[Ian Lancaster]

How much time have you spent chasing and worrying about that £8?  And how many £8's could you have earned in that time?

There are people like this out there, you can't avoid them.  Forget about it and move on.

[roundbuilder]

Welcome to my world.. I do upto 50 new cleans a month and always get messed around by some. Being se london most of my customers are out while im cleaning and i dont collect unless its over 3 cleans so i get a situation where i have so many outstanding debts from customers im not sure of. 9 times out of 10 all is fine but always get the wrongun once in a while with excuse after excuse... Just dont do them again and take the tiny loss. As ian said how many more cleans could you do in the time your worrying about just 1 non payer.

[tam north]

Sorry to say this mate but... 4 little windows, easy - £8 - just let it go - you've overcharged IMHO and nearly got away with it but its not like you've done a whole minging house now is it?

For me it dosent matter if its a fiver or 20 notes. You agreed a price ,done the service and expect to be paid.
In 15 yrs of window cleaning only ever had 1(except a few have moved with no notifaction) who no matter what i tried wouldt pay.
We all know how raw egg is to clean.
Childish i know but cleaning the neighbours is now easier knowing we are even.

[rosskesava]

It's amazing how often these coincidences pop up after cleaning windows with a promise to be paid.

Family problems, lost the job, wife problems, un expected expense cropping up, etc.

How does 'family problems' stop someone from paying £8?

Does a 'family problem' stop someone from putting there hand in their pocket or does it stop them from paying for food at the supermarket check out also?

If it was me, I'd phone up now, well not now exactly as it's 20 past night but I'd phone tomorrow. If the person is going to pay, they will pay no matter when you phone. If they aren't going to pay, they won't pay regardless. After two broken promises to pay, I have a small slip I put through the persons door, it simply says 'Congratulations, you got a free window clean. I hope that not paying makes you feel good about yourself'.

After that, I forget all about it as it's not worth thinking about.

[home6442]

You have wasted enough time cleaning the windows dont
waste anymore lifes too short.
Forget about this crafty scumbag not worth the hassle.

[rosskesava]

For me it dosent matter if its a fiver or 20 notes. You agreed a price ,done the service and expect to be paid.
In 15 yrs of window cleaning only ever had 1(except a few have moved with no notifaction) who no matter what i tried wouldt pay.
We all know how raw egg is to clean.
Childish i know but cleaning the neighbours is now easier knowing we are even.

I have to admit, years ago, I once egged the front of a customers house. 24 of them, all over the windows, front door and through the letter box whilst wearing a full faced balaclava, etc, at 2am. I had a mate waiting in a get away car around the corner. It was real Body and Doyle stuff.

The bloke was a self employed contract gardener who employed . He had previously charged me £55 for knocking his satellite dish which he said I must have done with my ladder (I was trad at the time) so to pay that off, he got 3 free cleans at £20 a throw. Maybe I did knock the dish with my ladders, maybe I didn't. I personally don't think I did but up untill then, he was a good customer and as he was in between two other houses I also did, and them being neighbours, I gave him the benefit of the doubt with a gritted smile.

After that, his bill got up to 3 cleans without payment so I knocks on his door one night and he says he's been going through a hard time having lost a few contracts and so on. He seemed down so I said pay me when you can. He also said, which really narked me, that he's waiting to get paid out by a few contracts and these people that don't pay their bills, they are bar stewards.

A few weeks later while cleaning his next door neighbour, the neighbour says that this bloke is on holiday for 3 weeks so he may not want his windows cleaned. When I asked where he'd gone, the neighbour said this bloke had gone to Australia.

I saw red, and I mean the actual colour red. I was actually going to put bricks through all his windows but the wife talked me out of it so we reached a compromise which she still wasn't happy with of 24 eggs.

Since then, I realised I was allowing things to get to me and going three cleans without payment is going too far so in a way, I done it all to myself.

Now, I go no more than two cleans or £20 or two broken promises to pay. Then I put my 'hope you are happy' slip through their door and then forget it.

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

How much time have you spent chasing and worrying about that £8?  And how many £8's could you have earned in that time?

There are people like this out there, you can't avoid them.  Forget about it and move on.

True - but, then every time I see him around my town, it'll make me feel sick knowing he has has 1 over on me.

There already are a handful in my town which I have let go... i'm not letting that handful get any bigger.

