[Carpet Dawg]

Had a customer that totaly pee'd me off today.

Price and job details (roughly how long it would take etc) where confirmed via email. Price was again confirmed when she phoned on Monday.

Got to the job today, lady that booked the job showed me the leather sofa and arm chair. I confirmed it would be at the lower end of the estimate (happy days for them surely!), mentioned that it would clean up well etc, and also told her it would take around an hour and half << she asked me, and I told her this on the email.

As I came back from my van with all my gear and was setting up, this old fart appeared and started asking me what I was going to do! I explained the cleaning process. Then he says "and how long will it take you?" I said, around an hour and half.

Then he goes nuts!

He was basicly going crazy and asking me how on earth can I be charging £80 an hour! (even though I said 1.5 hours like 20 frigging times!) He then said that he'll give me £30 for the clean as he'll be paying cash!   Fabulous.... I of course said, sorry no cant do. I've already given you the lower end of the estimate even though the suite is flithy.

This didn't go to well with mrs cheapskate and asked me to collect my things and leave!   All the while telling me how £80 an hour is ridiculas and that i'm only a cleaner!!

I did my best not to laugh but I did suggest he should call another company who'll charge him alot more for an extra hour but with the same result, and that i'll be forwarding the email that I sent his wife to him just to confirm the cost and time it would take.

Anyway, the main point of this post is to ask what you guys would think of an idea i've been thinking of for sometime now....

A customer blacklist type of site for us tradesmen/small business (window cleaners, carpet cleaners, plumbers etc). It would be like yelp or qype but instead of custmers reviewing businesses it would be designed for us to post our "shlt list" too!   i.e. non paying customers, people that dont open the door to you and hide behind the sofa, asians, really rude customers that you'd not work for again etc etc..

Its total unethical i know but i love it!  

You could also make it anonymous so only registered people (the business people) see the results.

It would be a great way of venting, tracking who not to work for, helping other local business not get burnt, aswell as making sure these bad customers get no service from anyone, again!  

p.s. i'll be working on the website tonight!

[benny d]

Take seven deep slow breaths and release slowly. It works wonders.
I got this from Philip Hodgson, a counceller that used to be on LBC radio way back in the day.

Keep calm and carry on, and move onto the next decent customer.

[Carpet Dawg]

ha ha  i am acuatally serious about the website

[robertphil]

great idea !!   be well worth having your blacklist printed off and stuffed into a backpocket  to peruse often

[derek west]

can i put all my customers on your list please, 

[Carpet Dawg]

I see where your coming from but you'd only put people that you'd deffinalty not want to work for. So its not like your giving your compition work.

[wynne jones]

If it wasn't for customers this job would be a doddle.   

[kerrpmiddleton]

over the years ive had clients like this ,use to humour them , now that am older , more expreanced , and a grummpy old numpty , i tell them the truth , ethier get real , or their ******* nutters , and thank you for wasting my time, ps you feel better, after

[Fran84]

In all serious to this. I really wouldn't have a problem giving anyone the customers I don't wnat to work for. There is a reason for me not wanting to work for them.

The reason I personally think it would be a non-starter is data protection. I'm not sure it would be lawful, best to ask first!!

[jim mca]

 You could put terms & conditions on your email ie 7 day cooling off then charges apply if they cancel

[Russ Chadd]

I think it could be a good idea, however im not sure if it would be ok to do in the eyes of the law?
I mean you wouldn't be allowed to display someone's address, name and reason for the dispute... or would you?

Personally i think us trades people should have some way of warning others... The customers have CheckATrade...

[Carpet Dawg]

Exactly my point Russ!

Why should people get away with taking the pee? they dont deserve to have work done from any service person IMO.

Luckly its a rare problem we encounter but you will incounter it a few times a year.

Some might say its unethical and it might be breaking a data protection act (i'll be looking in to it) but if the website and domain name is hosted offshore, and a fake Whois details are used. Then i'd like to see what the authorites can do about it 

[robertphil]

to get around the data protection ,no need to publish the bad-eggs name, just a photo of their front door combined with their hair colour + street name

[Carpet Dawg]

I like your thinking 

[steven Banks]

You should have introduced them to your dog!  (avatar)

[dan paton]

only problem with your way robert is when they move house and someone else buys it . their blacklisted for workmen through no fault of their own

[clinton]

Set the dogs on em Do get the point mind and it sounds very anoying mind.

[robertphil]

only problem with your way robert is when they move house and someone else buys it . their blacklisted for workmen through no fault of their own

good point- maybe you could add the baddies surname first letter only to the data.

i reckon if the database starts up itd be very popular and a winner.i wish  id got the techy nohow id start one up myself