[Crystal-clear]

I found switching over my regular customers wasn't a problem not easy to say the least I had to ring and text a few times it was a simple case of forgetting I only switched over a hand full of slow payers so taking it slow there

Now regarding first cleans
Cleaned 14 house
13 happy to continue which was quite a high amount
Told them all to setup a standing order they went a bit Quiet I said ill send
Out a text with how much etc etc 5 got back to me after agreeing to standing order
Saying "look we want to use you but want to pay after you clean" I said ok hopefully in the future you will see that we come back etc the others didn't get back to me including a £6 front that I charged £15 for the first clean these normally 100% stick for ages she said yes on the door she even prepaid £2 as I didn't have the right change I said £4 in 2 months then £6 every 2 months , after text message and 2 calls to check if she did it I get a text back saying we don't want a contract I said its not a contract its until further notice she said No No no no wanted to continue using you but now I don't want nothing bare in mind she paid 350% for the first clean ,I called another customer up he said he got the message in a disheartend voice and that he will look to set it up I then said sod this ok you don't need to set it up we will leave a bill etc etc he then was over the moon


Have a moved too fast should I talk about standing orders after 3 cleans?
How do you manage the customers after 3 cleans who want to continue but don't want to set it up?
Looking forward to hear from rich sparkle and anyone els who is pushing
Sanding orders I feel its a massive edge in the game

[dave0123]

no idea what your goin on about cus its all one big line and no ful stops lol..


right ive read it a few times now i get the gist.

i suppose at the end of the day no-body wants to pay that way cus they all know think you may not come or be late and then they pay twice blah blah blah.. it just wont work until you drum it into them.

however i dont use the above cus of that reason i mentiond.. but i text all customers who havent paid within 5 days to pay.. and on my slips they get charged 2,50 for payments over 8 days. it seems to work well.. bar one or two

[PoleKing]

It's always difficult to change existing customers preferred payment method.
Easier to say to new customers that 'this is how you pay'.
IMO you'll never get 100% of customers on SO.
As long as you get the bad/late/pita customers on it I'd just be grateful for what you can get.
I'm in the process of doing the same myself.
Chin up bud.

[Crystal-clear]

Hi sorry it might sound a bit like a rant lol,

Dave I basically text out reminders without a charge
Lane I found my regular late payers actually liked the idea of it no need to convert my good payers

I think this is the way to go but I'm almost certain I messed up one clean i think it has to be 3 but wanted it too soon would like to hear more input!
I havnt collected in like 3-4 years so I'm doing ok but I know this is a massive moral and a big improvement which will boost your buessnies even more

[HampshireWindowCleaning]

Hi mate, maybe you might want to think about Gocardless as it is direct debit so you only take money once youve done the clean, only 1% fee aswell.
I've just started using it and getting my forgetful payers on to it, they are well pleased as they pay all their other bills via direct debit so they are happy they wont have to remember to pay me now.

[Crystal-clear]

I was thinking about that. But I think online banking standing orders setup from living room also they pay me already with online banking ,how does gocardless work after clean you go home and press a button to take funds ?

[dave0123]

press a button to take funds ?

Thats pretty much it yeah.. once they have given all the necessary details upon allowing the direct debit to go through.

They will be emailed every time you take a payment so they know its coming out of the bank over the next 5 days or so

[Crystal-clear]

press a button to take funds ?

Thats pretty much it yeah.. once they have given all the necessary details upon allowing the direct debit to go through.

They will be emailed every time you take a payment so they know its coming out of the bank over the next 5 days or so

Pretty cool but still I feel i would have had the same feedback I'm guessing I need to break em in 3x then start asking them to setup

[bobplum]

press a button to take funds ?

Thats pretty much it yeah.. once they have given all the necessary details upon allowing the direct debit to go through.

They will be emailed every time you take a payment so they know its coming out of the bank over the next 5 days or so

dont you get charged by the bank for the direct debit?

[HampshireWindowCleaning]

press a button to take funds ?