 

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

It's amazing how often these coincidences pop up after cleaning windows with a promise to be paid.

Family problems, lost the job, wife problems, un expected expense cropping up, etc.

How does 'family problems' stop someone from paying £8?

Does a 'family problem' stop someone from putting there hand in their pocket or does it stop them from paying for food at the supermarket check out also?

If it was me, I'd phone up now, well not now exactly as it's 20 past night but I'd phone tomorrow. If the person is going to pay, they will pay no matter when you phone. If they aren't going to pay, they won't pay regardless. After two broken promises to pay, I have a small slip I put through the persons door, it simply says 'Congratulations, you got a free window clean. I hope that not paying makes you feel good about yourself'.

After that, I forget all about it as it's not worth thinking about.

Exactly my thinking.

[Spruce]

We all get caught with devious people from time to time.

I got caught the other day. A new tenant moved into a flat from Wakefield - one of four owned by the Lord of our manor. As I clean the other 2 tenants windows she asked them for me to clean hers as well.

When I got there she was at home, come out to meet me and to ask me to clean her flat and we agreed a price. Once done I knocked on the door for payment and she only had £2 in her purse -"would that do?" No, I will take a cheque. "Sorry cheque book is in Wakefield but will get it this weekend."

Despite messages left, still no money.

Don't take it personally. These sort of things, no matter how annoying, helps to remind us that we are better than they are. Retaliation lowers us to their level.

And when I next speak to the Lord I will mention my non payment in a casual round about way so he will be aware of any tendencies she may have to default on rent payment to him. He also carries at lot more clout in our town than I do.

[Spruce]

For me it dosent matter if its a fiver or 20 notes. You agreed a price ,done the service and expect to be paid.
In 15 yrs of window cleaning only ever had 1(except a few have moved with no notifaction) who no matter what i tried wouldt pay.
We all know how raw egg is to clean.
Childish i know but cleaning the neighbours is now easier knowing we are even.

I have to admit, years ago, I once egged the front of a customers house. 24 of them, all over the windows, front door and through the letter box whilst wearing a full faced balaclava, etc, at 2am. I had a mate waiting in a get away car around the corner. It was real Body and Doyle stuff.

The bloke was a self employed contract gardener who employed . He had previously charged me £55 for knocking his satellite dish which he said I must have done with my ladder (I was trad at the time) so to pay that off, he got 3 free cleans at £20 a throw. Maybe I did knock the dish with my ladders, maybe I didn't. I personally don't think I did but up untill then, he was a good customer and as he was in between two other houses I also did, and them being neighbours, I gave him the benefit of the doubt with a gritted smile.

After that, his bill got up to 3 cleans without payment so I knocks on his door one night and he says he's been going through a hard time having lost a few contracts and so on. He seemed down so I said pay me when you can. He also said, which really narked me, that he's waiting to get paid out by a few contracts and these people that don't pay their bills, they are bar stewards.

A few weeks later while cleaning his next door neighbour, the neighbour says that this bloke is on holiday for 3 weeks so he may not want his windows cleaned. When I asked where he'd gone, the neighbour said this bloke had gone to Australia.

I saw red, and I mean the actual colour red. I was actually going to put bricks through all his windows but the wife talked me out of it so we reached a compromise which she still wasn't happy with of 24 eggs.

Since then, I realised I was allowing things to get to me and going three cleans without payment is going too far so in a way, I done it all to myself.

Now, I go no more than two cleans or £20 or two broken promises to pay. Then I put my 'hope you are happy' slip through their door and then forget it.

I like that - it helps you to walk away from it mentally.

[rosskesava]

I like that - it helps you to walk away from it mentally.

Yup. For me, it's a conclusion and an 'end of'.

[Dani J]

Let it go mate.
I had one similar a few years ago, upstairs flat, had no cash but would drop it off. It never came and I never did him again. However a year or so after i was working next door when he came out of his flat, the door shut behind him and now he's locked out. He looks across and asks he can use the ladder to gain access through an upstairs window. I remind him about the fiver he owes me, he pulls a tenner out I give hime the change and in front of a few people that had gathered told him to "jog on"
I was worried about the van for a few visits after though.
Karma, will repay you even if it takes a while.
Tony

Thats 100% true. 

