[jo5hm4n]

So one of my first ever window cleaning customers asked me to clean her windows again today for the first time in 3 years.  Reason why service stopped is she moved back to london to look after her sister who was poorly.

Anyway she's always been a bit of a toff but when i first took her on a customer i was desperate for her business unlike now which i am not.  Old habits die hard though so i said yes today to clean her windows for a 4 weekly service.  Windows hadn't been cleaned in years at the back absolutely minging.  Front windows were fairly clean though.  Anyway all windows at the front were leaded lights.  So i cleaned today with wfp, sun was shining but i was thorough with the windows.  Checked all the windows they were still slightly wet but everything looked good no run downs etc....

Anyway i left the job explained if she had any spotting/streaks which can happen very occasionally then give me a call and i will come back to sort out.  (i say this to all new customers)

Get a phone call 30 mins later left a voicemail saying that there is white stains all over the sills and bottom of the frames.(brown UPVC)

I went back and there was what appeared to be dried staining on the sills and lower frames, but not entirely covered.  It was in patches with no real pattern to it.  Explained that i use pure water no chemicals or soap, the chances are that the lead is leaking which has stained the sills.  I tried to explain that because before frames were a bit dirty maybe it was already stained and she didn't notice.  Ofcourse she said no and that wasn't the case.  I told her that there is literally no reason that it would happen from me just cleaning the windows using pure water, she was adamant maybe i had done it and its all my fault.

Never had to deal with anything like this before so i didnt really know what to say.  I didnt say sorry, because i didnt want to admit liability for something i feel is not my fault.  She was upset though, told me not to bother cleaning again and shes going to have to get this sorted out?  Didnt really expand much on that.  Basically i'm just hoping she doesn't try and sue me or something for damages.  Thats all i care about, dont care that i lost her as a customer, she was really arsey anyway.  took me 10 mins just to explain that the water would dry clear because it was pure, she was still having none of it.

So is there any reason i need to be worried incase she somehow tries to sue me for damages or something?  Im not experienced in customers accusing you of doing something that i personally feel there was no way it could of been me, unless some of you on here can enlighten me of why it could of been caused by me cleaning the windows.

In my head i've already written this off, but just on the off chance i get an abusive phone call off her tomorrow i'd rather at least know where i stand with this if anybody can offer some advice.

Cheers 

[dazmond]

sue you for what?

by the way STOP SAYING THERE MAY BE SPOTTING /STREAKING ON A FIRST CLEAN TO NEW CUSTOMERS.your making a rod for your own back mate.

[dazmond]

did you try and get the marks off the sills?i would of tried.if they wouldnt come off id of told her they d been there a long time and that i couldnt have been responsible for the staining.no way.

you gotta be firm with customers like that.

[paul alan]

Not unless you used some chems?

Is the staining the same across all sills?

 Dont suppose you took any pics?

[jo5hm4n]

sue you for what?

by the way STOP SAYING THERE MAY BE SPOTTING /STREAKING ON A FIRST CLEAN TO NEW CUSTOMERS.your making a rod for your own back mate.

I say this to all new customers because lets be realistic sometimes on first cleans it does happen....  I'd rather warn them in advance rather than them sack me off just thinking i've done a bad job etc...

[jo5hm4n]

did you try and get the marks off the sills?i would of tried.if they wouldnt come off id of told her they d been there a long time and that i couldnt have been responsible for the staining.no way.

you gotta be firm with customers like that.

I tried to get them off, but they did just look so ingrained/stained i could tell it wasn't going to come off.  I told her there was no way it could of been caused by me, but as i say she was having none of it because apparently "it wasn't there before i had cleaned them".  Can't prove anything after i have cleaned now can i.

She is friendly with another customer of mine who has been loyal for 3 years, she knows i do a good job, some customers though......grrrr

[jo5hm4n]

Not unless you used some chems?

Is the staining the same across all sills?

 Dont suppose you took any pics?

used pure water only no chems, never do on first cleans personally.  Staining is almost the same on all sills, but some worse than other, some not as bad either.  Didn't take any pictures, at the time as i couldn't please her i just decided to walk away.

[nathankaye]

Its not same same but I love it when you do a first clean and the window is blown and they refuse to pay you or argue that you have caused this to happen. Simply because they are too small minded to think of other options or to know what a blown window looks like because again in their mind they accepted it must just be a dirty window.
Some people just cant and wont accept what you have to say ((wow this kinda sounds familiar  ))
 Dont give it anymore thought mate, even if she wanted to sue you, she would have to prove that you did it and that would be interesting.