Thats pretty much it yeah.. once they have given all the necessary details upon allowing the direct debit to go through.

They will be emailed every time you take a payment so they know its coming out of the bank over the next 5 days or so

I hope not, my first payments are still going through so I don't know yet, but i'm on Lloyds electric tariff so anything online should be free so hope direct debit payments will be free. it takes 7-10 days to go through so it's no good puting everyone on it as it will take longer to get paid in most cases where my good payers are concerned. But it's ideal for the repeat late payers.


dont you get charged by the bank for the direct debit?

[PoleKing]

press a button to take funds ?

Thats pretty much it yeah.. once they have given all the necessary details upon allowing the direct debit to go through.

They will be emailed every time you take a payment so they know its coming out of the bank over the next 5 days or so

I hope not, my first payments are still going through so I don't know yet, but i'm on Lloyds electric tariff so anything online should be free so hope direct debit payments will be free. it takes 7-10 days to go through so it's no good puting everyone on it as it will take longer to get paid in most cases where my good payers are concerned. But it's ideal for the repeat late payers.


dont you get charged by the bank for the direct debit?

Might save you pennies though as it'll only be one payment in from gocardless...
I don't know, I've only just set up & don't get charged anyway. Justbabthought

[dave0123]

no you dont get changed by the bank go cardless takes 1% then they transfer it to your account.

[Spruce]

TBH if I was the customer I wouldn't set up a stop order payment to pay the window cleaner.

A stop order is an agreement you setup with your bank to pay me the window cleaner every month the value of the window clean - say £10.00. As the customer, I have to specify the day that amount has to be paid, ie 1st of the month. So every month the bank send me the window cleaner £10.00 on the 1st. The bank doesn't know if I've cleaned the windows or not, they just do as they are told.

So what happens if I, the window cleaner have an accident and can't clean your windows for 3 months, or the weather is very bad and I fall well behind on my cleaning cycle? The customer can see himself paying me for a service I didn't complete. As a customer, that's a risk. Most have no idea when their windows were last cleaned.

Setting up a direct debit is even more risky and the reason why we as window cleaners probably would never be able to avail ourselves of this facility.

From a customer's point of view its much less risk to receive a ticket through the door for £10.00 saying the windows have been cleaned. Quite a number of my customers pick that slip up and put it in a safe place. When I call for the money, they throw the slip away. If I don't find them in for payment and clean a second time, then they know that they owe for 2 cleans as they have 2 slips. I have also reminded them on the second slip that they owe for 2 cleans.

While I was cleaning a house in the street, a young couple stopped and asked me if I would quote for cleaning their house further up the street.
I stopped by there, quoted the house and the subject of payment was then raised. As they both work irregular shift pattens I asked if they paid their bills by internet banking. He said they did, but asked if I wanted them to set up a stop order. He was very edgy. I said no, but if I gave him my banking details, then he could set me up as a Payee. When I have done the job and put the ticket through the door, then he will instruct the bank to pay me £10.00. He remained in control of the payment.
He was totally happy with that.

However, I have asked numerous people to pay me that way, but unfortunately most still prefer the Friday collection. People are worried about internet fraud so its an uphill battle.
 

[stephen d]

Most people don't want standing orders/ direct debits but are more than happy to do a bank transfer (my preferred method as well ) the money is in your account instantly (customer saves cost of stamp)  . About 70% of my domestic customers pay this way 25% send chqs. I only ever go out collecting now for bad debts about once a month.

