[L.J.Thorpe]

I had a customer refused to pay once, I took out my pen and a piece of paper, and let him see me writing down his car registration number. His Mrs ran out of the house and stuck the money in my hand.
I never threatened him, or said a word either. Dai

thats choice ,i like that

[dan hughes]

I tend to agree with Tosh although it always hurts. To be honest I am the "little man" being shat on by the rich lady in the big house.

I didn't mention this before and I am really reluctant to get into this one but there is a difference in the ethnicity of this lady and me. Having seen the way the lady has manipulated the situation so far its just an issue I am not prepared to risk getting caught up in.

So basically I am bottling out.  Wiser and poorer but with my head held high.

I once dropped a shop and house owned by an Indian family because one of the occupants 'watched' me while I did the clean.  I'm not racist, but no English (or Welsh; I clean Welsh people's houses; I'm not proud) person has ever done this to me; and I'm 'nearly' Japanese.  There's nothing wrong with checking my work when I've finished; but being watched was... well not nice!

Just put it down to experience!  Mention this 'lady' to other local window cleaners when you meet them; make it tougher for her to do it again.

"or Welsh; I clean Welsh people's houses; I'm not proud"

WTF !? Explain ..................................

[Tosh]

"or Welsh; I clean Welsh people's houses; I'm not proud"

WTF !? Explain ..................................

It's just a joke, mate; my Missis; Wor Lass is Welsh.  I live in Chepstow which is sort of South East Wales.

It's just a joke, honest; I love the Welsh; they make me laugh.

Sorry, I apologise for my bad spelling; I can't help it from giggling at your response.

Are you a Taff perchance?

[Bob McKillop]

Call round, face to face, as polite as you can. If she still won't pay tell her to give the money to charity, cause if she keeps it whatever she buys with it will bring her very bad luck. I f nothing else, she will worry about it for a while!

[Wayne Thomas]

Some debts I can't be bothered to collect. However, if someone really narks me off, I will perservere to the bitter end no matter how long it takes. I spent 18 months waking one of my ex customers up early Sunday mornings until he got so fed up he eventually cracked and paid up in full. He was cursing and swearing at me and I was laughing back at him. I know it's not  professional and rather foolish, but somethings have to be done in the name of self respect and pride. I didn't pursue it for the money but for the principal by the way.

[Tosh]

I didn't pursue it for the money but for the principal by the way.

But when people say 'it's not the money, it's the principle', it really is just the MONEY!

[L.J.Thorpe]

for me its both  the money AND the principle

[tonyoliver]

let i go dude i get ripped of sometimes forgive but dont forget
seek revenge dig two graves

[Wayne Thomas]

I didn't pursue it for the money but for the principal by the way.

But when people say 'it's not the money, it's the principle', it really is just the MONEY!

Tosh,

I let most things go over my head. I don't like to worry about things because it just stresses me out, then my arthritic flare ups begin and then I have to take time off work because of my health.
On my last post, it really was about the principal, not the money.
If I worried about debts, my health would suffer. I stick to my principals to the end.
I was in Germany in the forces and was ripped off at a fair by a conman. The German police wanted to arrest me for causing a scene in public arguing with this German conman. I stood my ground until the British military police sorted the situation out. I was quite happy to be arrested by the police because I firmly believe in sticking to my principals, (right or wrong).

[Adam Boss]

Why does WFP bring so many problems ?.
I can honestly say I have never had 1 complaint in 20 years and yet I read on here that I have been dropped and had cmplaints.
If the job is done properly then there should be no problem !!
I tell a lie, I did have a complaint once and when I went round the problem was on the inside which was not my fault making the customer feeling very silly.
This is my point with WFP, too many things can influence the finished job.
Not having a go just stating a fact !
Regards
Adam

[Adam Boss]

And "AM I BOVVERED" Yes you should be because you are not giving customer satisfaction !!

[James Smith]

I tend to agree with Tosh although it always hurts. To be honest I am the "little man" being shat on by the rich lady in the big house.

I didn't mention this before and I am really reluctant to get into this one but there is a difference in the ethnicity of this lady and me. Having seen the way the lady has manipulated the situation so far its just an issue I am not prepared to risk getting caught up in.

So basically I am bottling out.  Wiser and poorer but with my head held high.

Keep a couple of small fish in your freezer & some night it's ping rain, head round & throw them on the roof so they land in the gutters  Her gaf will smell like a fishing boat for weeks 

[Niall McAllister]

follow it up, or leave it as is?
alot of talk about principals. surely the principal is you had, at the very least, a verbal contract with this woman. she has broken this contract by refusing to pay for your services.
some guys have said this sort of thing is few and far between, surely though, the more times we let it go, the more people find out that the window cleaner is a soft touch and it snow balls. suddenly everyone she knows is trying it on with you.
the other possibility is that she is telling people what a bad job you did. each way you loose future income.

all each of us have is our reputation. is that worth fighting over?
only you can answer that.
Niall

[rugby]

Why does WFP bring so many problems ?.
I can honestly say I have never had 1 complaint in 20 years and yet I read on here that I have been dropped and had cmplaints.
If the job is done properly then there should be no problem !!
I tell a lie, I did have a complaint once and when I went round the problem was on the inside which was not my fault making the customer feeling very silly.
This is my point with WFP, too many things can influence the finished job.
Not having a go just stating a fact !
Regards
Adam

am i right in thinking that for the last 2 years you have also been useing wfp,and still you say have had no complaints at all, cant be much wrong with wfp then can their     or are you the only one doing it right 

[Adam Boss]

Yes you are right , I have been using WFP for the last 2 years.
As I have said many many times, I only use it on high and awkward cleans and con roofs, my main form of cleaning is trad and I have never had any complaints at all. I make the customer aware that I only use it in certain conditions and explain the problems and as a result never had one complaint.
Quality is my main concern and not quantity and this works for me. If a contractor is getting regular complaints then they are doing some thing wrong.
I am not having a go I am just giving my opinion which this forum is all about, I care about the job I do and customer satisfaction is also important.
Regards

Adan
 

[Paul Coleman]

I don't think thats going to work, she dropped the fact that her husband was a Lawyer into the conversation with my wife. Not by accident I would imagine.

I knew a builder who was up against the "my husband is a lawyer" line when he couldn't get payment for an extension.  He replied that his best friend was also a lawyer and that he owned a 14lb sledgehammer.  He got paid.  Remembering what I do of the guy, he would have demolished the extension too.  Not suggesting you should do the same of course 

[frames to panes]

Just turn up and offer to put the dirt back on for her.
If it was me I would have gone straight round to see the problem and talk to her. I've only had one bad experience so far and by being polite and apologetic it got me my money even though she was well out of order. You get a lot of satisfaction by not cracking under pressure.

[Simon_King]

Some years ago a local window cleaner here did a lot of work on a rented house belonging to a solicitor. It was a builders clean and took him all day.
He sent in his bill and she refused to pay saying she wasnt happy. So he went back and did the job again. Still she refused to pay. Nothing wrong with the work now - she just refused to pay.
So he went to where she worked and asked to see a solicitor regarding an unpaid window cleaning bill.
" Certainly Sir ....come this way."..He entered the office and was asked for details . He mentioned the name and address and the solicitor said " oh ... leave it with us"

He got his cheque in full a few days later. Didnt cost a penny!

Simon.