[king marko]

Sorry to say this mate but... 4 little windows, easy - £8 - just let it go - you've overcharged IMHO and nearly got away with it but its not like you've done a whole minging house now is it?

overcharged?? i think the customer agreed to pay £8.I do a minimum charge of £10, even for 3 or 4 windows so Doesn't matter if it is £8 or £4 or £50, if you do a job, you need to be paid!

You've missed my point

4 little, easy windows - £8 - I don't care if he charged £80 - it's 4 little, easy windows
He's hardly broken sweat & it was next door to an existing customer
James didnt know it was gonna turn into a one off now did he?

You have a minimum charge of £10 - I'm really pleased for you

The time he's spent moaning about it and chasing him just ain't worth it - and before you say what if every customer did that - I'd just put this down to lesson learned for the future - in fact he should of learned from the last time, but ok, we all get caught out now & again
If James bumps into this guy in town just remind of this debt - and each time he does the neighbours too - I'm sure he will cough up eventually

[Ian101]

For me it dosent matter if its a fiver or 20 notes. You agreed a price ,done the service and expect to be paid.
In 15 yrs of window cleaning only ever had 1(except a few have moved with no notifaction) who no matter what i tried wouldt pay.
We all know how raw egg is to clean.
Childish i know but cleaning the neighbours is now easier knowing we are even.

I have to admit, years ago, I once egged the front of a customers house. 24 of them, all over the windows, front door and through the letter box whilst wearing a full faced balaclava, etc, at 2am. I had a mate waiting in a get away car around the corner. It was real Body and Doyle stuff.

The bloke was a self employed contract gardener who employed . He had previously charged me £55 for knocking his satellite dish which he said I must have done with my ladder (I was trad at the time) so to pay that off, he got 3 free cleans at £20 a throw. Maybe I did knock the dish with my ladders, maybe I didn't. I personally don't think I did but up untill then, he was a good customer and as he was in between two other houses I also did, and them being neighbours, I gave him the benefit of the doubt with a gritted smile.

After that, his bill got up to 3 cleans without payment so I knocks on his door one night and he says he's been going through a hard time having lost a few contracts and so on. He seemed down so I said pay me when you can. He also said, which really narked me, that he's waiting to get paid out by a few contracts and these people that don't pay their bills, they are bar stewards.

A few weeks later while cleaning his next door neighbour, the neighbour says that this bloke is on holiday for 3 weeks so he may not want his windows cleaned. When I asked where he'd gone, the neighbour said this bloke had gone to Australia.

I saw red, and I mean the actual colour red. I was actually going to put bricks through all his windows but the wife talked me out of it so we reached a compromise which she still wasn't happy with of 24 eggs.

Since then, I realised I was allowing things to get to me and going three cleans without payment is going too far so in a way, I done it all to myself.

Now, I go no more than two cleans or £20 or two broken promises to pay. Then I put my 'hope you are happy' slip through their door and then forget it.

I like that - it helps you to walk away from it mentally.

As an addition to the hope your happy note how about telling them you have put their details onto the none paying shame page on your website with a photo of their house so all the neighbours can tell along with other local tradespeople not to trust them

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

just go round now and demand payment you are entitled to collect cash even on sundays dont txt before dont park ya van where thay can see it they wont answer the door if you do.

[C o z y]

When I got there she was at home, come out to meet me and to ask me to clean her flat and we agreed a price. Once done I knocked on the door for payment and she only had £2 in her purse -"would that do?" No, I will take a cheque. "Sorry cheque book is in Wakefield but will get it this weekend."

Eh?, what price did you agree on for her to think 2 quid would be enough to pay you off??

[Perfect Windows]

I've said this a hundred times before: Move on.

Vin

[tompoole]

I don't do off cuff cleans without payment there and then.
It has happened with odd reg customer and when it does ill
Call to the house only twice then put them on dumped list!
If I've got their email or mobile I will contact them every day asking
For payment . When they pay I still cross them off ,can't be arsed
If they cant

[dazmond]

first clean?i want payment there and then or they dont get cleaned.

£8 clean?seriously dont let it bother you!just knock his door when you next clean his neighbours.if he still wont answer just write it off and move on.

[robertphil]

a crabby old bird tried it on by saying my crew of 3 didnt do her windows as she didnt see them so wouldnt pay. She wouldnt budge on it so i thought let it go and bit my lip

  i later saw her on the street talkin to my workers and then she came over and asked me did i clean windows on her road and what is my price!