[dmlservices]

matt
i think it would be for the better , even if it only stopped the dole boys, it would be worth it,

as it stands any one can easily set up , and still claim dole money , i wonder what you would think if one targeted your round, and went in with rediculious prices?

would you say good of him , ? dont think you would .

daz

i can see what you mean

BUT

if a dole'y works now still signing on and not paying tax etc etc

i honestly do not see how a license would stop them, they would still work without one, afterall they are breaking the law by signing on and working, not paying tax etc etc, so would they bother with a license ? ? ? ? my feeling so no, it wouldnt make a jot of difference to them

if it was implimented well , and avertised well , then the general public would be more ,aware as to whether their window cleaner was legit,

as it stands the dole boys can carry on without fear of being checked.

daz

[williamx]

There has been a phoneline which is free of charge as well as the internet to shop these people, but they still carry on.

If one of these tried to target my work, I would inform on him.

So if you are really upset by these people then pick up the phone, you don't even have to give your details.

[matt]

matt
i think it would be for the better , even if it only stopped the dole boys, it would be worth it,

as it stands any one can easily set up , and still claim dole money , i wonder what you would think if one targeted your round, and went in with rediculious prices?

would you say good of him , ? dont think you would .

daz

i can see what you mean

BUT

if a dole'y works now still signing on and not paying tax etc etc

i honestly do not see how a license would stop them, they would still work without one, afterall they are breaking the law by signing on and working, not paying tax etc etc, so would they bother with a license ? ? ? ? my feeling so no, it wouldnt make a jot of difference to them

if it was implimented well , and avertised well , then the general public would be more ,aware as to whether their window cleaner was legit,

as it stands the dole boys can carry on without fear of being checked.

daz

when i started in the building game in the early 90's they had a big campain to make sure the people on sites had a self employed card ( it was called a SC60, if my memory is correct, i think it was then called a CIS card ) i still have mine in my wallet as it happens, the idea was to stop " self employed labour " not paying tax, the rumour was the tax people would arrive with the dole inspectors and check every1 on the site, at the time i was on a rather big building site for 2 ish year, it was a site that was being built by a number of building companies, at times the site has 100's of people on it

now in the 2 years we never saw any1, we knew of a fair few who were " cash in hand guys " they were earning a little less than us

now my guess is the same goes on now, except they will be from east europe, they pay no tax, cash in hand from the builders

its now allmost 20 years on and the same thing goes on, it didnt work in the building game  would it work in the window cleaning world

just pitching a alternative view here guys ( i pay my tax, PL insurance etc etc )

[matt]

What makes me smile is that you would expect a lot of customers to believe all window cleaners are the same.

But there are actually some window cleaners who believe because you have that title in common you can compare yourself to all other window cleaners.

It’s always the ones who are least professional been doing the job for some time and haven’t even learnt how to price a job correctly.

Fact is you have reached your level of incompetence, and unfortunately you are just a scruff bag who likes to compare yourself with window cleaners who are a success.  Just because you can clean some glass, but unable to do anything else that’s needed to be successful.


 

Hi Hants Windows,

Firstly I really do believe that "Bumper" is a wind-up merchant and I like him for it (and if he really does look like the picture he's posted...well then I like him all the more!)

But let's assume that his postings are how he genuinely works and what he genuinely believes:

You Hants, me 'ol buddy, me 'ol best pal  should be delighted as he makes you look soooo good in comparison that you'll have zero difficulty in taking his customers.

A thing I've never understood: Why are some window cleaners so desparate to give the industry a "good name" that they'll willingly pay £100s in annual licence fees to try to achieve this?

If people ask what I do for a living I tell them I'm a window cleaner and if that makes me scummy in their eyes so be it.  I'll not be less scummy when asked what I do for a living and I replied "I'm a licenced window cleaner".

Licences will not send the cowboys packing, after all it hasn't in the cab trade, plumbing trade, sparks trade. building trade (the list is endless) so why should it impact the Bumpers of this world in the window cleaning trade?

