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Poll

examples

Double first then promote?
60%
3 (60%)
normal price then promote?
20%
1 (20%)
Only Debits from get go?
20%
1 (20%)

Total Members Voted: 5

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
How do you sell your direct debits?
« on: September 25, 2014, 11:34:33 am »
How do you sell yours?

its obvious that direct debits are the cream it transforms window cleaning into something very very progressive 

i found that strait away customers are not keen to fill out the mandate
and a good lead normally goes very cold if i dont just go and clean it first as a one off
when i charge double for a one off it still doesnt always work it has more success but doesnt seem like the way forward
 

nor are they keen to use you if i stated regular only. They would be fine with the first one being cash/cheque/online banknig but when it gets too the part where they need to return the mandate they again freeze they do give the emails no problem,they even type it in my gocardless account themselves , once a customer did that and was talking about how amazing it is ,so i said cool ill sit in the van and wait for my notification so she said are you not going to do it now? i said yes pls just return the mandate takes a few moments , after all that talk and her typing in her own details for the mandate she seemed really upset saying have no time....must now talk to husband......and we know that i wasnt just going to give her what she wanted right that moment which was a one off so she was just trying to play the game bring my hopes up in the hope that i give her a cheap one off then not return the mandate and use any excuse to cancel

i found it the easiest when selling it to my regular customers however some of them agreed and didnt return the mandate but still pay with online banking some also refused it was a bit shocked as some of them have been customers for 4 years or more,others where fine with it i didnt push it thou



i would love to know your methods as DD are the only customers im really interested today
hope to hear some good tips!
 

windowswashed

  • Posts: 2624
Re: How do you sell your direct debits?
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2014, 07:30:49 pm »
I just do Bank Transfers or Bill Payments within a set time after cleaning and persistent late payers get temporarily stopped until payment received and if persistently bad at paying then dropped and replaced. No fees involved as paid straight into my bank account and they can either get a receipt at the bank or print off a receipt at home.

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
Re: How do you sell your direct debits?
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2014, 08:30:11 pm »
used to do that mate but direct debit is king,doing cheap cleans then selling the direct debit isnt my cup of tea but i wonder if it is better

Chris Cottrell

  • Posts: 3162
Re: How do you sell your direct debits?
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2014, 08:56:24 am »
Do you have to have a business account to initiate Direct Debit payments or can they be processed with a current account?

Smudger

  • Posts: 13459
Re: How do you sell your direct debits?
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2014, 10:06:32 am »
fine with a current accout
Never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience

Shane O Neill

  • Posts: 219
Re: How do you sell your direct debits?
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2014, 10:11:51 am »
used to do that mate but direct debit is king,doing cheap cleans then selling the direct debit isnt my cup of tea but i wonder if it is better
Don't you mean Standing Order Crystal??
It is the way forward But if folks are paying by bacs & on time I just leave them to their choice ... But for new & reg customers I sell the benefits to them such as not needing to go on line etc etc & saves them the hassle,just give them the sort code/Acc no & trust them as I find if I Force it it comes across aggressive & hard sell ! ......or maybe best to say to some who are a little late that by Jan 15 this the way we will be collecting payments veryuch like your sky/water/mobile Bill etc

windowswashed

  • Posts: 2624
Re: How do you sell your direct debits?
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2014, 11:13:24 am »
I would say try selling your direct debits once they are on your books and make it very clear that you are charging double or whatever for a first clean if that's what you do and wait for them to agree to paying double before you go ahead and clean them. Trust your gut instinct, i.e. locality, age of person, appearance, mannerism, etc , as you get a good feel for who is going to mess you around before you even start and those hesistant ones who don't give like to pay using bank accounts and only pay by cash are the most troublesome as a rule.

Some people despise not being in control of their finances, (me included) and are very reluctant to sign direct debit forms. They still pay all their bills mostly on time but they remain in control of their money going out of their bank accounts. This is the reason why I let people pay me by Bank transfer or Bill payments as they are still in control of their finances and it doesn't feel like you are hard selling to them. You do get the odd, dippy person forget to pay you within a set time but you drop them a reminder or collect double next time and ask them politely to pay more promptly.

mufcglen

  • Posts: 1507
Re: How do you sell your direct debits?
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2014, 05:14:49 pm »
As above I too have 90% of my round pay by bank as and when I've done them, I have a few that prefer direct debit and too be honest I don't like it as it means I've got to get them done before the payment goes in as I hate being in debt to customers!
I do have 1-2 that I have to send a reminder a few days later but they always pay up but I wouldn't go back and do them again unless they settled up for the last clean first!!