[d s windowcleaning]

what do you say to a customer who comes out when your halfway through cleaning to be told "my husband died during the night " its one of the worst things that as ever happend while window cleaning .
I was lost for words when i was told this morning , what can you say when you are told this other than sorry to hear this .

[Erithwc]

if they are a good customer tell them not to worry about paying for this clean & hope every thing goes ok see you in x weeks time 

[AuRavelling79]

If I had my wits about me I would have said "I'm so sorry to hear that" ... and then looking all concerned and quizzical (but meaning it) "Has he been ill?" (as in was she expecting something to happen soon anyway... )

And then listen as she tells you - it's so fresh it won't have "hit" her yet poor woman. Interject with "Oh what a shock! - are your family coming over etc."

But if it really happened to me so soon after I'd prolly just stand there open mouthed with my head racing for a while!

[Sean Dyer]

Is he insured?

yes

well by the way your price has gone up £5
see  you next month

only messing of course

i had it last week , a chap whose mum was his carer as he had a arm amputated , we cleaned his windows at his flat in and out every few weeks , you could tell his mum did everything for him

when i was there last week he was out and about walking to shop which he never did and told me his mum had a sudden heart attack and died within the last few days , and then said i really miss her , you could see he was really cut up but i didnt know what to say other than sorry to hear that
but is anything you say gonna make much difference? probably not , just nice to be able to speak to someone for them i think

[Frankybadboy]

if they are a good customer tell them not to worry about paying for this clean & hope every thing goes ok   

+1

[carl stanton]

like said it good to show sincere concern, and no charge for this clean, and see if there is any thing you can do

[steve rix]

Was cleaning a big house in cheltenham once and an old boy was asleep in bed, so I was as quite as poss. Went to collect the money and yes, the housekeper sais can we send it to you as there has been a recent bereavement!!

[AS Window Cleaning]

like said it good to show sincere concern, and no charge for this clean, and see if there is any thing you can do

ditto, we have really good, personal (how's the kids) relationship with most of our customers, it's really sad to see our older ones getting older and more doderie, so we offer to help any way we can. and usually get them a card or something ontop of above comment.

[Cliff perkins]

I'd have just said I'm sorry,gave her a quick hug and said I will leave you in peace and pop back and do her next week,she probably wouldn't want you doing windows anyway under the circumstances.
Still sad.

I turned up at a clients house a few months ago and his daughter told me he had died she was nearly in tears,she said clean them and leave the bill and I will send it on to you,I never did get that payment and the house is still up for sale,I just wrote the debt off.

[dazmond]

i turned up at a job a few years ago and he came out to get in his hot tub howling and crying his eyes out!!really serious stuff!!i was just about to start and then just put my hand up and said at a distance"ill leave them this time john!!"and legged it!!

found out his wife had just committed suicide.very sad.then a month later when i went to clean them half his windows were smashed and dried blood all up the walls!!i was half expecting to find his body cut up into little pieces!!

he d been messing about with somebody elses wife!!filthy rich this guy is.now he s buggered off and still owes me money for a clean!!

his wife was great and always made me a brew.id been cleaning them for over 10 years before she took her own life.very sad.

[Window Washers]

I turned up to clean a customers house a few months back, I heard from a neibour the guy had died and it was the day of the funeral. I carried on cleaning other people houses waited till the people had gone to the church and cleaned the windows, I left a invoice saying this clean is free of charge I am sorry to hear of your loss.

The lady hugged me the next time around and said I was very thoughtful and that is why she recommends us.

personally I did it out of respect she had enough on her plate that day

We will all be there one day.

treat how you wish to be treated I say

[will77]

so... you're single eh?

[Bay View WCS]

I turned up to clean a customers house a few months back, I heard from a neibour the guy had died and it was the day of the funeral. I carried on cleaning other people houses waited till the people had gone to the church and cleaned the windows, I left a invoice saying this clean is free of charge I am sorry to hear of your loss.

The lady hugged me the next time around and said I was very thoughtful and that is why she recommends us.

personally I did it out of respect she had enough on her plate that day

We will all be there one day.

treat how you wish to be treated I say

A completely professional, caring and sympathetic approach - you sir, are a legend!