The people who advocate licencing are simply and perversely wishing yet another tax on themselves...they'll pay an additional few hundred £ a year into local council coffers...and Bumper won't!  Means that Bumper can keep his "cowboy" prices the same whereas you have to up yours a bit to pay for your prestigious licence...like Mrs Smith gives a stuff whether you're licenced or not :

Excellent reply as usual from you Simon, and Bumper tells it how it is in his area. Matt is objective, Ian Giles, Tosh and Dave St Ives tell the truth.
These guys are happy with who they are, what they do for a living is irrelevant. Because they are all emotionally intelligent people, they have good communication skills, really in tune with how the majority think, these skills are more important than any other in any business, not least ours, if you can endear yourself to your customers you will succeed.
You can have the best equipment, van, uniform etc, but if your not a nice person most of your customers will see right through you, A nice guy that does a good job will win every time in the long run, even if he runs a battered old Mondeo. When I say nice guy I don't mean some softy that allows himself to be walked on, I mean a guy with the perception to pitch the ball just where the client wants it.
Actually being able to clean a window is way down the list of skills required to be a successful window cleaner.

He was a self-made man who owed his lack of success to nobody.

 

ewan, who are these posts aimed at ? ? ? ? bumper  ?? ??

[dmlservices]

matt
i think it would be for the better , even if it only stopped the dole boys, it would be worth it,

as it stands any one can easily set up , and still claim dole money , i wonder what you would think if one targeted your round, and went in with rediculious prices?

would you say good of him , ? dont think you would .

daz

i can see what you mean

BUT

if a dole'y works now still signing on and not paying tax etc etc

i honestly do not see how a license would stop them, they would still work without one, afterall they are breaking the law by signing on and working, not paying tax etc etc, so would they bother with a license ? ? ? ? my feeling so no, it wouldnt make a jot of difference to them

if it was implimented well , and avertised well , then the general public would be more ,aware as to whether their window cleaner was legit,

as it stands the dole boys can carry on without fear of being checked.

daz

when i started in the building game in the early 90's they had a big campain to make sure the people on sites had a self employed card ( it was called a SC60, if my memory is correct, i think it was then called a CIS card ) i still have mine in my wallet as it happens, the idea was to stop " self employed labour " not paying tax, the rumour was the tax people would arrive with the dole inspectors and check every1 on the site, at the time i was on a rather big building site for 2 ish year, it was a site that was being built by a number of building companies, at times the site has 100's of people on it

now in the 2 years we never saw any1, we knew of a fair few who were " cash in hand guys " they were earning a little less than us

now my guess is the same goes on now, except they will be from east europe, they pay no tax, cash in hand from the builders

its now allmost 20 years on and the same thing goes on, it didnt work in the building game  would it work in the window cleaning world

just pitching a alternative view here guys ( i pay my tax, PL insurance etc etc )

some very good points there matt, it is just that i get really fed up trying to run a legit buisness,
 only last week i learned of a window cleaner who charges £3.00 per house ,
 these are houses that i charged that much on nearly 20 years ago.

daz

[Clive McDonald]

Ewan sort of started very keen and full of questions, eager to learn. Enthusiastic would sum him up, often thanking old hands for info and bounding around the forum like a puppy. He used to start a lot of threads on aims, ambitions, and where we were headed.

Of late though he has adopted an increasingly bitter tone, and often gets into pointless arguments.

[matt]

Ewan sort of started very keen and full of questions, eager to learn. Enthusiastic would sum him up, often thanking old hands for info and bounding around the forum like a puppy. He used to start a lot of threads on aims, ambitions, and where we were headed.

Of late though he has adopted an increasingly bitter tone, and often gets into pointless arguments.

the new CIU troll  we allways have 1

[matt]

matt
i think it would be for the better , even if it only stopped the dole boys, it would be worth it,

as it stands any one can easily set up , and still claim dole money , i wonder what you would think if one targeted your round, and went in with rediculious prices?

would you say good of him , ? dont think you would .

daz

i can see what you mean

BUT

if a dole'y works now still signing on and not paying tax etc etc

i honestly do not see how a license would stop them, they would still work without one, afterall they are breaking the law by signing on and working, not paying tax etc etc, so would they bother with a license ? ? ? ? my feeling so no, it wouldnt make a jot of difference to them

if it was implimented well , and avertised well , then the general public would be more ,aware as to whether their window cleaner was legit,

as it stands the dole boys can carry on without fear of being checked.