[Crystal-clear]

Just to be clear at the moment

Most of my customers pay via online banking within 21 days
Some pay later which is annoying like 6 weeks later or
unfortunately Some don't and even pay after 2-3 cleans which is 4-6 months

The rest send a cheque and some cash on the day
I haven't collected in 3-4 years so I know I'm doing something right!
Have written off quite a bit over the years I know that chasing £10 there £20 here doesn't get you anywhere and is a false ecconemy as you can be much more productive cleaning also not worth my days off would rather enjoy them or canvass again both are more productive then collecting £50 and arguing with messers

I'm only trying to work out the best method of taking over the world!
I know standing orders may not be ideal as you can't always garentee 6 cleans a year
But I do monitor all payments and end of the year if we owe the customer any money they will be credited as far as falling behind work never has happened more then a few weeks and we always catch up apart from the obvious commitment standing orders pose ie you must turn up sometimes etc etc i feel the pros out do the cons on a big scale imagine having no cash flow problems what so ever imagine employing and being in massive profit not by work cleaned pie in the sky when customer pays but real funds in your account that your worker has earned day in day out, no more supprise cancelations as you dont see funds you dont clean simpld! beats using your own money as cash flow ! This is the way to do it Im just certain I upsold the standing order too soon!

[telfordwindowclnr]

TBH if I was the customer I wouldn't set up a stop order payment to pay the window cleaner.

A stop order is an agreement you setup with your bank to pay me the window cleaner every month the value of the window clean - say £10.00. As the customer, I have to specify the day that amount has to be paid, ie 1st of the month. So every month the bank send me the window cleaner £10.00 on the 1st. The bank doesn't know if I've cleaned the windows or not, they just do as they are told.

So what happens if I, the window cleaner have an accident and can't clean your windows for 3 months, or the weather is very bad and I fall well behind on my cleaning cycle? The customer can see himself paying me for a service I didn't complete. As a customer, that's a risk. Most have no idea when their windows were last cleaned.

Setting up a direct debit is even more risky and the reason why we as window cleaners probably would never be able to avail ourselves of this facility.

From a customer's point of view its much less risk to receive a ticket through the door for £10.00 saying the windows have been cleaned. Quite a number of my customers pick that slip up and put it in a safe place. When I call for the money, they throw the slip away. If I don't find them in for payment and clean a second time, then they know that they owe for 2 cleans as they have 2 slips. I have also reminded them on the second slip that they owe for 2 cleans.

While I was cleaning a house in the street, a young couple stopped and asked me if I would quote for cleaning their house further up the street.
I stopped by there, quoted the house and the subject of payment was then raised. As they both work irregular shift pattens I asked if they paid their bills by internet banking. He said they did, but asked if I wanted them to set up a stop order. He was very edgy. I said no, but if I gave him my banking details, then he could set me up as a Payee. When I have done the job and put the ticket through the door, then he will instruct the bank to pay me £10.00. He remained in control of the payment.
He was totally happy with that.

However, I have asked numerous people to pay me that way, but unfortunately most still prefer the Friday collection. People are worried about internet fraud so its an uphill battle.
 

+1

Do BACS, not D.D. or standing order. It's much better for the customer. Plus customers who used to pay by cheque will pay direct into your bank so there is no waiting for cheques to clear. Helps cash flow massively.

[Crystal-clear]

TBH if I was the customer I wouldn't set up a stop order payment to pay the window cleaner.

A stop order is an agreement you setup with your bank to pay me the window cleaner every month the value of the window clean - say £10.00. As the customer, I have to specify the day that amount has to be paid, ie 1st of the month. So every month the bank send me the window cleaner £10.00 on the 1st. The bank doesn't know if I've cleaned the windows or not, they just do as they are told.

So what happens if I, the window cleaner have an accident and can't clean your windows for 3 months, or the weather is very bad and I fall well behind on my cleaning cycle? The customer can see himself paying me for a service I didn't complete. As a customer, that's a risk. Most have no idea when their windows were last cleaned.

Setting up a direct debit is even more risky and the reason why we as window cleaners probably would never be able to avail ourselves of this facility.

From a customer's point of view its much less risk to receive a ticket through the door for £10.00 saying the windows have been cleaned. Quite a number of my customers pick that slip up and put it in a safe place. When I call for the money, they throw the slip away. If I don't find them in for payment and clean a second time, then they know that they owe for 2 cleans as they have 2 slips. I have also reminded them on the second slip that they owe for 2 cleans.