On another tale,  when i was on traditional equipmemt i had to stand on someones flat roof extension to clean a window and my foot went through!! I couldnt believe it, but ive done carpentry, well at college and afterwards with a friend whos a carpenter and soon realised how bad the roof was with damp and rot etc and brought down the piece to the chap. But i was young etc and offered to put a temporary fix on. Went home to pick up my equipment n wood and needed bits n bobs only gone max 30 mins. When i got there a builder was already looking at it and i thought great!!! This is gonna be fun, but he came back down of the roof and confirmed what i said and said "it wasnt the fault of the window cleaner, infact he could sue you for the dangerous condition" haha you should have seen their faces it was priceless

[rosskesava]

You have cleaned her windows with pure water which is in essence exactly the same as rain water.

Answer no phone calls from her, etc and forget it ever happened. Nothing will come of it, trust me.

These people crop up from time to time. Forget her and move on and just chalk it up to a bad experience that happens every now and then.

I had one customer blame me for some of the windows being blown on a first clean and threaten court action. He sent solicitors letters demanding recompense. I ignored them all and nothing ever came of it.

Just physically and/or mentally walk away and forget.

[LT carpet cleaning]

Its not same same but I love it when you do a first clean and the window is blown and they refuse to pay you or argue that you have caused this to happen. Simply because they are too small minded to think of other options or to know what a blown window looks like because again in their mind they accepted it must just be a dirty window.
Some people just cant and wont accept what you have to say ((wow this kinda sounds familiar  ))
 Dont give it anymore thought mate, even if she wanted to sue you, she would have to prove that you did it and that would be interesting.

On another tale,  when i was on traditional equipmemt i had to stand on someones flat roof extension to clean a window and my foot went through!! I couldnt believe it, but ive done carpentry, well at college and afterwards with a friend whos a carpenter and soon realised how bad the roof was with damp and rot etc and brought down the piece to the chap. But i was young etc and offered to put a temporary fix on. Went home to pick up my equipment n wood and needed bits n bobs only gone max 30 mins. When i got there a builder was already looking at it and i thought great!!! This is gonna be fun, but he came back down of the roof and confirmed what i said and said "it wasnt the fault of the window cleaner, infact he could sue you for the dangerous condition" haha you should have seen their faces it was priceless

You genuinely love it?

[Small but perfectley formed]

Brown upvc sometimes fades in sunlight

[jo5hm4n]

Brown upvc sometimes fades in sunlight

It wasn't faded it was clearly white marks in certain areas.  You can tell when its faded as its usually blends in, but this was like bright brown upvc but then really white marks in other places, once again i reckon just from leaking lead.

Thanks for input though.  Haven't had anymore phone calls, hopefully that will be the end of it 

[Shrek]

I would shazzale it

http://m.idealworld.tv/gb/pp/shadazzle-natural-cleaner-polish-365486

A customer brought this out and started cleaning the black seal marks off his white upvc , although I haven't bought any , I was very surprised how quickly and easily this stuff worked

[paul alan]

I think there's a lesson here somewhere......

[Joey Eastwood]

I think sometimes when leaded Windows have been cleaned and then left for a while  the lead does stain, when they are being regularly cleaned it's being washed off. same as the black seal water staining always seems to be worse after a house has been left for a while then cleaned again

[Dry Clean]

Brown upvc sometimes fades in sunlight

It wasn't faded it was clearly white marks in certain areas.  You can tell when its faded as its usually blends in, but this was like bright brown upvc but then really white marks in other places, once again i reckon just from leaking lead.

Thanks for input though.  Haven't had anymore phone calls, hopefully that will be the end of it 

Brown UPVC is just white UPVC with a layer of brown UPVC veneer glued over it therefore if the white is showing
either some of the veneer has peeled off or somebody has been at it with sandpaper or similar, even T cut can damage it.
Nothing to do with you.

[Joey Eastwood]

Brown upvc sometimes fades in sunlight

It wasn't faded it was clearly white marks in certain areas.  You can tell when its faded as its usually blends in, but this was like bright brown upvc but then really white marks in other places, once again i reckon just from leaking lead.

Thanks for input though.  Haven't had anymore phone calls, hopefully that will be the end of it 

Brown UPVC is just white UPVC with a layer of brown UPVC veneer glued over it therefore if the white is showing
either some of the veneer has peeled off or somebody has been at it with sandpaper or similar, even T cut can damage it.
Nothing to do with you.

the cheap stuff is but the  good stuff is actual brown upvc. there you go tell her it's cheap upvc and not your fault she couldn't afford the good stuff 😂