daz

when i started in the building game in the early 90's they had a big campain to make sure the people on sites had a self employed card ( it was called a SC60, if my memory is correct, i think it was then called a CIS card ) i still have mine in my wallet as it happens, the idea was to stop " self employed labour " not paying tax, the rumour was the tax people would arrive with the dole inspectors and check every1 on the site, at the time i was on a rather big building site for 2 ish year, it was a site that was being built by a number of building companies, at times the site has 100's of people on it

now in the 2 years we never saw any1, we knew of a fair few who were " cash in hand guys " they were earning a little less than us

now my guess is the same goes on now, except they will be from east europe, they pay no tax, cash in hand from the builders

its now allmost 20 years on and the same thing goes on, it didnt work in the building game  would it work in the window cleaning world

just pitching a alternative view here guys ( i pay my tax, PL insurance etc etc )

some very good points there matt, it is just that i get really fed up trying to run a legit buisness,
 only last week i learned of a window cleaner who charges £3.00 per house ,
 these are houses that i charged that much on nearly 20 years ago.

daz

to be fair, im just trying to be objective in this discussion

I am also trying not to be judgemental on people these days, if this bumper guy is not just a guy having a laugh, then he is just doing what he does to get by, it could be worse, he could be out robbing houses or mugging people to get a few extra quid to top up his dole

[bumper]

If i charged £10.00 a house i will be out of buissness in a week.plus when your on the dole you have to prove to them you have been  looking for work ,plus you have to go on courses now for 2 weeks or they will stop your dole,i find it very hard fitting my windowround in between the courses.
         BUMPER

[Clive McDonald]

he is quite funny if it's intentional, but he usually only makes odd little comments and spells badly so he could be genuine. I don't think the avatar is him, but it could be.

If he was my window cleaner i would accept what he says without question and never dream he was making a fool of me.As in "I asked that strange little man who does our windows why he'd put a note through the door but hadn't done our windows, he said it had been raining since.He smiled at me and half his teeth were missing so I just paid him and came away from the door scratching my head."

[bumper]

well done spot on how do you know i put notes in !

[AuRavelling79]

BUMPER! I've got to know and the forum do too! Put us out of our misery!

Is that you in your avatar?

This is way more important than how you handle your tax affairs!

[bumper]

yes just ask wood windows hes a nice guy who gos to the same cafe in morning as me,but i dornt think hes been on forum for a while ?my mate says they feel sorry for me thats why they pay me.

[Dean Taberner]

Bumper,

2 questions,

1 is your profile photo you?

2 WFP or Trad?

Dean

[david wood]

yes that is a photo of bumper .hes a nice guy as long as you dont get on the wrong side of him.he bit another window cleaners ear off once because he was cleaning on the same street as him

[davids3511]

Its alright for some window cleaners who talk aload of  fairy  saying 2 men can earn 500 pound in a day,ive being doing window cleaning 25 years and i dornt know anybody who can do that much work in a day,and when  i come on talking fairy stories  there all up in arms and jealous,i start at 8.30 till  2 pm with 3 of us and we only do about 200 pound on a good day with prices range from £ 3.50 to £5.00 thats all you get up north greatermanchester, and your lucky if you get paid at all,its not like you southerners all ladi da  i get £25 a house ill not get out of bed for under   £20 i have a new van with a top notch system,and i bet most of you dornt declare what you earnings are,and if you do your lair.
              RANT OVER 

What about this then -

Re: commercial / shops. what is it worth poll.
« Reply #96 on: August 23, 2008, 02:27:06 PM » 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i make 300 pound for nothing every fortnight all i have to do is collect the houses ,clean them one fortnight and bump them the next, you might get the odd one who moans ,i say it must be the new lad love hes a trainee,its best if its rained that week coz they carnt tell if they have been done are not, if they say they are a bit dirty i just say its coz of the rain and wind we have had,that will be 7 pound please    i love it easy money



I though you only charged £3.50 - £5.00

[bumper]

yes that was one of my best job now ive lost that because of the credit brunch

[Moderator David@stives]

Bumper

I dont know if you are aware but swearing in any form isnt allowed

Moderator

sorry dave, but ive never met a windowcleaner who dosnt swear

Thats maybe, but we like to keep this forum clean.