?
Edit. Just discovered warrenty is only 2yrs for controller, actual reel is 1yr,si to revise my question, is it worth having it professionally done or is it simple enough to do yourself or do you not bother at all?
Edit. Just discovered warrenty is only 2yrs for controller, actual reel is 1yr,si to revise my question, is it worth having it professionally done or is it simple enough to do yourself or do you not bother at all?
64
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by NBwcs on October 28, 2025, 10:15:35 am »I've never done it as I was brought up in a very strict Christian family where any dishonesty was frowned upon.
I have a window cleaning friend, who does the opposite, always takes cash where possible and doesn't declare it.
The vast majority of my customers pay by bank transfer but I do still get people offering me cash, which I turn down. Also people trying to get a lower price by paying cash. Had a lady the other day that did that and she was shocked I wouldn't take it.
Just wondering whether I'm mugging myself off. Not exactly thrilled with how my tax is used by the government.
Do HMRC even investigate tiny one man businesses?
By the way I still wouldn't take cash even if I was going to declare it as I dont have a bank near me to deposit it with.
Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.
Do you know the results of the audits?
An ex customer of mine ran his own cheese business, he would buy in cheese from Cornwall and re package it and sell it on. He was audited by hmrc and two tax inspectors visited his premises. He himself had his accountant with him and he said they looked at everything in his workplace and home. His father had died a couple of years earlier so anything he didn't have a receipt for he told them he inherited it from dad. He had an answer to everything and all looked well till right at the end when the lady inspector clocked his washing machine. He again said "got it from dad". At this point she looked at her colleague, smiled and closed the book she was carrying. Next day he had a call and his world fell apart. The woman had the very same washing machine and it had only been on the market for the last couple of months so they knew he was lying. The outcome was that he ended up with a £30k tax bill (this was around the 80s). Very stressful and caused him big problems. It's just not worth it. You might get away with the odd bit here and there but you can't spend it on anything other than disposable items, take aways etc, anything else and your asking for trouble. They're not stupid.
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Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by Scottish Cleaning Service on October 28, 2025, 08:48:16 am »I believe cash will always be king (king Chick) because there is one fundamental reason. Digital can never be 100% safe. The Gov used to print how much was lost to cybercrime but the last amount was £36 Billion about 10 years ago. They don't print it now.
What would happen if cleanerplanner or Squeegee went down? What would happen if all the customers details were stolen and posted on the net? What would happen if their customers bank accounts got emptied?
Window cleaners would go back to cash or ask the customers to pay by Bacs. Maybe the customers would cancel and blame the cleaner.
Anyway, I was the brains behind my father's hotel which my mum ran. I have always been flexible with many streams of income. But I have always preferred cash because I can touch and feel it, don't need to go on a computer and look for the deposit.
Been like this since I was a paper boy in the early 1980's, cash gives me a good feeling while digital has no emotion bar anger when its not there after spending ages looking for it. IMO
What would happen if cleanerplanner or Squeegee went down? What would happen if all the customers details were stolen and posted on the net? What would happen if their customers bank accounts got emptied?
Window cleaners would go back to cash or ask the customers to pay by Bacs. Maybe the customers would cancel and blame the cleaner.
Anyway, I was the brains behind my father's hotel which my mum ran. I have always been flexible with many streams of income. But I have always preferred cash because I can touch and feel it, don't need to go on a computer and look for the deposit.
Been like this since I was a paper boy in the early 1980's, cash gives me a good feeling while digital has no emotion bar anger when its not there after spending ages looking for it. IMO
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Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by AuRavelling79 on October 28, 2025, 08:39:05 am »I've never done it as I was brought up in a very strict Christian family where any dishonesty was frowned upon.
I have a window cleaning friend, who does the opposite, always takes cash where possible and doesn't declare it.
The vast majority of my customers pay by bank transfer but I do still get people offering me cash, which I turn down. Also people trying to get a lower price by paying cash. Had a lady the other day that did that and she was shocked I wouldn't take it.
Just wondering whether I'm mugging myself off. Not exactly thrilled with how my tax is used by the government.
Do HMRC even investigate tiny one man businesses?
By the way I still wouldn't take cash even if I was going to declare it as I dont have a bank near me to deposit it with.
Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.
Do you know the results of the audits?
67
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by dazmond on October 28, 2025, 08:07:42 am »Going forward IMO the reason why HMRC want us all digital is so they can ask for more information/proof of expenses online if your ever audited and fine us if there's the slightest discrepancies. They also have a sophisticated AI tool called 'connect' that tracks your bank accounts,social media and have the powers to freeze them and seize your money. Its to increase compliance and reduce tax avoidance obviously.
The powers they've got these days is huge.
The powers they've got these days is huge.
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Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by Stoots on October 28, 2025, 07:11:19 am »If HMRC really wanted to find undeclared cash payments they could. They have the power to search your bank records, phone records, social media etc.
That one text "I've left your cash just under the plantpot" could be enough to say right youve been taking cash and we think youve roughly taken this much over the years so here's your bill and then it's up to you to prove you haven't.
So yeh of course we all know self employed people have been pocketing cash for years but youve got to be super smart about not leaving a trace to the point is it worth it, even your phone can be tracking your movements and storing info you dont realise...depends how much you worry about looking over your shoulder i guess.
I prefer all bacs for a few reasons, i don't have to chase the cash, i don't have to knock the door or fiddle about with change. Just scrub, post a note and go.
That one text "I've left your cash just under the plantpot" could be enough to say right youve been taking cash and we think youve roughly taken this much over the years so here's your bill and then it's up to you to prove you haven't.
So yeh of course we all know self employed people have been pocketing cash for years but youve got to be super smart about not leaving a trace to the point is it worth it, even your phone can be tracking your movements and storing info you dont realise...depends how much you worry about looking over your shoulder i guess.
I prefer all bacs for a few reasons, i don't have to chase the cash, i don't have to knock the door or fiddle about with change. Just scrub, post a note and go.
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Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by Tam1872 on October 27, 2025, 07:19:46 pm »I've never done it as I was brought up in a very strict Christian family where any dishonesty was frowned upon.
I have a window cleaning friend, who does the opposite, always takes cash where possible and doesn't declare it.
The vast majority of my customers pay by bank transfer but I do still get people offering me cash, which I turn down. Also people trying to get a lower price by paying cash. Had a lady the other day that did that and she was shocked I wouldn't take it.
Just wondering whether I'm mugging myself off. Not exactly thrilled with how my tax is used by the government.
Do HMRC even investigate tiny one man businesses?
By the way I still wouldn't take cash even if I was going to declare it as I dont have a bank near me to deposit it with.
Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.
When i was looking into it all it says the software they have now that it should be 1 in 8 years. And the softwares only getting better as time goes on.
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Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Taking cash and not declaring it
« Last post by dazmond on October 27, 2025, 06:46:49 pm »I've never done it as I was brought up in a very strict Christian family where any dishonesty was frowned upon.
I have a window cleaning friend, who does the opposite, always takes cash where possible and doesn't declare it.
The vast majority of my customers pay by bank transfer but I do still get people offering me cash, which I turn down. Also people trying to get a lower price by paying cash. Had a lady the other day that did that and she was shocked I wouldn't take it.
Just wondering whether I'm mugging myself off. Not exactly thrilled with how my tax is used by the government.
Do HMRC even investigate tiny one man businesses?
By the way I still wouldn't take cash even if I was going to declare it as I dont have a bank near me to deposit it with.
Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.