While I was cleaning a house in the street, a young couple stopped and asked me if I would quote for cleaning their house further up the street.
I stopped by there, quoted the house and the subject of payment was then raised. As they both work irregular shift pattens I asked if they paid their bills by internet banking. He said they did, but asked if I wanted them to set up a stop order. He was very edgy. I said no, but if I gave him my banking details, then he could set me up as a Payee. When I have done the job and put the ticket through the door, then he will instruct the bank to pay me £10.00. He remained in control of the payment.
He was totally happy with that.

However, I have asked numerous people to pay me that way, but unfortunately most still prefer the Friday collection. People are worried about internet fraud so its an uphill battle.
 

+1

Do BACS, not D.D. or standing order. It's much better for the customer. Plus customers who used to pay by cheque will pay direct into your bank so there is no waiting for cheques to clear. Helps cash flow massively.

We need some standing order people to get involved !
By the way have you got Picts of your l200 setup ?

[Spruce]

We need some standing order people to get involved !


 

Sorry. I didn't mean to imply that you didn't know what you were doing.

The gardening services seem to be able to get a stop order system working quite well. They have a 'contract' to maintain a customer's garden for a year at x amount per month. They work like crazy from spring through summer and are around less in autumn and  probably not in December and January. But they still get their money in.

It would be great if we could be seen in the same way.

[telfordwindowclnr]

TBH if I was the customer I wouldn't set up a stop order payment to pay the window cleaner.

A stop order is an agreement you setup with your bank to pay me the window cleaner every month the value of the window clean - say £10.00. As the customer, I have to specify the day that amount has to be paid, ie 1st of the month. So every month the bank send me the window cleaner £10.00 on the 1st. The bank doesn't know if I've cleaned the windows or not, they just do as they are told.

So what happens if I, the window cleaner have an accident and can't clean your windows for 3 months, or the weather is very bad and I fall well behind on my cleaning cycle? The customer can see himself paying me for a service I didn't complete. As a customer, that's a risk. Most have no idea when their windows were last cleaned.

Setting up a direct debit is even more risky and the reason why we as window cleaners probably would never be able to avail ourselves of this facility.

From a customer's point of view its much less risk to receive a ticket through the door for £10.00 saying the windows have been cleaned. Quite a number of my customers pick that slip up and put it in a safe place. When I call for the money, they throw the slip away. If I don't find them in for payment and clean a second time, then they know that they owe for 2 cleans as they have 2 slips. I have also reminded them on the second slip that they owe for 2 cleans.

While I was cleaning a house in the street, a young couple stopped and asked me if I would quote for cleaning their house further up the street.
I stopped by there, quoted the house and the subject of payment was then raised. As they both work irregular shift pattens I asked if they paid their bills by internet banking. He said they did, but asked if I wanted them to set up a stop order. He was very edgy. I said no, but if I gave him my banking details, then he could set me up as a Payee. When I have done the job and put the ticket through the door, then he will instruct the bank to pay me £10.00. He remained in control of the payment.
He was totally happy with that.

However, I have asked numerous people to pay me that way, but unfortunately most still prefer the Friday collection. People are worried about internet fraud so its an uphill battle.
 

+1

Do BACS, not D.D. or standing order. It's much better for the customer. Plus customers who used to pay by cheque will pay direct into your bank so there is no waiting for cheques to clear. Helps cash flow massively.

We need some standing order people to get involved !
By the way have you got Picts of your l200 setup ?

Got back from holiday today.  Will take and post later.

[thermoclean]

I've found that some customers prefer to pay by standing order I've been regular for years so they trust that I will turn up at some point in the month. I work to a 4 week schedule but with the weather( I'm in Scotland) I get 12 cleans a year in and they pay me monthly.
 
I have been surprised by how many people prefer to pay by bacs I leave a postcard size card (not as easily missed only cost £99 for 5000) that the windows have been done please pay sort code account number had a big switch over from cheque and nochex payment straight into your account and no charges. This way give the customers confidence as they are using there own banks site to make payment.